Chapter 327 Let Him Cook
Bella's heart skipped a beat at Anna's words. She thought back to the vendor's behavior and words earlier and realized something was off. If the vendor wanted to gift them a local specialty, she would have said so directly, not wrapped it mysteriously in a black plastic bag.
Anna and Bella were increasingly convinced that this gift was something the vendor couldn't easily afford. They scrutinized the bag of beef and noticed it was not only of high quality but also imported, with clear labels and vacuum-sealed packaging. This kind of beef was hard to come by locally and was quite expensive.
"No one would be dumb enough to give away something this pricey, right?" Anna said. "If the vendor's family could afford this kind of beef, they'd at least be middle to upper class. Why would they need to sell vegetables at a market every day, dressed so plainly?"
Bella nodded, sharing the same doubts. She remembered the vendor's simple attire and warm demeanor, always smiling without any pretense. If she could afford such beef, her lifestyle wouldn't be as it was.
Bella furrowed her brow, thinking deeply before slowly saying, "This seems like something Colin would do. When it comes to ingredients, no one has better insight than him. I've seen this beef in his store; it's top-notch. Plus, he's generous, so gifting something like this wouldn't be a big deal for him."
Anna's eyes lit up with realization. "Now that you mention it, the scarf at the door is also his style. Could it be that he left the scarf too? But are you sure it's just him? Could Sterling be here too? I'm a bit scared to go home now."
Mentioning Sterling brought a hint of fear to Anna's face. She knew Sterling was a complex and unpredictable person, and she wasn't ready to face him yet.
Seeing Anna's anxiety, Bella gently patted her shoulder to comfort her. "Don't worry. Even if they are here, they wouldn't harm us. They wouldn't come to take us back."
Bella took a deep breath, trying to sound calmer. "Besides, Sterling probably wouldn't come, at least not now. Since Colin is here and brought such expensive beef, why don't we invite him over? My cooking skills don't do this beef justice. It'd be better if he cooked."
Anna's eyes brightened. "Great idea! I've seen Colin's cooking skills firsthand. He's amazing! If he handles this beef, it'll be a delicious meal."
With that, Anna took out her phone and started looking for Colin's number.
The call was answered almost immediately, and Colin's voice came through with a hint of amusement. "Anna, what's up? Miss me already?"
Anna didn't waste any time with small talk. "I know you're here. You sent the beef, right? If you're here, stop hiding and come cook! Bella and I are waiting for your culinary magic."
Colin was momentarily stunned but then laughed awkwardly. "You caught me. Yeah, I sent the beef. But I wasn't hiding. I was just about to call you. Since you know, I'll be right there."
A familiar, elegant voice suddenly came from behind them. They turned around to see Colin in a well-tailored black coat, looking handsome with a gentle smile. He exuded a refined and composed aura, standing out in the messy market yet somehow fitting in perfectly.
Anna's eyes lit up when she saw him. "Colin? What are you doing here? Were you following us?"
Colin ignored Anna's question, his gaze sweeping over them. He had imagined many scenarios of reuniting with Anna but hadn't expected this.
His eyes finally landed on the beef in Bella's hand. "Looks like you like the beef I sent. But how did you figure it was me?"
Bella shrugged. "We didn't directly find you. But the beef is too expensive for most people, and with your expertise in ingredients, I guessed it might be you."
Anna, still curious, asked, "Colin, where did you come from? Were you following us? That's creepy! Are you a stalker? And did Sterling come too?"
Colin shook his head, half-amused, half-exasperated. "Anna, what do you take me for? I'm not a stalker. And no, Sterling didn't come. It's just me. I was nearby on business, saw you leaving the market, and thought I'd surprise you. That's why I didn't tell you in advance."
Anna relaxed, laughing. "Good, I thought you were a stalker. But seriously, your surprise worked. A few pounds of beef and we changed our minds. No one can resist good food."
Bella couldn't help but laugh too. She knew the subtle feelings between Anna and Colin and didn't say much, thinking Colin probably wanted to see Anna.
Bella smiled lightly. "Yeah, we planned to avoid anything from the past, but it seems no one can resist Colin's cooking."
Colin laughed too. "Of course, my cooking is well-proven. But, surprisingly, you didn't go home for the holidays."
Anna snorted. "What's so strange about us not going home? But you, not spending the holidays with Gia and running around? Do you have a lover here?"
"Not at all. My mom kicked me out, so I had nowhere to go and came to you. It's just me, Sterling didn't come." Colin joked.
However, when he mentioned Sterling, he glanced at Bella, his eyes showing a hint of complex emotion.
Bella kept her head down, pretending to walk nonchalantly, but something stirred inside her, leaving her feeling a bit lost.
Yes, even though she didn't want Sterling to come, knowing he didn't come still made her feel a twinge of disappointment.
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