Lucas woke up in the morning hoping to see Elise. But it was still Wanda who woke him up and made breakfast.

Though Wanda's cooking was edible, he still wanted the meals Elise made.

"Dad, can you ask Mom to come back? Doesn't she always listen to you?"

He remembered Elise never dared to upset Samuel and always tried to please him.

Sometimes, Samuel didn't even need to say a word. Just one look from him, and Elise would do as he wanted.

Samuel replied, "If you miss her, you can go find her yourself."

He sat across the table, elegantly sipping his coffee. But something felt off about the taste. He set the cup down a little harder than usual.

Wanda caught his expression. "Mr. Holt, is the coffee very bad?"

After a whole night, Samuel's anger had mostly faded, but that cup of coffee triggered some irritation.

"No."

He tried to tug at his tie, only to realize he wasn't wearing one, 

But even after Elise finished a quick wash and changed into her loungewear, her phone was still ringing. She had no choice but to answer. 

"Hello, Ms. Sutton?"

"Mrs. Holt." Rebecca sounded urgent. "Lucas threw up and keeps clutching his stomach, saying it hurts. Could you come over and take him to the hospital?"

Elise asked, "Didn't his father answer the phone?"

"No, he didn't. You really should come," Rebecca said.

Elise didn't say she would head over. Instead, she gave a noncommittal hum and ended the call. Then, she quickly unblocked Samuel's number and called him.

The moment Samuel saw the caller ID, a flash of contempt crossed his eyes. He didn't answer. He flipped his phone face down, switched it to silent, and signaled for the meeting to continue.

With no other option, Elise had to go to the kindergarten. She changed clothes in her bedroom and hailed a cab.

After registeri

Henry couldn't help but complain, "He's so spoiled."

Elise said nothing in response.

Thinking about it now, she really had spoiled both Samuel and Lucas.

Samuel's cold gaze swept over Henry and Elise. After a long silence, he finally said, "Don't go running to Grandma whenever something happens. And Lucas is your son, no matter what. You're responsible for him."

Elise frowned. She was about to say something when his phone rang.

"Hello?"

When he answered, the coldness in his voice softened.

The room was quiet, so Elise could hear Zara's gentle voice from the other end of the line. "Sam, why are you taking so long? Did something happen? Lucas came back on his own."

"I'm coming back now."

Samuel hung up. When he turned back to Elise, his cold expression returned. "I want to see you at Hilltop Manor tonight."

He strode off before she could say a word. His urgency was obvious.

So he didn't come to see her because of Anna. He was here for Zara. Seeing her was just an afterthought. It was the same for both Samuel and Lucas.

Elise shook her head bitterly.

After so many times, she still hadn't figured out her place. She'd have to be more careful from now on.

"Eat some meat!" Henry gave her some from his own plate. "Don't waste your energy on those deaf and blind fools."

"Okay." Elise took big bites of meat, trying to suppress the deep ache inside her.

…

Samuel entered the ward. His assistant, Sebastian Jones, followed, setting down the takeout boxes.

Zara had been soothing Lucas for a while. When she saw Samuel, she asked, "What's going on? You don't look happy either. Are you and Lucas in sync even with your moods?"

She smiled and continued, "It's the first time I've seen something like this. It's quite cool."

Samuel's voice was flat. "It's nothing. Eat up."

Lucas frowned at the food. "Dad…"

Samuel didn't respond. Instead, he asked Zara, "Can you feed him?"

"No problem." Zara picked up a takeout box and fork.

"By the way, you're seriously overreacting. Dr. Quinton already said I'm fine, but you still want me to stay here."

Samuel replied, "It doesn't hurt to be cautious."

Zara gave him a playful glare, then picked up a carrot and egg fritter to feed Lucas. "Here, Lucas."

Lucas hated carrots. They tasted weird to him, and the egg made it even worse. He kept his mouth shut.

He wondered why he never noticed any weird smells when Elise made dishes with carrots. Once, she'd even made a big monster out of carrots, which he'd devoured in no time.

To him, Elise was amazing.

"What's wrong, Lucas? You don't like it?" Zara put down the fritter and picked up some fish fillet.

Lucas didn't like fish either. The smell put him off.

But because Zara was feeding him, he ate anyway. He didn't want to upset her. Still, he threw up after eating.

Zara panicked. "You're throwing up again? Sam, take Lucas to see a doctor. Kids' stomachs are fragile, and the weather's getting cold."

Samuel replied with a grunt, picked up Lucas, and left the ward. But instead of taking him for a checkup, he went straight back to Hilltop Manor.

"Wanda."

"Yes, Mr. Samuel."

Samuel set Lucas down on the couch. "Make him something he likes."

He knew Lucas was picky. The boy had been fine after eating the chicken burger Zara had ordered yesterday.

This morning, they'd eaten together, and everything had been fine at first. But on the way to school, Lucas had thrown up.

Samuel had called the school to excuse him and turned the car back to the hospital. Then, he'd had Lucas rest in Zara's ward.

At noon, after eating the food Samuel had delivered from a restaurant, Lucas had thrown up again.

Just before dinner, Lucas had found out Elise was in the hospital, so he'd run over to see her. However, Elise had still refused to cook for him.

Since Lucas listened to Zara, Samuel had Zara feed him again, thinking that he'd get used to it if he ate it a few more times. But that hadn't worked either.

Wanda knew why Lucas looked so weak. After acknowledging Samuel's order, she headed to the kitchen.

"Wanda," Lucas called out weakly, "I want risotto. With that special black stuff in it."

Special black stuff?

That had to be truffles.

Wanda hesitated. "Mr. Lucas, we don't have that at home. How about I make you pumpkin risotto instead? There won't be any ingredients you don't like."

"Why don't we have the special black stuff?" Lucas was grumpy from feeling sick. "Mom can make it when I want it!"

Wanda explained patiently, "That special black stuff can't be stored for long. When you want it, your mother goes early to the neighboring state to dig up fresh wild ones, then simmers the risotto for five hours before sending it to your school at noon. It's cold now, and they're hard to find."

"I don't care!" Lucas pouted.

Wanda was at a loss. "Mr. Samuel…"

Samuel didn't believe there was anything money couldn't buy in this world, and he was sure they wouldn't starve just because one person was gone.

He quickly made a call, and soon, truffles were delivered.

"Start cooking."

"Yes, sir." Wanda entered the kitchen.

Risotto had to be simmered until thick and creamy. The timing was crucial.

But Lucas couldn't wait. He was starving. Several times, he ran to the kitchen to urge Wanda on.

Wanda had no choice but to make some egg flan first to fill him up. She'd learned this recipe from Elise, so it should be fine.

Once Lucas finished eating, his stomach settled, and he was more patient.

Since the risotto still needed time, Wanda took Lucas outside to play to distract him.

They saw Samuel still sitting in the living room. He kept checking his watch, like he had other places to be.

Wanda asked, "Mr. Holt, are you having dinner at home?"

She thought he would go to the hospital.

He replied, "Wait a bit more."

Wanda was confused. What was he waiting for?

Eventually, the aroma of risotto wafted from the kitchen. Lucas sat at the table, taking small bites.

The front door still hadn't opened.

Wanda glanced several times at Samuel, who was sitting on the couch. She noticed a growing chill around him.

His thin lips were pressed tight, and his face was tense. It was obvious he was already on the brink of anger.

She didn't dare to approach him.

Time ticked to midnight.

Wanda had already put Lucas to bed and prepared ingredients for the next morning. She was about to rest but noticed Samuel still sitting there.

She said, "Mr. Holt, the risotto's still warm. Do you want to have some? Let me know if you'd like me to make something else."

Samuel waved her off.

When Wanda left for her room, she saw him pick up his phone, dial a number, then slam the phone down hard.

The loud snap startled her, and she hurried away. She thought she heard him mutter, "How dare you hang up on me?"

Elise had not only hung up on Samuel but also blocked his number entirely.

He rarely called her anyway. When she called, he usually didn't answer, and most of her messages went unanswered too.

Henry, who didn't know much about their situation, asked, "If you block him now, how will he find you when he wants a divorce?"

Elise replied, "He mostly reaches out through his assistant anyway. Once he's ready to divorce, his lawyer will contact me."

Lucas woke up in the morning hoping to see Elise. But it was still Wanda who woke him up and made breakfast.

Though Wanda's cooking was edible, he still wanted the meals Elise made.

"Dad, can you ask Mom to come back? Doesn't she always listen to you?"

He remembered Elise never dared to upset Samuel and always tried to please him.

Sometimes, Samuel didn't even need to say a word. Just one look from him, and Elise would do as he wanted.

Samuel replied, "If you miss her, you can go find her yourself."

He sat across the table, elegantly sipping his coffee. But something felt off about the taste. He set the cup down a little harder than usual.

Wanda caught his expression. "Mr. Holt, is the coffee very bad?"

After a whole night, Samuel's anger had mostly faded, but that cup of coffee triggered some irritation.

"No."

He tried to tug at his tie, only to realize he wasn't wearing one, so he pulled at his collar instead.

He then got up and went upstairs to change.

Samuel still belie

Chapter 7