Chapter 516 We Will Eat At Home

Cassandra’s expression hardened. She had hoped to impress Miranda and her family, but inadvertently offended her future mother-in-law. She never anticipated Elena's defense of Elliot. Adrian was right; the child’s connection to the Rainsworths remained uncertain, especially given his declaration that Calvin was his father.

After giving Cassandra a grateful look, Miranda took Adrian and their son's hands. "Let's go. We'll eat at home."

Dinner ended awkwardly, a clash of conflicting intentions. Afterward, Niel instructed the housekeepers to prepare another bowl of duck feet for Eli. Cecilia was puzzled; Elliot detested offal, particularly duck feet.

Back at Nathaniel's residence, nearing bedtime, she knelt beside Elliot. "Eli, be honest. Did you deliberately provoke Felix today?" A mother knows her son best, and Cecilia sensed Elliot's animosity toward the Rainsworths. If he hated them, why did he stay?

He offered a partial truth. "Mommy, he called me an unwanted child, so I retaliated."

"Unwanted child" pierced Cecilia's heart. She embraced him. "You're not unwanted. You're my most precious treasure."

Elliot nodded, then asked, "Mommy, who's our real father? Why doesn't he want us?" Nathaniel's earlier defense had prompted the question. His internal conflict was evident: If Nathaniel was truly bad, why had he helped him? Why did his anger seem superficial? Did Nathaniel not love Cecilia? And if not, why accept another man's child? The unanswered questions overwhelmed him.

This was the first time Elliot inquired about Nathaniel. Cecilia, momentarily speechless under his earnest gaze, said, "Your father… he didn't abandon us. He has his reasons." She avoided involving him in adult matters, patting his shoulders. "You'll understand when you're older."

Elliot's eyes drooped, barely concealing his disappointment. "So, he's not a bad guy, right?"

Cecilia shook her head, a bittersweet expression crossing her face. "Of course not. How could your father be a bad person? He's a great man. If he knew about your existence, he would definitely adore you."

She kept the truth hidden, fearing Nathaniel's rejection and the Rainsworths’ potential intervention. Elliot, however, recalled Nathaniel's nickname for him—"brat"—and wondered, How could my scumbag daddy possibly love me?

Unbeknownst to Cecilia, Nathaniel stood at the doorway, overhearing her words. "If he knew about your existence, he would definitely adore you." His heart clenched. Aren't Eli and Jon Calvin's children? He'd always wondered why they hadn't stayed with Calvin. If not Calvin's, then whose? Besides Calvin, who else did Cecilia know from her past? Cecilia's mention of Eli's age, coupled with his calculations, suggested she conceived them after leaving him. A paternity test confirmed Eli wasn't his son; they shared no blood relation.