Love on the Fast Track (Derek and Norah)

Chapter 148:

After thirty minutes had passed, Norah efficiently whipped up five dishes and a soup, offering both stir-fried and

chilled options, the tantalizing aroma filling the kitchen.

Susanna inhaled deeply, exclaiming, “Wow, the aroma is incredible! I'm eager to dig in!”

The quartet took their seats at the dining table. Norah served the prized cedar wine to Sean and Phillip, and

prepared warm soy milk for Susanna. “Here is the finest cedar wine. Please enjoy yourselves.”

Phillip hesitated, eyeing the liquid before him, mindful of his upcoming drive.

Noticing Phillip’s expression, Sean said, “Alright. It's Norah's treat. Feel free to indulge.” Sean gracefully lifted the

goblet, swirling it with refined elegance, exuding an air of nobility. He brought the glass close to his nose. “This

cedar wine is light, clear, and elegant, with a delightful aroma,” he described before taking a sip and savoring its

smooth, mellow flavor.

“Are you a connoisseur, Sean?” Norah raised an eyebrow. “Not everyone is familiar with cedar wine.”

This particular liquor wasn’t commonly found, so Norah was pleasantly surprised by its purity when she first

tasted it with the Hayes family.

Among the wealthy, wine, champagne, and whiskey were commonplace, with wine standing out as a high-end

liquor, renowned for its rich aroma and distinctive flavor. Affluent connoisseurs often sought aged wine for

tasting and collection purposes.

Norah seemed to have monopolized most of the cedar wine due to her fondness for it.

gVInov[}fs.cem brings endless adventures

“This is my first ttasting it, and it's excellent liquor.” Sean picked up his fork, examining the array of dishes.

There were five in total, with only one featuring cilantro.

“Last time, | noticed that both you and Susanna avoid cilantro, so | prepared only one dish with it. Please give it

a try,” Norah explained.

Susanna, the group’s ambiance specialist, praised each dish from the first to the last, creating a cheerful

atmosphere throughout. Norah relished this positive feedback, dining with a content smile.

Sean's attention was inevitably drawn to Norah, stealing occasional glances throughout the meal. Norah sensed

the scrutiny, and even Susanna, who was not typically quick to notice such subtleties, picked up on it. She spoke

up, “Sean, focus on your meal. Why do you keep staring at Norah? She’s not going anywhere.”

Hearing this, Sean stifled a chuckle, covering his mouth with a clenched fist. “Let’s focus on eating. Talk less.”

Susanna felt wronged, realizing that while Norah tolerated her chatter, her brother was beginning to voice his

complaints. Phillip gave Susanna a subtle glance but, regrettably, said nothing. Susanna chose to voice her

complaints to Norah instead. “Norah, am | talking too much? Why won't Sean letget a word in?”

“It’s fine. Speak your mind,” Norah replied, taking a bite. “Sean, don’t mind Susanna for talking during meals.”

Norah dismissed it as a minor issue. Susanna flashed a playful grin, which Sean responded to with a helpless

smile. With Norah taking Susanna’s side, Sean didn’t say anything more.

Susanna undoubtedly overindulged after the meal. “Ah, Norah's cooking is superb, far superior to Sean's.”

Sean cast a cold glance at Susanna. “Next time, don’t bother askingto cook if you want to eat something.”

Susanna protested, “Hey! I'm simply stating the facts. You've sampled Norah's cooking, you know I'm not

fabricating anything!”

“Calm down, just joking,” Sean shrugged.

Susanna puffed her cheeks and glanced at Norah, who was about to tackle the dishes. She immediately nudged

Sean. Since Norah had cooked, Sean was supposed to handle the dishes to impress her!

Sean caught on, striding over to Norah and relieving her of the dishes. “I'll handle this.”

Norah gently smiled. “No need, I've arranged for the housekeeper to take care of it. She'll arrive shortly.”

Previously, when Norah had hosted Sean for a meal, cleanup was simple since the plates were used by just the

two of them. However, with four people today, Norah preferred not to handle it herself. While she enjoyed

cooking, she detested washing dishes, particularly dealing with greasy residue.

“Allowto transfer these plates to the sink,” Sean insisted, firmly taking them and depositing them in the sink.

“You needn't worry about cleanup. Go and join Susanna.”

“Alright,” Norah replied, grabbing ssoft drinks and walking over to the living room.

“Please enjoy ssoft drinks before you leave. They taste great,” Norah suggested.

Susanna’s eyes widened upon spotting the package of soft drinks. “I once saw these at Sean's place! | had

intended to gift them to you. They're delicious! Wait, this package seems familiar...”

Susanna was astonished. She had been wondering about the whereabouts of those soft drinks, and now she

found them at Norah's residence! Could it be that Norah and Sean had interacted behind her back?

Phillip glanced at Susanna, puzzled. Why was she so slow to catch on?

Norah settled onto the sofa, handing the soft drinks to the trio. “During my last visit to Sean's place, he noticed

my fondness for these drinks and kindly gifted them to me. Today, | thought I'd share them with you all.”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Sean confirmed.

Susanna’s gaze shifted skeptically between Sean and Norah. “Is that really what happened?”

Norah and Sean exchanged a knowing glance. “Indeed, that’s the case.”

“Alright then,” Susanna replied, though she still seemed doubtful.

After spending another thirty minutes chatting at Norah's villa, Sean noticed Norah's fatigue and took the

initiative to bid farewell, recognizing she needed rest.

Susanna waved at the doorway. “Until next time, Norah.”

“Certainly. Take care,” Norah replied.

That night, upon returning home, Sean eagerly swapped his pillow for Norah's handmade buckwheat one. The

comfort of her thoughtful gift quickly lulled him into a deep sleep.

Two days passed, and Norah began her ten-day leave from the hospital. She planned to attend the Wilson

family’s birthday banquet before heading directly to Otland.

The banquet was held at the Blue Water Hotel. When Norah arrived, the parking lot was already filled with luxury

vehicles. Lunais’ parents, Carrin and Samira Wilson, greeted guests as they arrived.

Just then, a white luxury car pulled to a stop, instantly drawing attention. Recognizable to car enthusiasts, this

globally limited-edition modified luxury vehicle symbolized exceptional value.

Carrin and Samira both turned their attention to the scene.

The white taxi cto a stop in a parking space. As the car door swung open, red diamond-studded high heels

elegantly made contact with the ground, followed by the emergence of a long red fishtail dress.

The woman who stepped out possessed chestnut waves styled with a 3/7 side parting. She wore sunglasses, and

her vivid red lips immediately drew attention. Her slender figure moved gracefully in the fishtail dress, exuding

charm with every step.

Confused, Samira inquired, “Who is she?”

Carrin shook his head in puzzlement, carefully observing. “I don’t know.”