novelxo Chapter 378
"Scarlett, come sit here!" Jackson beckoned me over when he caught sight of me.
I walked over to Jackson and took a seat next to him as Ashton pushed the stroller aside.
The Pear Garden villa was possibly the most luxurious in J City. The dining hall alone spanned over one hundred square meters. It was much larger compared to an average hall.
The round table was equally huge. I figured that the guests seated opposite would not be able to hear me unless I raised my voice.
There was a hint of tenderness in Cameron's gaze towards me. Together with Zachary, they took a seat next to Ashton and me as Cameron instructed the butlers to serve the dishes.
"She is adorable. I think that she is around four months old now," Cameron peered towards Summer in her stroller as she cooed with a bright smile.
Zachary's expression seemed to drop when he caught sight of my stony face. "Scarlett, Summer seems to be a little smaller than most children. Are you giving her the proper nutrient intakes?" he asked with concern.
"As an infant, she has faced countless struggles. That's why she's much more petite than most children," I replied as my mood soured upon hearing Zachary's question.
Cameron tugged on Zachary's sleeve with a hurtful expression. "It's all my fault," she murmured.
Why are they acting so strangely? I turned to Ashton with a puzzled look, and he clasped my hand in his palm comfortingly. "Thank you for inviting us to dinner!" he said and shifted his gaze to Cameron and Zachary.
As if sensing my displeasure, both Zachary and Cameron merely murmured in acknowledgment.
I couldn't help but feel utterly bewildered at their demeanor due to two main reasons. Firstly, their attitudes towards me were a stark contrast to their past mannerisms. Secondly, Zachary must have found out about Cameron's past through the videos. Yet, he remained as cool as a cucumber.
Is there such a husband who holds no regard for his wife's past? There were even more to those that I haven't seen. How could Zachary face her with such a calm composure? "Since the dishes are served, let's dig in while they are warm." Cameron gestured for the guests to begin eating.
Before she could finish her speech, a discordant noise resounded through the hall. "Mom, what have I done? Why won't you meet me?" Rebecca's voice echoed through the hall.
Rebecca and Joe appeared in the room. She was still dressed in the same clothes as she had on when she visited Peakville Estate. Her disheveled clothes gave her a very ragged and pathetic appearance. Cameron leaped to her feet in an instant. It was clear that her mood had turned foul at the sight of Rebecca. "I thought I told you not to come looking for me?"
She was about to storm over towards Rebecca. Yet, Zachary yanked her to a screeching halt.
"Sit down and share a meal with us," Zachary said coolly as he addressed Rebecca.
Rebecca remained standing despite his invitation. "Dad, what did I do for you and Mom to abandon me?" she asked with swollen and reddened eyes filled with anguish.
Zachary sighed heavily as if he had nothing more to say. "Since everyone is present, why don't we talk after dinner?" he asked.
Rebecca opened her mouth to retort, but she was yanked away by Joe before she could cause a commotion. He dragged her to the table, where they both took a seat.
Rebecca glared at me in a haze of murderous rage when she saw how Ashton helped to pick my favorite foods.
"I heard that you have a sweet tooth," Cameron beamed. "I asked the cooks to prepare a matcha dessert for you. Why don't you try it? You should drink more soup to replenish your energy since you are still breastfeeding Summer. Ah, you should put on more weight! It's also important to remain healthy if you are breastfeeding."
As she spoke, she sliced a piece of cake and placed it in front of me. Cameron even helped to fill up a bowl of warm soup.
I was not accustomed to her sudden warm hospitality. Warily, I turned to Ashton and looked at him with a confused look.
"You should try it and see if you like it," Ashton replied.
Reluctantly, I took a small bite of the cake. Although it tasted great, the sweet taste of the dessert was muddled by my chaotic thoughts. I pushed it aside after a single nibble.
Next, I decided to sample the soup. To my surprise, I found it rather delectable.
Upon seeing that I savored the soup, Cameron quickly leaped to refill my bowl. However, Ashton stopped her in her tracks. "It's alright, Ms. Anderson. I can take more for my wife if she likes it." Although it was a minuscule movement of kindness from Ashton, Rebecca still met my gaze with fury.
In the stroller, Summer babbled loudly. With a single glance, Jackson could tell that she was hungry.
"Have you brought her milk?" he asked me.
Before I could reply, Ashton was already one step ahead of me. He had already prepared her milk powder and was ready to feed Summer. Yet, the little rascal refused to drink from her bottle. Instead, she clutched onto my hand tightly.
Gently, I cradled her as she continued to warble in my arms. "What's wrong, my dear?" I cooed at her fondly.
"I think she doesn't want milk power. Scarlett, you should head upstairs to feed her," Nick broke his silence and uttered.
"I'll show you the way." Cameron hurriedly rose to her feet. "Your child is only a few months old. They tend to prefer breast milk."
I decided not to comment any further and followed Cameron to the second floor with Summer in my embrace.
"You can feed her here. She must be starving," Cameron said warmly as she guided me into an empty room. Without any lingering suspicions, I took a seat on the chaise lounge and began to breastfeed Summer.