Balfour picked up his coat, bypassed his dad without a trace of emotion, and briskly walked out the door.
McNeil was used to his son's cold demeanor. He didn't get mad or blame him.
Ever since Marlinie took their daughter away, Balfour had been avoiding any conversation with his father.
Mr. Howard sat alone on the stone bench, squinting at what was happening across the parking lot.
He saw Ellinor take the yogurt bottle that Theo had opened for her, have a big sip, and then hold it up high, ready to feed Theo.
But when Theo was about to drink, she cheekily pulled the bottle away and ran off, as her face beamed with innocence.
McNeil himself didn't even realize the tenderness in his eyes.
That girl really reminded him of a young Marlinie.
It had been over a decade, and he wondered if Marlinie was doing well out there.
...
Back at the Blanchet villa, Theo headed straight upstairs to shower and change clothes.
Ellinor didn't go up with him. She said she was going to stay downstairs and watch TV, but in fact, she went to the kitchen.
After Theo finished work today, he went straight to pick her up from the Howard family's home. So much had happened since then that it was now dark and Theo hadn't had dinner yet.
She washed her hands, put on an apron, and decided to cook some noodles for Theo herself.
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