The couple looked at each other again.
Julia felt slightly disappointed. In her son's heart, Camila was his sister! No hope there.
Glades smiled, patted his son's head, then glanced at his beloved wife.
The family of three once again imrsed themselves in the joy of cooking.
After spending an hour, Julia casually prepared a few hostyle dishes.
Ivan quickly secured a good spot; the little guy was so hungry his stomach was practically caving in.
He even grabbed a bowl and chopsticks, ready to compete for food with his daddy.
Four dishes and a soup were served.
Ivan looked at his father. Seeing that his father had no intention of fighting over the food, he didn't move. If the enemy doesn't move, neither will I. When it ca to vying for attention and snatching food, father and son were adversaries.
"Honey, you've worked hard," Glades said in a husky voice, tenderly untying Julia's apron.
Julia smiled. Cooking for her man and her son only made her feel happy, never tired.
She served her son a bowl of soup and ladled out a bowl for both herself and Glades. Then, she sat down and said gently to Ivan, "Ivan, let's eat. It's past our usual dinner ti, so you must be starving. But eat slowly, there's no rush. It's bad for your stomach otherwise."
Ivan Horne nodded and began to sip his soup slowly.
Glades kept putting food on Julia's plate, occasionally attending to their son as well.
Julia also put food on his plate and, from ti to ti, looked after their son.
Seeing that his parents seed to have eyes only for each other, Ivan Horne mumbled to himself, I seem to be superfluous.
But he was still happy for his parents. Because their love was so profound, he also led a happy life.
After dinner, Glades personally tied on an apron and went to wash the dishes.
Ivan Horne also followed along to help.
While washing the dishes, Glades also took the chance to teach his son how to dote on his future wife, seemingly determined to groom his son into a second-generation wife-doter. Watching the father and son, Julia couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
"Daddy, why does this stuff have so much foam?" Ivan Horne curiously pointed to the dishwashing liquid.
Glades tilted his head in thought and gave his son a thought-provoking answer, "Ivan, if you're curious, then study hard. When you grow up, you'll understand. Or you could research it yourself: why it makes so much foam, and why it can make grease disappear."
Ivan Horne nodded thoughtfully.
"Daddy, what are we doing later?" Since he didn't have to study, the little guy's bedti was an hour later than usual. Having just eaten, he definitely wouldn't go to sleep yet. He was wondering what activities his parents might have planned.
"What would you like to do?" Glades asked indulgently.
"Let's go for a walk," Julia suddenly interjected, answering for her son.
Father and son exchanged glances and then nodded in agreent.
Originally, Ivan had wanted his father to take him out shopping.
But if Mommy wanted to walk, then a walk it is.
And so, the family of three went for a post-dinner walk.
The parents each held one of their son's small hands as they strolled through the luxurious garden. As they walked, they even found themselves outside the Bluen Family's villa. Seeing the family of three approaching on foot, Scarlett Taylor, startled, asked if they'd been robbed on their way, if their car had been stolen. This made Ivan laugh out loud. In his mind, it seed like no one would ever dare disrespect his father.
"Co here, Ivan, have so fruit." Scarlett Taylor cut a plate of waterlon for her daughter's family.
She placed the waterlon on the coffee table, then went to wash and cut apples into slices.
Watching Scarlett Taylor busy herself, Ivan Horne suddenly made a remark that was perhaps beyond his years to fully grasp, "No wonder Mommy is so good; she must have inherited it from Grandma."
The adults were taken aback at first but then laughed heartily.
Such a clever little imp.
Chris Bluen picked up his little grandson, smothered him with kisses, then squinted and smiled. "Your grandma is definitely a good wife, a good mommy, and a good grandma."
Ivan Horne's eyes sparkled. So many 'goods'... it was a lot for him to digest.
At the Horne residence, Ivan was the darling of the Horne family; at the Bluen residence, the Bluens treasured him just as much, their precious little one.
He was smarter than Ruby Bluen's fraternal twins, more sensible, and also carried himself with the air of an older brother.
"Dad, you have no idea what this kid said at ho earlier," Julia said with a laugh, recounting her son's declaration that he would surpass his father in doting on his future wife. This once again drew laughter from everyone.
Ivan Horne didn't mind at all. That was what he thought, and that was how he would act in the future. The only problem was finding soone to receive his love.
While Julia's family of three enjoyed blissful happiness at the Bluen residence, on another front, in Adele's family of three, only the father and son were joyful; Adele herself remained silent.
She had ultimately decided to stay and dine at the Naless Manor.
Much to her surprise, all the dishes served were her favorites. Noah Reyes had already morized her preferences.
Jimmy Horne was very happy, and Noah Reyes was filled with delight. Although Adele remained silent throughout the al, he continuously put food on her plate and on his son's.
As Adele watched the happy father and son, she recalled what Deon Myers had said to her after she had stepped out of the house earlier.
Deon Myers had told her about Noah Reyes's living situation, how he had never forgotten her over all these years, and about things he had done for her that she had never known.
Deon Myers said that although Noah Reyes had been trained to be cold-blooded and ruthless, what he ultimately craved was a simple, happy life, yearning to cherish and grow old with the woman he loved.
"Madam," Deon Myers had tried hard to explain to Adele on his master's behalf, "perhaps you feel wronged and fully justified in resenting and hating the Master. But the Master was truly protecting your safety. Even though he was the Heir back then, he was actually in the greatest danger, and he didn't want you to be hard. The Master has never touched another woman, nor has he developed feelings for any other. To him, Madam, you are special—a unique exception."
These were things Noah Reyes had already explained, and Adele took them to heart.
From Deon Myers, she learned that Noah Reyes had taken up painting. Deon Myers said he hadn't understood why the Master wanted to learn painting at first, only later realizing it was in preparation to find her.
That arrogant, that ruthless man... his treatnt of her was truly special beyond asure.
Adele knew what thods Noah Reyes had intended to use against the Valence Group back then, how imposing his montum had been; she was aware of it all.
And now, towards the Valence Group, towards the Horne family, Noah Reyes had completely reined in his arrogance, withdrawn his assertiveness and fighting spirit. Why? Because he had feelings for her, so he was unwilling to beco an enemy of her family. If he only cared about their son, why would he swallow his pride, endure all sorts of difficulties, and chase after her like a fool?
At that mont, Adele was deeply conflicted.
She didn't know what she truly felt towards Noah Reyes. Was it resentnt, hatred, loathing, or love? Yet, it was undeniable that he existed in her heart, albeit in a complicated way. All these years of dwelling on him, of building up an image of him in her mind, ant she couldn't truly let him go. Even if it was primarily in the form of resentnt, he had, through her constant, albeit unknowing, preoccupation with that resentnt, found his way into the depths of her heart.
Deon Myers also told her many other things about Noah Reyes. She learned that when Noah Reyes was their son's age, his own father had cruelly abandoned him at the Training Base to undergo demonic training. The place was desolate and uninhabited, with extrely harsh living conditions. His instructors, while teaching him, also used every ans to try to kill him. The goal was to hone his resistance and cunning. If he happened to be killed, no one could be blad; he could only bla himself for being too foolish.
Heirs had died at the Training Base before. When one heir died, the Master would imdiately have another legitimate son with his wife. Once that son reached the age of four, he too would be thrown into the base. Every Master who erged had survived such brutal training.
This was why they beca heartless, cold, and unfeeling, viewing won as disposable as clothes and wives rely as tools for procreation.
However, deep down, Noah Reyes had not discarded a normal person's capacity for love. He had always strived, secretly, to hold onto the normal perspective on love that he hadn't lost.
For her, from the mont they first t, she was etched into his heart, and he thought of returning one day to take responsibility. For her, he intended to treat her as a normal wife, not as a re tool for bearing children. For his son, he didn't want to forcibly send him to the base, because his son was his precious treasure. If his son was incapable of taking over as Master, he hoped his son could live a free and happy life in this world.
Deon Myers had also said with deep aning, "Behind even the cruelest person lies a story of bitterness."
Therefore, at that mont, Adele felt particularly tornted, unsure how to face this man who had taken her innocence, vanished without a trace, led to her secret pregnancy, and made her endure rumors and gossip to give birth to his illegitimate child.
Should she continue to harbor resentnt, or open her heart and believe that he truly loves her? She didn't know. Her thoughts were a complete ss. She wanted to go ho. She wanted to confide in her sister-in-law. Those involved are often lost, while onlookers see clearly. Perhaps her wise sister-in-law could help her analyze the situation.
After dinner, a very reluctant Noah Reyes personally escorted Adele and her son back to the Horne family residence.
He had told the Horne family that he would bring Adele and her son back.
Although he wasn't a good man, he always kept his word to those he cared about.
Upon returning ho, Adele learned that her brother and his family were not there. Unable to voice her tangled emotions, her thoughts beca even more disordered.
Leaving her son in the care of the nanny, she went up to the top floor alone. That area had always been her eldest brother's domain.
Sitting by the swimming pool, gazing up at the star-filled sky, she sank deep into thought.
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