Chapter 418
Donald inhaled deeply, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee hanging in the air like an inviting cloud. His mind was buzzing with anticipation..
For a connoisseur like him, the scent alone was enough to judge the quality of the coffee beans. And with that unique coffee tin… there was no doubt about it. This brew had to be from his prized collection.
His gaze settled on the steaming cup of coffee with its caramel crema, and he was utterly baffled. How on earth did his special blend end up
here?
With trembling hands, he lifted the cup and took a tentative sip. The full–bodied flavor enveloped his taste buds, and although it should have tasted heavenly, it felt as bitter as quinine on his tongue. It was enough to make him want to cry.
Shawn, oblivious to Donald’s turmoil, savored his own sip and, after a moment of reflection, praised the coffee with closed eyes, “Smooth with a hint of chocolate and a touch of nuttiness. This aged blend is truly a delight.”
Hearing Shawn’s comments twisted the knife in Donald’s gut. Delightful, indeed. He had gone to such lengths to acquire and age this blend for seven or eight years, and it was too precious for him to even consider drinking himself!
As Shawn refilled his own cup and noticed Donald’s was empty, he topped it off and casually inquired, “Donald, what do you make of this coffee?”
Donald’s hand shook again as he forced a thin smile. “It’s quite… quite good…”
After a few seconds, Donald’s eyes landed on the coffee tin on the table, and he asked, “Where did you pick up this fine blend, if I may ask?”
A paternal smile spread across Shawn’s face as he glanced at Mirabella, who was curled up on the couch, scrolling through her phone. “Oh, it wasn’t bought. It was a gift from one of Mira’s friends.”
At that, Donald felt like exploding. The nerve of some people, using his coffee to curry favor.
He knew it! On his last visit to Riverdale, that brat hadn’t bothered to stop by the family home. Now, it was clear he had something to hide.
“I’ll be sure to send you back home with some. It’s not a large batch, but it’s perfect for an occasional indulgence,” Shawn offered politely.
Donald, struggling to maintain his composure, shook his head in refusal. “No, no, a gentleman doesn’t take away someone else’s treasure. I’m already fortunate enough to have had a taste today.”
At the mention of ‘a gentleman, Mirabella looked up from her phone and cast a dismissive
glance at Donald. If he were truly a gentleman, he wouldn’t be here causing trouble in her home.
Donald continued to sip his coffee, the heartache rendering him too distracted to engage in much conversation with Shawn. Finally unable to contain his anger, Donald pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and tapped out a message with deliberate slowness.
[You little brat, you’re in for it now!]
With that, he turned off his phone.
Next door, James read the message half an hour later.
“Judging by the content, Donald must have been in a state of extreme rage when he sent this,” Wyatt analyzed solemnly, holding James‘ phone.
After placing the phone down, he asked, “Sir, what have you done today to get under Donald’s skin?”
James cast a brief glance at him, “Did you find him?”
“No… not yet,” Wyatt admitted, scratching his head.
Well, if they hadn’t found him, James couldn’t have done something to upset Donald. B why would Donald suddenly send such a message?
Wyatt was stumped. He turned to Curtis, who was standing nearby, and after a moment’s thought, suggested, “Curtis, can you trace where Donald sent that message from?”
