Chapter 13
“No, I’m visiting Grandma Fiona.”
Anathea adjusted the camera. Fiona seemed to have woken up. She was leaning against the bed as she waved at Xander. “Hi,
Xander…”
“Grandma Fiona!” Xander greeted in a sweet voice. Fiona would often sneak him some of his favorite snacks, so he was quite
close to her.
However, Fiona was always ill, so Brisa forbade Xander from visiting her in case he got sick too. It had been a long time since
they’d last met.
A radiant smile bloomed on Xander’s face as he showed Gregory the screen. “Dad, it’s Grandma Fiona!”
“Yeah.”
Gregory nodded lightly at Fiona through the screen. Then, he continued striding upstairs. He never said a word to Anathea the entire time. It was as if she’d never existed on the other end of the line.
Anathea was used to his coldness by now. She asked Xander, “What’s the matter? Did something happen?”
Xander immediately apologized to Anathea. “I’m sorry, Mom. I was naughty yesterday.‘
His teacher had encouraged them to be brave children who owned up to their mistakes. His private tutor only ever taught him that nothing was objectively right or wrong and that he should judge things based on how beneficial they were to him.
Still, he felt that he’d indeed done something wrong. After all, Anathea didn’t talk to him much these days. She’d stopped making
his favorite dishes, and she no longer read him bedtime stories.
So, if an apology could make Anathea return to normal again, Xander was willing to do it.
When Anathea heard Xander’s apology, she was stunned for a moment. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she held it in as she said in a gentle voice, “It’s getting late. You should get some rest, Xander. You still have school tomorrow.”
“Aren’t you coming home tonight, Mom?” Xander asked. He wanted Anathea to read bedtime stories for him that night.
Anathea had recalled their unhappy moments from the day before when she’d seen Gregory head up the stairs just now.
So, she refused. “No. I’ll be staying with Grandma Fiona in the hospital tonight.”
“Okay.” Xander was a little disappointed. Then, he asked, “Mom, will you make shrimp and zucchini oatmeal pancakes for me
tomorrow?”
Thomas made great pancakes, but compared to Anathea’s, they were still lacking a little.
“Sure,” Anathea was a little glad about Xander’s change in attitude. Curving her lips into a smile, she agreed. “Now go to sleep.”
1/4
PREFERS TO
“Yay!” Xander leaped into the air. He noticed that Natalie had just arrived home, so he happily told her, “Ms. Whitman, Mom is making shrimp and zucchini oatmeal pancakes for me tomorrow! They’re super delicious! You should try them too!”
When Anathea heard his words, the smile froze on her face for a moment. The joy in her heart faded. But Xander had already hung
up on her.
“Ms. Whitman?” Fiona noticed Xander’s tone. “Is she a new caregiver? Xander sounded quite close to her.”
Anathea lowered her gaze.
If she told Fiona that the “Ms. Whitman” Xander was so close to was none other than Natalie, she might just faint from fury.
Fiona would be scheduled for surgery soon, so Anathea decided not to take the risk.
She simply nodded and said, “Yes.”
“What’s the matter, Nat? You don’t look too good.”
As Anathea’s mother, Fiona immediately noticed the sorrow deep in Anathea’s gaze. Frowning, she asked, “Did something
happen between you and Gregory?”
Anathea was stunned for a moment. Smiling, she shook her head. “No. You’re overthinking it, Mom.”
“Did you get into a fight?” Fiona asked.
She was ill, but that didn’t mean she was any less wise. Gregory had greeted her just now, but he’d never said a word to Anathea.
They were so distant that it looked like they were strangers.
“No. I just miss Dad a little.” Anathea changed the subject. “I wonder how he’s doing.”
Even though Adam had received a lighter sentence during his second trial, he’d been sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was still
in prison right now.
It was all because of Gregory, who’d wanted to exact revenge on them.
Anathea couldn’t understand why Gregory hated them so much. Was it only because Adam had forced Gregory to marry her?
Yet, the last time Anathea had seen Adam before he’d been sent to prison, he’d told her not to worry about anything. He’d also
warned her not to dig deeper. He’d only told her to play her part as Gregory’s wife. Anathea was still puzzled over why he’d said
such a thing.
When Fiona heard Anathea’s reply, a complicated look flashed across her eyes. Taking Anathea’s hand, she said, “Don’t worry, Nat. If your dad behaves in prison, his sentence might be reduced. We will be reunited then.”
Anathea’s mind drifted back to reality. Fiona was right. 20 years might be a long time, but they would have hope as long as they were alive.
So, she had to take good care of Fiona until her illness was cured. Only then could they await Adam’s release from prison.
2/4
It wasn’t even 7:00 am by the time Anathea returned home. She was planning to wash up before making pancakes for Xander.
After all, in her moment of weakness, she’d said yes to his request yesterday.
However, when Anathea arrived at the entrance of the master bedroom, she paused in her steps.
At this hour, Gregory probably hadn’t left for work yet.
Anathea decided not to think about it. They were already divorced, anyway, and there shouldn’t be anything she should be scared
- of.
Exhaling deeply, Anathea opened the door to the room.
To her surprise, Gregory wasn’t on the bed. In fact, the sheets were completely free of creases. It was obvious that he hadn’t spent
the night here.
A look of realization flashed across Anathea’s eyes.
She’d forgotten that, now that Natalie had moved in, Gregory would sleep in Natalie’s room just like he’d done the night before.
Anathea was fine with that. It would be even easier for her to pack her clothes now.
At 7:20 am, she went downstairs after washing up. Thomas was already in the kitchen, bustling about to prepare breakfast.
When he saw Anathea coming over, he smiled and greeted her, “Good morning, Mrs. Sinclair.”
“Good morning.” Anathea smiled back. Noticing that Thomas had already prepared the ingredients for shrimp and zucchini
oatmeal pancakes, she casually took over. “Let me do it.”
After handing the frying pan to Anathea, Thomas poured out some almond milk for her. “This was freshly blended. Please try it,
Mrs. Sinclair.”
“Thank you.” Anathea reached out to take the glass of almond milk, but she fumbled.
Thomas was quick to react. Reaching out with his other hand, he managed to catch the glass while holding Anathea’s hand as
well.
Stunned by the unexpected skin contact, Anathea looked at Thomas.
“Forgive me, Mrs. Sinclair.” Thomas hastily let go of her as he apologized.
Anathea shook her head. “It’s okay. Just leave it there. I’ll try it later.”
Thomas gave her a careful glance. He didn’t say anything else as he worked on his own tasks.
At 7:30 am, Anathea had just placed the pancakes on the table when Xander skipped downstairs.
“Mom!” Xander jogged up to her. He was quite happy to see her as soon as he woke up.
3/4
“Come have breakfast.” Anathea poured out a glass of milk for him.
“Okay!” Xander eagerly took a bite of the pancakes. He smiled joyfully as he said, “Your pancakes are the best, Mom! Can
me to school later?”
Anathea’s lips curved int
a smile. “Sure.”
you take
She could actually sense that Xander had changed a little after he started going to school. He wasn’t as distant as he used to be,
and they looked just like any normal parent and child.
She used to dream of such scenarios in the past, but now, it was happening in reality. A gentle look flashed in her eyes.
But in the next moment, Natalie’s voice rang out. “Something smells nice! What are you eating,
Xandy?”
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