hapter 239: Made It Worthwhile
With the two containers secured in hand, Damien followed Mr. Lawson back into the main café.
By now, the last remaining customers had already left. The front door had been locked, and the OPEN sign
had been switched off.
Near the counter, Emily was mopping the floor while James awkwardly helped stack a few chairs onto
nearby tables.
Mr. Lawson chuckled.
“Looks like everyone has been put to work.”
James immediately set down the chair in his hands.
“I figured helping was better than just standing around and watching.”
The older man’s eyes twinkled with amusement.
“Well, thank you, young man. We appreciate the help.”
James smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.
“Least I can do to make up for the rather persuasive phone call earlier.”
That earned a laugh from Mr. Lawson.
Still smiling, he walked behind the counter and pulled out a large paper bag from beneath it.
“Here,” he said as he opened it. “Let’s pack those properly. It’ll be easier to carry.”
Damien handed over the containers without objection.
The older man carefully arranged them inside the bag before securing them in place. He then grabbed a
cardboard drink carrier and placed the coffee inside as well.
“There.”
He gave the bag a satisfied nod.
“Much better. No spilled coffee and no crushed cheesecake.”
Damien reached for the bag and accepted it. Then he reached for his wallet, pulled out a card, and handed
it to the older man.
Mr. Lawson looked at the card.
“What’s that for?”
Damien blinked.
“For the cheesecake.”
Chapter 239 Made !! Worthwhile
The older man laughed and shook his head.
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“The cheesecake I gave you wasn’t on display, which means it wasn’t for sale or part of today’s inventory.
So don’t worry about it.
Damien was about to protest when Mr. Lawson cut him off.
“But-”
“No buts about it, young man.” He pointed a finger at him. “Take that card away before I take the
cheesecake away too.”
Damien didn’t argue any further and did as he was told.
A genuine smile appeared on Damien’s face.
“Thank you,” he said sincerely.
“Of course.” Mr. Lawson smiled warmly. “Now go on. Cheesecake is best enjoyed cold, and I have a feeling
there’s someone very special at home who’s been waiting for that slice.”
Damien nodded in understanding.
“Thank you again, and I’d also like to apologize for the trouble.”
Mr. Lawson waved a hand dismissively.
“Think nothing of it.”
Then a mischievous smile appeared on his face.
“Though next time, bring your wife with you.”
Emily nodded enthusiastically.
“That’s right, Mr. Blackwood. That way she’ll actually get to enjoy the cheesecake while it’s fresh. Besides, Mr. Horton mentioned she used to be a barista too. No wonder your order earlier was so specific.”
She grinned.
“Maybe she can teach me a thing or two.”
For a moment, Damien considered the suggestion before giving a small nod.
“I’ll ask her.”
The older man smiled approvingly.
“Good. We’d be happy to have the two of you.”
“And we’d love the opportunity to meet your wife as well,” Damien said.
Mr. Lawson’s smile widened.
“Oh, I’m sure she’d love that.”
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Chapter 239 Made It Worthwhile
With the paper bag secured in hand, Damien glanced around the café one final time.
“The mismatched furniture.
The well–worn bookshelf.
The warm lighting.
The lingering scent of coffee and baked goods.
Claim
For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, the small neighborhood café felt a little warmer than it had when he
first walked in.
Then again, perhaps it wasn’t the café.
Perhaps it was the people.
Not wanting to keep them any longer, Damien exchanged a final word of thanks before heading for the
exit.
Emily and Mr. Lawson walked them to the door and even stepped outside to see them off.
After one last round of farewells, Damien climbed into the vehicle.
As it pulled away from the curb, he glanced out the window.
Emily and Mr. Lawson were still standing outside the café.
Both raised a hand in farewell, genuine smiles on their faces as they watched the vehicle disappear into
the night.
By the time the vehicle entered the estate grounds, it was well past nine o’clock.
The lights inside the main residence were still on.
Damien glanced out the window before lowering his gaze to the paper bag resting beside him.
It was well past dinner time.
He had promised Maya he would be home in time for dinner.
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Instead, he had lost track of time at the electronics store and spent far longer at the café than he had
anticipated.
He could only hope Maya wasn’t upset about it.
When the vehicle finally came to a stop in front of the manor, Damien gave a brief instruction.
“Bring everything in.”
“Yes, Sir.”
James responded immediately before stepping out and opening the rear passenger door.
Damien exited the vehicle with the paper bag in hand and headed toward the residence while James
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Chapter 230 Made it Worthwhile
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made his way to the trunk. The driver joined him, and together they began unloading the shopping bags
and boxes.
As he stepped into the manor’s foyer, he was greeted by the usual evening quiet. However, he noticed the lights in the dining hall were still on, and the sound of conversation drifted from within.
Damien headed in that direction.
As he stepped into the room, he found Maya seated at the table alongside Charles, Eleanor, and Dominic,
each with a cup of tea in front of them.
Nick was there as well.
The conversation gradually died down as they noticed his arrival.
It was Nick who spotted him first, having chosen a seat that faced the entrance.
“Oh, finally. The man of the hour has arrived.” He glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner. “What
happened to seven o’clock? Don’t tell me you were working overtime.”
“None of your business,” Damien replied.
Ignoring him entirely, he continued toward Maya.
She rose from her seat the moment he approached.
“Hey.”
Damien leaned down and pressed a kiss against her cheek.
“Have you eaten?” Maya asked. “I can have something warmed up for you.”
“No need. They’ll take care of it.”
His gaze shifted toward Alfred, who stood quietly nearby.
Understanding immediately, Alfred inclined his head.
“Of course, Sir.”
With that, Alfred excused himself and headed toward the kitchen.
“As promised.” Damien lifted the paper bag slightly. “Here you go.”
Maya’s eyes widened, and a genuine smile immediately appeared on her face.
“You really got them?”
“Of course I did.”
Damien leaned down, pressed a kiss against her forehead, and whispered near her ear.
“And I have evidence.”
That earned a laugh from Maya.
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Chapter 239 Krede !! Worthwhile
“Evidence?”
“You specifically requested proof,” he reminded her.
The amusement in her eyes deepened.
“I did, didn’t I?”
“You did.” Damien nodded toward the table. “Come on. Sit down and enjoy it. Although I’m not entirely
convinced you should be drinking coffee this late.
Maya accepted the bag from him and chuckled.
“Don’t worry. I’m used to it. Caffeine doesn’t affect me the way it affects most people.”
Claim
For some reason, the sight of her smiling over something as simple as coffee and cheesecake made the entine evening feel worthwhile.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.