Chapter 10
Gregory had most likely gone to see Natalie last night.
Anathea remained calm as ever. It was just as well that she wouldn’t have to think about how to deal with Gregory anymore. She also wouldn’t need to hear his mean and hurtful words. Her mood improved significantly at the thought.
Giving Natalie a slight nod, she replied, “Good morning.”
Natalie was taken aback and shot her a strange, puzzled look. Anathea, however, simply went downstairs.
Since she’d declared the night before that she wouldn’t be cooking, a new chef, Thomas Morgenstein, had been brought in to prepare breakfast for them. However, since he was new, he didn’t know their preferences and could only make them a standard
breakfast.
“I don’t want these!” Xander kicked up a fuss. “I want the shrimp and zucchini oatmeal pancakes that Mom makes!”
“Uh…” Thomas was somewhat at a loss. “W–What pancakes?”
Those pancakes were something Anathea had specially whipped up to coax Xander into having a balanced diet.
Just a few days ago, he’d complained about getting tired of them and asked her to make something different. Yet now, he was throwing a fit, demanding them again.
“I’ll learn how to make them and prepare them for you tomorrow. How about that?” Thomas coaxed patiently.
“I don’t care! I want them now!” Xander went as far as shedding a few tears.
“Xander.” Gregory set down his tablet and glanced at him.
Xander cowered slightly in fear under the pressure of Gregory’s gaze. He sniffled his reddened nose pitifully and trudged up to
Anathea. “Mom, can you make some for me?”
Anathea paused with her spoon in midair.
Gregory shot her a sidelong glance. She’d never turned down Xander’s requests before. No matter how difficult they were, she’d
always done her best to fulfill them, all out of fear that he would get upset and cry.
But now, she took another spoonful of oatmeal and ate it unhurriedly. Thomas had decent skills–the oatmeal was exceptionally
thick and creamy.
“Mom…” Xander blinked as he whined.
Anathea always gave in easily, especially when he wanted something from her. All it took was a few words from him, and she’d
give the world to him.
But this time, Anathea only told him gently, “Xander, you need to go to school today. You’ll be late if we wait for the pancakes to
be made.”
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Chapter D
Then, she brought the bowl of oatmeal Thomas had made and placed it in front of Xander. “Here. The oatmeal tastes good too.
Have some.”
At that, Xander began to pout. All of a sudden, he shouted angrily, “I don’t want this!” He flung out his hand, knocking the entire bowl over. The steaming contents of the bowl spilled onto Anathea’s hand.
She instantly drew in a sharp breath at the sudden pain and stared at him in shock.
Xander burst into tears as he’d also scalded himself after touching the bowl.
“Xander!” Natalie quickly stood up to check on Xander. “How is it? Does it hurt?”
“Ow! It hurts a lot!” Xander wailed even louder and pointed at Anathea as he protested amidst sobs, “Mom is mean! I don’t want
her to be my mom! Can you get rid of her, Dad?”
Anathea felt a pang of pain deep down as she held her scalded hand.
Noticing Xander’s incessant crying, Gregory’s gaze turned frosty. “Try making another scene and see what happens.”
Xander quickly held back his tears and refrained from wailing loudly. However, he still kept sobbing, looking utterly wronged.
“Don’t be so harsh on him, Greg. You’re scaring him,” Natalie said.
Gregory fell silent for a moment when he heard that. Then, he stepped forward and picked Xander up. He took on a gentler tone,
but still, his words left no room for negotiation. “I’ll send you to school first. Then, we can get the chef to make you whatever you
want and send it over later.”
Xander had always been afraid of Gregory, so he could only nod. “Okay.”
Burying his head into Gregory’s shoulder, he muttered, “Dad, let’s hurry up and go. I don’t want to see Mom.”
Gregory said nothing and simply looked at Anathea. His gaze darkened with dissatisfaction, as though she’d done something
unforgivable by refusing Xander’s request.
Anathea stood there wordlessly. The air grew tense.
“Greg, I’m going to the company too. Let’s go together.” Natalie spoke up, breaking up the tension in the air.
It was only then that Gregory looked away from Anathea. He strode away with Xander in his arms, Natalie following close behind
them.
From a distance, they looked like a family of three heading out together.
Only after their figures had disappeared did Anathea frown and quickly walk to the sink, running cold water over her scalded
hand.
“Mrs. Sinclair…” Thomas approached her respectfully.
He looked quite young and somewhat familiar. Anathea suddenly recalled where she’d seen him before. “You’re the chef from the
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Chapter 10
Sinclair residence?”
She’d seen him before at a Sinclair family banquet. He’d stood out from among the group of older chefs due to his youth.
IS DUBIUS
“Yes.” Thomas nodded before he continued, “Mr. Sinclair said that he needed a chef here, so Mrs. Sinclair Senior arranged for me to come. My name is Thomas Morgenstein. You can just call me Tom.”
As he spoke, he pulled out a tube of salve and handed it to Anathea. “You should apply some of this to the burn, or it might leave a
scar.”
Anathea hesitated momentarily. Then, seeing the cautious look on his face, she gave him an amiable smile and took the salve
from him. “Thank you.”
The cooling sensation from the salve indeed soothed the burning pain.
While Anathea applied the salve, Thomas silently cleaned up the mess on the table with a dejected look in his eyes. After all, every
chef hoped that their food was enjoyed.
Anathea, too, used to have such hopes in the past. She’d tried every possible way to whip up new dishes for Gregory and Xander,
all in hopes that they’d give her some praise.
Unfortunately, Xander was the only one who would occasionally give her some positive feedback. As for Gregory, he’d never given
form of feedback at all. It was as though eating her food was just a routine–there was no value to it. ́
her
any
When Anathea returned the tube of salve to Thomas, she said objectively, “The oatmeal you made was actually very good.”
It was just that Xander was fussy with his food.
“Really?” Thomas‘ eyes lit up at the affirmation.
Anathea nodded. “It’s just that you probably went a bit over the top with the cinnamon. It would be better if you cut down on it.a
little.”
“Thank you for the advice, Mrs. Sinclair. I’ll remember that.” Thomas nodded in all seriousness before he asked, “I need to make
the shrimp and zucchini oatmeal pancakes and send them over for Mr. Xander later. Could you please teach me how to make
them?”
Anathea hesitated briefly. But after a moment’s thought, she thought that if she taught Thomas everything she knew, Xander
wouldn’t cling to her or throw tantrums anymore.
“Sure.” She agreed readily and listed all of Gregory’s and Xander’s food preferences for Thomas.
By the time he was done properly going through the information and preparing lunch, it was almost 11:30 am.
“Oh no, I need to send Mr. Xander the pancakes, but I haven’t sent Mr. Sinclair his lunch either!” Thomas appeared flustered.
What made things worse was that Gregory’s company and Xander’s school weren’t close. He wouldn’t be able to make it in time to deliver both.
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Gregory had a strong sense of punctuality, and Xander would throw a fit if he had to wait. Feeling stumped, Thomas looked to
Anathea for help.
“I’ll send one of them for you.”
She was partially to blame for the delay, after all. Besides, it just so happened that she had some errands to run.
“Thank you, Mrs. Sinclair!” Thomas thanked her profusely.
“You’re welcome.”
Anathea had originally planned to deliver the pancakes to Xander, but then she recalled his earlier words about not wanting to see
her.
After giving things some thought, she drove to Sinclair Group.
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