novelraw Chapter 138: Pastries
Chapter 138: Pastries
Luke Lowell had just gotten hair extensions, styled into a handsome wolf cut with a few silver streaks highlighting the edges. He thought he looked pretty cool.
But there was no way he could talk back. After all, his aunt was a terrifying force to be reckoned with.
Luke Lowell pressed his legs a little closer together, not daring to make a peep.
Pearl Chandler chuckled. "It’s not the hairstyle’s fault he’s ugly. My son just isn’t very good-looking to begin with. He was even worse before. This new style at least makes him somewhat presentable."
Jane Chandler pursed her lips, still looking displeased.
Noticing something in the corner of his eye, Luke Lowell felt like he’d been granted a pardon and immediately shouted, "Hey, my cousin’s back! And he brought his wife and my dear nephew, Ian!"
Jane Chandler just snorted coldly, showing little enthusiasm.
Pearl Chandler watched the happy little family of three, her eyes filled with envy. "How wonderful. I wonder when my son will finally get married."
Luke Lowell just played dead.
After a round of greetings, Pearl Chandler looked at Naomi Kenway and couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. "Nicole, you’re getting more and more beautiful. If you have any good friends, be sure to introduce one to Luke."
Jane Chandler tugged on Pearl Chandler’s arm. "You must be looking for trouble."
"Mom," Ethan Shaw said, catching the undertone in Jane Chandler’s words.
Jane Chandler fell silent, but her gaze toward Ethan Shaw was tinged with resentment.
Hearing Pearl Chandler’s words, Luke Lowell could no longer stay calm. "What century are we in? I won’t accept an arranged marriage! If you insist, if you really insist, then I’ll... I’ll..."
Pearl Chandler looked at him, amused. "You live under my roof and eat my food. What are you going to do? If you run away, I’ll throw out that whole pile of junk in your room!"
Luke Lowell’s face fell. "How could you be so cruel? Those are the figurines I worked my butt off to collect!"
Pearl Chandler said, "I’m not demanding you get married young. Just find a girlfriend and bring her home for me to meet. Putting my mind at ease would be the best thing."
"If you keep pressuring me like this, then I guess I won’t be able to get you Frank Clementine Coleman’s autograph."
Frank Clementine Coleman was a mega-popular celebrity at the moment.
"Wait..." A smile spread across Pearl Chandler’s face as she said hurriedly, "Son, we can talk about this."
Since they had guests, Naomi and her family stayed in the living room to chat for a while.
Pearl Chandler was Jane Chandler’s younger sister. While they looked similar, their personalities were worlds apart. Pearl was much more vivacious.
Jane Chandler watched from the side, her brow tightly furrowed. "You really do spoil him," she commented.
Naomi Kenway barely participated in their conversation. Ian sat in her lap, his small hand clutching a longan he could barely hold. A moment later, he had it peeled and popped the fruit into Naomi’s mouth.
"So sweet."
Ian’s big eyes sparkled. "Am I the cutest kid in the whole world?"
"Of course you are."
Hearing Naomi’s confirmation, Ian’s round little face blossomed with joy. He buried his face in Naomi’s shoulder, acting shy.
Watching from the sidelines, Luke Lowell was dying to get in on the fun. He was completely melting from his little nephew’s cuteness and couldn’t stop himself from reaching out. "Naomi, can I hold him for a bit?"
After a brief hesitation, Naomi handed Ian over. Ian seemed reluctant, calling out for his mama, but Luke Lowell paid no mind and simply took him.
Luke Lowell held his little nephew contentedly, but the boy had completely lost his earlier cuddly and well-behaved demeanor. His fair little face was scrunched into a pout, clearly unhappy about being taken from Naomi’s arms.
Greatly frustrated, Luke Lowell tentatively took an orange slice from the fruit bowl and offered it to Ian. Ian shook his head, looking resistant. "No, sour..."
"You haven’t even tried it."
"Sour..."
Luke Lowell finally understood. It seemed Ian was only on his best behavior when he was in Naomi’s arms.
After several more failed attempts to win him over, Luke Lowell was at his wit’s end. His voice was laced with frustration. "You little stinker, you weren’t like this a minute ago. What a quick-change artist! You were so sweet and cuddly just now."
In the end, Luke Lowell gave Ian back to Naomi.
A few minutes later, Pearl Chandler and Luke Lowell said their goodbyes and left.
After Pearl and her son left, Jane Chandler lost all interest in staying in the living room and went upstairs to her room.
Susan Hughes’s room was on the fourth floor, and the entire level was quiet.
When the servant announced their arrival, she couldn’t hide her excitement. "Quick, have them come in," she said.
Susan Hughes sat in her recliner and immediately took Ian into her arms, feeling his weight. "Ian, you’ve gotten so much bigger! Soon, your great-grandma won’t be able to hold you anymore!"
Ian said, "When I get bigger, I can hold you, Great-Grandma!"
His words made Susan Hughes break into a laugh.
Susan Hughes looked Ian over, growing more pleasantly surprised by the second. He looked so much healthier and happier than before.
Although she didn’t like to meddle in the affairs of the younger generation, she was still delighted to see her family living in harmony.
"Nicole," she said, "you’ve done such a wonderful job taking care of Ian. Thank you for all your hard work."
"It’s no trouble at all. I’m just so happy to be able to watch him grow up healthy and strong."
Susan Hughes’s eyes lit up. She could sense a change in Naomi recently, and while she didn’t know the reason, she was very happy to see it.
A warm and caring conversation followed. Susan Hughes asked Naomi about many things, such as how her work was going.
Finally, she took Naomi’s hand. "Your mother-in-law has a difficult personality. Try to be understanding when you can..."
Naomi was about to protest when Susan continued, "...but if you can’t, don’t you dare suffer in silence. If anything happens, you come to me. Your great-grandma will back you up."
’Naomi didn’t have many memories of Susan Hughes, but she knew her to be a genuinely kind and tolerant woman.’
Knowing Ian loved the pastries made in the house, Susan Hughes quickly had some brought up. Naomi had a few pieces as well.
Before they left, Naomi overheard Susan Hughes asking someone to fetch Jane Chandler, saying she had something to discuss.
On their way downstairs, they ran into Jane Chandler. Her voice was still soft and gentle when she spoke to Ethan. "Drive safely on your way back. And try not to come over so late next time. It’s not safe."
As for Naomi and Ian, she ignored them completely.
By the time they reached the first floor, Naomi could faintly hear what sounded like an argument coming from upstairs. She glanced at Ethan, unsure if he had heard it too.
*
Ian loved the treats from an old-fashioned pastry shop in Veridia. After pulling a few strings, Naomi managed to become an apprentice there to learn how to make them herself.
’If it was a delicacy her son loved, Naomi wanted to learn how to make it.’
She had just tied on her apron when a pale, slender hand pushed aside the curtain, and a woman walked in.
She wore a cheongsam, and her expression held a gentleness and serenity that put people at ease, like a spring breeze. It was a stark contrast to the contrived aura of Jeanette Kensington; this woman’s grace was bone-deep, making her instantly approachable.
"Are you here to learn how to make pastries, too?"
Naomi nodded. "Yes. My son loves the pastries from this shop."
A look of pleasant surprise crossed the woman’s face. "What a coincidence."