Chapter 342 Orange Allergy
Luann wasn't a picky eater, but Mike's blatant favoritism was hard to ignore.
In the Weaver family, only Brianna knew what she liked to eat. Sometimes, when Luann got home late, Brianna would whip up something special just for her.
Mike's mouth twitched. "I'm usually swamped with work, so I don't have the energy to think about these things. Luann, please don't hold it against me."
Luann picked up her fork and took a bite. "Really? Then why do you remember that Juliet hates spinach and orange juice?"
Mike was at a loss for words. Juliet quickly jumped in, "Luann, I know Dad's neglected you over the years. We'll do better. I promise!"
Luann said calmly, "You called Brianna to find out what I like, didn't you?"
Juliet laughed awkwardly. "At least it's a gesture of goodwill."
"True," Luann said flatly. "It's really not easy."
Mike couldn't hold it in anymore. "Luann, so what if I didn't notice these things? In the past four years, what have I deprived you of? Don't you think your words are hurtful?"
Luann blinked innocently. "That's hurtful? Then you probably haven't heard truly hurtful words. Besides, if it weren't for you, how could I have wandered for eighteen years? Isn't that right, Dad?"
Luann smiled brightly, but her smile sent a chill down Mike's spine. Scenes from the past flashed through his mind. He still remembered the last time he kissed Shirley.
"To be honest, you've been pretty good to me," Luann said, lightly stirring her soup with a spoon. "You knew I came from a rural area, afraid I'd be blinded by money, so you bought me the cheapest clothes."
Mike stayed silent.
"You also knew that I have lived there for eighteen years without much schooling. But you never mentioned sending me to school."
Mike remained silent. The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Mike forced himself to speak. "Luann, I know that as a father, I haven't fulfilled my duties in these four years. Now that I'm at the end of my life, I regret it. I'll definitely treat you well from now on and mend our father-daughter relationship with sincerity. Believe me! I mean it!"
Luann slowly wiped her mouth. She looked at him with a half-smile. "It seems you don't understand what I'm saying at all."
If she could see even a hint of guilt for Shirley from Mike, she wouldn't be so disappointed.
Mike and Juliet exchanged glances. "Luann, just say what you want to say."
"There's nothing to say."
Mike awkwardly forced a smile. "So, are you done eating?"
"Yes."
Seeing this, Mike knew it was time to get to the point. "Luann..."
"The food is a bit salty," Luann interrupted him.
Mike hurriedly poured a glass of water. "I don't feel like drinking water today. I want some orange juice."
Mike quickly said, "We have some in the fridge!"
"I want freshly squeezed."
Mike hesitated. "Freshly squeezed? I think we have some oranges."
Luann turned to Juliet with a smile. "Juliet, could you make me a glass of fresh orange juice?"
Juliet reluctantly headed to the kitchen, grumbling under her breath. "Luann must be doing this on purpose! So annoying! Why not just take the money and leave!"
She sliced the oranges haphazardly, blending them into a mess. Then she added several spoonfuls of salt and sugar, stirring it furiously. "Luann, making me serve you!"
Juliet returned with the orange juice, handing it to Luann with a forced smile. "Here it is, orange juice."
Luann looked thoughtfully at Juliet and suddenly said, "You try it first."
Juliet's heart skipped a beat. Mike had been there the whole time, and the kitchen was a bit far away. Luann couldn't possibly know what she had just done. Juliet was sure Luann hadn't seen anything, so she wasn't nervous.
"Why should I try it? It's for you."
Luann nodded. "Some oranges are very sour when juiced. I'm afraid it might be too sour for me, so I want you to try it first."
Juliet kept a straight face. "I added honey, so it won't be sour."
"But I still want you to try it. Is that not okay?" Luann smiled at her.
Juliet's mouth twitched. "Luann, you know I don't like orange juice."
"Really?" Luann blinked. "My memory isn't great. But you should understand me. Since it's been four years, you still don't remember what I like to eat."
She pushed the orange juice closer. "Drink it."
Juliet pressed her lips together. It wasn't that she didn't want to drink it. But she had added so much stuff in there. And she was allergic to oranges. But Juliet didn't dare say that out loud. She feared that if she did, Luann would make her drink even more. She might die right there.
"Could it be that you put something in it, so you're afraid to drink it?" Luann suddenly asked.
Juliet shivered and instinctively denied it. "Of course not! I'll drink it!"
She took the glass, brought it to her lips, and mustered the courage to take just a small sip. But Luann pushed the bottom of the glass, forcing her to take a big gulp. The moment the juice entered her mouth, Juliet felt the mix of salty, sweet, sour, and the bitterness of the orange peel. A burst of flavors exploded in her mouth!
Juliet struggled to control her facial expressions, barely managing a smile. "...Lovely. Luann, you should try it."
But Luann said, "If it's so good, you should drink it all."
Juliet was speechless.
Luann looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "You probably didn't like orange juice before because you hadn't tasted its true flavor. Now that you have, don't be shy."
"But... but I..." Juliet stammered, unable to find a good excuse.
Luann said nothing. Mike, afraid of angering Luann and getting no money, frantically signaled Juliet. "Juliet, this is your sister's goodwill; just accept it! Hurry up! Drink it!"
