Wood Faulkner let out a gasp and quickly propped himself up on the bed. “I’m sorry, Commander, I…”
Kayden interrupted him. “Enough. Just rest. Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t. Focus on what you need to do, and recover properly. Your body still hasn’t healed from old injuries.”
Wood Faulkner bit his lip and lowered his head. “Yes, sir.”
Kayden walked over to the sofa, lay down, and exhaled deeply.
Wood Faulkner propped himself halfway up and glanced at Kayden. “Mr. Scott, why don’t you take the bed? I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
Kayden gave a faint smile. “No need. You rest well.”
With that, he closed his eyes. Wood Faulkner looked at him, wanting to say something, but in the end, he held back.
—
The next morning, Kayden arrived early at the Regal Crest Culinary House for his appointment. It was one of the more upscale restaurants in Western Frontier. To Kayden, it was nothing special, but for others, it was a sign of class and affluence.
Upon entering, he noticed that Mrs. Rocco had not arrived yet, so he sat down to wait. A male and female server nearby spotted Kayden sitting idly without ordering anything.
“Look at that,” the female server whispered. “Another one of those freeloaders. And this time, it’s a man.”
“He hasn’t ordered anything?” the male server asked, glancing over.
The female server nodded. “Not a thing. Just sitting there, probably taking selfies with his phone.”
The staff had seen plenty of people like this-those who couldn’t afford to eat but pretended to dine in high-end places just to take photos for social media. Their posts would often read something like: Feeling down, so I treated myself to a solo lunch. Accompanied by a selfie and a stock image of a fancy dish found online.
It reminded them of those pyramid schemes where people rented luxury cars, took pictures, and bragged online, saying: Bought a Porsche today. Proof that women can achieve just as much as men. Work hard, and you could be the next to own a Ferrari or Bentley!
“Leave it to me,” the male server said with a smirk as he strutted toward Kayden.
The female server watched him go, a mischievous grin on her face.
“Hey, buddy, what are you having today? Take a look at the menu and order something,” the male server said, holding out a menu booklet with a mocking smile.
Kayden glanced at him coolly and replied, “I’m waiting for someone. My friend will be here soon. I’ll order when she arrives.”
The server leaned in and patted Kayden’s shoulder. With a smirk, he asked, “Waiting, huh? Is this friend of yours a guy or a girl?”
Irritated, Kayden glared at him and growled, “What’s it to you?”
The server chuckled mockingly and glanced over at the female server, smirking. “I’ve seen plenty like you before. Came here to show off, didn’t you? If you can’t afford to eat here, don’t just sit around. Be smart and-”
Before he could finish, a stunning woman walked through the entrance.
She immediately became the center of everyone’s attention. Her white dress perfectly outlined her flawless figure, with curves that rivaled those of a top model. Her features were exquisite, without a single flaw, and her presence radiated elegance.
She exuded an aura so powerful that every head turned as she passed, captivated by her beauty.
This was Mrs. Rocco-a woman in her forties who looked astonishingly youthful and stunning.
“Hey, you’re not waiting for her, are you?” the male server sneered, barely suppressing his laughter.
He knew exactly who she was-Mrs. Rocco, the goddess of the Rocco family, a symbol of wealth and status. A mere nobody like Kayden couldn’t possibly have any connection to her.
The male server even considered himself more qualified than Kayden to approach her, though he knew he had no chance either.
As Kayden continued to watch Mrs. Rocco, the server laughed and said, “Keep dreaming. She wouldn’t even look your way. Just remember her face and go home to fantasize about her. If you’re not ordering anything, then-”
Before he could say the word leave, Mrs. Rocco started walking toward them. A polite, apologetic smile graced her lips.
“Mrs. Rocco! Mrs. Rocco!” A neatly dressed manager hurried out, his face full of nervous excitement. “It’s an honor to have you here. If you had told us in advance, we would have prepared a proper welcome for you.”
Mrs. Rocco, the jewel of the Rocco family, wasn’t someone who visited places like this often. Her presence alone elevated the restaurant’s status.
With a flick of her white dress, she replied coldly, “Enough with the formalities. I came here because I wanted to avoid all that pomp. Don’t irritate me. Step aside.”
The manager, flustered by her sharp tone, quickly bowed. “Yes, ma’am. Of course, ma’am.”
“Shall I arrange a private room for you, ma’am?”
“Not necessary. Leave me be.”
Having dismissed the manager, she turned to Kayden with a look of remorse. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Scott. I ran into some traffic on the way and got delayed.”
As she spoke, she gracefully took the seat across from him.
The male server, stunned by the scene, quickly withdrew his hand from Kayden’s shoulder. His face turned pale with shock, then deepened into embarrassment.
This man, whom he had ridiculed as a freeloader, had actually been waiting for Mrs. Rocco-the legendary beauty herself.
Kayden said nothing to Mrs. Rocco but turned to the dumbfounded server and asked, “What were you saying earlier?”
The server’s face twitched violently, as though he had swallowed something foul.
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
He had assumed Kayden was a poser, but now he realized the man had an appointment with Mrs. Rocco.
Kayden’s tone sharpened as he continued, “You were about to tell me to leave, weren’t you?”
The server shivered, his arrogance completely shattered.