Chapter 60:
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Jolie’s voice came from outside. “Elena, lunch is ready.”
Glancing at her sketches, Elena saw she had completed six designs—enough for now. She packed up her things, opened the door, and followed Jolie downstairs.
Only Jolie, Elena, and Elyse were present at the table.
Elyse carefully placed a piece of fish onto Jolie’s plate, her tone gentle as she tried to win her favor. “This is your favorite, right?”
Jolie observed her cautious behavior. Not wanting to hold a grudge against her, she accepted it with a small nod. “Thank you, Elyse. You should eat more too.”
Elyse beamed. “Thanks!”
Then, she picked up a piece of rib and placed it on Elena’s plate. “Elena, Ailie made these ribs. They taste amazing—you should try one.”
Elena eyed the rib but didn’t touch it.
Noticing this, Elyse’s face fell slightly. “Why aren’t you eating? Is it because of what happened earlier? I never said anything! Samira misunderstood me, and so did you! I’m really happy that you’re back.”
“It’s unhygienic.”
“What?” Elyse froze, caught off guard.
Elena lifted her gaze. “Your fork has saliva on it.”
Elyse had hoped to stir emotions and play the victim, but she never expected to be shut down so bluntly.
For a moment, she was at a loss for words.
Jolie, who hadn’t noticed at first, now glanced at the fish on her plate and suddenly lost her appetite.
Wanting to smooth things over without being too harsh, Jolie gently advised, “Elyse, you should eat it yourself. There’s no need for formalities among family.”
By the end of the meal, neither Elena nor Jolie had touched the food Elyse had picked up for them.
Elyse sensed a change in Jolie’s demeanor toward her.
A wave of anxiety washed over her—she needed to find a way to win back Jolie’s warmth.
Find your imagination at galn ovels ; con
That evening, Jolie busied herself arranging the bouquet Alexander had sent. She carefully trimmed the stems, adjusted the leaves, and placed the flowers in a vase with precision.
Golden roses, glistening with droplets of water, stood out beautifully against the fresh green foliage, creating an elegant display.
Elyse approached with a bowl of bird’s nest soup, setting it gently on the table. “Jolie, I made this just for you. You’ve been overworking yourself and barely taking a break.”
Jolie glanced at the soup and gave a small nod. “That’s kind of you. Just leave it there.”
After placing the bowl down, Elyse settled beside her.
Her gaze was earnest as she hesitated before asking, “Are you upset with me?”
Jolie paused, lifting her eyes to meet Elyse’s.
She saw the redness in Elyse’s eyes, the unease written across her face. Jolie exhaled softly before replying, “Elyse, I’m not.”
