Chapter 214 Warm Family Dinner

Chapter 214 Warm Family Dinner



After work that day, Charles said to Olivia while driving, "Mom called today, said she misses us and wants us to come home for dinner."

He now called her "Mom" very naturally, referring to Olivia's biological mother, Indigo.

Olivia felt a warmth in her heart and nodded.

"Sure, I miss my mom too."

"Perfect timing to tell her all about us bidding together on that project, so she can finally stop worrying."

Indigo had a gentle personality and couldn't handle stress well.

A while back, those awful rumors online made her cry in secret quite a bit. She was constantly on edge, afraid that Olivia would suffer or be wronged.

Now things had finally calmed down.

Olivia had also found someone to rely on. Olivia wanted Indigo to completely stop worrying.

The car pulled up to the Williams Villa. As soon as it stopped, Olivia saw two people standing downstairs—Indigo and Theo.



Olivia's biological father had died early, and Indigo later married Theo, who had also lost his spouse, through an introduction.

Theo was an honest man who didn't talk much, but he treated Indigo well and fulfilled his responsibilities as Olivia's stepfather.

And John was Theo's son with his late wife, which made him legally Olivia's stepbrother.

"Mom, Dad."

Olivia got out of the car with a smile and greeted them.

Charles also got out and politely addressed them.

"Mom, Dad."

Seeing Olivia and Charles, Indigo's face lit up with joy, especially when Charles called her "Mom" so naturally. The slight discomfort she sometimes felt about being in a blended family instantly disappeared.

She quickly came forward.

"You're here! Come on up, the food's all ready!"

"Is work keeping you busy, Charles? You look so much better than last time!"

Theo stood behind, also nodding at them with a smile as his greeting.

He had a reserved personality and wasn't good at expressing himself, but the concern in his eyes was genuine.

The group went upstairs, and the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen—the familiar smell of home.

They'd barely sat down in the living room for two minutes when the doorbell rang.

"That must be John!"

Indigo said as she went to open the door.

Sure enough, it was John at the door, holding two bottles of good wine and calling out loudly.

"Mom! Dad! I'm here! Oh, Mr. Green and Olivia are here too!"

He squeezed through the door, his eyes sweeping over Charles and Olivia with a teasing look.

Olivia rolled her eyes at him. "You talk too much!"

John laughed, put the wine on the table, and naturally sat down next to Theo, patting his shoulder. Then he looked at Charles, raised an eyebrow, and started teasing again.

"Hey, Charles, now our relationship is even closer."

"According to our family hierarchy, Olivia is my sister."

"So, since you married my sister, shouldn't I become your older brother?"

At these words, Indigo and Theo both froze for a moment, nervously looking at Charles.

They knew John was joking, but Charles had a different status after all, and they worried he might mind or get upset.

Olivia also kicked John under the table, warning him with her eyes: Don't mess around!

Charles was just raising his teacup to drink. Hearing this, he didn't even lift an eyelid.

He just slowly swallowed his tea, then glanced at John with a completely flat tone.

"We'll each keep our own terms. Outside, I'm older than you; I'm your brother. At home, I'm your brother-in-law. Want to be my older brother?"

He paused, the corner of his mouth curving into an extremely faint arc.

"Wait until you can beat any department manager under me in project profits at the Williams family, then bring this up again."

John was almost choked by these words, pointing at Charles.

"Charles, you're something else! You're just bullying people because you're rich and powerful, right!"

Indigo and Theo watched the two young men bicker.

Although the content was a bit "shocking," the atmosphere somehow became more relaxed.

Theo couldn't help shaking his head with a slight smile.

He knew what John was like, and he could tell Charles wasn't angry at all.

Instead, he was interacting with John in his own way.

Indigo also breathed a sigh of relief and quickly smoothed things over.

"Alright, alright, you two, bickering as soon as you meet!"

"John, you too, always fooling around! Charles, don't mind him, he's been like this since he was little!"

Only then did Charles smile slightly at Indigo. "Mom, it's fine, I'm used to it."

This phrase, "I'm used to it," sounded especially down-to-earth and immediately closed the distance.

Watching this scene, Olivia let go of the small worry in her heart.

She knew that Charles had truly accepted her family—this complicated family relationship—into his world.

The food was served in abundance.

Indigo kept adding food to Charles's plate.

"Charles, eat more!"

"Your arm just healed, you need to build up your strength!"

Then she added food to John's plate too. "John, you eat too, don't just talk!"

John said with his mouth full of meat, "Thanks, Mom! You still love me best!"

The meal was eaten in great harmony.

After a few drinks, everyone opened up more.

Indigo looked at Charles, her eyes full of gratitude.

"Charles, I really have to thank you."

"A while back, if you hadn't protected Olivia, we really wouldn't have known what to do."

As she spoke, her eyes started to redden.

"This child, Olivia, has had a hard life, lost her father when she was young, followed me... I don't have much ability, so I let her suffer quite a bit."

"Now seeing her with you to protect her, doing so well, my heart is really..."

She choked up, clearly unable to continue.

"Mom, don't say that."

Charles put down his utensils, his expression very serious, even somewhat solemn.

"You raised Olivia very well—strong, independent, talented."

"Being able to marry her is my blessing."

"Before, I didn't do enough and let her suffer."

"Please rest assured, from now on, as long as I'm here, I won't let anyone bully her again."

"I'll take good care of her, including... making up for what she lacked before."

He didn't use any fancy words.

But every sentence carried weight, landing on Indigo's heart and on Olivia's heart, too.

Olivia's nose tingled, and she reached under the table to tightly hold Charles's hand.

Theo also spoke up. He didn't talk much, but what he said was very sincere.

"Charles, Olivia, you're both good kids."

"From now on... you're family, support each other, live well."

"If there's anything you need me... and the family to help with, just say the word."

He glanced at John.

"John, you too, from now on, help out Olivia and Charles more."

John immediately straightened up and slapped the table in assurance.

"Absolutely! Dad, Mom, don't worry!"

"If Charles ever dares to bully Olivia, I'll be the first one who won't stand for it!"