THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 406: I’ve Had Enough

Dolly blinked, clearly taken aback by the complexity of his order. Her enthusiasm dimmed for a split second before she plastered on a wide, determined smile. "Of course, darling. That sounds... wonderful. I’ll get right on it."

As she turned and made her way to the kitchen, Steffan allowed himself a small, satisfied smirk.

He could hear the clatter of pots and pans, Dolly muttering under her breath as she tried to remember the steps to each dish.

She had never been much of a cook, and he knew this meal would be a challenge for her. Exactly as he intended.

With Dolly occupied, Steffan leaned back in his chair, finally able to breathe without the oppressive weight of her presence. He so needed this moment to regain some level of sanity.

The scent of burnt butter wafted through the air, followed by a loud curse from the kitchen.

Steffan stifled a chuckle, listening as Dolly scrambled to salvage whatever she was attempting to cook.

But the clattering grew louder, and he could only imagine the chaos unfolding in the kitchen.

After a few minutes, Dolly reappeared, her face flushed and hair disheveled. "I might need a little more time," she said, laughing nervously. "The soufflé didn’t quite turn out, but I’m sure the lamb will be perfect."

Steffan gave her a supportive nod, his expression carefully neutral without saying anything.

Dolly’s smile wavered as she headed back to the kitchen, clearly frazzled by the effort of keeping up appearances.

Steffan knew she was desperate to hold onto whatever illusion she had created, and he was more than willing to let her tire herself out trying.

As he listened to the sounds of her struggle... pots clanging and oven doors slamming shut, Steffan reveled in this rare moment.

He thought of Lauren again, her calming presence the opposite of the madness he was enduring now.

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and letting his mind wander to the life that awaited him beyond Dolly’s fabricated lies.

A life where he wouldn’t have to lie, where he could be with the woman he truly loved and his loving and supportive family.

The sound of Dolly’s frustrated yell broke through his thoughts, followed by a loud crash.

Steffan opened his eyes, smirking at the inevitability of her failure which was a mirror image of the life she’d live after now. But he knew at the moment, Dolly would never admit defeat, though. She’d fight to keep him bound to himself.

"Dinner will be ready soon!" He heard her call from the kitchen, after about thirty minutes since he heard the crashing sound. Her voice sounded strained but still clinging to a veneer of cheerfulness.

Steffan leaned back, crossing his arms as he watched the doorway. "Humph," he coldly replied, careful not to overdo it with his enthusiasm, lest Dolly suspects anything from his sudden change in attitude.

She didn’t reply, likely too engrossed in her culinary battle, and Steffan couldn’t help but smile.

He glanced at his phone, checking the time. It had been over two hours since Dolly first disappeared into the kitchen, and from the sound of it, she was still struggling.

He could hear the faint whirring of the blender, the sizzle of something frying, and another string of muffled curses when something inevitably went wrong.

He stretched out his legs, enjoying the silence of the dining room compared to the chaotic storm in the kitchen.

His patience was wearing thin, but he knew that every minute Dolly spent in there was another minute of freedom for him... She could stay there all night for all he cared.

Finally, Dolly emerged, balancing a tray that looked precariously close to tipping over.

Her face was flushed, and beads of sweat clung to her forehead. She forced a smile, setting the tray down on the table with a clatter.

"There we go! Dinner is served," she announced, a strained cheerfulness in her voice.

Steffan eyed the dishes and refrained from turning up his nose in disgust. The dinner was a mix of burnt edges and half-cooked messes.

The lamb which was supposed to be the centerpiece of the meal, looked more like an overdone roast, its once promising aroma now tainted by the scent of char.

The shrimp bisque was a pale, lumpy concoction, and the soufflé... a deflated, sunken disaster that resembled scrambled eggs more than a delicate dessert.

"It looks... interesting," Steffan said, raising an eyebrow as he picked up his fork. He could see the exhaustion in Dolly’s eyes, but she was determined not to let it show.

"Yes, well, it’s not exactly what I hoped for, but I’m sure it’s still delicious!" Dolly chirped, though her voice cracked slightly.

She settled into her chair opposite him, watching expectantly as he took a cautious bite of the lamb.

Steffan chewed slowly, forcing down the tough meat. He kept his expression blank, giving no hint of the awful taste. "It’s... something," he said finally, setting his fork down. "Quite an effort."

Dolly’s smile faltered, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. "I... I’m sorry, I know it’s not perfect. But I wanted to make it special for you. I just wanted to satisfy you..."

Steffan looked at her, taking in the sincerity that was so often masked by her deceit and for a brief moment, he almost felt pity for her, which would have been quite the normal thing to feel if it were someone other than Dolly, after all she’d gone through such trouble to prepare dinner... It took her close to four hours to finally get this ’disaster’ called dinner ready.

But then, this was Dolly... she doesn’t deserve an ounce of pity from anyone... especially him whose life she had twisted so distortedly to suit her own selfish agenda. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Satisfy me?" he repeated softly, his gaze hardening. "Right," he nodded.

Dolly’s eyes searched his, trying to find a trace of the affection she was so desperately seeking. "I’m sorry it didn’t turn out the way you wanted," Dolly apologized again, "but I’ll try my best next time," he said with a pleading look.

Steffan leaned back, crossing his arms as he regarded her. "I’ve had enough," he said, all of a sudden, pushing the plate away. "I’m not hungry anymore."

Dolly’s face fell, her forced cheer giving way to frustration. "But, Steffan, I worked so hard..."

"I know," he cut her off, his voice cold. "And it’s still not enough."

For a moment, Dolly stared at him, her expression wavering between anger and hurt. She bit her lip, trying to keep her composure. "I’m trying," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Steffan stood up, turning his back to her as he walked to the window. He stared out, the night sky offering a quiet reprieve from the storm of emotions swirling in the room behind him.

"Try harder," he said flatly, not bothering to look back.

Dolly’s breath hitched, but she quickly composed herself. She stood up and started clearing the dishes with a rough clatter, her movements sharp and angry.

"You’ll see," she muttered under her breath, her back to Steffan as she collected the remnants of her failed dinner. "You’ll see what I’m capable of."