Yannis held his phone with cool detachment, acutely aware of the three pairs of eyes fixed on him. As he watched the video that had just arrived, a faint smile flickered across his usually impassive face. It instantly dissolved the room’s tense atmosphere.
Layla sat across from Yannis. She was in a crisp white suit. Her refined, capable look was unmistakable. Noticing the rare smile on Yannis’s face, she asked, “Yannis, have you got a crush on someone?”
“No,” Yannis replied, turning off his phone. The gloom in his eyes was slowly fading.
Devin, in his black suit, gave Yannis a steady, admiring look and said, “Dad says you’ve learned to cook. When do I get a chance to try your food?”
As he spoke, he slid a plate of freshly made creamy mushrooms in front of Yannis. It was Yannis’s favorite dish since childhood.
Devin thought, ‘Dad went to see Yannis without even telling me and Layla, so neither of us got to try any of Yannis’s cooking. Dad won’t stop bragging about it every day since he got back.”
Yannis glanced around the table, noting nothing but cold vegetarian dishes. The only exception was the plate of creamy mushrooms set before him, a privilege he’d enjoyed for over a decade.
“We’ll see,” Yannis said flatly.
Devin let a gentle smile warm his usually reserved eyes at Yannis’s words. He thought, ‘That means there is still hope we might one day taste his cooking.’
Layla said, “Yannis, those snacks you sent Dad, I liked them too. Maybe you could send some to me as well?”
Layla couldn’t help but notice how much Yannis had changed since returning from abroad, and it pained her heart. Her eyes, usually sharp and unyielding to outsiders, softened whenever she looked at Yannis.
The other day, when Layla got home, she saw James and Victor grinning in the living room as people kept coming and going, delivering snacks. After she learned that those snacks were sent by Yannis, she felt jealous.
Before returning to Perkins Manor that day, Layla and Devin had already agreed on a plan: Layla would ask Yannis for snacks, while Devin would invite Yannis to share a meal.
Although Yannis had been back for quite some time, today was the first time they were having a meal with him. Yannis had avoided them on every other occasion.
“Do you even need my snacks?” Yannis asked, glancing at Layla.
Layla said, “I just haven’t had time to shop for myself. I heard that you’re living with a young lady now. Let me tell you, there are so many things to keep in mind when living with a girl.”
Yannis glanced at her and said, “Alright, send me the tips.”
James let out a cold snort. He complained inside, “I had gone to great lengths to get those snacks, but Layla just had to ask and got it right away. That brat, Yannis, is the very definition of a double standard.”
Yannis said, “Let’s eat. I have things to do afterwards.”
At Yannis’s words, James tightened his grip on his fork. He asked. “You’re not staying here tonight! After finally coming home, you’re just going to leave?”
Yannis nodded, his expression unreadable.
“On a day like this, you’re still leaving? Do you even have any respect for your elders?” James prodded.
Seeing that things were taking a turn for the worse, Layla left her seat and moved beside James. She comforted James, "Let's not argue now, let’s eat now. You know Mom wouldn’t want to see us upset. It would trouble her spirit.”
Layla thought, ‘Every time Yannis and Dad meet, it ends in arguments, and they part ways bitterly. If Mom knew that after she was gone, the two of them would still be constantly at each other’s throats, how heartbroken she would be.’
Under the table, Devin placed a restraining hand on Yannis’s thigh and gave him a subtle shake of the head in silent warning.
Yannis shot Devin an icy glare, silent.
“Does he look like he gives a damn about your mom?” James snarled, his furious gaze cutting sideways at Yannis.
Yannis set down his fork and said, “I’m leaving. You all eat.” Ignoring Devin’s attempt to stop him, he stood and walked straight out.
The fragile peace between James and Yannis, painstakingly built over the past two days, shattered once again, plunging the room into icy silence. The plate of creamy mushrooms sat untouched–a silent witness to the renewed chill at the table.
Layla hesitated, torn between chasing after Yannis and staying with James. She knew James had just had a check-up, and all those old injuries from his youth were acting up again. He really shouldn’t get agitated now.
Normally, Yannis would have let things slide with James, but today was different. Ever since that incident over a decade ago, the once-close bond between them chilled in an instant.
Their relationship wasn’t exactly bad, but the warmth and affection they’d once shared as father and son vanished without a trace.
“You ungrateful brat! Don’t you dare come back!” James roared, fury surging through him as the harsh words escaped his lips.
Yannis paused for a split second, then strode away without looking back.
James’s furious gaze burned into Yannis’s retreating back, his chest heaving with barely contained rage.
“Dad, I’ll go after Yannis,” Devin said. Then he cast a concerned glance at Layla. Once Layla gave him a reassuring nod, he turned and strode quickly out of the hall to catch up with Yannis.
Yannis walked out of the long corridor. The Perkins Manor was a masterpiece of a Victorian–style building. Because Grace liked it, James had spent a fortune to have it constructed. Every detail was exquisitely crafted.
Devin caught up with Yannis. He said, “Yannis, don’t take Dad’s words to heart. He didn’t mean it. You’ve been abroad for two years, and it’s rare for you to finally come home. He’s been waiting so long for this day.
“He wanted you to stay, but he just didn’t know how to say it, so he lashed out in frustration.”
“I’m not angry. His health isn’t good, you and Layla should look after him,” Yannis said evenly, having long known James’s temper.
Devin avoided mentioning James further. Recalling that Victor had told him Yannis was out of money, he said, “Need money? I can send you some.” His usually stern gaze softened with concern as he looked at Yannis.
Yannis arched an eyebrow at him and teased, “What? Got so much money you don’t know what to do with it?”
“Right, Layla has got money burning a hole in her pocket too. Take some as pocket money,” Devin said with a warm chuckle. His tone softened when speaking to Yannis, a stark contrast to his usual sternness with outsiders.
When they were kids, Devin and Layla saved every penny. Yannis insisted on having only the best food, fine clothes, and quality drinks.
When Yannis was born, Devin and Layla had sworn to protect him at all costs and to honor Grace’s love.
With Grace gone, they could no longer repay her; all they could do was redouble their love and devotion.
When Yannis first went abroad, his living conditions deteriorated so drastically that he developed a high fever and nearly fell into a coma. Terrified, Devin and Layla rushed overseas to bring him home.
While Yannis was still in a coma, they’d already arranged for an air ambulance to fly him home. But as soon as Yannis woke up, he refused to go back with them. They had never been able to handle Yannis.
In the end, they just shoved cash into his hands, threatening, “If you don’t take it, we’ll knock you out and drag you back home!” But Yannis just wouldn’t take their money.
Now that they’d finally managed to get Yannis back home, Devin and Layla would give him their hearts if they could.
“Save it for your future wife. I’m off,” Yannis said.
Knowing he couldn’t make Yannis stay, Devin said gently, “Yannis, if you ever need anything, just come to me. Layla will always have your back, no matter what.”