Chapter 185: Not to the Point of Being Irreplaceable
After washing her hands, Cordelia walked over and sat down across from Alaric.
Noticing that Dominic's seat was empty, she asked a question.
"Where's Dominic?"
Allegra quickly answered.
"I already called Mr. Gray. He's eating out with friends today."
Cordelia nodded, gave a soft acknowledgment, and didn't ask further.
Alaric's warm gaze fell on Cordelia.
Donald sensed the atmosphere was a bit awkward, so he pushed the okra toward Alaric.
"Alaric, eat more okra. It's good for your stomach."
Alaric nodded. Seeing Donald push all the dishes toward him, he had no choice but to pick up a piece with his utensils.
The mucus secreted by the okra itself formed some sticky strands on the utensils.
Alaric's expression immediately soured, his appetite greatly diminished.
But under Donald's watchful eyes, he still put the okra in his mouth.
Cordelia looked up and saw Alaric put the okra in his mouth, chew it briefly, and swallow it down.
"Tastes pretty good," he said insincerely.
Cordelia couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly.
He didn't like eating okra.
Never had.
When they first got married, Cordelia knew he had many business dinners, so she would specifically have Saskia prepare some healthy green vegetables for him.
But whenever there was okra, the rejection on his face was especially obvious.
So Cordelia made a mental note that he didn't like eating okra.
Now, seeing Alaric force down the okra despite his discomfort, Cordelia perversely felt a bit of satisfaction.
When she first married Alaric, she had accommodated him in every way, wishing she could dig out her heart to show him.
But he had used cold violence against her time and time again.
No response, no rejection, no communication.
"As long as you like it." Donald didn't notice the subtle change in Alaric's expression and smiled with satisfaction.
Alaric just smiled faintly in response.
Okra was indeed very helpful for Alaric's stomach condition.
So Cordelia reached out with her utensils and placed some okra in Alaric's bowl.
"If you like it, eat more."
She really enjoyed watching Alaric struggle to swallow the okra.
Alaric's expression froze slightly as he looked up at Cordelia.
Cordelia gave him a sweet smile. "What? Don't you like it?"
Alaric shook his head, smiled, and put the okra from his bowl into his mouth one by one, chewing carefully.
Cordelia watched as he didn't even furrow his brow, and raised her eyebrows slightly.
Had she been mistaken earlier?
So she gave him some more.
Alaric still ate it with apparent enjoyment, chewing slowly and carefully.
Cordelia pressed her lips together, glanced at him quietly, and stopped serving him more food.
After dinner, the okra on the plate was almost gone, with most of it eaten by Alaric.
Donald smiled and said to Alaric.
"I grew this okra myself in the backyard. Alaric, if you like it, I'll go pick some from the backyard for you to take home."
Alaric immediately said, "Crown Hill Estates doesn't have a chef."
"And the food made by outside chefs always seems to be missing something."
"Then whenever you want to eat okra in the future, just come to The Stone Manor." After all, it was vegetables he'd grown himself, and Donald was worried about them being wasted.
"Alright." Alaric agreed very readily.
Donald smiled slightly and simply said, "Why don't you just come eat at The Stone Manor every day from now on? Better than eating at restaurants outside—who knows how clean they are, and mainly, home-cooked food is healthier."
Alaric: "Thank you, Mr. Stone."
Donald chuckled. "We're all family, no need for thanks."
Alaric smiled faintly, his gaze involuntarily turning to Cordelia.
Cordelia's expression remained unchanged. Sensing that Alaric deliberately wanted to come to The Stone Manor for meals, she asked.
"Since when did you like eating okra so much?"
"Just now." His voice was low, and as he spoke, his eyes were fixed directly on Cordelia.
Cordelia calmly glanced at him. Though her face showed no expression, she wasn't as opposed to his coming to The Stone Manor for meals .
If he ate properly, it would be good for his condition.
Cordelia's expression was calm. Just as she put down her utensils, her phone rang.
She took out her phone and saw it was Dominic calling.
She answered it.
"Dominic."
But the voice on the phone wasn't Dominic's.
"Cordelia? This is Herschel Trevino. Dominic's drunk. Can you come pick him up?"
"We've all been drinking and can't drive him home."
Herschel?
Cordelia felt the name was somewhat familiar, but couldn't recall what he looked like for the moment.
Seeing Cordelia hadn't responded for a while, Herschel spoke up. "He's really drunk and keeps asking for you, so I called you using his phone."
"Where are you? I'll come right away."
After getting the address from Herschel, Cordelia hung up.
From the moment Cordelia answered the phone, Alaric's gaze had been fixed on her without moving away.
After she hung up, she immediately stood up.
Alaric's heart jumped.
Donald asked, "You're going to get Dominic?"
"Dominic's drunk. I'm going to pick him up." Cordelia nodded, and as she answered, she was already walking out of the dining room.
Alaric's hand holding the utensils tightened slightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand, his face full of restraint.
He put down his utensils, stood up as well, and said.
"I happen to be leaving too. I'll drive you."
No one in the living room responded to him.
Alaric paused, walked out of the dining room, and Cordelia was nowhere to be seen in the living room.
He looked toward the yard through the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows.
He saw Cordelia walking quickly, looking so anxious, as if Dominic would be harmed if she arrived late.
Alaric watched her back, feeling blocked and uncomfortable inside.
Amber was still sitting in her dining chair. Her gaze looked worriedly toward Alaric, as if sensing his dejected mood at this moment.
"Mr. Hughes."
Her voice was very soft.
Alaric immediately adjusted his emotions and returned to the dining room.
"I'm fine."
Donald looked at Alaric quietly and said softly, "You don't look fine at all."
Alaric fell silent.
Donald sighed lightly and said.
"I remember when Cordelia was little, she really loved a dress I brought her back from abroad. She treasured it so much, she wanted to wear that dress every day."
"Later, one of my nieces saw it and liked it too, so I bought one for her. After that, Cordelia's enthusiasm for that dress gradually faded, and I never saw her wear it again."
Alaric was silent.
He knew Donald's intention in telling him this story. He was now like that dress she used to love.
She had liked it, but not to the point where she couldn't live without it.