Mr. Norman, She's Out of Your League Now novel Chapter 74

Jardin Restaurant stood tall by the river, offering breathtaking views at any time of day, whether in the morning, afternoon, or evening. It was notoriously difficult to book a table here. Only the wealthiest elites of Marindale had the privilege of dining in this place.

When Charlotte arrived, Ivy was already seated and had ordered the food. "There you are, busy lady. I was starting to think you wouldn't make it," Ivy teased as soon as she saw her.

She pulled Charlotte into a warm hug, full of her usual energy.

Charlotte smiled, exchanging a few light greetings before turning to Matthias. "Mr. Lambert, we meet again."

Matthias gave her a polite nod, his demeanor as gentle as ever. "Please, Ms. Perry, have a seat. Also, I hope you're not upset about the last-minute cancellation last time."

Charlotte smiled graciously. "Not at all. You still made sure the medicinal herbs arrived on time, and I appreciate that."

Ivy groaned at the polite exchange. "Enough of the formalities. We're here to eat, not to hold a business meeting. Come on, relax a little. Otherwise, you two are going to kill the mood, and we'll all end up with indigestion."

Charlotte laughed and raised her glass in good-natured agreement. Matthias smiled as well and joined them for the toast.

Although Charlotte was not very familiar with Matthias, Ivy's lively presence kept the atmosphere from feeling awkward.

As the conversation flowed, they eventually circled back to work-related topics.

This part of the conversation went smoothly. The Lambert family also owned a pharmaceutical division, and with that shared ground, the three of them found plenty to discuss over dinner.

In the private dining room next door, known as "The Windsor Room", Brian arrived with Kayden. By the time they entered, the Perry family, along with Brian's own parents and grandmother, were already seated.

Lydia's smile froze for a moment, her expression stiffening. Though clearly annoyed, she dared not show it in front of the Norman family. She swallowed her frustration and backed off.

It did not matter, she told herself. With Brian's eyesight still impaired, she would have plenty of chances to stay close to him. Determined, she planned to sit beside him during dinner and personally serve him.

Her intentions were obvious, and Kayden saw right through them.

Kayden had already been unhappy when he heard they would be dining with the Perry family. Watching Lydia try so hard to stay close to Brian only deepened his irritation.

The moment he saw her aiming for the seat next to Brian, Kayden acted quickly. Without hesitation, he slid into the chair at his father's right side, claiming the spot for himself. He didn't give Lydia a single chance to play the doting caregiver.