Chapter 8
Anathea hesitated only for a few seconds before slipping off the diamond ring and tossing it into the box.
Just then, Jenny knocked on her door. “Mrs. Sinclair, Mr. Xander and Mr. Sinclair are back. Would you like to start preparing
dinner for them now?”
Anathea had always prepared meals for Gregory and Xander herself, so Jenny simply passed along their requests as usual.
“Mr. Sinclair wants herb–baked mussels with white wine sauce, and Mr. Xander asked for tomato and ham risotto that’s on the sweeter side, not too tangy.” Jenny glanced at Anathea. “All the ingredients are ready.”
Everyone took Anathea’s efforts for granted. Yet before she’d gotten married, she’d been a pampered heiress, someone who’d never even stepped foot in a kitchen.
“Oh, and Ms. Whitman came back with them too.” Jenny carefully watched Anathea’s expression.
Anathea didn’t have much of a reaction. She simply headed downstairs.
Meanwhile, Xander and Natalie were reminiscing about the fun they had at the amusement park.
“Ms. Whitman, you were amazing! You caught so many fish!” Xander beamed, clutching his small fishbowl.
Since Anathea’s accident, he’d been feeling a bit uneasy to call Natalie “Mommy Nat” in front of her. But that didn’t change the
fact that he adored Natalie just as much as before.
“I want to go to the amusement park with you again!”
“I…” Natalie glanced toward the staircase and caught sight of Anathea coming down. Smiling, she suggested, “Xander, I bet it’s been a long time since you went to an amusement park with your mom. How about we take her along next time?”
Xander’s face immediately fell. “No way! Mom only lets me go on boring rides like the carousel, and she never buys me ice cream!
I don’t want to go with her. I want to go with you!”
Anathea paused mid–step. For a child Xander’s age, thrill rides weren’t the best choice, so she’d always carefully picked activities
that suited him and still matched his interests.
Besides, his stomach was sensitive. Too much ice cream could trigger gastritis. That was Anathea packed homemade snacks in advance every time she took him out. She always made sure he had something to eat when he was hungry and water when he was
thirsty.
But the only things Xander remembered were the things she didn’t let him do. Anathea didn’t even have the energy to care
anymore.
“Ms. Whitman, you’ll go with me again, right? Please?” Xander clung to Natalie’s hand. “Next time, I’ll ask Dad to come too! The three of us can go together!”
1/4
Gregory, who’d been sitting on the couch reviewing financial reports, suddenly asked, “Xander, have you finished your
homework?”
The moment homework was mentioned, Xander immediately quieted down. He lowered his head with a guilty look.
He’d spent the whole day having fun with Natalie at the amusement park and hadn’t done a single bit of his homework yet.
“Don’t be so strict, Greg,” Natalie chided gently before leaning toward Xander with a smile. “It’s okay. You can start with it after dinner. I’ll help you. How does that sound?”
“That sounds great!” Xander’s eyes lit up. When he spotted Anathea coming down the stairs, he immediately pulled Natalie toward her. “My mom is the best cook! Ms. Whitman, you can ask her to make you anything you want!”
“Is that… okay?” Natalie looked at Anathea apologetically. “Wouldn’t it be too much trouble for Ms. Jacobson?”
She knew full well that Anathea and Gregory were married. The entire household staff addressed Anathea as “Mrs. Sinclair“, but Natalie deliberately called her “Ms. Jacobson” instead. Her intentions couldn’t have been clearer.
Anathea didn’t bother responding. She simply opened the fridge and reached inside for the ham.
“It’s no trouble,” Gregory answered for her.
Natalie was a guest, and Anathea was already making dinner anyway. One more dish wouldn’t kill her. As far as he was concerned,
Anathea wasn’t the type to be petty over something so small.
“Really, Ms. Jacobson?” Natalie looked at Anathea expectantly.
“No.” Anathea’s voice was calm and indifferent.
She bypassed the ham, picking up a sandwich instead. She wasn’t in the mood for a full meal. A sandwich would do. As for the
others‘ dinner…
“I’m not cooking.”
Upon hearing Anathea’s refusal, Gregory instinctively lifted his gaze to look at her. In his memory, she’d never refused his
requests. This was the first time.
Before he could say anything, Natalie stood up first and apologized to Anathea. “I’m sorry. That was my fault. I’m already so
grateful that Greg let me stay here. I shouldn’t have expected you to cook for me too… I mean, I’m just an outsider.”
“You’re not an outsider!” Xander immediately protested, running up to Anathea. “Mom, why are you being so petty? You won’t
even make Ms. Whitman dinner?”
Looking at his puffed–up face, Anathea felt a dull ache rise in her chest. Still, she kept her expression neutral. She grabbed her
sandwich and milk and turned to head back upstairs.
Gregory took a step forward and caught her wrist.
“What now?” Anathea stopped in her tracks.
2/4
So this was how it was. He didn’t care about her, so no matter how hurt she was, he’d just see it as her “throwing a tantrum“.
Anathea pulled her hand free and pointed at the bruise on her face. “What do you think?”
Gregory pressed his lips into a thin line and said nothing.
Anathea didn’t spare him another glance. She just walked away.
“Since Ms. Jacobson isn’t up to it, why don’t we eat out instead?” Natalie suggested sweetly.
Xander perked up instantly. “Yes!”
Gregory watched Anathea’s retreating figure but didn’t say a word.
“Let’s go, Greg.” Natalie walked up to Gregory’s side and continued gently, “If we keep staying here, Xander will starve.”
Her light, teasing tone was a stark contrast to Anathea’s cold indifference.
Gregory finally looked away and hummed in acknowledgment.
“Should we invite Ms. Jacobson to join us?” Natalie asked.
“No! I don’t want Mom to come!” Xander objected immediately.
If Anathea came along, she’d never let him order fried chicken or fries. But Natalie was different. She let him eat whatever he
wanted. Being with her was so much more fun and carefree.
“I only want to go with you!” he declared, clinging to Natalie.
Seeing Xander so determined, Gregory didn’t say anything further.
As their footsteps faded down the hallway, Anathea, who’d lingered at the top of the stairs, finally turned back around and made
her way down again.
Her sandwich was cold. She wanted to heat it up.
Now that they were gone, the massive dining table was empty except for her. She ate slowly, taking her time.
Seeing this, Jenny quietly made her a side of potato salad.
“Thanks.” Anathea managed a faint smile.
“Mrs. Sinclair…” Jenny hesitated before saying, “If you keep going on like this, you’re going to lose both Mr. Sinclair and Mr.
Xander.” (1
