Though she loved steak, she wasn't adept at cutting it and found herself wrestling with the meat.

As she struggled with the second slice, her plate was suddenly replaced with one bearing a perfectly sliced steak.

Lifting her gaze, Lilah met Gerard's eyes. He said gently, “Please enjoy the steak I've prepared for you."

“You're always so considerate. Do you ever worry that I'll become too accustomed to your kindness and grow spoiled?"

"That's exactly what I want." Gerard's smile, combined with the depth in his eyes, exuded an irresistible allure.

Lilah bit her lip Lightly, redirecting her focus to the steak before her. Each bite was succulent and rich in flavor.

Soon, Gerard's phone buzzed with a new message. After reading it, he briefed Lilah on the recent events surrounding the suicide of the killer and shared some relevant data.

“Here are the domestic companies capable of hiring such killers."

Lilah perused the list, which contained over 50 names. While some companies were unfamiliar, others she recognized from the media. None, however, had direct ties to her.

“I've never had dealings with any of these people, nor am I acquainted with their children."

Gerard reassured her, "There's no need for alarm. It's not a given that they're after you. They might be attempting to manipulate me."

A lightbulb went off in Lilah's head.

“That makes sense," she murmured. "Is your life always so fraught with danger?"

“As a child, kidnapping attempts were almost a monthly ordeal for me,"

Gerard shared nonchalantly. His detached demeanor belied the gravity of his words, causing a pang of concern in Lilah.

The illustrious facade of the wealthy often hid violent, bloodstained realities.

Capturing the worry in her eyes, Gerard added, “However, as I grew older, few had dared to cross me."

"You've certainly earned that reputation as the formidable force in the business world," Lilah commented with a playful grin.

"And what do you think?" Gerard inquired.

Pondering for a moment, Lilah responded with a shy smile, "I've found that there's much more to you than meets the eye. Getting to know you has only made me appreciate you more."

"If that's the case, perhaps I should ensure you get to know even more of me," Gerard suggested with a sultry undertone in his voice.

Lilah was momentarily taken aback, feeling a flirtatious charge in his words. She mentally chided herself, thinking she might be reading too much into his comment.

Just then, a familiar silhouette caught her attention.

Given the restaurant's intimate ambiance tailored for couples, the lighting was low. Had Lilah not encountered Adaline earlier that day, she might've missed her.