Chapter 174 Trying to Please Brother
Oliver took a bite of his meal, eating elegantly. He chewed without expression twice before swallowing. Afterward, he turned his attention to Lucas.
"My sister taught me how to cook, but unfortunately, the student has yet to surpass the teacher. My culinary skills shouldn’t be used to judge my sister's abilities," Lucas hastily said, worried that Oliver might judge his sister's cooking based on his own.
Natalie watched Oliver anxiously, uncertain of his next words. Given Oliver's famously discerning palate, which had led him to critique even Michelin chefs, his reaction was unpredictable.
Oliver was extremely picky to begin with. It was a sheer stroke of luck that he found her cooking to his liking. On the other hand, he found Lucas’ cooking bland and difficult to enjoy. He forced himself to swallow the food he had just eaten before he said, “Let’s eat.”
Natalie let out a relieved sigh, her eyes twinkling with a touch of amusement. She wondered if this indicated an improvement in Oliver's unique dietary challenges.
Meanwhile, Lucas smiled, behaving like an adult. He sat down and continued to serve Natalie food.
Shortly after, Oliver excused himself from the table, saying, "Enjoy your meal."
There were no servants in the dining room, and when Oliver went upstairs, Lucas leaned in and whispered to Natalie, "Do you plan to divorce him?"
Natalie froze for a moment. Indeed, she had planned to divorce him two months ago, but circumstances had changed. Finally, she shook her head and replied, "Lucas, I am indebted to Oliver."
"I can repay your debt for you! I have money!” Lucas, unable to stand seeing his sister in distress, became visibly upset as he said, "Your marriage to Oliver wasn't by choice. It was a desperate measure to get the Watsons to pay for my medical expenses. However, I’m financially stable now. I can support us both!"
Lucas regretted not investigating the matter of his medical fees earlier. He had placed too much faith in the familial bonds of the Watson family, a mistake he vowed not to repeat. For him, the notion of family had always been centered solely around Natalie.
Upon hearing Lucas talking about his finances, Natalie said, "Lucas, some debts are beyond monetary repayment."
The debt for saving a life and being protected was not something that could be repaid with money. Moreover, Oliver was not lacking in either financial resources or power.
Moreover, Oliver was also forced into this marriage of convenience.
At this moment, Natalie's phone buzzed with a new message.
Roger: Natalie, I heard about your sudden departure from the competition.
Roger had not merely heard about it; he had been present. He had endured the event's tedium, hoping to catch a glimpse of Natalie, only to learn of her abrupt departure.
Realizing the potential inconvenience her withdrawal might have caused the production team, Natalie hoped she did not cause too much trouble.
Assuming Roger had learned of the incident through social media, she sent a reply.
Natalie: Yes, I had to deal with an urgent matter. Thank you for your concern."
Roger: Is everything okay? Do you need my help?
Natalie: It's nothing major. I've taken care of it, thank you!
Lucas was very observant. He did not mean to pry into his sister’s business, but he accidentally caught a glimpse of her phone screen. He saw a man’s name immediately and asked, “Who are you texting? An admirer? Is he interested in you?”
“No, he’s just a friend,” Natalie said with a laugh, brushing off Lucas's playful probing.
After the meal concluded, a servant arrived to clear the table.
Reflecting on the evening, Natalie realized she had been so engrossed in conversation with Lucas that she failed to notice Oliver's lack of appetite. Only now did it dawn on her that Oliver had hardly eaten anything. She encouraged Lucas to retire early, suggesting he rest or read in his room.
Lucas had already secured a spot at Harvard University. He had taught himself many things, and even without graduating from a university, he was capable of earning a significant income. However, despite his accomplishments, he continued to play the role of a younger brother in Natalie's presence.
Lucas agreed to Natalie’s suggestion. After all, he still had to deal with Hailey, his ‘sister’. He was determined to reclaim whatever Hailey had taken from Natalie.
…
After Lucas left, Natalie ventured into the kitchen to prepare Ravioli, choosing it for its simplicity and quick preparation time. The key to delicious Ravioli lay in the dough, which needed to be rolled into a thin sheet to enhance its taste.
After about an hour, the dish was ready. It was accompanied by a sauce that was appealing in both aroma and appearance.
Carrying the freshly made Ravioli, Natalie went to Oliver's study.
With three knocks, Oliver knew it was Natalie immediately, and he quickly told her to come in.
Natalie entered, holding a plate of Ravioli. Its scent filled the room immediately.
"I made this for you," Natalie said, placing the Ravioli on Oliver's desk and stirring it.
Oliver, who had been feeling hungry, found his appetite ignited by the sight and smell of the dish before him. He admired the craftsmanship of the Ravioli. The dough was so finely rolled that the filling was visible through it, and the sauce added a visually appealing touch.
“I thought you only cared about your younger brother and had forgotten about your husband.”
“I didn’t,” Natalie said, thinking to herself, ‘I even made you supper!’
After a moment, she asked helplessly, “Oliver, do you dislike Lucas that much?”
After all, Oliver’s expression had been bad since Lucas appeared.
“Do you think that brat likes me?”
Natalie sighed. At the same time, she scooped up the food and blew it on it gently before she motioned for him to open his mouth.
Despite the disdainful expression on his face, he opened his mouth obediently. The filling was delicious, satisfying his taste buds. With this, his expression softened.
Natalie continued to feed Oliver, leaning closer to him.
The moment became unexpectedly intimate when Oliver, finding a practical solution to the cumbersome process of being fed, pulled Natalie onto his lap before taking the Ravioli from her.
This bold move surprised Natalie.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Eating,” Oliver replied with a straight face. Then, he easily scooped up the Ravioli with his spoon and brought it to his mouth.
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