Sam noticed Angus staring at his phone for a long time.
"Mr. Romano, please stop watching and eat first," Sam said gently.
Angus didn't answer. His eyes stayed on the screen.
He watched Liesa for a while longer. Only after she finally left the rehab room did Angus shift his gaze to the dining table.
The lunch in front of him looked perfect. Every dish was delicate, balanced, and expensive. Even the tableware gleamed.
"I'm not hungry," Angus said coldly.
"Mr. Romano, you skipped breakfast as well. Please eat at least a little," Sam urged patiently.
Angus didn't even glance at him.
With a quiet sigh, Sam pushed Angus's wheelchair toward the bedroom.
They moved slowly through the hallway.
"How about I ask the kitchen to make some soup?" Sam suggested softly. "You could drink it after rehab this afternoon."
Angus remained silent. The silence itself was the answer.
Sam didn't dare push further. He helped Angus onto the bed and adjusted the blanket carefully.
Only after Angus closed his eyes did Sam leave the room.
Sam walked toward the staff dining hall in the back wing. By the time he arrived, lunch hour had already passed.
The dining hall was nearly empty.
At a glance, Sam spotted Liesa sitting alone at a table, eating.
Liesa noticed him immediately. She set down her chopsticks and waved with a bright smile.
When Sam approached, Liesa stood up politely.
"Mr. Summer, are you here for lunch too?" Liesa asked with a friendly smile.
"Yes," Sam replied warmly. "If you don't mind, may I sit here?"
Sam's expression remained perfectly polite. It was as if he had never seen the footage of Liesa rolling across the couch like a chaotic little gremlin.
Liesa glanced at the faint wrinkles beside his eyes.
She thought,
"Not at all. Please, Mr. Summer," Liesa said politely.
Liesa waited until Sam sat down before sitting again.
Liesa glanced at the empty table in front of him. Then she looked at the mountain of food on her own tray.
Liesa sighed quietly and didn't pick up her chopsticks.
Sam noticed the pause.
"Dr. Valtieri seems to have quite an appetite," Sam said with a mild smile, trying to start a conversation.
"Rehabilitation therapy takes a lot of energy," Liesa said tactfully.
Liesa glanced down at her tray—black pepper beef over rice, fries, a burger, and several pieces of fruit.
"It's surprisingly physical work," Liesa added calmly.
Liesa thought,
But that wasn't the only reason. Liesa knew her consciousness was linked to Angus's mind right now. She could eat as much as she liked here. Her real body outside wouldn't gain a single pound.
Sam, of course, had no idea.
Sam glanced at the mountain of food on Liesa's tray and sighed softly. "If only Mr. Romano had such a healthy appetite," Sam said with quiet regret.
"Is Mr. Romano not eating well?" Liesa asked, her voice carrying just the right amount of concern.
Sam shook his head helplessly. "Mr. Romano already ate very little before," Sam explained in a low voice. "After the car accident, it only got worse."
Sam sighed again. "We've hired countless chefs, but nothing seems to help."
"That won't work," Liesa said seriously. "Rehabilitation takes strength. If Angus Romano doesn't eat properly, he might not keep up later." Liesa spoke with concern.
But when Liesa spotted a maid approaching with food, her shoulders relaxed slightly.
She thought,
People raised with strict aristocratic manners rarely chatted endlessly at the table.
Sure enough, once the dishes were set down, Sam ended the conversation with a polite smile.
"Dr. Valtieri, you worked hard this morning," Sam said kindly. "Please enjoy your lunch."
"Of course," Liesa replied with a satisfied nod. She picked up her chopsticks and happily resumed eating.
Meanwhile, Angus didn't nap.
Angus leaned against the headboard, reading a German novel in its original language.
After a while, his gaze drifted toward the phone beside him.
Angus stared at the dark screen for a moment. Then he unlocked the phone and opened the house surveillance system.
The employee cafeteria appeared on the screen.
Angus immediately spotted Liesa. She sat across from Sam, eating enthusiastically. The joy on her face was impossible to hide.
Thirty seconds later, things changed.
In the video, Sam answered a phone call. Moments later, Liesa quickly set down her tray. She had eaten less than a third of the meal before hurrying out of the cafeteria.
A moment later, Sam's voice came through the landline speaker.
"Mr. Romano," Sam reported calmly, "Dr. Valtieri followed your instructions. She's gone to find the gardener."
Angus remained silent for a second.
"Did she say anything else?" Angus asked flatly.
"Dr. Valtieri seemed confused about being asked to pull weeds," Sam replied honestly and paused for a moment. "But after hearing that refusal would lead to dismissal, Dr. Valtieri left immediately."
Angus ended the call without another word.
Angus stared thoughtfully at the surveillance screen. The cafeteria camera still ran, but Liesa had already disappeared from view.