Chapter 322 The Adorable and Biased Old Man
Imogen shot Nicholas a frosty glare. "Sister-in-law? They're not even married yet, and you're already calling her that?"
She added, "Kimberly is tied up with school during the day, but she can swing by after clocking out in the evening."
As she spoke, Imogen glanced at Jessica, making her intentions clear.
Jessica just smiled, staying silent. No matter her thoughts, she couldn't oppose Imogen's suggestion.
Nicholas, however, couldn't help but sneer, "Oh, give it a rest. Gabriel worked late and didn't have dinner. Jessica, his girlfriend, cares about him and brings him dinner. They're a couple, working and having a sweet time together after work. It's different. Why do you insist Kimberly do what Jessica does? Isn't she the younger sister? Since when does a younger sister have to compete with the sister-in-law in everything?"
Imogen glared at Nicholas, but he pretended not to notice and sarcastically said, "Whatever Jessica can do, Kimberly must follow? Mom, where's your mind at? Does that mean if Gabriel and Jessica sleep together, Kimberly has to lie between them?"
Jessica's eyebrows twitched at this.
She thought Kimberly's issue would drag on and torment everyone for a while, but Gabriel straightforwardly refused any further contact, and Nicholas didn't plan to give Imogen and Kimberly any face, directly exposing them on the spot.
This was awesome!
"Nicholas!" Imogen looked at him furiously. "Watch your mouth!"
Kimberly blushed deeply and stood close to Imogen, glancing at Gabriel, who showed no intention of stopping Nicholas. She bit her lip and said, "Nicholas, don't joke like that. Mom is just worried about me being back in the country and is a bit anxious, so she's been giving instructions. But I didn't..."
"What didn't you do? Just call him big brother? Why call him Brother Gabriel?" Nicholas looked at her expressionlessly.
By dinner time, Imogen's anger from Nicholas's words hadn't subsided.
In the front hall, Michael finally gathered everyone. The dinner table had many dishes Jessica liked, and Sarah had placed them closer to her.
Jessica had never received such preferential treatment in the Jenner family. Even with Imogen and Kimberly present, she didn't have many mixed feelings. The rumors of the Harriman family's aloof nobility appeared overblown. Michael, the family patriarch, was anything but cold; he was a warm and partial old man.
Obviously, it was clear he was biased towards her.
"Didn't Michael dislike beef? When did table start having these dishes?" Imogen asked wonderingly, seeing the tomato beef stew and other beef, fish, and seafood dishes in front of Jessica, along with some desserts.
Sarah replied respectfully, "Those are Ms. Jenner's favorite dishes. Mr. Gabriel Harriman specifically instructed me before, and today healso asked for these dishes, so the kitchen prepared them."
Already fuming, Imogen lost her appetite instantly. She gently put down her utensils and looked at Jessica sitting next to Gabriel. "Michael hasn't liked beef for years, finding it too gamey. Don't you understand adapting to local customs? Usually, you should eat what the Harriman family eats. Making a separate dish is too much. Kimberly just returned and isn't used to the local food yet. The kitchen didn't make anything special for her. How do you expect Michael to eat this?"
Michael didn't like beef?
Jessica clearly remembered Michael eating it, though not much.
She honestly asked, "Grandpa Michael, you don't like beef?"
Michael clicked his tongue. "That was years ago. I didn't like the old-style beef, which was gamey and tough. The new styles in recent years are much better, and the gamey taste isn't as strong. I eat a bit now."
He then asked Sarah to serve him a bowl of beef soup, took a sip, and smiled. "Sarah's skills have improved."
Sarah beamed with joy. "I'm glad you like it, sir."
Fred discreetly gave Sarah a thumbs-up, making her blush as she continued serving Jessica.
The scene was so harmonious that Imogen, after a moment of silence, realized she had been abroad too long, only remembering Michael's preferences from over twenty years ago.
But after more than twenty years, the Harriman family seemed unchanged, yet subtle changes had occurred over time, which she was unaware of.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Imogen held back her anger because Michael was present.
Jessica, thinking that Imogen was Gabriel's mother after all, took the initiative to put the soup in the new bowl in front of her in the middle of the dining table. "Sarah's soup is really good. Auntie Imogen, you haven't had a meal in the country for years. Would you like to try it?"
"No need, I eat vegetarian at night," Imogen refused.
Even if embarrassed, Jessica, being the junior, didn't mind. She smiled and said nothing more. Sarah served her another bowl, and she turned to chat with Michael.
Kimberly served some vegetarian dishes to Imogen, who then looked more at ease and told Sarah, "Kimberly and I both eat vegetarian at night. Remember that."
"Okay." Sarah nodded.
Michael, having not seen Jessica for a long time, chatted with her, asking about her health, if she and Gabriel had any arguments, and if Gabriel bullied her.
Gabriel chuckled, not refuting Michael's boastful words, and placed two ribs on Jessica's plate.
Kimberly suddenly asked, "I watched TV last night and saw Jessica in a show."
At this, Imogen turned to Kimberly, seemingly unaware of Jessica's background and situation, now hearing it from Kimberly.
