Let Me Stay The Night

Nathaniel’s brows furrowed, and he let out a soft cough, instinctively covering his nose with his hands.

“What’s wrong, Nathaniel?” Christina asked softly as she leaned closer to him.

“Someone put chili in my bowl,” Nathaniel replied in a voice so soft that only the both of them could hear. His brows remained knitted.

Nathaniel couldn’t take spicy food at all. If he consumed anything with spice, his throat would become hoarse the next day, and he would experience stomach discomfort for several days after.

Across from them, Anya’s tone dripped with sarcasm as she remarked, “Grandma went through the trouble of having pasta delivered all the way from Irushea because it’s her favorite. Are you saying that the food prepared in the Gibson residence isn’t to your liking?”

Christina couldn’t help but conclude that it was intentional on Anya’s part to instruct the staff to add chili to Nathaniel’s plate. There seemed to be no other explanation for why his pasta was spicy while everyone else was enjoying the same dish.

“Forget it. I’m fine,” Nathaniel told her. He didn’t want to cause a scene during dinner.

Christina’s expression turned dark as she grabbed Nathaniel’s plate of pasta.

While Nathaniel refrained from causing a scene, Christina believed it was her responsibility to address the issue on his behalf. After all, Azure had declared this place as her home, and it was only reasonable for Christina to bring up any problems that arose during dinner.

She took a bite of his pasta before summoning the butler. “Who told you to add chili to this pasta?”

“It was Ms. Gibson’s order,” the butler replied, seemingly hesitant.

Christina firmly set her utensils aside and ordered, “Take this plate of pasta to the person who instructed you to add chili and let them enjoy it themselves.” Her tone carried a resolute authority, leaving no room for argument.

The butler shot Anya a stumped look. “Well… I…”

Anya was caught off guard, not expecting Christina to confront her directly during dinner.

There was no way she’d eat a plate of pasta full of chili. Flashing an awkward smile, she piped up, “The kitchen staff must’ve heard wrongly. Butler, please get him a new plate of pasta.”

butler quickly left with

plate of non–spicy pasta was placed before Nathaniel. “Mr. Hadley, please enjoy your meal,” the butler

didn’t speak up to stop them. As it was a minor matter, she pretended to not see anything, not wanting to appear biased

an end, Azure went upstairs with the kids while Christina and Nathaniel took a leisurely

your father during dinner. Where is he?” Nathaniel

at the mention of her biological father. “He’s unwell, so he normally doesn’t come downstairs

approach the task of informing Nathaniel and her

was tough to be stuck in the

out of her reverie and dragged him back to the house. “It’s getting late,

had passed since dinner concluded, and Christina wondered what had occupied the children’s attention to the extent that they hadn’t asked for their

and told the butler to bring the

the stairs, but the children were nowhere to be

and Camila?” Christina inquired as a sense of

are asleep. Let them spend the night

them with us now.” Nathaniel suddenly spoke up firmly as

and grasped his hand, urging him

scene.

I’ll bring the kids to

trouble? Let them stay here so I can

the children? Did you hide them somewhere?” Nathaniel

I anticipated them making things difficult for me, but it seems their focus is on the

smirk. “Do you seriously think the grudge between both families will end if you offer us a collaboration and

silence filled the air, freezing

with disbelief. “Grandma, that’s a matter between the adults. Why did

“Don’t worry. I won’t hurt them, but if the

of the panic and distress that would consume the Hadley family once they discovered the children were

of ice as he demanded angrily,