Chapter 210 A Secret Glance at the Recipe
It was evident to Victoria that Ava was not in the mood for idle chatter.
"Supper is prepared, let's partake," Victoria proposed enthusiastically, linking her arm with Ava's. Ava responded with a slight nod and a soft hum of agreement. Victoria could sense the depth of Ava's melancholy. She must have truly adored her husband, for the divorce to have left her so utterly heartbroken.
They entered the dining room to find a table laden with delectable dishes, all perfectly suited for a pregnant woman. The food was not overly greasy, and the colors and aromas were enticing.
"Come, Ava, take a seat," Victoria encouraged.
As William served the final pot of soup, he removed his apron and placed it aside. Ava surveyed the feast before her in surprise.
"William, did you prepare all this yourself?" she inquired.
Before William could respond, Victoria interjected, "Yes, my brother cooked tonight. It's actually a rare sight to see him in the kitchen. I suppose I'm fortunate to be present for such an occasion."
Upon hearing Victoria's words, William instinctively wanted to correct her, but after a moment's reflection, he found no fault in her statement.
"Thank you, I appreciate it," Ava responded, a hint of guilt in her voice. William had been toiling away for her benefit, while she had sequestered herself in her room, consumed by sorrow.
"It's no trouble at all. I actually find cooking enjoyable," William stated, his face devoid of emotion. His lie was transparent, yet his expression remained impassive.
Victoria rolled her eyes in disbelief, watching her brother tell such a blatant falsehood. 'He actually enjoys cooking, seriously?' she thought to herself. She was tempted to call out his pretense, barely restraining herself.
William's gaze shifted towards Victoria, a smile on his face but his eyes issuing a silent warning. Victoria gently tugged at Ava's sleeve, choosing not to reveal her brother's deception.
"Yes, my brother is quite the culinary expert. Make sure to savor the meal tonight," she advised.
The siblings were clearly going out of their way to comfort Ava. She felt it would be inappropriate to continue wallowing in her sadness after their thoughtful efforts. Gradually, she began to engage in their conversation. The dinner proceeded pleasantly, and the trio managed to finish every dish. Seeing Ava relish the meal he had prepared filled William with genuine satisfaction.
Time passed swiftly. By ten o'clock, Ava had retired to bed, needing to rise early for her divorce proceedings the following day. William, not yet ready for sleep, remained in the dining room, perusing recipes on his tablet, contemplating what to prepare for Ava's breakfast.
Victoria descended the stairs for a drink and noticed the light on in the dining room. She entered to find her brother engrossed in his tablet. Stealthily, she approached him and discovered him engrossed in a multitude of recipes.
"Wow, you're really going above and beyond," she remarked.
Caught off guard, William hastily switched off the tablet and turned to face her, his tone cool. "Why are you here?"
"I came for a glass of water. But you, staying up late to look at recipes? You're certainly attentive to Ava," she observed pointedly.
"That's none of your concern. Go back to bed," he retorted.
Despite his tender and patient treatment of Ava, he showed no such courtesy towards his own sister. Victoria had deduced that her brother had expended all his patience on Ava, leaving none for anyone else.
"Will, just a timid question, you're not planning to pursue Ava after her divorce, are you?" she queried.
William placed his tablet on the table. Some emotions simmered beneath the surface, causing genuine frustration. Now that Victoria had stumbled upon his secret, he saw no reason to continue the charade.
