Xavier~
"Dinner is ready, Bella." I gently knocked on my dad's door, inviting him to join us for dinner.
"Give me just a few minutes; we will be there." She motioned for me to leave immediately.
I found her behavior very strange. what she is hiding from me. After we met Jordan Lucas today, she looked so worried. I tried to find out the cause of her concern, but she didn't want to discuss it with me. Upon seeing her in my dad's room, my suspicions about her intensified. She told me she was tired and needed some rest, but when I went into her room to call her for dinner, I didn't find her there.
I could tell they were talking about something serious by the solemn expressions on Bella's and Dad's faces. However, what were they talking about?
"Call your grandfather for dinner, Alan." Victor was excitedly setting the dining table for today's dinner.
"All right, Dad." Alan stopped helping Victor and walked towards Dad's room.
"Alan, you don't need to call your grandpa; Bella takes him." I motioned for him to sit down at the dining table.
"Did Dad know that we were... Xavier?" As soon as he saw Dad and Bella walk downstairs for supper, he stopped speaking.
We sat quietly in our chairs, observing Dad in the dining hall. We watched television and ate dinner in silence as usual. Every news channel continuously airs Victor's case. The constant sight of John's unfounded charges and Uncle Jorawar's menacing remarks unnerved us. I look fearfully at my father's face because I know that this news will only make him more irate, but I breathe with relief when I see him eating dinner quietly.
"Bella, you cooked amazing food today." Dad's voice broke the uncomfortable silence of the dining table.
Victor and I look at each other while Dad compliments the food.
"Dad, I didn't cook dinner today, so I asked Xavier to order food.
Xavier, could you tell me the name of the restaurant where you ordered the food? I like the taste." She also praised the food. I bowed my head to hide my smile after hearing her compliments about food.
"Mama, Uncle Xavier, and Dad cooked this food together." Alan told them our secret.
"What?" She gave us a startled expression.
"Did you prepare all of this food, Xavier?" She examined all of the food on the dining table carefully.
"You looked tired today, so I thought we should give you some relaxation. Since eating out is bad for Dad's health, we cooked our meals at home." I nervously rubbed my neck as Dad continued to stare at me.
"Bella, I've finished my dinner and am heading to bed." Dad gave me a long, conflicted look before getting up from his dining table.
"But dad, you didn't take your proper diet." Bella asks him to take a seat at the dinner table.
"This food is poisonous, and I can not consume it. Having poison is preferable to consuming this food." His words pierced my heart.
"How would your health quickly improve, Dad, if you don't eat a healthy diet?" Bella ran behind him to finish his meal.
"I will only eat your hand-cooked food." Before heading upstairs to his room, he paused and asked Bella to prepare him for another meal.
"OK, fine, I will bring porridge for you." She let out a dejected sigh and cast pitying glances at Victor and myself.
"Xavier, please don't take Dad's word seriously." She approached me and comforted me by holding my hand.
I tried to conceal the burned mark from her by fisting my palm, but she managed to see it.
"Show me your hand, Victor." While listening to her forceful tone, Victor opened his palm in front of her even though he didn't want to show her his burned palms.
"Why did both of you strive to become master chefs when you lack the necessary cooking skills?" She applied ointment to his palms and reprimanded us.
"Bella, I want his forgiveness since his anger is unbearable and suffocating." Victor's voice cracked, his eyes glistening with the unshed tears of someone weighed down by emotional scars. Despite his efforts to appear composed, the weight of his father's disdain was crushing him.
"He will forgive you in no time, so don't worry about his rage." She rubbed ointment on Victor's fingers before turning towards my palms.
"Bella, will Dad ever forgive me?" I gazed at her with a hopeful expression.
"I am sure he will forgive you if you win Victor's case." Her voice was steady and calm, but I sensed deep-seated worry and fear in her.
I started researching Victor's case after I finished my dinner. Even though I have a ton of proof to support my claim that John is lying and falsely accusing Victor, I am still not convinced. Jordan Lucas' smug smile haunted me as though he had already planned his next move, one that would shake us all to the core.
"Do you want some coffee, Xavier?" Bella's presence at the study room's entrance interrupted my inner monologue.
"Why did you wake up?" I was surprised to see her waking up.
"I was working on some cases, so I thought of brewing some coffee." She shrugged her shoulders and put a coffee mug on my table.
"Xavier, I have full trust in you; your hard work will pay off." She placed her hand on my shoulder as she sat next to me.
Her presence and soothing words helped me relax and overcome my anxiety.
"I hope so." I breathed deeply and stroked her hair.
"Who was Laila, Xavier?" Closing my eyes and resting my head on the couch, I felt her reassuring presence, but her inquiry startled me, forcing me to open them.
"How did you know about her?" Her question overwhelmed me with emotion.
"In researching a previous case for my own, I came across the Laila case, in which you served as the defense attorney. It turns out that our circumstances are rather similar." She stared at my face with questioning eyes.
I stared into her brown eyes, trying to figure out why she was picking at my old wounds, which I didn't want to talk about.