Chapter 144

Matthew didn't dare invite Sebastian in for dinner. When he came back inside, Elaine shot him a subtle look. Was that a look telling him to invite Sebastian or scolding him for even thinking about it? He honestly couldn't tell what she meant. "Lia, this vegetable and fruit salad is from Melody. She made it especially for you," Elaine said. Worried about Julia's nutrition, Melody had picked fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins. Besides, she tended to get sick of meat easily, and this salad was perfect to cleanse her palate. Upon seeing that Julia didn't mention Sebastian at all, Elaine gave up on the idea of calling him in for dinner. She focused on making sure Xavier ate well, and the family kept up a lively stream of conversation, filling the big dining room with warmth. Julia, still full from the savory baked oatmeal earlier, barely touched the main dishes but ate plenty of the salad. After dinner, she went upstairs to deal with some work on her computer. By 10:00 pm, she