Bamboo Grove, Lillian''s Manor.


    As dusk fell and thest rays of sunlight melted into a sea of scarlet, M Suthend sat by the downstairs window, quietly listening to Jade Suthend''s voice on the phone. She gazed out at the endless horizon, answering only now and then.


    "I feel the same way. We''ll need to discuss the timing a bit more before I can confirm anything. As for the division of assets, I''ll have to trouble you, Jade. However you think is best, I''ll go along with it."


    "Alright."


    "I understand."


    "Don''t worry. I trust him."


    Just as she was speaking, the doorbell rang. M guessed it was Adrian Montgomery returning home with Forrest Whitmore. She stood up, walked to the door, and unlocked it.


    "Let''s leave it there for now, Jade. I''ll confirm as soon as I can."


    She hung up.


    The door swung open and Adrian burst inside, nearly leaping into her arms.


    "You''re back."


    M hugged her son, then nced up with a smile at Forrest, who followed behind. Turning her attention back to Adrian, she asked, "Did you have fun with Mr. Whitmore today?"


    "Hmph! Not at all!"


    Adrian wasted no time lodging aint. "He lied to me!"


    M raised her eyebrows at Forrest. He pushed up his sses and gave a helpless sort of smile. "We had a little situatione up, so I had to take him by the Federal Security Bureau. I couldn''t show him the CN source code like I promised... There was a bit of a hup."


    "I told you I''d take you to see it next time, didn''t I? Why are you still sulking? You''ve been grumpy the whole way home, you little rascal." Forrest ruffled Adrian''s hair, but Adrian pped his hand away.


    "Who cares? I don''t want to see it anymore!"


    Adrian shot Forrest a re, then mmed the door shut behind him, leaving the two adults blinking in surprise.


    M managed to calm Adrian down, and when she opened the door again, she found Forrest waiting outside, still smiling warmly. "Has the little rascal forgiven me yet?"


    "You''re the rascal! Your whole family are rascals!"


    Adrian popped out from behind his mother.


    Just as another argument was about to erupt, M sighed and raised her voice, "Enough! Both of you, quiet!"


    Instant silence.


    M rubbed her ears and exhaled, then stepped aside to let Forrest in. "Stay for dinner, will you? I made plenty, and thank you for watching Adrian today.” "It''s no trouble at all."


    Forrest smiled. After all, Adrian would soon be his stepson-looking after him felt only natural. Besides after a day spent with the boy, Forrest couldn''t help but notice how difficult Adrian''s temperament could be. But considering who his father was, Forrest understood The kid had really kept him on his toes today.


    But then, he was Mimi''s child. Forrest could be patient. The boy was still young- there was time to teach him. If only for Mimi''s sake, Forrest was willing to try.


    Finally, the three of them managed to sit down for dinner. But barely had they started before the bickering began again-forks shing over the same dish. M could feel her nerves fraying.


    Seriously? Was there no end to this?


    She remembered the doctor''s


    warning during herst checkup, took a deep breath, set her


    winess down with a little moret


    force than necessary, then put on her gentlest smile. "So, you two aren''t eating-does that mean my cooking isn''t good enough?"


    She''d had enough. If she kept bottling it up, she''d end up in the hospital for sure.


    Silence.


    Adrian pouted, but recalling how he''d recently upset his mom, he grudgingly picked up the piece of food he''d just thrown onto his te


    piece Forrest had given


    him and forced himself to eat it,


    ring as he chewed.


    "Eat up, you''re growing," Forrest said cheerfully, cing another slice of beef in Adrian''s bowl.


    Adrian watched as the beefnded in his bowl, jaw clenched, resisting the urge to throw it right back. After a few seconds, he looked at M with wounded eyes. "Mom, I don''t like this."


    As if there was anything on this table you didn''t like. M knew Adrian was just being stubborn. But at least he was eating what he''d been given, not wasting food, so she let it go. "Alright, then give it to me."


    She reached over with her fork.


    But suddenly, Adrian stuffed the beef into his mouth and muttered, almost inaudibly, "I do like it."


    Her fork hovered midair. M was baffled.


    Was he just messing with her?


    Still, at least dinner was underway without further drama.


    After they finished, Adrian lounged in the living room with his video game, M began clearing the dishes, and Forrest followed her into the kitchen.


    They loaded the dishwasher together. As M turned on the faucet to hand-wash the few pans that wouldn''t fit, Forrest gently nudged her aside. "Let me do it-you cooked, after all."


    He handed her the apron and grinned. "Mind tying this for me?"