Chapter 16
"Children shouldn't swear," Rose reprimanded Jenson reproachfully.
Jenson glared at her and stormed upstairs, locking his room door behind him.
Rose stared at the shut door and let out a sad sigh.
'What should I do with Jenson?'
He was the child whom she owed the most.
She did not know how to even begin to make up for the maternal love he had been denied for so many years.
She glanced at the clock and realized that it was getting late.
Rose went to the kitchen and decided to whip up a hearty lunch for Jenson.
The refrigerator was filled with various ingredients but Rose had no clue as to what Jenson would like. At that moment, she had never felt more sorry for Jenson-she had failed as his mother.
In the end, she made a few dishes that Baby Robbie would have liked. 'Since Baby Robbie and Jenson have the same genes, they probably have the same taste buds!' she thought hopefully. Rose prepared a savory meal consisting of sweet and
sour pork ribs, red braised beef, a plate of "Ants climbing a tree", some sweet potato noodles with pork belly, and a seaweed egg drop soup.
Those dishes were typically made in humble homes.
Naturally, a wealthy tycoon household such as the Ares Family would rarely have this sort of meal served to them.
Just as Rose was done preparing the food, Jay returned.
When he noted the aromatic and delicious-looking dishes on the table, Jay was a little surprised.
He had always known Rose to be a terrible cook, judging on his memories when they were married, at least.
'When did her cooking skills get this good?
'Perhaps this is a food delivery?'
"Sir Ares, why are you back?" Rose asked, puzzled.
'Wouldn't a big president like Jay usually be busy with tons of state affairs every day? Going home at noon doesn't seem efficient. Did he come back just to supervise me?'
"Did you order out for Jenson?" Jay's handsome face stiffened with anger.
Without waiting for Rose to answer, he growled, "My Jenson doesn't eat outside food."
Rose explained indignantly, "I made this myself!"
Jay was slightly taken aback but a gloating grin appeared on his face. "Jenson doesn't eat meals made by strangers." He deliberately emphasized the word " strangers". Deflated, Rose bowed her head sadly. However, Rose snapped to attention a second later-she realized that Jay must have returned to cook for Jenson!
She felt rather touched; the almighty Jay still had to bow down and serve his son.
Rose's pleading gaze fell onto Jay's face and she implored, "Please, Sir Ares, don't tell him that these dishes were made by me."
Jay scoffed. "Do you honestly think that your food qualifies to pass off as mine?"
Rose bit her lip. "If you let Jenson try the food I made, I... won't eat lunch today."
Jay nodded with some satisfaction and called out, " Jenson, come down to eat."
It took a long time for Jenson to open the door and slouch downstairs.
As he stood by the stairs, he saw the strange dishes and speculated that those dishes were not Daddy's masterpieces. Then, he spat scornfully, "I won't eat this."
Jay said tartly, "I ordered this meal for you, so at least eat a little of it. Daddy was really busy today and didn't have time to cook for you."
Jenson walked toward the dining table with every sign of annoyance, sat down, snatched the chopsticks, and began to eat.
Jay sat across from Jenson, picked up the chopsticks that Rose prepared for herself and lifted a piece of red braised beef to his mouth.
The way Jay looked when he ate was very charming. His chiseled face probably had the world's sharpest jawline. With every bite and swallow, his sexy neck was simply mesmerizing.
After five years of separation, Rose thought that all her love for the man had faded away with time. Now, she realized that putting him out of sight and out of mind was just a way of deceiving herself.
All she had to do was look at him a few more times and she would eventually fall head over heels for him again.
She could never escape the two lifetimes' affection no matter how hard she tried to hide. Somehow, in the end, the two of them always reunited. 'Is this God's salvation, or punishment?' 1
The piece of red braised beef that Jay popped into his mouth was tender and soft, melting inside his mouth. Furthermore, the mildly spicy flavor was palatable for children. It was also a good appetizer for someone like him who could not stomach spicy food due to gastric problems.
Jenson, who sat opposite to him, was frowning with distaste at first. After a few nibbles, however, his eyes were blinking with surprise.
"Where did you order this from?" Jenson suddenly asked.
Rose looked at Jay nervously, wondering how he would try to talk his way out of this.
Without hesitation, he calmly told Jenson, "Don't talk so much when you're eating or you'll get indigestion."
Rose,"..."
Honestly, Rose was not so much relieved by Jay's save as a little sad.
Jenson was already a very reserved boy, yet Jay still used his old-fashioned rules to restrain him further. Jenson was like a bird in a cage, she thought, trapped and suffocated.
When will he be free to act like a normal kid?
When they finished their lunch, Rose cleaned up the table quickly and made some small talk with Jay and Jenson. "Jenson, are you getting along well with me?" she said sweetly. "Crazy!" Jenson blurted.
Jay stared at Jenson for a while before realizing that his son's words were directed at Rose. He snuck a glance at Rose who stood by the kitchen sink and was washing the dishes with skill and finesse. 'Is she really the same clumsy oaf I knew five years ago?
'Looks like she has learned to act more like a woman in the past five years.' Suddenly, he remembered Rose's "Little Lover" and Jay's sexy and charming lips curled into a sneer.
"Do you like her?" Jay could not resist asking.
He was rather flummoxed when he saw how well Rose and Jenson got along.
Jenson shook his head.
Jay nodded in satisfaction.
Jay leaned against the kitchen door again, his willowy body emitting an aura that could not be ignored.
Rose turned to look at him. "Is there something I can help you with, Sir Ares?"
Jay's gloomy eyes eyed the bottom drawers. Every piece of porcelain stored there could be Jenson's worst nightmare. 'If I get Rose to help clean them up, perhaps an unexpected surprise will happen,' he thought.
"Could you help clean the kitchen utensils in the bottom cupboard? I may need them."
Rose responded heartily, "No problem."
A cool look flashed within Jay's eyes. He wondered whether he was in a good mood today, as he felt uncharacteristically generous. "If you're feeling too hungry, there are plenty of Legos over there," he commented offhandedly. "You can play them if you feel it'd make your long day less tedious." With that, he turned and left. 1
Rose was slightly stunned-
'Play with Legos?'
Those words tugged on her heartstrings.
Jay's magnetic voice seemed to have connected with something deep from her memory.