Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism

Chapter 164 Where Did You Get That

Jasper agreed. "Yeah, it's such a waste of good ingredients."

Hattie felt a bit embarrassed by their remarks. "It can't be that terrible, can it?"

Zoren suggested, "Why not taste it yourself?"

Niall hadn't tried the cake yet. After hearing their comments, he wasn't keen on trying it anymore.

Hattie, acting a bit shy, took a small bite with her fork, and her expression changed right away.

"It's so salty! | must've accidentally used salt instead of sugar. I'm really sorry, everyone... It was my mistake."

Jasper remarked, "How could you mess up such a simple cake? Are you trying to make us sick with this salty

mess?" Hattie hurriedly waved her hands. "No. Mr. White, | really didn't do it on purpose. Please don't

misunderstand.

"Don't eat it. I'll toss it away!"

Hattie stood up and threw the whole cake into the trash.

Violeta still had half a piece in her hand that she hadn't started eating. Hattie took it from her and threw it away

too.

After clearing up, Hattie said, "I didn't do it on purpose. To show how sorry | am, I'll make a new one, and this

time, | won't mess it up!

"Mr. White, can | use your kitchen? I'll start over right away!"

With that, Hattie went to the kitchen with a servant.

Violeta leaned back in her chair, watching Hattie rush off. Something felt strange.

If she remembered correctly, in the previous life, Hattie had mentioned on a cooking show that she often cooked

for herself since her mother was always busy. Would someone with cooking experience really mix up salt with

sugar?

Probably not.

Violeta sat on the sofa, lost in thought.

Boom-

Right then, lightning flashed outside, illuminating the sky.

Violeta smirked slightly. "It's pouring rain and storming outside, yet you still risked getting struck by lightning to

bring us cake. That's sdedication."

Benson said, "Actually, the weather wasn't this bad when we were coming over."

Violeta blinked, not responding.

Waiting in the living room while Hattie remade the cake was getting boring.

Violeta was the first to stand up and head upstairs. "Bro, I'm going up."

"Okay."

Hayden and the others followed her upstairs, leaving only Niall and Benson in the living room.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

Niall relaxed on the sofa, his arm resting casually over the side.

After a moment of quiet, he realised he didn't have much to chat about with Benson. But since he was the host,

leaving his guest alone in the living room would be impolite. So, he awkwardly shifted the conversation to

academics.

"You study at Toland University too, right?"

Benson nodded. "Yeah, | do."

"What's your major?"

"Acting. But next semester, I'll be studying overseas."

"Studying abroad? That's cool."

Niall knew Benson was aiming for an advantage by studying overseas, but he didn't let on.

Benson smiled politely. "Mr. White, | hope you can offersguidance when | cback."

Niall replied, "Guidance might be a stretch, but we'll see how things go."

He worked in oil and gas, which was said to be the lifeblood of industry.

Although the Ridge family's business was different from his own, Niall couldn't dismiss them entirely.

He had to be polite.

Just then, a servant cto the rescue. "Sir, the phone upstairs is ringing."

"Okay. Make yourself at home. | have to take a call."

"Sure thing, Mr. White."

Niall got up and headed upstairs.

Benson watched him leave, then went toward the kitchen.

Hattie had already put the cake batter in the oven.

Seeing Benson enter, she whispered, "Benson, is the rain getting heavier outside?"

"Yeah."

Hattie smiled triumphantly. "Looks like my plan worked."

When they came, the storm wasn't that bad.

Hattie had bet that by the tthey left, the wind and rain would pick up, with lightning and thunder making it

too risky for them to go back to the small house. Niall likely wouldn't let them leave in such conditions out of

respect for Carl.

This would give them a good reason to stay at the estate!

Even if it was just for one night, that night was crucial.

When the servants weren't watching, Hattie discreetly took a small bottle from her sleeve.

The bottle was pink and had ssuggestive words on it, clearly indicating it wasn't something proper.

Benson's expression changed slightly when he saw the bottle. "Hattie, where did you get that?"

Chapter 164 Where Did You Get That

Jasper agreed. "Yeah, it's such a waste of good ingredients."

Hattie felt a bit embarrassed by their remarks. "It can't be that terrible, can it?"

Zoren suggested, "Why not taste it yourself?"

Niall hadn't tried the cake yet. After hearing their comments, he wasn't keen on trying it anymore.

Hattie, acting a bit shy, took a small bite with her fork, and her expression changed right away.

"It's so salty! | must've accidentally used salt instead of sugar. I'm really sorry, everyone... It was my mistake."

Jasper remarked, "How could you mess up such a simple cake? Are you trying to make us sick with this salty

mess?" Hattie hurriedly waved her hands. "No. Mr. White, | really didn't do it on purpose. Please don't

misunderstand.

"Don't eat it. I'll toss it away!"

Hattie stood up and threw the whole cake into the trash.

Violeta still had half a piece in her hand that she hadn't started eating. Hattie took it from her and threw it away

too.

After clearing up, Hattie said, "I didn't do it on purpose. To show how sorry | am, I'll make a new one, and this

time, | won't mess it up!

"Mr. White, can | use your kitchen? I'll start over right away!"

With that, Hattie went to the kitchen with a servant.

Violeta leaned back in her chair, watching Hattie rush off. Something felt strange.

If she remembered correctly, in the previous life, Hattie had mentioned on a cooking show that she often cooked

for herself since her mother was always busy. Would someone with cooking experience really mix up salt with

sugar?

Probably not.

Violeta sat on the sofa, lost in thought.

Boom-

Right then, lightning flashed outside, illuminating the sky.

Violeta smirked slightly. "It's pouring rain and storming outside, yet you still risked getting struck by lightning to

bring us cake. That's sdedication."

Benson said, "Actually, the weather wasn't this bad when we were coming over."

Violeta blinked, not responding.

Waiting in the living room while Hattie remade the cake was getting boring.

Violeta was the first to stand up and head upstairs. "Bro, I'm going up."

"Okay."

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

Hayden and the others followed her upstairs, leaving only Niall and Benson in the living room.

Niall relaxed on the sofa, his arm resting casually over the side.

After a moment of quiet, he realised he didn't have much to chat about with Benson. But since he was the host,

leaving his guest alone in the living room would be impolite. So, he awkwardly shifted the conversation to

academics.

"You study at Toland University too, right?"

Benson nodded. "Yeah, | do."

"What's your major?"

"Acting. But next semester, I'll be studying overseas."

"Studying abroad? That's cool."

Niall knew Benson was aiming for an advantage by studying overseas, but he didn't let on.

Benson smiled politely. "Mr. White, | hope you can offersguidance when | cback."

Niall replied, "Guidance might be a stretch, but we'll see how things go."

He worked in oil and gas, which was said to be the lifeblood of industry.

Although the Ridge family's business was different from his own, Niall couldn't dismiss them entirely.

He had to be polite.

Just then, a servant cto the rescue. "Sir, the phone upstairs is ringing."

"Okay. Make yourself at home. | have to take a call."

"Sure thing, Mr. White."

Niall got up and headed upstairs.

Benson watched him leave, then went toward the kitchen.

Hattie had already put the cake batter in the oven.

Seeing Benson enter, she whispered, "Benson, is the rain getting heavier outside?"

"Yeah."

Hattie smiled triumphantly. "Looks like my plan worked."

When they came, the storm wasn't that bad.

Hattie had bet that by the tthey left, the wind and rain would pick up, with lightning and thunder making it

too risky for them to go back to the small house. Niall likely wouldn't let them leave in such conditions out of

respect for Carl.

This would give them a good reason to stay at the estate!

Even if it was just for one night, that night was crucial.

When the servants weren't watching, Hattie discreetly took a small bottle from her sleeve.

The bottle was pink and had ssuggestive words on it, clearly indicating it wasn't something proper.

Benson's expression changed slightly when he saw the bottle. "Hattie, where did you get that?"