When Agnes arrived at the restaurant, she was taken aback by the sight of a table laden with food. She couldn't help but exclaim, "How did you manage to whip up so much in such a short time?"
Jared glanced at her with a calm expression. "I didn’t. By the time I got here, the Bartley family’s chef had already prepared everything."
"Oh," Agnes replied, quietly acknowledging that a man like Jared probably wasn't the type to spend time in the kitchen.
The three of them sat down to eat together. The atmosphere was unusual, but Agnes found she didn't mind it. She focused on her plate, feeling more at ease in the presence of her son, Nocturne, than she did with Jared. Around Jared, she felt the need to put on a facade, like he was wrapped in a suit of cold armor.
Nocturne, on the other hand, was genuinely delighted. He kept filling Agnes's plate, saying, "Mom, you've lost weight. If you gain a couple of pounds, I'll give you a present."
Agnes couldn't help but smile. Her son truly was a sweetheart.
After dinner, Nocturne asked, "When are we going home? I want to go back."
Jared replied, "We can leave now."
Holding his mother's hand, Nocturne suggested, "Mom, can we all sleep together tonight?"
Agnes was taken aback. "Uh, well…"
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