Chapter 198: Peaceful Moments
Ian looked up at his mother and gave her a happy smile. Seeing his adorable expression, Melody couldn’t resist pinching his little cheek.
Watching this unfold, Evan Fairchild’s grip on his teacup tightened involuntarily.
’Are they completely ignoring me?’
’Why didn’t they ask me to come feed the fish with them?’
’It would be better if the kid weren’t here right now.’
’But then again, if Ian wasn’t here, Melody probably wouldn’t have come either.’
"Go wash your hands. It’s time to eat," Evan Fairchild reminded them.
The two of them reluctantly went to wash their hands. As soon as they returned to their seats, a waiter began serving the food.
Melody hadn’t seen Evan Fairchild order, and there was no menu on the table. Four dishes were served in quick succession, but she didn’t recognize a single one—not by name, nor by sight.
But they were delicious!
Evan Fairchild noticed that the two of them weren’t picky eaters, yet strangely, they hadn’t touched the fish on the table.
And that fish was one of the signature dishes of the day.
"Why aren’t you eating the fish?"
"Too many bones. It’s a pain," Melody replied simply. "I’m not good at picking them out, and I’m afraid Ian might get one stuck in his throat."
Evan Fairchild picked up his chopsticks, carefully deboned a piece of fish, and placed it in Melody’s bowl.
Melody was speechless.
"This type of fish doesn’t have many bones. I’ve deboned it for you. Give it a try."
Melody took a bite and immediately nodded vigorously. "This fish is so fresh and delicious!"
Seeing that she liked it, Evan Fairchild deboned another piece for her.
Ian looked at the fish, clearly wanting some too.
Evan Fairchild deboned two more pieces for Melody before preparing one for Ian.
"Mr. Fairchild, you’re amazing. You got all the bones out so perfectly."
Melody wondered how Evan Fairchild had mastered such a skill. With his status, he should have been the one having others debone fish for him.
He looked like he had a lot of experience deboning fish.
"My grandmother loved fish. I was her caregiver in the time before she passed away."
Melody’s expression froze. ’So that was the reason.’
She loved fish, too. But one time, she got a fishbone stuck in her throat. She was too scared to say anything, afraid of being a bother to her uncle and aunt, and didn’t get taken to the hospital until the wound became infected.
In the end, she just ended up being even more trouble for them. If it had been her own mom and dad, they would have worried about her first, instead of scolding her for being so careless.
She had only been six or seven at the time.
Melody’s heart ached at the memory.
She hadn’t eaten fish since that day.
"What are you thinking about?"
"N-nothing." Melody immediately shook her head. "The food here is just too good."
"If you like it, then eat more."
Melody had already eaten far more than she’d intended. Faced with such delicious food, she simply couldn’t resist the temptation. It would be worth it, even if she had to work out for three hours when she got back.
After dinner, Evan Fairchild took Melody and Ian for a walk around the manor grounds.
Although they were dining there, they never saw the owner of the manor. Guests were apparently welcome to stay until the following day; the manor even had guest rooms available, depending on the customers’ needs.
Ian was thrilled, constantly running ahead of them.
Melody and Evan Fairchild walked side-by-side.
The surrounding scenery was as serene and beautiful as an ink wash painting. They looked just like a normal, happy family of three.
A familiar ache started to well up in Melody’s heart.
’If only I had a better background, like Lana Sheffield’s. Then maybe I’d have the courage to fight for the happiness I want.’
’But as I am now, I feel too small to have even a shred of courage.’