Chapter 183
Xander had cried until his voice became hoarse. His face was flushed red and streaked with tears.
“Mr. Xander…” Jenny and Cyrus were both worried.
Cyrus was holding a small bowl of soup, trying to coax Xander. “M Xander, at least eat a little bit, okay? You’ll feel worse if your stomach’s empty.”
But the second Cyrus brought the spoon neat, Xander smacked it away. “No! I want Mom’s soup!”
Jenny and Cyrus exchanged helpless looks.
Ever since Anathea left, Xander had been surviving on the little snacks she’d made for him.
Now that the snacks were gone, he cried every day for Anathea and wouldn’t eat anything. He’d become noticeably thinner, looking pitiful and frail.
They honestly didn’t know what to do. In the past, when Xander got sick, Anathea was the one who took care of him herself. Now that she was gone, they were completely lost.
Just as they were scrambling for ideas, a gentle voice sounded. “What’s going on, Xander? Why aren’t you eating?
“Mrs. Sinclair?” Jenny’s eyes brightened.
But when she turned and saw that it was Natalie, with Gregory following behind her, that hopeful light quickly faded, especially when she thought about the reason Anathea walked away.
It was no wonder she’d left. Which woman could put up with her husband being involved with another woman?
Compared to Jenny’s cold reaction, Cyrus didn’t show much emotion. He just quietly stepped aside when he saw Natalie walking over with another bowl of soup, giving her space.
When Xander heard Natalie’s voice, his crying slowed down, though he was still full of sadness.
He turned toward Gregory and asked in a broken voice, “Dad, didn’t you go find Mom? Why isn’t she here? Does she not want me anymore?”
Gregory’s expression shifted ever so slightly before he said quietly “Don’t think like that. She’s just busy right now. Once you get better, I’ll take you to see her.”
“Really?” Xander blinked his teary eyes, looking a little more hopeful. Gregory had never lied to him before.
Seeing that, Natalie crouched down and gently wiped the tears from Xander’s cheeks.
“I heard you haven’t been eating much these few days. That’s not good, you know?”
“I–I didn’t mean to,” Xander mumbled, lowering his head. He was afraid that Gregory would be mad.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to eat. He just didn’t like the food Jenny and Cyrus made.
Gregory looked at Xander’s timid face, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes. But he didn’t know what to say.
Natalie didn’t miss a beat as she kept coaxing Xander, “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it. But from now on, can you promise to eat well?”
Xander glanced at the bowl in Natalie’s hand, hesitating a little. But after a moment, he nodded. Even if he didn’t like it, he didn’t want to upset Gregory. He could at least try a little.
But the second he took a tiny bite of the soup Natalie fed him, his eyes lit up.
It didn’t taste like Anathea’s cooking, but it was delicious in a different way. It was so good that he immediately wanted another
bite.
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Chapter 183
+35 BONUS
After the second spoonful, Xander grabbed the bowl with his own hands and started eating by himself. Before long, he’d finished the entire bowl.
“Is it good?” Natalie asked with a smile.
“It’s really good!” Xander nodded eagerly. “Can I have another bowl?”
Just moments ago, he’d refused to eat anything. But now,
he was scarfing down his food, his tears and tantrums completely
gone. Gregory’s tightly knit brows finally relaxed a little.
Jenny watched the whole thing with a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Natalie just smiled, scooping up another bowl for Xander and blowing on it to cool it down before giving it to him.
After Xander finished his dinner and went off to wash up, Natalie headed toward Gregory’s study and knocked on the door.
A
Chapter 14
