Chapter 23

Noelle looked earnest, like what she said wasn't a joke, but Maxwell laughed.

"Come on. I brought back a pastry chef from abroad. I think you'll like his cakes," he said as he led Noelle forward.

He was the star of the party, so most people at the party had their eyes on him.

Maxwell seemed unaffected. He led Noelle to the buffet table and handed her a mini cake. He looked like a little kid, showing his friends his favorite dessert.

He did not mind the stares, but Noelle couldn't ignore them. She stared at the cake for a moment before taking it. "You're being too obvious," she said.

Maxwell raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"

"You're trying to use me as a shield, aren't you?" Noelle said, taking a small mouthful of the cake.

It had been some time since she last had cake. They had personal chefs at Nivis Villa, but they never baked cakes.

Cakes weren't a popular dessert amongst the upper class. The confectionery was just something for specific occasions, more for the sense of ritual than