Chapter 868

The dog had no idea what they were yelling about, but it bounced around excitedly. One second it was attacking Connor's shoe, the next it was rolling over by Leonie's feet, before finally scurrying back to Gwyneth and demanding to be held.

"I was just asking! Why are you so aggressive? Can't a guy hold out a little hope?" Connor had been nursing a grudge about this entire situation from the start.

The first time he laid eyes on Gwyneth, he had no idea she was his childhood crush. If he had known back then, he never would have let Hawthorne get his hooks into her. He would have knocked Hawthorne out and carried her off himself.

Now, Gwyneth was the one who got away, his ultimate regret. As the three of them sat around the patio table, Leonie unceremoniously kicked Connor under the table.

"What was that for?!" Connor jumped.

Leonie glanced pointedly at the thermos.

"Open it and pour the stew."

Looking thoroughly defeated, Connor popped the lid just as Butler Parham arrived with their tea, pastries, and a set of soup bowls.

As Connor began ladling the stew, he muttered complaints under his breath. Leonie rolled her eyes in exasperation and turned to Gwyneth.

"Just ignore him, Gwyneth. He's always like this. If he doesn't throw a tantrum every couple of days, his brain short-circuits."

Connor continued muttering like a chanting monk as he poured.

Then, under the intense scrutiny of both Leonie and Gwyneth, he filled a bowl, picked up a spoon, and brought it directly to his own mouth. Leonie's shriek nearly blew the roof off the balcony.

"Connor Kaufman! What the hell are you doing?! I told you to serve Gwyneth! That stew isn't for you—it's for the pregnant woman! Are you insane?!"

Gwyneth clutched her stomach, wheezing with laughter, while Leonie looked ready to pop a blood vessel.

She reached out to yank his ear, but Connor narrowly dodged her.

"I know, I know! You psycho! Can you act like a lady for five seconds? You're so loud!"

Grumbling, Connor slid the bowl across the table to Gwyneth, but Leonie snatched it away immediately.

"Gwyneth, I'll drink this one. Pour her a fresh bowl right now!"

Connor glared at Leonie, deeply offended. "Why do you get to drink it but I can't?"

He was genuinely upset. He had managed one quick sip and realized the stew was absolutely delicious.

Leonie glared daggers at him.

"Because your mouth touched it! You think I'm going to let Gwyneth drink your backwash?

Do you have

any idea how long my

mom spent simmering this? It's supposed to nourish Gwyneth during her pregnancy Are you pregnant? Are you a woman? Bah, are you even a man? Stealing food from a pregnant woman!"

Gwyneth watched them bicker endlessly. They truly looked like a classic enemies-

to-lovers trope. Sometimes, certain feelings were better left unspoken.

The dynamic between men and women was often just separated by a thin sheet of paper. Whether that paper was punctured or left intact, there was a certain matic to the tension.

It was best to let time sort them out.

Gwyneth smiled and said, "Why don't you two just split it? Butler Parham makes me feasts every single day. I've had every exotic delicacy from land and sea-I'm honestly tired of it all." sŵnovels

Her comment made Leonie look at her with wide, anxious eyes. "Gwyneth, do you not like my mom's soup?"

That was a heavy accusation. The truth was, Mrs. Everhart's cooking was incredible -rich but not greasy, and perfectly balanced.

But more importantly, it was the thought that counted. Even if it tasted awful,

Gwyneth would never complain.

"Of course I like it. Your mom's cooking is amazing."

Reassured, Leonie slid the freshly poured bowl over to Gwyneth.

"Drink as much as you can, then."

Then she looked at Connor. "Max," she cooed in a sickeningly sweet voice, using the ridiculous pet name Gwyneth sometimes called him, "want to share the rest?"

Being called 'Max' in that tone gave Connor full-body goosebumps. He stared at Leonie like she was a mutant alien.

"A minute ago you wouldn't let me have a single drop. Now you want to share? Did you poison it? Are you trying to kill me?"

Leonie looked ready to strangle him on the spot.

"You wish! If I poisoned you, I'd go to jail. I'm in the prime of my life; I'm not going down with you. The Green family in Starfall City is loaded, right?

Did your uncle take out a massive life insurance policy on you? If you want me to poison you, let's get married first. That way, when you croak, I get a massive payout."