she hadn't been so unreasonable in the stories,

glad you're all right!" Eric exclaimed, raising h

he topic once again. Just as she was about to speak, her daughter replied qu

nd then we can have dinner, okay?" The way Alina spoke was similar to that of a

y. Wendy was a beautiful woman. It was one of the reasons wh

would start speaking ill of the h

about food," Wendy scolded, but she still couldn

ng. Alaina just survived a disaster, so she must be re

a signal as he rushed to the kitchen

c motioned to Alaina. "Go and ask your brother to come dow

." Without hesitation, Al

their laughter ringing up the second floor from tim

ocial climbers – nice when you were in front of them and completely vicious

There was a polite knoc

into the frail boy they thoug

pened. His eyes darkened

napped. It wasn't the bu

nd him, she'd usually open the door as loud as possible t

ed kindly. "Brother, Dad asked me to c

ed him brother often, maybe the

ed to scream and shake her. Who the hell did she think she was t

After that, Alina cl

. He couldn't help but wonder what happened when

w that Eric was the only one in the room. He

re's

g her clothes,

m. Alina decided to use this opportunity to get close to Eric. 'If he supports me now, he might a

u're a high school student." He chuckled, happy th

you." She moved to the back of the couc

erely that Eric cou

. At the beginning, he wasn't that close to his little stepdaughter. However, he couldn't resist hi

r all this time, so Eric was gl

irs, he pursed his lips at th

rows. "Don't stay in the room all the time, Sheffield," he inst

odded, indifferent to

between them. With Wendy and Alaina always causing mischief every now and then, t

understand why. Eric had done nothing wrong. Was it really a despicable thing to remarry? It wasn't as if he cheate

him with sadness in his eyes before i

ach his son a lesson, but S

an, Eric wasn't used to

heffield wasn't treat

d been secretly watching their exchanges since Sheffie

er, Alina stopped. "Dad, he's still young,"

heart softened slightly. This was the firs

uade Eric or stood up for Sheffield. In

as obedient as her, then maybe I'd

heffield shot h

a fr

intentions. If he thought that what she said was adding mor

him to be as obedient as a girl, then

by Alina's word

im just once, he thought that she was just doing this for hersel

ng his stepdaughter's side, but h

clasped her hands together. "Mom has already ch

son, Eric decided to back down. "

Wendy. She held her mother's hand a

figure, mixed feelings r

. The first dish was duck soup. Wendy qu

tritious. Honey, Sheffield, Alaina, have the soup first. It can

gaze so

is delicious. It's not gre

noticing that he didn't

at the bowl in front o

hand out from Eric's grasp and placed on a worried mask

ed to vomit at

wned. "Why are you so angry? Your mother cares

woman had always annoyed him to

. "Honey, forget about it. If Sheffield doesn't lik

with a loud bang. "If he doesn't want to eat, then he won'

al straw. He threw his chops

t was going on. She was just drinking some soup, and su

his sensitive teen would be a strong and emotionless businessma

s had just increased Sheffield

ne step closer t

e of Wendy and Alaina, a part of her

d at his son's retreating

him down. "Don't be angry. The boy has a temper," she softly said. "You don't have

.." Eric shook his head, his eyes shini

ince Eric had been busy with his growing career, he wasn't able to give Sheffield the attention he needed. Wh

dy, a gentle, considerate, and beautiful woman. How

since the pair we

would've snorted. 'Wendy wouldn't give Sheffi

pression, Wendy lowered h

ed the meal

aid her farewells and

bed, her mind filled with her

estless. She just couldn't sleep, still knowing tha

something to elim

a silently opened the door a

lready gone to bed. The villa was quiet, so the girl

e might as well make som

ots in the basket so Alina d

isplayed in front of her, but

she placed the noodles in and took them out once they became m

felt as if something was missing. She clapped her ha

a few before sprinkling

door of Sheffield's room. With a hand holding the noodles and the other

to sleep, or else all her