Chapter 317: Replacing Nathaniel

Cecelia hadn't expected Nathaniel to finish his shopping so quickly, much less prepare breakfast. She glanced at the table laden with scrambled eggs, bread, milk, and an assortment of fruit. The table overflowed with delicious options.

Nathaniel looked over as she approached. "I prepared a bit of everything, not knowing your preferences," he explained, adding, "And here are the receipts."

Cecelia, genuinely surprised he'd followed instructions, examined them. "I thought you'd lost your sight. How did you manage to buy all this?"

Nathaniel placed a glass of warm milk before her. "I use voice input on my phone."

Without hesitation, Cecelia drank the milk. After a few bites of bread, she deliberately challenged him. "I'm not used to store-bought breakfasts."

Nathaniel was taken aback. "But I don't know how to bake or cook." He'd wanted to try cooking breakfast that morning but didn't know where to begin. Despite his memory loss, he could still understand Mason's office documents; cooking, however, was a completely different matter.

"But you used to cook, didn't you?" Cecelia asked, recalling photos Stella had sent, showing Nathaniel preparing impressive dishes. He'd cooked amazing meals when he and Stella were together.

Nathaniel choked back emotion. "Maybe. I can't recall."

Cecelia took another sip of milk. "I didn't know how to cook either, until you complained about the unhygienic takeout food."

"I can learn," Nathaniel assured her.

"All right. I hope you learn well," she replied. Cecelia finished the breakfast, not wanting to waste anything. As she left, she added, "Be careful not to burn yourself while cooking."

Nathaniel took her casual remark to heart, deeply touched. After a day of Braille practice and document review, he began learning to cook, immersing himself in online videos. Martha and Cecelia were astonished by his kitchen dedication.

Meanwhile, at the Rainsworth residence, Nicholas occupied Nathaniel's room since his return. Elena had successfully kept Nathaniel's injury a secret. Despite rumors of his blindness, no one had confirmed it. Even Niel and Adrian, aware of Nathaniel's twin, never suspected the Rainsworth Group's head wasn't Nathaniel. Nicholas, chronically ill since childhood, had been treated overseas. His recovery and return were unexpected.

Over the past few days, Elena had briefed Nicholas on Nathaniel's life during his absence. He sat quietly, listening intently. His face, strikingly similar to Nathaniel's, held an unusually gentle expression.

"Mom, are you expecting me to replace him for life?" Nicholas asked, looking up as Elena spoke excitedly.

Startled, Elena maintained composure but clenched her fists. "Nicholas, the doctor said Nathaniel is blind and will remain so. Even if he weren't, the Rainsworth family wouldn't allow a blind man to be CEO." She didn't mince words.

Nicholas fell silent, then stood to leave.

"Where are you going?" Elena asked, fearing discovery.

"Don't worry, I'm not going far. I'll be outside, processing my thoughts," Nicholas replied, gazing at the heavy snowfall. "My life has been miserable these last few years."

While walking, Nicholas bumped into the two children.