CHAPTER 53: HER PERSONAL CHEF, LUCIAN

Roman’s POV

I left the side house to get food for Eira. It was clear Liam wanted to speak with her alone, which was why he sent me off. I didn’t protest. If she was willing to talk to anyone, that was already progress. And I trusted Liam enough to know he wouldn’t say or do anything that went against his Alphas.

When I entered the main house, I found Jason and Lucian in the kitchen. What surprised me was that Lucian wasn’t just hovering around—he was actually cooking.

I walked over and saw him at the stove, preparing white sauce pasta. It looked rich and creamy, the kind of dish that made your mouth water just from the scent. I leaned over and took a taste.

Damn.

It was perfect—warm, smooth, and comforting, with just the right amount of salt and spice. The kind of dish that wrapped around your soul like a blanket, the kind that made you close your eyes and savor every bite like a secret you didn’t want to share.

"Since when did you learn to make this?" I asked, genuinely impressed.

Lucian didn’t even look at me. "I just don’t want any of you bitching later that I cooked for her and not for my own brothers," he said flatly. "My brothers come first."

I had no words. Honestly, all I wanted right now was to finish the plate myself—but I was here for something else.

"Can you make another chocolate pancake... for her?" I asked, a little hesitant.

Lucian’s eyes snapped toward me, and before I could say more, he slammed his hand on the counter.

"Roman Ashridge, do you think I’m that bitch’s personal chef?" he growled, calling me by my full name—never a good sign.

"And what’s with her tantrums? Wanting to eat only that same shit again and again?" he snapped. "Is she testing my patience to see when I finally lose it and snap her fucking neck?"

I held my calm. "Liam said she needs to eat. She didn’t touch the food I made earlier. I thought... maybe she’d eat the pancake again. And if you don’t want to make it, you could at least teach me how..."

"Fuck off," he muttered, clearly done with the conversation.

But then, without another word, he grabbed a plate and served a generous portion of the pasta, added a slice of avocado toast, and poured a glass of juice. He placed it in front of me on the counter.

"She eats what we eat. No special treatment for the bitch," he said curtly. "If she doesn’t like it, tell her to fuck off."

He turned away and went back to his cooking.

I looked at the plate in front of me. Even if it wasn’t what I was here for, the pasta really was something else. Maybe... just maybe, she’d like it too

I quietly placed everything onto a tray and made my way back to the side house.

When I stepped inside, it seemed Liam and Eira had already finished their conversation.

"You’re just on time," Liam said, offering a faint smile as he rose from the couch. "I need to return to the hospital. And this patient of mine is doing quite well. All you need to do now is feed her and keep her happy."

I gave a noncommittal hum and set the tray down on the center table. Eira, who had been resting with her eyes closed, slowly opened them and glanced at the food. The aroma had already filled the room, rich and warm, and something in her expression made me believe she might actually eat this.

"That’s a tasty meal," Liam remarked, then turned to her. "You should eat. You need your strength if you want to keep going."

She didn’t respond, but I had a feeling his words held more meaning—something only the two of them understood.

I looked at her and said, "I’ll see Liam off. Finish this before I get back."

Still no response.

I gestured for Liam to follow me, and as I stepped out, I glanced back through the small gap in the door just before it shut. I caught a glimpse of her turning toward the tray, her hand reaching for the dish.

She was going to eat.

I closed the door gently behind me, a thought creeping into my mind. What the hell does that bastard Lucian put in his food to make her want to eat it?

Lucian acted like he didn’t give a damn. Like he didn’t want to lift a finger for her. And yet, he served the very dish he’d just finished cooking.

He never cooked before, at least I don’t remember him cooking since we started living together—so where had this sudden interest come from?

And Eira even ate it.

What the fuck was going on?

"Don’t worry about her. She’s doing good," Liam said, pulling me from my thoughts.

I nodded absently. "What did you two talk about?"

"Talk?" Liam sighed. "It was like talking to a wall. She barely said a word."

"What did you say to that wall?" I asked again.

"I wanted to know about her past six years. But... whatever happened to her must’ve been painful as hell. She didn’t answer."

I could only hum in response as we walked through the side glass door of the main house that directed to the side house.

Lucian and Jason came into view, still in the open kitchen, moving around as they worked.

"What do you think it would take to make her talk?" I asked Liam. "To get her to stop just sitting in one place, staring blankly into nothing?"

My question didn’t go unheard—Lucian and Jason both glanced up as well.

Liam let out a quiet sigh. "She’s lonely. What else do you expect? Maybe try giving her something... or someone. Something to distract her, make her feel less lonely. A friend from her past, perhaps?"

Lucian scoffed, the sound laced with mockery. "Someone from the past? Everyone hates her. Even her own grandparents ditched her and vanished to whatever pit of hell they crawled into."

Jason chimed in with that same dry, cutting tone. "Maybe we should just toss her in the stables. See if the horses talk to her."

Lucian didn’t miss a beat. "Even they’d hate her. Animals have instincts. They’d smell what kind of bitch she is."

I frowned inwardly. These two were like one soul split between two bodies. Their thoughts, their words, even their cruelty—it all came in sync.

Liam sighed again, clearly fed up. "I’m leaving," he muttered to me before walking off.

"Lunch is ready," Jason told me. "Go get Rafe."

I nodded and headed to Rafe’s room, knocking and calling him to join us. We all ate together in silence, enjoying Lucian’s cooking.

Afterward, I made my way back to the side house.

When I stepped inside, just as I had expected, she had finished everything on the tray. Not a single bite was left. It was as if her appetite had returned all of a sudden.

Well... seems like I really do have to turn Lucian into her personal chef.

Though that bastard had the most vicious mouth, his food was tasty. If that’s what it took to make her eat, then so be it.