Chapter 31 Ava Hits a Cold Wall
After saying that, Gray gave me a meaningful look, signaling me to help persuade her. Although I really didn't want to get involved, since it was Gray asking, I could only bite the bullet and say, "Grandma, today is supposed to be a happy day. Let's eat first. If we keep this up, the food will get cold. Whatever it is, we can talk about it after dinner."
Seeing that even I had said this, Cleo reluctantly gave in. "I'll let them stay for dinner, but if they cause any more trouble, I definitely won't let them off."
Cleo finally relented, and Gray breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at me gratefully, then returned to his seat.
Although the drama had temporarily ended, the atmosphere remained tense for a while, and no one started eating.
Feeling helpless, I took the lead by picking up a piece of meat and placing it on Cleo's plate. "Grandma, have some. You must be hungry."
With my initiative, everyone finally began eating.
Gradually, the atmosphere started to liven up.
Since I was busy helping Jasper eat, I didn't pay attention to my surroundings. But I accidentally glanced at Ava across from me, and when our eyes met, I could see in her gaze that she wanted to kill me.
I didn't react, just looked away.
Seems like I helped her for nothing.
Seeing that I had been taking care of Jasper and hadn't eaten much myself, Cleo reached out and added a little from each dish to my plate.
Not knowing whether she was deliberately starting a conversation or trying to liven things up, Isla began "stirring things up" again. I heard her say, "Mom, you're so biased. You only serve Sophia, not me. I want to eat what Mom serves too."
Although it had a somewhat whiny tone, why did it sound so awkward?
But Cleo wasn't having it at all. She just lifted her eyelids slightly. "Sophia has to take care of Jasper and doesn't have time to eat. What's wrong with me serving her some food? It's not like you don't have hands. Can't you help yourself?"
Instantly, the atmosphere became awkward again.
Isla's face looked terrible, but she didn't know what to say.
At this moment, Ava served food to Isla, saying in a sweet voice, "Mom, have some food. I'll serve you. Sophia has to watch the child, so please understand."
That form of address made my stomach tighten again. If it weren't for the current setting, I really wanted to go to the bathroom and throw up.
Cleo's face darkened. "Ms. Davis, change how you address me. Mom and Dad aren't titles you can just claim. I don't want to hear you call me Mom."
Everyone at the table exchanged glances. The other elders and younger family members were certainly having an interesting meal - it was like watching a show.
Ava's face turned red with embarrassment. She felt extremely awkward, her humiliation mixed with barely detectable anger, but her eyes glared fiercely at me.
I was confused. I wasn't the one who said that to her, so why was she taking all her resentment out on me?
I looked away and continued feeding Jasper.
To prevent things from getting worse, Gray also said, "Ava, you'd better stop calling us Mom and Dad. Many people here don't know you."
Ava nodded, trying hard to act like she didn't care, but she was so angry her chest felt tight and her throat was dry.
The meal finally ended. I took Jasper and Cleo back to the room to play, while Tyler sat downstairs chatting with the elders.
Originally Cleo was going to send Ava away, but Ava said she needed to use the bathroom first, so Cleo didn't push it.
Back in the room, Jasper happened to be getting sleepy. I carried Jasper to Cleo's bed and put him to sleep in no time.
Afterward, Cleo beckoned me to sit beside her and said earnestly, "Sophia, what are you thinking?"
I knew what Cleo meant. I shook my head. "I don't know. Right now my biggest hope is for Jasper to have a happy family. I don't want to think about anything else."
"I see that Ava is very scheming, constantly flying abroad to see Isla and Gray." Cleo snorted coldly.
My chest felt tight. "It's okay, Grandma. I can't stop that kind of thing anyway."
"I wouldn't say you have a weak personality. You just don't want to break the family ties you're maintaining now. But I have to tell you, if you don't take action, Tyler really will be stolen away by Ava."
I pressed my lips together and forced a smile. "Grandma, people have their freedom. I just hope Jasper has a happy family. As long as the two of them don't go so far as to hurt Jasper, that's fine. What happened last time was the first time and the last time. If it happens again, I won't let Ava off."
Mentioning what happened last time, Cleo slapped her thigh. "If you hadn't brought it up, I almost forgot. I should have given her a good scolding at the dinner table."
I smiled bitterly. "It's okay, it's in the past. Ava is a public figure. She can handle pressure better than most people. Even when you spoke to her like that at the dinner table, she wasn't fazed."
Cleo sighed. "True. She really is shameless."
After chatting with Cleo for a while, her private doctor came up and knocked on the door. Jasper had just woken up, so I carried him downstairs to let Cleo finish her checkup and rest well.
Downstairs, Jasper started playing with his toys again. I looked around but didn't see Tyler anywhere. Ava was also gone.
I already had a guess in my mind.
So I first walked around the first floor, and sure enough, I found the two of them in a corner of the garden outside.
At that moment, Ava was curled up in Tyler's arms, sobbing. "Tyler, I was so wronged today, and you didn't even speak up for me."
I saw Tyler reach out and pat her back gently. "Today wasn't the right occasion. You shouldn't have come. Grandma has a quick temper. Don't take it to heart."
"Did Sophia say something to Grandma beforehand? Is that why Grandma hates me so much?"
Facing everything before me, my eyes showed calm and indifference. Even in the face of the most provocative conflict, I remained expressionless, maintaining my coldness and aloofness.
"She's not that kind of person. Don't worry."
"But I feel like Sophia was targeting me all evening. I'm really scared."
Tyler's tone was soothing. "She's really not like that. You're overthinking it."
But Ava continued acting coy. "Tyler, what if Grandma doesn't like me? Even Mom is afraid of Grandma. Do I have no chance of entering the Thompson family?"
Before Tyler could respond, I had already walked out. "Whether or not you can enter the Thompson family isn't up to you. I still have a marriage certificate. Shouldn't you be asking me?"