Chapter 276 Cooking Personally
William gently took Felix from Renee’s arms, cradling him securely with one hand. Felix settled easily into his embrace, beaming with joy, feeling completely safe in William’s strong arms.
Renee watched them, a sense of relief washing over her. It was clear Felix was happy here—maybe it was because of the deep bond of blood.
As they walked into the living room, Renee was surprised to find Eric and Esme busy in the kitchen.
Olivia, who had followed them in, let out a soft chuckle and explained, “They went out early this morning to buy groceries. They said they wanted to have a family reunion dinner tonight. It’s been ages since I’ve seen Mr. Mitchell cook!”
Renee raised an eyebrow, surprised. She turned to William. “Your father can cook?” she asked.
William nodded, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Yes, but it’s a rare occurrence! The last time he cooked was over a decade ago. Don’t underestimate him, though his cooking is actually better than my mother’s!”
Given Eric’s status, his work kept him constantly on the move, leaving little time for cooking. Even being home for dinner was a rarity for him.
Just then, Esme emerged from the kitchen, a dish in hand. When she saw Renee, her expression shifted slightly, becoming a bit awkward. “You’re back. Go wash your hands. Dinner is ready.”
It wasn’t just Esme who felt uneasy–Renee also felt a strange discomfort at the sudden warmth Esme was showing her.
The table was soon covered with a spread of home–cooked dishes, all prepared by Eric and Esme. The sight was enough to make anyone’s mouth water.
“Sit down, and let’s eat,” Eric said as he placed the last dish on the table.
William gently pulled out a chair for Renee and then helped Felix settle into his high chair.
As Renee looked over the spread, her eyes landed on a separate meal prepared just for Felix. The dishes were arranged into cute, cartoon–like shapes that kids would love.
No wonder Felix
loved living here–every little detail here seemed to be designed to make him feel cared for.
At that moment, a wave of gratitude washed over Renee.
She had always carried the weight of guilt before, knowing she couldn’t provide Felix with a complete family or shower him with the love he deserved. But now, she was relieved to see Felix being loved like this.
“Thank you, Grandpa! Thank you, Grandma!” Felix said with a wide grin, his voice full of happiness.
“You’re welcome, Felix,” Esme replied warmly. “As long as you like it, that’s
all that matters. If there’s anything else you want, just tell Grandma, and I’ll make it for you!”
“Okay! Grandma, I want fried chicken tomorrow!” Felix quickly said.
Renee was about to tell Felix no, but Esme beat her to it, shaking her head. “Not yet, Felix. Your body hasn’t fully recovered, so no greasy food for now. You can have it when you’re feeling better.”
Renee was pleased. Esme wasn’t spoiling Felix by giving in to every request.
As they began eating, Felix ate his meal without protest. William, however, couldn’t help but notice Esme’s hesitation; it seemed she wanted to say
something. After a while, William put his fork down and looked at his mother. “Mom,” he said gently, “if you’ve got something on your mind, just say it. Don’t keep it bottled up.”
Esme cleared her throat, her voice hesitant. “About the recent situation online… How are you planning to handle it? Do you need any help?”
Renee shook her head. “No, I can handle it myself.”
This was her problem to deal with, and she understood why the Mitchell family would want to stay out of it. If this had been before, she believed Esme would have likely used the situation to push for William to cut ties with her. The fact that they were all sitting down to share a meal now was probably only because of Felix.
“It’s best if you don’t get involved.” Eric spoke up suddenly, his tone carrying authority.
Esme nodded slightly in agreement. “Yes, it’s better if you stay out of it. Let William handle it. His company has a whole PR team. If they can’t manage something like this with all their resources, they might as well be fired.”
