Chapter 128 Mutual Infliction Of Pain

Mark knew that Hansel was good at cooking but it never occurred to him that the boy knew how to cook steak too.

Gretel clearly had had a taste of it, or she would not compliment it that much.

Mark was not in shock. Instead, he was filled with admiration and endless pride.

“Great, if that’s the case, let me determine if your skills are as good as a Michelin Star restaurant,” Mark uttered. In truth, he would still believe it even if it was not delicious.

He might not share the same faith in others but he had complete faith if it was Hansel.

Hansel calmly answered, “I’ll need ingredients.”

“There’s a supermarket not far away from here. Let me take you there,” Mark said. This was one of the benefits staying over here. The location was perfect, quiet and convenient to get to shops.

Nodding, Hansel turned to Lyla, who was sitting on the sofa. “Mommy, what do you want to eat?”

Lyla was always on his mind.

“The same old,” Lyla muttered without picking her head up.

Having gotten the message, Hansel nodded.

Mark swept a glance at them. With the bond nurtured between the mother and son, Hansel had it down pat just by a single comment from her.

“Let’s go.”

“I want to go too,” Gretel chimed in.

Lyla was taken aback by Gretel’s remark. Gretel was known to be slothful and yet she took the initiative to get out and about. Lyla had to say, she really saw Gretel in a new light.

“Let’s make a move,” Mark uttered.

He was happy to take his son and daughter out for an outing.

Hansel gazed at Lyla. “Mommy, why don’t you come with us?”

“No, you guys should go. I’m going to take a break,” Lyla lazily replied.

Despite having done nothing, she still appeared tired.

Hansel did not insist. Thus, Mark brought the little ones along to the supermarket to shop for groceries.

As the door closed shut, Lyla lay on the sofa alone for a rest. With her eyes wandering to the newspaper on the table, her mind harked back to the news about Mark calling off the wedding with Kathleen.

Since the day at the hospital, Kathleen seemed to have gone off the grid and had not since made an appearance.

The image of Kathleen in full hysteria mode that day lingered in her mind.

Lyla could not help but sigh.

Although it had been a while since the incident, Lyla would hark back on occasion, feeling regretful, albeit not towards Kathleen, but rather for her unborn child...

While having a bee in her bonnet, her phone rang. Noticing that it was from Arden, she hesitated for a moment but picked up the call in the end.

“Hello, Senior.”

“Lyla, are you up?”

“Yes, I am. What’s the matter, Senior?”

“I want to treat you to a meal. Do you have time today?” Arden enquired.

A meal?

Lyla gave it a thought. “I’m sorry, Senior. I don’t think I can today, I’m a little bit tied up with things.”

“What’s the matter? Do you need my help?”

“It’s okay, it’s all done,” Lyla kept a distance.

“Alright, we’ll do a rain check then.” Arden did not push. He had no guts to come on too strong with Lyla.

“Sure.”

She ended the call after a brief conversation.

Although Lyla did not want to admit to it, she was not stupid. She could more or less sense Arden’s feelings for her. It was better not to give hope when there was no possibility. Hence, the best decision was to stay away.

…...

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Following the hang up, Arden was glum in the face.

He was not in a rush in the first place but after reading the news today, concern was all over his mind.

With Mark calling the engagement off with Kathleen, it meant that he was free to do as he pleased and be with anyone he wanted. There would be no repercussion even if the person was Lyla.

Taking that into account, his complexion grew into a grimace.

Mark Pattinson!

His fists balled up at the mere thought of the name.

Arden picked up the phone and dialed a number.

“How are you? Have you seen today’s paper?” Arden asked.

Kathleen took the call. She had already seen the news but was in disbelief that Mark would do such a thing during her absence.

“So what if I did?”

“Don’t you have any thoughts about it?” Arden sneered.

“We no longer have feelings for each other. I’m not surprised he did what he did but you, on the other hand...” Kathleen stopped midway.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I guess you probably don’t know that Lyla has moved,” Kathleen muttered.

Move?

Arden frowned.

He was really in the dark about it.

“What do you mean?”

“Mark bought them a place in Parch Urban and they just moved in today. What? Did you really not know about it?” Kathleen probed.

They both were a stone’s throw away from becoming maniacs. They sought balance through mutual infliction of pain when nothing sat well with them.

Kathleen was like this, so was Arden.