Nydia met Sibley's gaze. Sibley, in her high heels, was taller than Nydia, who had to tilt her head slightly to meet her eyes.
"I came with Jesse and the children. We'll leave after dinner," Nydia said.
She knew it would be difficult to change their impression of her, but she had to take it slow.
"You have the nerve to come here with them? Nydia, your skin is thicker than the city wall!" Sibley was furious.
"Last time, you almost killed Tavish. Anyone with a conscience wouldn't do that. Do you have no shame, appearing here like this?!"
"I do have shame, that's why I came here to apologize and have dinner with you all. I did some bad things before, but I didn't plan Tavish's drowning. I will find evidence and reveal the truth!"
Nydia's calm and composed demeanor surprised Sibley. They usually couldn't exchange a few words without Nydia giving her the cold shoulder and acting like she was untouchable. Was she on drugs today?
"Mommy, Aunt Sibley, what are you talking about? Aunt Sibley, you look angry, are you angry with Mommy?" Molly came over and held Sibley's hand with her small, soft hand, instantly calming her down.
Before Nydia could explain, Molly said, "Aunt Sibley, don't be mad at Mommy. I invited her here today. If you're angry, be angry at me."
She tilted her head, pouting in a pitiful way, and who could stay angry at her?
"Why would I be angry at Molly? Come on, let's go in. Dinner should be ready soon," Sibley said.
Sibley picked up Molly and walked in, with Tavish following behind. He glanced at Nydia before going in as well.
Dinner started soon. Everyone's attention was on Nydia, but she just ate her food and occasionally fed the children. Her behavior was so different from before that everyone was uncomfortable.
"Grandma, this shrimp is so delicious," Molly said to Rosalind while eating.
"Then eat more," Rosalind said.
"Mommy, I want to eat the French onion soup you made. Can you make it for me tomorrow?"
"Sure." Nydia put the peeled shrimp into Molly and Tavish's bowls, making sure that they both had equal portions and she wasn't showing favoritism.
Tavish looked at the shrimp in his bowl, surprised that Nydia had peeled them for him. He looked at Nydia, then back at the shrimp, picked up one and put it in his mouth. He ate slowly, and by the time he finished one, Molly had already eaten three.
"You can cook?" Rosalind asked incredulously.
"Yeah, I made them two meals these past few days when I had nothing else to do," Nydia replied.
"Is it edible?" Rosalind asked skeptically, not believing that Nydia could make anything good.
"It's good. Mommy's cooking is delicious," Molly said immediately.
"Molly is a foodie and not picky. She'll eat anything that isn't too terrible," Rosalind said, laughing.
Molly: ??? Grandma, that's not very nice to say that.
"The food she makes is pretty good," Tavish spoke up. After he said that, he continued to eat, as if it was just a casual remark.
Everyone at the table was surprised. They all knew that there was tension between Tavish and Nydia. Tavish actually defended Nydia? That was a first.
"Is it true?" Sibley asked Jesse. She thought it was strange that both kids seemed to be helping Nydia today.
Jesse nodded. "It's actually not bad."
With Jesse's confirmation, it seemed like both kids weren't just showing favoritism.
"Cooking isn't that easy. Beginners tend to mix incompatible ingredients, which can lead to poisoning. There are also two kids in the house. Don't be too ambitious," Rosalind said, feeling uneasy that Nydia was cooking to please the two kids.
"Mum, I'll try to learn," Nydia said.
Rosalind: ... Learn? What do you mean learn? Did I imply that?
After dinner, Nydia suggested that Andrew try some tea, and if he liked it, she would bring more next time. Andrew didn't want to reject Nydia, so he went to get some tea and started brewing it. However, Sibley pulled Jesse outside.
"What's going on with Nydia? Did she have a change of heart?" asked Sibley.
"I'm not sure. She's been a bit different since the last time she fell into the water," replied Jesse.
"I think her demeanor and attitude have changed. Could it be that she's had an epiphany?" Sibley asked.
"Let's wait and see. Nydia's been up to all sorts of things in recent years," Jesse said.
"True, let's wait and see. But don't trust her too easily. I haven't forgotten the trouble she caused before," Sibley warned.
She remembered the time when Jesse fell off his wheelchair because of Nydia and almost suffered a secondary injury to his leg. The Pascalls haven't been fond of Nydia since then.
When they entered the house, they heard Andrew complimenting the tea, while Rosalind sulked on the side.
"It's getting late. Let's go back. The kids need to take a bath when we get home," Jesse said.
"Jesse, Mom made some food for you to take home," Rosalind said as she handed the prepared food to their assistant, without even glancing at Nydia.
"Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Sibley, we're leaving. We'll miss you. Mwah!" Molly put her hand on her mouth and blew a kiss, which made everyone laugh.
Back at the Pascall Villa, Nydia was exhausted from being on edge the whole time, even though she hadn't done anything. After taking a bath, she listed out the dishes she needed to prepare for the next day and rested.
The next night's dinner, Jesse had a prior engagement and couldn't make it back for the meal. Nydia's cooking was now very popular with the two children. Molly was lavishing her with compliments, while Tavish was responsible for eating and occasionally teasing Molly for being too over-the-top.
She had the two children take a shower, read a book and watch some cartoons before putting them to bed.
Around 10 o'clock at night, Nydia realized that Jesse had not returned yet.
She thought about the plan and decided to take advantage of the time to go to Jesse's office and take a look.
The study had a password lock, but she knew the code and was able to enter quickly. She closed the door behind her and her heart was pounding.
This plan was crucial for Barclay, but not so much for Jesse, so he probably wouldn't have locked it.
Sure enough, Nydia found the plan in a drawer. After all, she was stealing something, and her nervous hands were shaking.
She immediately took out her phone and began taking pictures of the plan. However, after taking only three or four pages, she suddenly heard the sound of someone entering the password at the door.
Was Jesse back?
Nydia's heart sank and she hurriedly put the plan back in the drawer. After a quick glance around, she ran over and hid behind the sofa.
With a click, the door opened.
Against the light, Jesse's handsome silhouette was hidden in the shadows, and his emotions were not apparent.
As soon as he opened the door, his eyebrows furrowed in an indiscernible expression and then he said to his assistant, "You can leave now."
"Yes."
The study fell into an eerie silence.
Behind the sofa, Nydia's nervous hands were sweating, and she didn't dare to breathe for fear of being detected by Jesse.
The sound of the wooden floor creaking as the wheelchair rolled made Nydia's heart sink with each inch closer it came.
Just when she thought she was about to be discovered, Jesse suddenly stopped.
"Phew" ...
He didn't find her, which made Nydia breathe a sigh of relief.
However, before she could even relax, Jesse suddenly spoke up, "Come out!"