Chapter 395
Oh, the drama at the dinner table could rival any Thanksgiving family gathering gone awry. But here they were, Elijah having summoned his parents to an unofficial “peace treaty” meeting over dinner. The stakes? Whoever lost their cool first would be in the bad graces of their son. So, there they sat, feigning harmony for the sake of their boy.
But let’s be real, the so-called peace was as thin as the broth in their bowls, all for Elijah’s eyes. Deep down, both Elysia and Tarquin harbored their own schemes.
At Elijah’s request, Elysia had whipped up a bowl of noodles for Tarquin as well. Three bowls of noodles, three people, all pretending this was the picture of domestic bliss.
Throughout the meal, Elijah couldn’t stop singing praises about Elysia’s cooking, pushing Tarquin to join the chorus.
“Dad, isn’t mom’s noodles the best p>
That question came with a side of a stern glance from the little guy, a clear warning.
Tarquin could only muster a internally scoffing at the overemphasis on a simple bowl of noodles. “It’s just noodles. How fancy can it get?” But out loud, he praised, “Delicious! Absolutely wonderful p>
Elysia, on the receiving end of the compliment, couldn’t care less internally but responded with a cheerful, “Glad you like it. There’s more in the pot.” The table fell into an awkward silence soon after, only to be broken by a swift kick to Tarquin’s leg from under the table. It was Elijah, sending covert signals of distress to his dad.
Tarquin, utterly confused, tried to decipher his son’s silent messages, much to Elijah’s frustration.
Post-dinner, as Elysia busied herself cleaning up, Elijah seized the moment to lecture Tarquin.
“Dad, you’re the one who’s supposed to be wooing mom, not me. You gotta pick up the slack and not rely on me to remind you p>
Tarquin wanted to protest that it was Elijah who had set this whole charade in motion, but he kept it to himself, asking instead, “What were you trying to remind me of p>
“To find something to talk about with mom! Girls like sweet talk. You can’t win her over by being silent. You need to charm her with words, dad. Mom’s easy to please that way p>
“You can’t just say it; you need to act on it! Go help mom in the kitchen p>
Reluctantly, Tarquin made his way to the kitchen, where Elysia was washing up. Upon seeing him, she immediately dismissed his offer to help. “What are you doing here? I don’t need help p>
But Tarquin, driven by his son’s insistence, coldly replied, “Elijah asked me to help p>
Their interaction was anything but warm, each preoccupied with their own cunning thoughts. Tarquin pondered how to secretly obtain a sample for a paternity test with Elijah, while Elysia dreamt of whisking her son away from Tarquin, leaving her troubled past behind for a fresh start.
Meanwhile, Benjamin’s arrival with news of Elijah’s discharge from the hospital stirred new plots in Elysia’s mind, her gears turning at the thought of escaping the hospital’s confines and the chains of her current life.