{The next day.}
…
Sophie came down the stairs, her small feet making soft sounds against the marble floor.
She had just woken up from her nap and still looked a little sleepy, but the moment she remembered why she had come downstairs, she started looking around.
“Auntie Belle?
Auntie Belle?” she called.
“I’m here, baby,” a voice answered from the kitchen.
Sophie immediately turned toward the sound and hurried down the hallway.
When she reached the kitchen, she stopped at the doorway and looked inside.
Isabelle stood at the large kitchen counter stirring something in a deep pot.
She had changed into a simple looking dress and was wearing an apron over it.
Her dark hair was still perfectly styled and there wasn’t a single sign that she had been standing in the kitchen for almost an hour.
Chloe stood a few steps away from her with her hands folded neatly in front of her.
She had been watching Isabelle prepare the food without saying much.
“There you are,” Isabelle said, turning toward Sophie with a smile.
“How was your nap baby?
You really slept for a long time.
You went upstairs at five, and now it’s already past seven.”
Sophie rubbed one eye and walked into the kitchen.
“I told you I don’t like taking naps.”
“I know.” Isabelle smiled and reached out to smooth her hair.
“But you needed the rest.
You were tired.”
Sophie didn’t answer.
Her eyes moved toward the counter where several covered dishes had already been arranged.
She looked at them before glancing at Chloe.
“But Auntie Belle, why are you cooking?” she asked, her nose wrinkling.
“Cooking is for servants.”
Chloe’s expression remained respectful, but she lowered her eyes.
Meanwhile Isabelle let out a warm laugh.
“You’re right.
Chloe usually takes care of these things.” Sophie nodded as though she had expected that answer.
“But there is nothing wrong with doing something yourself once in a while,” Isabelle continued.
“I wanted to prepare dinner for your father tonight.
Since I’m going to be his wife soon, I should be able to take care of him properly.
It’s a nice surprise, don’t you think?”
Sophie seemed pleased by the answer.
She moved closer to the counter and tried to see what Isabelle had been cooking.
“What did you make?”
“A lot of things.” Isabelle pointed toward the covered dishes.
“Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and chocolate cake for dessert.”
Sophie’s eyes brightened at the mention of cake.
“Chocolate?
Daddy likes it too.”
“I know.
That’s why I made it.” Isabelle replied and returned to what she was doing.
Chloe stepped forward to take one of the dishes from the counter but Isabelle stopped her.
“Leave it.”
Chloe immediately stepped back.
“Yes, Miss Isabelle.”
“I’ll arrange everything myself.
You can prepare the dining room later.” Isabelle turned back to the food.
She checked each dish carefully before placing them into separate insulated containers to keep them warm until dinner.
She had spent more time preparing the meal than she had originally planned, but she didn’t mind.
She wanted everything to look perfect when Sebastian came home.
Sophie watched her for a while before suddenly remembering something.
“Auntie Belle?” she called.
“Yes?”
“My new teacher is so horrible and she did bad things to me.
I told Daddy about her and he’s going to get her fired.”
Isabelle smiled.
“Then you don’t have anything to worry about.
Sebastian won’t let some teacher make you feel as though you’re beneath her.
You shouldn’t let people make you feel small, Sophie.
You’re a Valerius.
You don’t have to accept being treated badly just because someone is older than you.”
Sophie nodded seriously.
“I know.”
“And if someone is rude to you,” Isabelle continued, “Just remember who you are and that your father will handle everything.”
That was enough to make Sophie smile again.
Chloe, who had been standing nearby throughout the conversation finally stepped forward when she saw that Isabelle had finished with the food.
“Miss Isabelle, should I take the dishes to the dining room now?”
Isabelle glanced at her with a displeased expression.
“I already told you to prepare the dining room.
Do that instead.”
“Yes, Miss Isabelle.”
“And make sure everything is perfect.
You should know better that Sebastian doesn’t like coming home to a messy table.”
“Of course.”
Isabelle turned away after Chloe had left the kitchen.
Sophie looked at her with admiration.
“You’re going to be a good wife for Daddy.”
Isabelle smiled.
“I hope so.” She took Sophie’s hand and led her out of the kitchen.
“Come.
Let’s sit in the living room until your father comes home.”
They settled in the large sitting room with Sophie sitting beside Isabelle on the sofa.
Isabelle picked up one of the storybooks that had been left on the table and opened it.
“Which one do you want?”
“I like the Princess one.”
Isabelle smiled and opened the book.
She read to Sophie for the next twenty minutes answering the girl’s questions whenever she interrupted the story.
Sophie eventually leaned against her side, listening quietly as Isabelle continued reading.
To anyone watching them, they looked like a mother and daughter spending a peaceful evening together.
Isabelle knew how to create that impression and she had no problem playing the part.
She didn’t particularly like Sophie, but the girl was important to her plans.
Sophie wanted a mother and Isabelle was more than willing to give her the attention and affection she craved if it helped her become part of Sebastian’s life.
The front door opened sometime after eight.
Isabelle looked toward the doors while Sophie immediately sat up.
“Daddy!”
Footsteps approached from the entrance.
Sebastian appeared in the doorway a moment later still dressed in the dark suit he had worn to work.
His tie was slightly loosened but everything else about him remained neat.
His dark hair was perfectly in place and his cold gray eyes moved across the room before settling on Isabelle.
He stopped.
He had not expected her to still be there at this hour.
Whenever Isabelle visited, she usually left before he returned from work unless she had told him beforehand that she planned to stay.
Tonight, he had received no such message.
His eyes remained on her for a long time.
“What are you doing here?”
Isabelle closed the storybook and stood up with a small smile.
“You’ve been working too hard lately.
Sophie mentioned you weren’t feeling well this morning, and I thought…
well, it’s almost time for me to move in anyway.
So I didn’t think you should be alone tonight.
It’s time I started getting used to being here.”
Sebastian’s expression remained unchanged as he looked at her.
His eyes then moved past her and landed on Sophie who was already running toward him.
“Daddy!” Sophie reached him and wrapped her arms around his legs.
“Pick me up.”
Sebastian looked down at her.
“You’re not a kid.”
Sophie immediately let go and pouted.
“Yes, I’m almost six, so I’m not a kid anymore.
But adults get carried too.”
Sebastian gave her a brief look before turning toward the dining room.
He walked away without another word, his tall figure moving across the room with the same calm, controlled manner he carried himself with everywhere else.
Sophie scrunched up her face out of habit and hurried after him.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t carry me.”
When Sebastian reached the dining room, he pulled out his usual chair and sat down.
Sophie climbed into the chair beside him and looked toward the table.
Isabelle entered a moment later and took the seat opposite him.
Chloe came in carrying the first covered dish.
She placed it in the center of the table before bringing out the others one by one.
The smell of the food spread through the dining room as she lifted the lids and arranged everything neatly.
Sebastian looked at the table.
He hadn’t eaten since morning and the smell of the food made him realize how hungry he actually was.
Even so, he showed no sign of it as he picked up his fork and served himself some roast chicken and mashed potatoes.
Sophie immediately reached for the vegetables and Sebastian quietly moved the dish closer to her.
“Take what you want.”
Sophie smiled and served herself.
Just as Sebastian took his first bite, Isabelle leaned forward and spoke.
“How does it taste?”
Sebastian’s fork paused in the air, his lips pressing into a thin line as his eyes shifted toward the kitchen where Chloe was now standing by the sink, quietly washing the dishes…