Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 69

69 /90

Even with all of Sebastian's talk about Bella's importance, Lillian offered no courtesy.

"I don't recall having any sisters. I originally had two brothers, but we don't keep in touch much these days."

Old Mrs. Blake looked at Lillian in surprise, her sharp gaze then shifting to Bella. A sister whom Lillian herself didn't acknowledge? Who was Bella, then? Old Mrs. Blake was an intelligent woman. Hearing that, she understood the situation. After all, there had been old rumors about Martin Mercer and his first wife. When Lillian and Sebastian were getting married, Lillian's mother was already in a psychiatric hospital. Now, it seemed highly likely that this Bella was connected to it.

Once Old Mrs. Blake pieced it together, she deeply regretted inviting Bella to stay for dinner.

At the dining table, Old Mr. Blake initially offered food to Bella, but after Old Mrs. Blake gave him a couple of discreet kicks under the table, the old man fell silent. When he spoke again, it was to Lillian. "Lillian, my dear, it's been a long time since you've eaten at home. Is the food to your liking?"

At the table, Noah sat between Sebastian and Bella, while Lillian sat beside the old woman. When the old man spoke, she pulled her gaze back from the scene across the table and offered a faint smile. "It's delicious, very good."

In truth, the dinner was tasteless to her, like chewing wax. But it had nothing to do with the chef or the ingredients. It was because she had never imagined she would one day be sharing a table with Bella. The thought made her nauseous and killed her appetite.

Old Mrs. Blake also actively placed food in Lillian's bowl. "Lillian, dear, eat more. We'll be staying in the country for a while this time. We're old now, and our only wish is to spend more time with our children and grandchildren. Sebastian has agreed to move back for a while. During this time, I'll have the kitchen make more of your favorite dishes. Just look at you, you've gotten so thin."

Old Mrs. Blake avoided any other topics, pretending she hadn't heard Lillian's earlier talk of divorce, and simply showered her with affection. After she finished speaking, she gave Old Mr. Blake another subtle kick.

The old man chimed in, "Yes, such a lovely child. How did you get so thin since we last saw you?"

As the two elders fussed over her, Sebastian finally turned his gaze toward her.

Was she thinner? He hadn't really noticed. Perhaps it was because Lillian had always been slim, so he hadn't detected if her time in prison had made her even more so. But her demeanor seemed different. The sharp edges she once had were gone, replaced by a certain gentleness. He wondered if the 're-education' in prison had softened her.

As Sebastian looked at Lillian, Bella's eyes subtly darted toward Sebastian.

These small movements did not escape Mrs. Blake's notice. She lowered her head to eat, her brow furrowing for a moment, but when she looked up again, her face was adorned with a beautiful smile directed at Lillian.

"Lillian, move back home and stay with me for a while. You know, with no children of my own around, I've always thought of you as my own daughter. I came back this time hoping to live with you, thinking that with all your hard work, I could be here to take care of you."