Chapter 4268

Chapter 4268

“Miss, good night.”

One by one, everyone wished Elora a good night before leaving.

Now that she was home safely and Tatum was with her, they felt reassured.

As the last person vanished into the night, Elora turned to face Tatum, who met her gaze.

Their eyes locked.

For a long moment, silence enveloped them.

Then, without hesitation, Tatum took her hand, pulled her into his arms, and held her tightly.

“Miss, I missed you so much,” he murmured. “These past two days have been miserable. I was worried—scared, even—that you’d be angry when you learned the truth. I feared you wouldn’t want to see me anymore, that what happened to my older brother might happen to me, too.

“I’ve kept so much from you. If you’re upset, I understand. You can be mad, yell at me, or even hit me if you want—just please don’t ignore me.”

He let out a heavy sigh.

“Since I began cooking, I’ve never gone a day without making at least two dishes. It’s become a part of me. But these past two days… I couldn’t bring myself to cook at all.

“When you’re not around, I lose my motivation. A chef who isn’t in the right mindset can’t create good food—it won’t look right, smell right, or taste right.”

Elora leaned into him, enveloped by the warmth of his embrace.

His arms felt safe, solid, and comforting.

This is what it feels like to have someone to rely on.

She listened to him ramble on, his voice low and familiar.

Finally, she looked up at him and softly said, “Didn’t I tell you on the phone? I’m not angry, and I’m not going to fire you. I understand—explanation or not.”

Raising her hands, she cupped his face and traced her fingers gently along his features.

“I’ve done a lot of thinking these past two days,” she admitted. “But more than anything, I kept thinking about you.”

“I think I really like you, Tatum. This is the first time I’ve genuinely liked a man in my life,” she admitted.

She paused, her voice becoming even softer.

“Your grandmother is wonderful—so warm and engaging. And your mom, your aunts… they were all so kind to me.”

Elora had talked extensively with Tania, subtly gauging her openness to Tatum potentially staying in Annenburg for the long term.

Tania’s response had taken her by surprise.

She simply stated, ‘Once a son grows up, he no longer belongs to his mother—he belongs to his wife. Wherever she is, that’s home for him. As long as he’s happy, I’ll be happy too.’

People often said that mothers-in-law could be difficult.

Yet Tania’s words affirmed what Old Lady York had told her: ‘I can make the decision.’

And now, Elora truly believed it.

Even though Old Lady York had long since retired, she remained the cornerstone of the York family. Her children and grandchildren held her in deep respect.

Elora couldn’t help but envy such a strong family dynamic.

Tatum’s expression softened. “My mom and my aunts really are amazing. So… what about me? Am I great, too? I was raised by my grandparents, you know. Their influence shaped who I am.”

Elora smiled. “If you weren’t, would I like you?”

Then, suddenly, she asked, “Did you make anything for a midnight snack? I couldn’t eat on the plane, and now I’m starving.”

She rarely ate this late.

But tonight, she wanted to.

Tatum felt a surge of concern.

Without hesitation, he picked her up and carried her toward the main house.

“I thought you might not eat properly on the plane, so I prepared something just in case.” His voice was gentle yet firm. “What about the past two days? Have you been eating enough?”

There had been times he wanted to catch a flight to be with her.

But he forced himself to stay.

He wanted to allow both of them time to reflect and gain clarity about their feelings. However, the idea of her being away and eating who knows what had troubled him. After all, Lee Johnson, the third young master of the Johnson family, was an exceptional chef. Given Elora’s particular tastes, Tatum wouldn’t be surprised if his grandmother shamelessly asked Lee to prepare meals for her.