Chapter 112

Chapter 112:

“Alright,” Elaine replied, thinking Madisyn meant she could make Howard open up. She didn’t dwell on it and returned to her cooking.

The medicine needed time to simmer, filling the kitchen with a soft, herbal scent. By noon, Elaine had finished preparing the meal and called, “Howard, Madisyn, lunch is ready!”

The rich aroma wafted through the air, surprising Madisyn. She hadn’t expected her mother to be such a skilled cook. With a smile, she wheeled Howard to the table.

As they reached the table, Madisyn saw the spread—four beautifully arranged dishes and a steaming pot of soup. She couldn’t help but give Elaine a thumbs-up. “Mom, you’re amazing!”

Elaine grinned, ladling soup into their bowls. “Of course I am. Now dig in and let me know what you think.”

Madisyn eagerly blew on her soup and took a sip while it was still hot, only to find herself struggling to swallow. The excitement in her eyes dimmed, and she quickly glanced over at Howard.

Howard, however, sipped his soup without flinching. He even turned to Elaine with a warm smile. “Mom, this is delicious.”

Elaine, who hadn’t shared a meal with Howard in what felt like a lifetime, was visibly touched. Her eyes grew misty as she said, “Have some more, sweetheart. You’ve lost so much weight. I offered to get you a servant, but you refused.”

Without waiting for a reply, she ladled more soup into his bowl, her concern evident in every movement.

Madisyn noticed the faint, enduring smile on Howard’s face, and a sense of warmth filled her heart. Howard was truly a kind and gentle soul.

Fresh chapters uploaded on gαℓησv𝑒ls․cøm

Seeing Howard accept the soup so graciously, Elaine beamed with happiness and gave him the rest of it. Howard accepted it all with the same gentle smile, never once hinting at the soup’s taste. Madisyn couldn’t help but admire his kindness.

She decided to try the other dishes, which, thankfully, were quite good. It seemed her mom’s culinary skills excelled in every area except soup-making.

“Howard,” Elaine said softly, her voice filled with affection, “I’ll make sure to cook for you more often, whenever I can.”

“Mom, you know I can manage on my own. Don’t worry about me. I’ll let you know if I need anything,” Howard replied softly.

Elaine’s face flickered with a hint of sadness, but she quickly masked it with a smile and nodded. “Alright.”

After a brief pause, Elaine seemed to remember something. “We’re hosting a banquet tomorrow. Would you like to join us? If you’re not up for it, you can stay upstairs and just soak in the atmosphere. After everyone leaves, we can catch up properly. Your father and brothers miss you too, you know.”

Elaine’s tone was hopeful. She wished Howard wouldn’t isolate himself forever.

“Tomorrow? I’ll think about it,” Howard murmured, his gaze softening but noncommittal.

Lunch carried on warmly. Later, Howard took them outside to admire the roses he had planted, carefully picking a few for Madisyn.

When they returned, Elaine couldn’t hide her smile. “Howard really likes you. You know, when Kristine was here, she saw those roses and wanted to pick some too, but Howard wouldn’t let her.”

Madisyn inhaled the roses’ sweet scent, a soft smile tugging at her lips. Howard’s quiet gesture spoke volumes.

That afternoon, preparations for the banquet kicked into high gear. The house was alive with activity—colorful balloons were hung, tables and chairs were set up, and food for the next day was prepped in the kitchen. The main house buzzed with excitement as people hurried in and out.

Kristine, hearing the commotion from her room, wandered downstairs to find the servants cleaning the house.

Huh? What was this? A party?

A sly grin curled her lips as an idea began to form.

After a day bustling with preparations, the estate finally embraced the hush of evening, settling into a serene stillness.

The next morning, the sun rose with a brilliance that bathed the grounds in golden light, heralding the beginning of what would be an extraordinary day.

The whole family was up early, and as soon as breakfast was over, the first of the guests began to arrive.

Madisyn found herself at the center of it all, the sudden wave of compliments from those who recognized her leaving her with a smile that grew increasingly strained. She wasn’t accustomed to so much attention, and the sheer volume of admiration felt overwhelming.

At the grand entrance, Jenna and Gilbert stepped out of their car.

Jenna, with no direct ties to the city’s wealthiest family, had leaned heavily on Gilbert’s connections to secure an invitation.

As they stood before the sprawling estate, Gilbert couldn’t help but be struck by its grandeur. “The Johns family is ridiculously rich,” he murmured, almost in awe.

His family’s business had intersected with the Johns’ interests, though they weren’t particularly close.

This was his first visit to the estate, and he’d heard that today’s celebration was in honor of Mr. Glenn Johns’s daughter receiving some kind of award.

Gilbert recalled hearing whispers about Glenn recently discovering his real daughter, who had grown up far from the privileges of city life. The award she’d received might not have been anything exceptional, but the sheer scale of the celebration made it clear how much she was cherished.

“Jenna, let’s go in,” Gilbert urged, a note of caution in his voice. “Watch what you say; the people here are the crème de la crème.”

“Of course, Gilbert,” Jenna replied, a polished smile on her lips, though her eyes betrayed the envy simmering beneath. The lavish garden and the grandeur of it all tugged at something deep inside her. If only she were Glenn’s daughter!

.

.

.