Chapter 232

When Evander heard this, he eagerly asked why she was going to the hospital. The two conversed animatedly, while Percival quietly pulled out a chair for Odalys and served her food as they chatted. Their ease with each other made them seem like longtime friends with endless topics to discuss. Percival, however, couldn't help but observe them, silent and thoughtful.

It wasn't until they finished eating that Evander again tried to engage Odalys in conversation.

"Grandpa," Percival interjected quickly, stepping in front of Evander, "She's had a long day of travel and is exhausted. Maybe it's better if she goes upstairs to rest after a bath?"

Evander glanced at the time, realizing it was already ten o'clock at night. He waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, I got too excited and lost track of time. Go ahead and rest, both of you. We'll talk more when you're free."

Odalys nodded and headed upstairs. Percival walked ahead and opened the door to her room.

A vintage-styled bedroom greeted her. On the bedside table sat a small bouquet of roses, emitting a faint but pleasant fragrance.

"Are these roses!" Odalys asked with a smile.

She leaned in to smell them. Indeed, they were roses. They weren't just for decoration—they could also be used as medicinal herbs.

It was clear Evander had put thought into this, wanting to bring beauty to her room while also providing something useful given her knowledge of medicine.

"If you like them," Percival said softly.

Odalys paused, glancing at the flowers before turning to him. "Did you have someone prepare this?"

"Mm." Percival's reply was brief but firm.

He moved to the wardrobe and opened its massive doors. "All the clothes inside are new. Take a look and see if you like any. If not, I can have someone bring more options."

Odalys glanced inside—a full wall of clothing, all in her style.

"This is plenty; you don't need to bother," she replied. "I'm not picky about clothes. As long as they're comfortable, that's fine with me."

The wardrobe was packed with clothes, with shoes and bags neatly arranged on one side (including five handbags and several canvas bags). On the other side were undergarments and pants.

"If that's the case, then after you've freshened up, you can rest properly," Percival said, finally letting out a sigh of relief, having been worried she might be too particular.

Once Percival left the room, Odalys unpacked her bag, organizing her things on the coffee table. She then picked out a silk sleepwear set and went into the bathroom for a bath. Afterward, she climbed into bed and quickly fell asleep.

Perhaps it was the peaceful atmosphere at the Stewart family estate, but when Odalys awoke, she felt completely refreshed. She rose early, just as the first light of dawn broke.

After washing up, she picked out a pair of high-waisted jeans and paired them with a loose T-shirt. She casually tied her hair into a ponytail, grabbed a canvas bag, stuffed her things inside, and headed downstairs.

Evander, clearly up early, heard her footsteps and quickly rushed out of the kitchen, waving excitedly. "Odalys, you're awake! Come here, come here!"

Surprised by his energy, Odalys placed her bag on the sofa and walked toward the kitchen. There, she saw Evander holding a stalk of green vegetables, and in the corner of her eye, she spotted another figure.

"Percival?" she asked, a bit taken aback.

It was hard to picture him in the kitchen. After all, with so many bodyguards and servants at the Stewart estate, when had it ever been their job to cook?

Curiosity piqued, she stepped inside. Evander was chopping vegetables, and Percival, dressed in a gray home outfit, was cooking.

"It'll be ready soon," Percival said in his usual deep tone. "You go ahead and wait outside for now. After breakfast, I'll take you to the hospital."

Odalys peeked over and saw him stirring beef with celery in the pan.

Soon, the beef stir-fry was done and served, and Percival began working on something else. Odalys didn't pay much attention, but before long, she was ushered out by Evander.

"Go on, go sit outside for a bit. Have some fruit. It'll be ready soon," Evander said with a wave, closing the door behind her.

Odalys sat down while Dorian came forward, placing a plate of fruit on the table.

"Mrs. Stewart," Dorian began, standing respectfully. "Evander is clearly eager to show off Percival's cooking skills. It's a rare sight to see Mr. Stewart cook for someone else. You must be special to him."

Odalys picked up a strawberry, biting into it. She glanced back toward the kitchen but decided to change the subject.

"By the way, where's Percival's mother? I don't think I've met her yet."

The last time she was here, she hadn't seen her. And this time, it seemed like she was also absent. The woman seemed mysterious, as if she didn't treat the Stewart estate like home.

Dorian's expression became a little awkward. "Mr. Stewart's mother rarely comes around. Ever since Mr. Stewart returned, she's hardly been back. She only comes when there's something important."

Odalys paused, thinking, but didn't push further.

Evander reappeared, carrying a tray of bread. Dorian quickly followed to help, and soon the table was full of home-cooked dishes: pumpkin cereal, stir-fried beef with celery, shrimp stir-fry, and some simple braised dishes.

The spread was simple but delicious, and Odalys found herself quite hungry. Evander took the initiative and began serving her food.

"Here, Odalys, eat more! It's rare that Percival cooks—if you like it, we'll have him cook again next time," Evander said, adopting the tone of an elder.

Percival also served her some dishes and filled her bowl with pumpkin cereal.

"We kept it light this morning," Percival said, glancing at the table.

The two of them took turns serving her, and Odalys quickly found herself full.

After breakfast, Percival offered to carry her bag as they prepared to leave, but Evander hurried over, rubbing his wrists nervously.

"Evander, what's the matter?" Odalys asked, confused.

Evander, who was usually composed, seemed unusually awkward. He stood in front of her, his hair a bit grayed, dressed in a simple gray outfit.

"Well…" He hesitated, clearly wanting to show off but unsure how to broach the subject. "My old friends know that Percival has gotten married, and they're eager to meet you… and see that bone-setting talisman of yours. Would you mind?"

Odalys raised an eyebrow, understanding that Evander was eager to boast, but unsure if it was the right time.

"Grandpa," Percival interjected, his brows furrowed. He knew that Odalys didn't like being put in the spotlight, especially not with influential people. She wasn't fond of mingling with the powerful, and he didn't want her to feel pressured.

"Fine, if there's time later, I'll meet them," Odalys said, not rejecting the offer outright.

When Evander heard her agreement, his face lit up with a smile that could have rivaled the sun. "Great! You go ahead and take care of your business, and after that, come back to see me!"

He personally walked her to the door and opened the car door for her. The servants and bodyguards were stunned. It was unheard of for Evander to open a door for anyone, let alone for Odalys.

"Take care. If you want to come back for dinner tonight, just let Grandpa know," Evander called out as he reluctantly closed the door, his voice full of affection.