Chapter 418 Ivan Spoke Solemnly
This was post-traumatic stress from five years ago.
Ivan spoke solemnly, "If I had a choice, I wish our first night hadn't been so dreadful..."
Haley looked down, her lips curling into a sarcastic smile.
How she wished that night had never happened...
How she wished she had married and had children normally.
She wished her four children had come into this world normally, that they had been born into a complete and happy family.
"Ivan, Haley, what are you doing?"
Suddenly, Owen's voice rang out beside them.
Haley quickly snapped out of her thoughts and turned her head to see four fuzzy heads peeking in at the kitchen doorway, each one with faces full of confusion.
She quickly stepped back and smiled. "Dinner's ready. Come in and help carry the dishes and set the cutlery."
Keith led the three younger siblings, Angela included, each carrying a dish out to the table.
After hanging up her apron, Haley followed them out.
Ivan pressed his lips together, suppressing the emotions in his eyes before casually taking a seat at the dining table.
"Wow, Haley, the food you made today tastes even better!"
Owen took a bite of the fried chicken steak, his eyes squinting in bliss. If he had wings, they would surely be fluttering behind him.
Angela mimicked him, taking a piece of fried chicken steak into her mouth and then squinting her eyes in happiness.
Haley smiled and said, "If it tastes good, eat up."
Her smile didn't reach her eyes, and after she spoke, she looked down and began to eat, her demeanor staying subdued throughout.
Ivan sat next to her, casually picked up a piece of fried chicken, and placed it on her plate, saying, "You're too thin; you should eat more meat."
"I don't really like fried chicken," Haley stated.
Todd quickly took the piece of fried chicken from her plate and put it into his bowl.
He had noticed earlier that Haley was in a bad mood; something unpleasant must have happened in the kitchen.
Chewing on the fried chicken, Todd glanced over at Ivan as if by accident.
They finished their meal amidst Owen's chatter.
As evening fell, Haley was ready to leave with the kids.
"Haley, please don't go..." Owen clung to her arm, shaking it gently. "Our house is big, and we have lots of rooms. Why don't you stay over for the night?"
Keith spoke up quietly, "Last night, Alfred prepared three rooms for Haley, Todd, and Angela to stay over."
"Yeah, Miss DeRoss, it's already dark out, and the roads aren't safe. It would be so much better to stay over," Alfred suggested warmly, "And tomorrow is Saturday; you could take the kids and Miss Angela out for fun without the hassle of going back and forth."
"Exactly. We have tomorrow off. Let's go to the amusement park—that will be fun!" Owen clapped his hands in excitement.
Ivan stood to the side; his figure moody.
He wanted to ask her to stay with the children, but the memory of her words in the kitchen felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over him.
Ivan remained silent, not saying a word.
Owen, oblivious to the tension, tugged at Ivan's sleeve. "Ivan, try to get Haley to stay. Come on, say something..."
Keith, sensing the complex adult emotions swirling around, pulled at Owen and said gently, "We shouldn't force Haley to stay. Besides, they don't have their change of clothes here..."
"Alright, I'm going to head back," Haley said to the kids, waving to Keith and Owen before leaving the Winston family mansion with Todd and Angela.
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