The IVF Secret That Shook a Dynasty novel Chapter 405

Joseph had deliberately stepped away from work, driving all this way just to have lunch with her. The simple truth was that he couldn't shake the ache of compassion he felt for her. He wanted to be good to her, to heal her past with an abundance of tenderness and love, even if she herself had already moved on. It was something he simply felt compelled to do.

Seeing her now, laughing with a radiant smile that made her eyes sparkle, he couldn't help but smile back. The trip was worth it; he had achieved his goal.

The waiter began serving the courses. A classic French tasting menu was a marathon, often featuring six to ten courses from amuse-bouche to dessert, each one exquisitely small and delicate.

Vivica hadn’t grown up in a world of wealth and refinement, so she had no idea what to do with the intimidating row of cutlery laid out before her. Technically, each course had its own utensil, but from her perspective, the portions were so small they didn't require any at all. You could just pop them in your mouth.

So, for the amuse-bouche, she simply picked it up with her fingers and ate it in one bite. She had washed her hands, after all.

As she chewed, however, she glanced at the table next to them and saw other diners methodically using their knives and forks, slicing the tiny portions into even smaller pieces before elegantly lifting them to their mouths.

She swallowed, froze for a second, and then turned to Joseph. “Was that incredibly rude of me?”

Joseph smiled. “I ate mine in one bite, too.”

While he was well-versed in French dining etiquette, he found it mostly unnecessary. The ultimate purpose of a meal was to be sated; everything else was secondary. More importantly, he didn’t want to create any pressure for Vivica, so he was more than happy to be “rude” with her.

Vivica covered her mouth and laughed softly. “You’re not going to make fun of me for not knowing the rules?”

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