?Chapter 1125:


    Once the vegetables were clean, she took a spot near the counter and watched as Elsa moved effortlessly from one task to another, preparing breakfast. Idle moments turned into light conversation between the two, their voices blending with the quiet hum of the kitchen.


    Not long after seven, footsteps echoed on the stairs. Ethan soon appeared, drawn in by the chatter. Curiosity flickered across his face.


    His eyes widened when he caught sight of Gracie. “What are you doing here, Gracie?”


    Seeing Ethan’s displeased expression, Gracie quickly exined, “There were mice in my house, and I was too scared to stay there. I called you, but Elsa answered the phone and brought me here.”


    A sigh escaped Ethan as he turned to his mother. “Mom, you can’t just invite people into my house without telling me,” he said, frustration seeping into his voice.


    Elsa met his look head-on, standing her ground. “Since when do I need your permission for that? This is my house, too. I believe I have every right to decide who stays here.”


    Ethan believed he couldn’t reason with Elsa. After thinking for a moment, he turned to leave the house.


    Before Ethan could slip away, Elsa stopped him. She knew where he was headed—Giselle had mentioned he often preferred breakfast at the Harper family’s ce.


    “nning to go to the Harper family’s for breakfast again?” Elsa asked directly, blocking Ethan’s path.


    Ethan shot her a look, annoyed by her uracy. Avoiding Gracie was his goal, and breakfast at Brenna’s house was his escape n. “Even if I am, it’s not your concern. Mom, it’s not right for Gracie to stay at my ce.”


    Elsa waved his protest away. “That’s not for you to decide. I want Gracie here, so she stays. Now,e eat. Breakfast is almost done, and Gracie helped me with it this morning. You didn’t even acknowledge her effort; that’s rude.”


    Refusing to let Ethan walk away, Elsa took him by the arm and pulled him to sit down. “You’re not going anywhere. Your brother’s getting discharged from the hospital today, and you’ll drive me there to pick him upter.”


    Slumping into the seat, Ethan struggled to hide his irritation. Living with Elsa was a nightmare. He could not understand how his father had tolerated her for so many years.


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    A hint of disappointment crossed Gracie’s face when Ethan first tried to leave, but his return brightened her mood. She carried over a bowl of oatmeal, her hands shaky with nervousness.


    Setting the bowl in front of him, she offered a smile. “I made this myself, Ethan. It’s my first attempt, so I hope it’s at least edible.”


    She looked at Ethan expectantly, hoping he would praise her efforts.


    A wave of satisfaction swept over Elsa as she watched Gracie. Every gesture from Gracie seemed to mirror exactly what she wanted. Gracie was the kind of daughter-inw she had always pictured for her son.


    If only Brenna or Rosanna could show the same willingness to please her, Elsa thought, she would have epted them.


    While Ethan and Gracie shared a long history dating back to their university years abroad, their rtionship had always stayed strictly professional.


    Their conversations had rarely wandered into personal territory, leaving Ethan clueless about most aspects of Gracie’s private life. Whether she could even cook was a mystery to him.


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