I couldn't believe my ears at first, but when I saw Cecily hesitating awkwardly, I realized Lucius' invitation was genuine—though perhaps just a courtesy? I didn't want to make things uncomfortable unnecessarily, so I politely declined, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Albrecht, but I still have some work to handle. Next time, I'll treat you."

Lucius wasn’t backing down. "Even the busiest person needs to eat, right?" His tone shifted, becoming almost insistently higher-pitched, as if ...