Chapter 724
“Eileen, please, take a seat.” Leyla extended her hand towards Eileen, gesturing for her to sit beside her.
However, both seats beside Leyla were already taken, and Eileen hesitated. She looked at Gianna and then at Conroy. Conroy seemed oblivious to Leyla’s words, as if he hadn’t heard her at all.
Gianna, with a smile, turned to Leyla. “You need someone to feed you. Conroy and I can do that. Besides, Eileen just got back.”
Her words hinted that, having just returned, Eileen might not yet feel comfortable enough to take on such a personal task as feeding Leyla.
“It’s no trouble at all. I can feed Grandma,” Eileen quickly said. Upon hearing this, Gianna and Conroy exchanged glances. After a moment, Conroy rose and said, “Come, sit next to your grandmother.”
He then paused, as if recalling something, and pulled a document from his bag. “We’ve got the results of the paternity test. She’s your granddaughter; there are no errors this time.” Typically, paternity test results would take a couple of days to process. In urgent cases, with the right connections and additional payment, the results could be expedited.
Clearly, significant resources—both money and connections—had been utilized to obtain the paternity test results this time. They could afford to do that, but they couldn’t afford to ask a doctor to come to the house to examine Leyla?
Thinking of this, Eileen settled into her seat, her face not betraying her thoughts. Unfamiliar with Leyla’s health specifics, she opted to watch and adapt her actions based on Leyla’s condition.
Meanwhile, Leyla was enjoying the soup that had been simmering for hours. Eileen carefully retrieved a small bowl of soup, cooling it before feeding Leyla spoonful by spoonful. Gianna occasionally picked some easily digestible food for Leyla.
“You seem to eat quicker when Eileen’s here. You’re trying to finish early so that she can eat, too, aren’t you?” Gianna teased Leyla lightly.
“The weather is cold. The food will get cold soon.” Leyla turned to Eileen and asked, “Your mother struggled with her appetite. How about you?”
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․cо𝗺, your storytelling home
Eileen responded with a warm smile. “I’m fine. Eating regularly keeps me going without any issues.”
Leyla’s face lit up with a relieved smile. “So, you’ve got a hearty appetite like me. Your mom was more like your granddad in that regard.”
Eileen noticed that Leyla’s earlier sadness had faded, replaced by the joy of reconnecting with her. Eileen said, “My mom looked after either you or Grandpa.”
“Yes,” Leyla agreed, her smile brightening further. “You’re sweet, just like your mother was.”
The mood around the table grew lighter and more cheerful, a stark contrast to the tension when Eileen had first arrived in the afternoon.
Leyla finished her meal quickly. Normally, she would have headed back by now, but today she lingered, pointing to a dish on the table. “Your mother was fond of this. Try some.”
Alverton was far from Onaland, with quite distinct culinary traditions. The dishes on the table all looked unfamiliar to Eileen. They were distinctly local, and the air was filled with the scent of beef and herbs.
.