Chapter 3
Two hours later, Aspen and Nora naturally took their seats at the dining table with Corey in tow when Quill brought the dishes to the table.
During the meal, Corey completely ignored Quill and busied himself doting on Nora by repeatedly placing food on her plate. However, her expression darkened a bit more with every serving he gave her.
By the end, Nora could no longer hold back. Her voice was filled with frustration as she said, “I don’t like this. I never eat that one. I told you before, Daddy…”
“Sorry, I’ll remember next time,” Corey apologized awkwardly with a strained smile. He then turned to Aspen after hitting a wall with Nora.
Picking up a shrimp, he was about to place it onto her plate when her expression turned cold. “I’m allergic to shrimp. Don’t you remember?”
Corey’s face turned red with embarrassment. His missteps soured Aspen and Nora’s moods, but neither paid much attention to his reaction. Instead, they both looked toward Quill.
Quill, ever perceptive, picked up a plate and served them each their favorite dishes. Only then did the mother and daughter begin to eat contentedly.
Quill looked over at the time, and remembered the stew simmering in the kitchen and got up to fetch it. He turned off the stove, but the kitchen door opened before he could retrieve the pot. Upon turning around, he saw Corey entering the kitchen.
The faint smile on Corey’s face made Quill frown. Just as he was about to ask why Corey was there, Corey spoke first.
“I’ll help you carry it.”
“There’s no need.” Quill’s refusal came instinctively as Corey moved toward the pot. In the brief moment Quill turned to grab a ladle, Corey had already reached out for the pot.
“Ah!”
A cry of alarm followed the sound of the pot shattering. Scalding stew splattered everywhere, and some even landed on Corey’s hand, leaving him red-faced from the pain.
The commotion drew Aspen and Nora into the kitchen. They immediately rushed to Corey’s side upon seeing his pitiful state.
“What happened? What’s going on?” Aspen asked.
Corey began to explain, “I suppose Mr. Milton probably doesn’t like me very much. That’s why he deliberately spilled the stew on me.
“I mean, I did abandon you both back then, and Mr. Milton stepped in to fulfill the role of husband and father. Now that I’m back, it’s natural for him to feel upset. But I never intended to compete with him for anything…”
Corey’s exaggerated and embellished words immediately fueled Aspen and Nora’s anger. They didn’t give Quill a chance to explain, and instead unleashed a torrent of disdain toward him and sympathy for Corey.
“Why are you even trying to compete with Corey? Nora and I have always been his. You have no right to lay a hand on him!” Aspen snapped. Her voice was filled with fury.
Nora chimed in, and her tone brimmed with righteous indignation as she echoed her mother’s words. “You vile man! Mommy only married you to take care of me. You didn’t seriously think you were the head of the Sanders family, did you?”
“Know your place. Don’t let this happen again,” Aspen said as she cast Quill a cold glance before helping Corey up and walking out. Nora followed closely behind.
No one noticed that, while Corey’s hand had only a minor burn on the back, a large section of Quill’s thigh was red and scalded from the spilled stew.
Or perhaps, they wouldn’t have cared even if they had noticed.
After all, the difference between love and indifference was as vast as the sky and the earth.
Their harsh words replayed in Quill’s mind as he watched their retreating figures. He then let out a bitter laugh at himself.
From the very beginning, he had understood his position. He wasn’t their husband or father, and he would have to leave eventually.
Nonetheless, he had thought that after years of tireless effort, there might at least be some affection between them even if love wasn’t possible. Now, it seemed like nothing more than a cruel joke.
Still, it didn’t matter. He would be going home soon.
