ra nced over at Simon, then Ada.
Ada chuckled, "ra, you''ve always been so indulgent with Simon. You used to be the one making the tea."
Simon let out a scoff, turning his head away.
Come to think of it, ra hadn''t made him tea in quite a while. Ever since she woke up from her recent ident, they hadn''t shared a peaceful meal together. The thought left him uneasy; they had never been at odds for this long before.
ra got up and followed the housekeeper to the kitchen. Once they were out of earshot, the housekeeper''s demeanor shifted. She arrogantly tilted her chin up.
"Mr. Simon''s favorite teas are all here, as well as Miss Quinn''s. You''re already doing this for the Bradford family, so you might as well make them all. Don''t worry, I''ll be sure to mention your good work to Mrs. Ferguson."
ra lowered hershes, grabbed a handful of teabags, and tossed them into the cups, then filled each with tap water. She prepared three cups in this haphazard manner and brought them back, ignoring the housekeeper''s attitude.
The housekeeper only noticed how quickly she brewed the tea, not suspecting anything amiss. ra ced the three cups on the coffee table. "Here you go."
Simon was the first to reach for a cup, but something felt off about the temperature. Why was it cold? The tea was not even colored. He looked at ra, who sat on the sofa, appearing perfectly innocent.
His heart softened instantly; it was rare for her not to retort. He drank half the cup in one go. It was indeed cold water and teabags clogged his mouth. Setting his cup down, he nced at ra again.
When Simon said nothing, Quinn and Ada each picked up their cups. Ada maintained herposure, cing her cup down calmly despite the cold water. She knew ra did this on purpose. Ada felt a twinge of annoyance. In the past, ra would shower her with expensive gifts and ttery, but today she was distant. No matter how strained her rtionship with Simon was, ra shouldn''t take it out on the elders. In this regard, ra wasn''t as considerate as Quinn.
ra asked, "Simon, do you like your tea?"
Simon was about to reply when Quinn gasped, quickly setting her cup down and coughing forcefully. "Why is this cold water? ra, we''re at Ada''s home today. If you act out like this, who will manage you after you marry Simon? Even if you and Simon have misunderstandings, you shouldn''t upset the elders on purpose."
She put down her cup and took Ada''s, dumping the tea in the trash. "Ada, Simon, let me make you fresh cups. ra might be in a bad mood today. Please don''t hold it against her."
Ada''s expression softened considerably, waving her hand. "No worries, everyone has bad days. ra is just being herself."
Quinn''s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. ''Just being herself? More like a fool- serving cold water to the elders. This engagement was as good as over. Serves her right!''
Feeling pleased, Quinn headed to the kitchen with the cups, only to hear ra speak up. "Ada, I''d like to call off the engagement with Simon. That''s why I''m here today. I''m not satisfied with him—or with you."
Ada''s forced smile vanished instantly at those words. Simon thought he must have misheard. ra had never dared to be so brazen in front of Ada before.
Taking a deep breath, he pursed his lips in disbelief. "ra, have you lost your mind? Do you know what you''re saying, and where we are right now?"
He stood up, frustration rolling off him in waves, unsure if he was angry at ra''s audacity or the unease gnawing at him.
Ada scolded, "Simon, sit down!"
Simon flinched, biting his lip repeatedly. "Mom, say something to her!"
Ada tugged at him. "Sit down. Stop overreacting!"
Simon took a deep breath, finally sitting, ring at ra as if he''s about to take a chunk out of her.
ra''s phone buzzed with a message from Dn.
Dn: [What are you up to?]
Feeling in a good mood, she replied quickly: [Discussing breaking off the engagement.]
Dn: [Good luck.]
ra smiled broadly, looking up just in time to meet Simon''s gaze.