Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 218

The pasta was incredibly simple.

Aside from the fried egg with its crispy golden edges and a sprinkle of green onions, there was nothing extravagant about the dish.

Yet, Pierce ate with absolute elegance, taking slow, deliberate bites as if he were savoring a masterpiece at a royal banquet rather than a quick, homemade meal.

Phoenix rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head as she watched him.

His posture was impeccably straight. He ate with intense focus, the rising steam gently blurring his sharp, chiseled features. She found herself unable to look away, unexpectedly captivated by the sheer visual appeal of the man.

"Have you stared enough?"

Pierce set his fork down and elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin, shooting a sideways glance at her. "You haven't taken your eyes off me. Is this what they mean by eye candy?"

There was a hint of casual provocation in his tone.

Phoenix didn't even flinch, taking the banter in stride. "You're right about that. It's definitely eye candy. I've never seen anyone eat a plain bowl of pasta like they're dining with the Queen."

Pierce paused, his gaze dropping to the completely empty bowl. The food had genuinely been fantastic. It was rare for him to clear a plate so thoroughly.

Her cooking skills were undeniably flawless.

He crumpled the napkin and casually remarked, "With skills like yours, you could easily take over the culinary world."

"Well, thank you for the compliment." Phoenix smiled brightly, graciously accepting his praise while completely ignoring his earlier taunt.

Pierce felt a sense of helplessness. His boundaries seemed to constantly shift whenever he dealt with her. If anyone else had dared to speak to him with such casual audacity, they would have been thrown out the front door long ago.

"I have something for you."

"Huh?" Phoenix blinked, looking at him in confusion. "Are you really giving me a present over a bowl of pasta?"

Pierce let out a soft scoff, his expression arrogant. "You didn't just cook pasta. You did my stomach a great service."

With that, he pushed a dark blue velvet jewelry box across the table.

Phoenix merely glanced at the exquisite packaging to know the contents were worth a fortune. But when she popped the lid open and saw what was resting on the velvet cushion, her breath hitched.

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