Chapter 318: Chapter 318: Knock Out and Carry Away
Usually, either the kitchen staff would bring her food, or she would just grab something to eat from her space. She didn’t cook.
So she didn’t have any serving plates or dishes at her place.
On the rare occasion she needed them, she would just take them out of her space.
’I can’t believe I forgot. If you’re having someone over to cook, you at least have to give them plates to serve the food on.’
So, after a moment’s thought, she said, "I don’t usually cook here. Just tell me how many dishes you need, and I’ll go get them."
"Forget it, forget it. I’ll just go get a bunch myself."
After saying this, Stella Sterling put down her phone and ran out.
A short while later, she came back in carrying a large basin full of bowls and chopsticks. Following right behind her was Basil Xavier.
It turned out that Basil Xavier had seen Stella Sterling while he was out walking around. He noticed her carrying a huge pile of tableware, and when he asked, he learned that Gordon Ford was actually going to cook in person.
So he had gleefully tagged along and followed her back.
He didn’t want to get caught in the middle of those two, afraid he’d accidentally offend one of them. The tension was always unbearable.
’But Gordon Ford is cooking in person! How could I possibly resist a temptation like that?’
Hearing the noise, Gordon Ford came out of the kitchen. He was about to offer a hand, but when he saw Basil Xavier standing there, he shot him a cool look. "Weren’t you out for a walk?"
"Yeah, but it’s almost dinnertime, isn’t it? So I came over. You can’t just ignore me, right?"
Basil Xavier said shamelessly. He glanced toward the kitchen and cried out in surprise, "You’re actually cooking! This is incredible! I’ve known you for so many years, how did I never know you could cook? Today, even if you served up a plate of shit, I’d still have to take a couple of bites just to try it!"
Hearing this, both Gordon Ford’s and Stella Sterling’s faces darkened as they stared at him grimly.
’What he just said was completely disgusting. Is he trying to ruin our appetites for dinner?’
Stella Sterling’s eyes narrowed. She was already mentally debating whether she should just knock him out and toss him outside.
Seeing their reactions, Basil Xavier gave a sheepish laugh. "Heh heh, I was just joking. Don’t take it so seriously. I was just... I was just really surprised, that’s all."
His voice trailed off mid-sentence, and his body suddenly crumpled to the floor.
Gordon Ford looked up, stunned, at Stella Sterling, who was standing right behind Basil Xavier.
A moment ago, Stella Sterling had knocked Basil Xavier out cold with a single chop to the neck.
Stella Sterling glanced at him. "He’s too childish, and what he said was disgusting. It was killing my appetite. A meal should be a pleasant experience, and to keep him from ruining it..."
Before Stella Sterling could finish, Gordon interrupted her. "You’re right. You did the right thing."
Hearing Gordon Ford agree with her, Stella Sterling nodded, then placed the basin she was holding into his hands.
With one hand, she hoisted Basil Xavier up. It looked completely effortless.
Basil Xavier was a tall man, over six feet, and weighed around 200 pounds. Yet Stella Sterling had lifted him as if he weighed nothing.
A flicker of astonishment crossed Gordon Ford’s eyes.
He’d heard Basil Xavier mention before that Stella Sterling was incredibly strong, but hearing about it wasn’t nearly as shocking as seeing it for himself.
Now, witnessing this firsthand, Gordon Ford was not only surprised but also a little worried.
When he first knew Stella Sterling, she had the strength of a normal person. She wasn’t born a Titan.
’A person’s strength can’t just increase so suddenly. Could she have taken some kind of drug or potion?’ The thought worried him.
Stella Sterling, oblivious to Gordon Ford’s thoughts, simply grabbed the back of Basil’s collar and started dragging him outside as if he were a sack of potatoes.
Seeing this, a strange thought popped into Gordon Ford’s head: he remembered the time he had been drugged and carried off.
’After she drugged me, did she carry me out just like this?’
’If so, I’ve made a complete fool of myself in front of Stella Sterling.’
He coughed lightly, pushing the bizarre image from his mind. Carrying the large basin of tableware, he went back into the kitchen and returned to his work.
Stella Sterling dragged Basil Xavier over to Stephen Lawrence’s place. Stephen’s room was close to hers, which made it convenient to find him whenever she needed something.
"Ma’am, what’s happened?" Stephen Lawrence asked, surprised. He had just been showing this man around a little while ago. Then the man had run into their boss and gone back with her.
’How could it be that just a short time later, the boss is dragging him out like this? Did he do something to piss her off?’
He asked, "Boss, should I send him away?"
"No need. Just keep an eye on him for now. Get him something to eat when he wakes up."
Although she had knocked Basil Xavier unconscious, she had held back.
She hadn’t used her full strength. If she had, with her power, that one chop could have easily taken Basil Xavier’s life.
She had used only a minuscule amount of force with that blow; Basil Xavier would wake up again soon.
Hearing this, Stephen Lawrence understood that things weren’t as he’d thought, and he nodded.
’Looks like the boss doesn’t want to get rid of him. She probably just found him annoying and wanted him out of the way.’
He shot Basil Xavier a sympathetic glance. ’The guy really can’t read a room.’
After leaving the man with Stephen Lawrence, Stella Sterling returned to her villa.
She wasn’t even close to the door when the aroma of cooking food wafted into her nose. She took a deep breath, then another, and suddenly felt her appetite surge.
Drawn in by the fragrant scent, Stella Sterling picked up her pace.
When she walked in, Gordon Ford was just carrying a dish out from the kitchen. He saw her and broke into a smile. "Just a few more dishes to go. Have a seat and wait, or you can start eating now if you’re hungry."
He set the dish on the table and hurried back into the kitchen.
Stella Sterling watched him go, a strange flutter in her chest.
’Gordon Ford, acting like this... he really does seem like the perfect househusband,’ she thought.
A curious thought popped into her head: the scene felt just like a wife coming home from a long day at work to find her husband had a warm meal waiting for her.
Stella Sterling couldn’t help but recall what Gordon Ford had said earlier—that he was willing to do chores for her. She gulped.
’A Gordon Ford like this... isn’t so bad after all.’
As the thought lingered, Stella Sterling shook her head. ’It’s too soon to be thinking about things like that.’
’Besides, two people can advance together. Why should one person be stuck at home?’
’She has her own path to shine on, and Gordon Ford has his. Neither of them should have their wings clipped for the sake of the other.’
