In the Chambers' living room, the atmosphere was tense. Nellie had prepared a lavish dinner, but only Yvette ate with gusto. The others found the food unappealing.
Zachary, concerned about Yvette's large portion of meat, imagined a dramatic confrontation. However, Yvette simply loved to eat; body image wasn't a concern. She possessed a naturally slender figure, and her metabolism allowed her to eat heartily without gaining weight. Winona, conversely, had struggled with weight her entire life, resorting to self-starvation to maintain a thin image. She felt a pang of jealousy.
Zeke, meanwhile, was captivated by Yvette's graceful movements as she peeled shrimp.
Nellie, adopting her "kind stepmother" persona, urged Yvette to eat more, suggesting luxurious foods like black truffles, caviar, and foie gras, a thinly veiled attempt to belittle her. Winona and Zeke understood the subtle dig.
Winona, momentarily forgetting her earlier apology, sneered and mocked Yvette's supposed lack of exposure to fine dining. Their boldness stemmed from Zachary's absence; he had stepped out for an overseas call.
Zachary's return interrupted their taunts. He inquired about their laughter. Nellie quickly explained she was suggesting more luxurious foods for Yvette, claiming they would be delivered the next day. Zachary, pleased by Nellie's apparent concern for Yvette, smiled.
Winona protested, questioning whether Yvette even liked such foods. Zachary retorted that it didn't matter; they would simply discard any uneaten portions.
This scolding, coupled with the evening's earlier embarrassments, reduced Winona to genuine tears. Nellie, needing to maintain her faรงade, pretended to scold Winona as well.
Seizing an opportunity to impress Yvette, Zeke launched into a detailed description of the family's access to rare black truffles, only to be met with Yvette's unimpressed stare.
Yvette calmly wiped her mouth, stood, and proceeded to deliver a detailed botanical description of the black truffle (Tuber melanosporum), leaving everyone stunned. Further surprises awaited.