Chapter 512 - 508: The Taste of Home is My Favorite

Randall Jennings looked at Cecilia Sterling, a hint of reproach in his voice as he spoke. "Why didn’t you call me sooner? You didn’t have to actually get locked up."

Cecilia Sterling lowered her head and smiled sheepishly, then said, "It’s fine. Life is about the experience, right?"

"Wait, Mr. Jennings?" Felix Vance couldn’t help but interject, looking at Randall Jennings. "What about me?"

Through the iron bars, the sight of him clinging to the railings, combined with his shocked and frightened expression, was utterly comical.

Randall Jennings glanced at him and said coolly, "You, of course, will stay here and do some proper self-reflection."

With that, he led Cecilia Sterling out of the holding cell, one following the other.

Felix Vance shouted desperately and indignantly from behind them, "On what grounds? She slapped me twice!"

But the only response he received was the sound of the holding cell’s door closing again.

Back in the main hall of the police station, the officer who had handled the case reappeared. This time, the way he looked at Cecilia Sterling had clearly changed.

"Just sign here, and you’ll be free to go."

Cecilia Sterling complied, signed her name, and even said thank you. The officer gave an awkward, apologetic smile and secretly glanced at Randall Jennings.

Who in Cathay didn’t know Randall Jennings?

’No wonder the young lady was so bold earlier. She has connections to Randall Jennings. That explains everything.’

"Mr. Jennings, do you have any plans this evening?"

As they left the police station, Cecilia Sterling suddenly turned to Randall Jennings and asked.

Randall Jennings replied, "After I got your message, I wasn’t sure how complicated things were, so I didn’t schedule anything else afterward."

"In that case, Mr. Jennings, why don’t you come home with me? My mom should be cooking now. Let me express my gratitude for today with my mom’s cooking. I remember you couldn’t stop praising her skills."

Randall Jennings smiled at her words. He recalled that he had actually wanted to ask Ms. Sterling out to dinner yesterday, but she had said she was busy, so it never happened.

’I didn’t expect to have the chance to eat Ms. Sterling’s home-cooked food again today.’

"Alright, then I’ll gladly accept. Let’s get in the car."

Meanwhile, Jasmine Sterling was in her kitchen, braising beef ribs. As she cooked, she couldn’t help but continue to worry.

Her mind was so unsettled that she nearly burned her hand.

Just then, Yoda suddenly started barking in the living room. Hearing the sound, Jasmine Sterling quickly put down what she was doing and hurried out.

A strange black sedan slowly pulled in. Jasmine Sterling opened the door to greet them and saw her daughter getting out of the back seat from a distance.

Her face lit up with joy, but in the next moment, Randall Jennings stepped out from the other rear door.

"Mr. Jennings?"

Jasmine Sterling was surprised that her daughter had returned with Mr. Jennings. On second thought, she realized her daughter must have asked Mr. Jennings to "rescue her" from the police station.

"Mom, Mr. Jennings got me out of the police station. To show my thanks, I invited him over as a guest," Cecilia Sterling explained to her mother.

Jasmine Sterling nodded gratefully. "Of course, you should have. Thank you so much, Mr. Jennings."

"It was nothing," Randall Jennings said, glancing at the house before them. It felt surprisingly familiar, and after a moment of thought, he blurted out in realization, "So you’re the ones who bought this house?"

Cecilia Sterling was a bit surprised to hear this and asked, puzzled, "What do you mean by that, Mr. Jennings? Do you have some history with this house?"

"Not exactly. It’s just that when this neighborhood first opened, I was looking to buy a house for my nephew as a wedding gift. He had his eye on this particular one, but we couldn’t get it in the end, so we bought another."

Cecilia Sterling knew of Randall Jennings’s nephew—it was Kael Jennings, the one Estelle had been crushing on since they were kids. She had met him a couple of times.

"I got a good deal on it from someone else. The original owner happened to need money for an investment."

Randall Jennings smiled and nodded. "Then this house was meant to be yours."

Just then, Jasmine Sterling suddenly exclaimed, "Oh dear, my beef ribs are still simmering on the stove! Mr. Jennings, don’t just stand outside. Please, come in and have a seat."

With that, she turned and hurried back through the main door.

Randall Jennings smiled at her retreating figure, then followed Cecilia Sterling into the villa.

For dinner, Jasmine Sterling made Braised Beef Ribs, Poached Calamari, Spicy Shredded Pork, Scrambled Eggs with Toona, and Baby Cabbage in Superior Stock.

It was a spread of four dishes and a soup, with a diverse range of flavors and a rich variety of colors.

Randall Jennings washed his hands and took a seat. Looking at the delicious spread that was a feast for the eyes and nose, he couldn’t help but say, "It’s been so long since I’ve had a home-cooked meal like this. I really miss it sometimes."

Jasmine Sterling personally served him a bowl of rice. "If you like it, please eat your fill. Don’t be polite."

Cecilia Sterling, however, heard his words and asked curiously, "Don’t you have a housekeeper, Mr. Jennings?"

A busy person like him would usually have a housekeeper and a chef to take care of daily life.

But Randall Jennings just smiled and shook his head. "No, I don’t like having strangers in the house."

"Then how do you manage meals when you’re at home?"

"My secretary orders takeout for me."

"Huh?" Jasmine Sterling blinked in slight surprise. "You eat takeout at home?"

Seeing the mother and daughter’s reaction, Randall Jennings nodded without hesitation. "Yes, I’m used to it. For me, a lot of the time, eating is just about filling my stomach. When you eat too much takeout, you lose interest in food. That’s why I’m always so happy whenever I get to eat Ms. Sterling’s cooking. The taste of a home-cooked meal is just different from what you get outside."

For him, dishes from high-end restaurants were the norm; a home-cooked meal like this was something to be cherished.

"Since it’s such a rare treat, you must eat more today," Jasmine Sterling said, using the serving chopsticks to place a piece of beef rib on Randall Jennings’s plate with great care.

"Then I won’t hold back," Randall Jennings said, picking up his chopsticks and digging in.

Just then, Jasmine Sterling finally had a moment to ask her daughter, "Why did you rush back? Where are Blair and the others?"

Cecilia Sterling explained, "I was hiking on Mount Providence this morning when I got the news. I went straight to the airport to catch the next flight back. After landing, I went directly to the store. Your employees told me you were at the police station, so I rushed over. Blair wanted to come with me, but I didn’t let them. They’re still in Jovar."

Jasmine Sterling nodded in understanding. "It wasn’t a big deal. You’ve interrupted your vacation for nothing."

"Not a big deal?" Cecilia Sterling’s expression darkened. "That Felix Vance dared to throw paint on the store today. There’s no guarantee he won’t dare to throw acid on someone in the future."

She looked at her mother seriously and said, "Mom, it’s true that Mr. Vance is a very good person, and I also think you two are a great match. But his son’s reaction to your relationship is so extreme. I think you should just call it off."

This was a very practical problem. Finn Vance couldn’t possibly sever ties with his own son, so as long as Felix Vance stood between them, would they ever have a moment’s peace in the future?