Chapter 226

Breakfast that morning was a spread hech baked tells , steak , a bowl of light oatmeal , some pickled vegetables , and a colorful fruit plate of
Derek’s eyes practically it up the second he sawil .
Waking up to a hot breakfast , no shouting , no lectures , on fake niceties – he honestly never wanted to leave .
“ Owen , you’re amazing ! if i were a pil , I’d many you , Derek said , not even trying to hide his admiration . “ A man who’s good in the kitchen and out in the world – where do you even find someone like that ? ”
Owen just smiled politely . “ You should learn , ton . I’ll help you find a girlfriend someday ”
Derek grinned . “ I’ll come to you for lessons once meet someone I like .”
Aria arrived a moment after Derek , and Owen pulled out the chair for her .
She sat down , murmured a soft thank you , and started on her oatmeal ,
Owen’s gaze flickered to her hand . “ You didn’t put on any medicine ? ”
Aria followed his eyes , glanced at her own hand , and chuckled . “ It’s just a scratch . It’ll heal soon !
“ Warm compress , then medicine – it heal faster ,” Owen said .
“ I’ll put some on later . ”
He didn’t press it . Derek watched the two of them out of the comer of his eye .
Aria was way too reserved he wondered if Owen’s slow burn approach would ever work . Frankly , it looked hopeless .
Derek finished his bread and asked , “ Larkridge High’s out for the weekend , right ? Finals are over . You picking Lily up this afternoon ? ”
Ania nodded .
po with you , Derek volunteered .
“ Why ? ”
Derek thought , ‘ To piss off Nathan . But what he actually said was , “ Finals are over , I’m bored .”
“ Suit yoursell ”
Owen watched the way the siblings interacted , a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth .
He slid a perfectly sliced steak in front of Derek , then took Aria’s plate and began cutting hers , too , the movement so smooth and natural it caught her off guard .
Ana was startled this level of attentive service was almost too much .
Derek , on the other hand , was genuinely touched
A perfectly cut steak on a winter morning was though to melt away his gloom .
He’d worked his butt off to make up credits in a different major , crammed for finals , and then slept half the day away afterward .
Last night , his dad had berated him in front of everyone at dinner , Lennox pretended to defend him , which only made things worse .
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In a fit of anger , Derek had sapped , “ Why don’t you just admit tennock your real son and stormed out .
His dad had hurled the dishes after him and told him not to come home . So he’d ended up here
It was the first time anyone had even cut his steak for him .
Owen’s kindness , beway of Aria , made Derek’s nose sling a little .
“ Thank you , ” he said , sounding more pitiful than he meant to .
Aria glanced up . “ Owen cut the steak . Why are you thanking me ? ”
“ Because I’m only getting it thanks to you . So , thanks to both of you . ”
Owen laughed . “ No need .”
He finished cutting Aria’s steak and set the plate in front of her ,
“ Thank you , ” Ana said .
Owen replied , “ Don’t mention it – you paid for the steak , anyway . ”
After breakfast , Derek stopped Owen as he was about to get up . “ Owen , Aria’s definitely going to be too lazy to use a compressor put on medicine . Why don’t you help her ? ‘ wash the dishes . ”
He figured the least he could do was play matchmaker , since he was the one benefitting from their hospitality .
He gathered the dishes and started humming as he headed to the kitchen .
Aria sighed . “ You don’t have to listen to him . ”
“ ‘ s just a warm towel , not complicated . Wait a second . ”
Without waiting for a response , Owen disappeared into the bedroom . He quickly returned with a hot , neatly folded towel and gently set it on her hand .
“ Thank you , Owen . ”
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