Chapter 398
At the breakfast table
Michael slid into his chair, anticipating the arrival of the others, and when he caught sight of them, his face lit up with a warm smile. “Good morning, everyone p>
Ruby and Dylan sensed the tension in the air, and when Michael greeted them, they averted their eyes, offering no response.
Unperturbed, Michael rose to pull out chairs for them.
Ruby and Dylan glanced at Eva, as if looking for a cue.
It was only after Eva gave a subtle nod that they hesitantly took their seats.
Eva settled beside them. Her appetite had waned over the past few days due to stress, but today, hunger nudged her to reach for her favorites with a newfound boldness. Michael watched, surprised to see Eva tucking in.
She scoffed inwardly. He probably figured she’d stage a hunger strike as some form of protest, right?
Sure, she could use a hunger strike as leverage against Michael. If he truly cared, he wouldn’t stand to see her starve.
But self-starvation wasn’t Eva’s style. She had two kids to consider. If she neglected her health, what would become of them?
She had brought them into this world; it was her duty to shield them as best she could. Eating well and staying strong were part of that duty.
She didn’t just eat for herself; she also made sure to offer the tastiest bits to her little ones. “Eat up, you two p>
The kids seemed to eat with an unusual fervor, as though it might be their last meal, devouring their food with eagerness.
“Take it easy,” Michael cautioned, worried they might choke.
But his words fell on deaf ears. They polished off their plates, wiped their mouths, and stood ready to leave.
“Let’s go.” Eva was up first, with the children trailing close behind, vanishing in moments.
The room was steeped in an awkward silence until Steven finally ventured a word.
“Sir p>
He was cut off before he could continue. “There’s no need for chatter during a meal,” Michael stated firmly.
Steven clamped his mouth shut, not daring another word.
Michael appeared unfazed, leisurely finishing his breakfast before dabbing his mouth with a napkin and standing. “Have some dessert sent up around ten,” he instructed.
“Of course, sir,” Steven complied, though he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly at Michael’s poise. Glancing at the rumpled napkin left behind, Steven’s expression shifted subtly as he tidied up the dining space. After a hearty meal, Eva and the children retreated to their room, strategizing.
“Mummy, if we keep treating Uncle Michael like this, won’t he get mad?” Ruby’s voice was tinged with concern.
Eva’s response was calculated. “Mad? That might be for the best. Perhaps if he’s angry enough, he’ll let us go.” She hadn’t explicitly told the children they were prisoners, but they were intuitive enough to sense it. They had mirrored her actions flawlessly: eating in unison and exiting together, a silent affront to Michael.
This unity with her children filled Eva with a sense of triumph.
She stroked Ruby’s hair, a smile of satisfaction gracing her features. “You both did great today. Let’s keep this up p>
Ruby beamed at the praise, clutching Eva’s wrist. “Thank you, mummy. I’ll do even better p>
Dylan, observing the tender moment, playfully pinched Ruby’s cheek.
“Hey! That’s not nice,” Ruby protested, batting Dylan’s hand away and snuggling closer to Eva.
Lunch and dinner followed the same script.
They didn’t openly resist; they’d show up at the table, but they treated Michael as if he were a ghost, never acknowledging his attempts at conversation. Their lives might have seemed ordinary, but to them, Michael might as well have been invisible.
The next day, the pattern persisted, driving Steven to break the silence during one of Michael’s solitary meals.
“Mr. Cooper, doesn’t this bother you p>
“Why should it?” Michael asked, his voice even.
Steven frowned, “They’re ignoring you. Doesn’t that make you angry p>
A faint smile played on Michael’s lips. “They’re right here, next to me. I have them, and they’re so full of life. What’s there to be angry about?” Steven was at a loss for words.
“As long as they’re close, they can treat me however they please. There’s no cause for concern,” Michael assured him.
“Understood, sir p>
If Michael wasn’t troubled by the situation, Steven, an outsider, had no place to comment further.
For two days, Eva hadn’t caught a glimpse of David, not at meals or during her brief strolls.
On the third day, her patience wore thin. After breakfast, she instructed the children, “You two go on up p>
They understood instantly and scampered away.
Now it was just Michael, Eva, and Steven lingering in the dining room.
Michael hadn’t finished his breakfast yet, but at Eva’s approach, he set his spoon down and offered her a smile.
“Do you need something p>
Eva was direct. “Where’s David p>
“Do you require his assistance p>
“Yes p>
“He’s been dispatched on an urgent matter. Shall I assign someone else to help you p>
Steven stepped forward eagerly, “Ms. Hansen, David’s quite occupied. If you need anything, please let me know p>
His interjection was unusual, stirring Eva’s suspicions.
What were they concealing?
“I don’t need anyone else. I want to see him,” Eva insisted.
Since that day, Michael’s words had seeded doubt in her mind, but she had thought that David, being his long-time confidant, would face at most a reprimand.
Eva was convinced David could handle that.
But now, his absence was troubling.
Michael’s gaze softened.
“Eva, is it so important to see David p>
She nodded resolutely. “Am I not allowed to see him anymore p>
“It won’t come to that,” Michael replied gently. “If you need him, I’ll bring him back p>