5

“Do you like this?” Avery stirred something in a small pot.

Leonard looked into the pot Avery was using to cook something, “I want to taste it.”

Avery took a spoonful of the soup she had made, “Here, do you want me to give you a spoonful?” she offered.

Leonard nodded, leaning forward slightly to receive the spoonful from Avery as she brought the spoon closer to his lips. The man slowly inhaled the soup and nodded gently, “You're a good cook. Would you mind if I asked you to cook for me every day?” Leonard reached for Avery's chin with his thumb, gently caressing her smooth skin.

“Of course,” Avery exclaimed.

Avery served all the food she had cooked that morning on the long dining table, accompanied by the servants who seemed to be immediately familiar with her because they had known Avery since she was Maxim's wife. No one expected her to return to this house as Elder's second wife. Avery sat next to Leonard's chair, serving food on the man's plate with unbroken eye contact since earlier.

Sophie approached quickly, reaching out to grab Avery's hair, but her hand was stopped in midair by Leonard's strong grip. “Sit down, I don't want any trouble,” he ordered, his eyes staring sharply at Sophie, making the woman's courage shrink.

Sophie looked at Leonard with teary eyes, “You haven't explained anything to me, why did you bring this person here?” she asked, pointing at Avery, who seemed indifferent to what was happening around her, chewing her food with relish, unaffected by the commotion.

The commotion clearly attracted Maxim and Olivia, who had initially wanted to have breakfast as usual in the family dining room with their two children, but the noise made them worried. Sure enough, it was coming from Sophie, who seemed to have been released from the upstairs room. 

Maxim noticed that Leonard was holding Sophie's wrist. “Dad, let go of Mom's hand.” 

Leonard released his grip on Sophie's wrist with a rough jerk. “You two, don't cause trouble like your mother. Now sit down and eat breakfast quietly,” he said in a commanding tone that brooked no argument.

Maxim approached Sophie and whispered softly in her ear, “Mom, this time I ask you to stay calm. Acting tough will only make you look like you've lost.”

Sophie glanced at Maxim, thinking that her son's words made sense. She sat down next to Leonard, directly opposite Avery, who smiled at her. This made Sophie clench her fists under the table.

Olivia helped her two sons and daughter climb onto chairs that were taller than them. She glanced at Maxim briefly, signaling if he needed help with their two children, but it seemed like he didn't care or was insensitive, just like when he was with Avery before. They all started breakfast in a quiet silence, only the squeaking and clinking of cutlery on plates could be heard.

“Leo, Luna. Is the food good?” Leonard asked in a friendly tone, different from his earlier demeanor.

The boy with neatly combed hair nodded along with a girl with a ponytail, “It's delicious, Grandpa,” he exclaimed.

“I think Avery's cooking is the best here, considering someone who can't even touch a Teflon handle and can't tell the difference between salt and pepper,” Leonard said between bites.

Avery smiled slightly and took Leonard's hand to hold it. “You're praising me too much today.”

Leonard brought Avery's hand close to his face to kiss it. “It's deserved because you're perfect, my wife,” he praised her, his gaze never leaving Avery's beautiful face.

Sophie, on the other hand, was boiling with anger. If this were a cartoon, you could see flames coming out of her head. Maxim glanced sideways at Avery, who was being affectionate with her father. He felt that Avery was different from how she used to be. She seemed bolder and not as foolish as when she was still in love with Maxim.

Avery leaned over to wipe Leonard's lips with her slender fingers, their eyes meeting. Sophie saw this clearly, clenching the knife and fork in her hands so tightly that her knuckles turned red. She stared at the large bowl of soup in the middle of the table, and then a terrible idea crossed her mind. She quickly got up and grabbed the large bowl of hot soup in front of Avery, who was sitting opposite her. “You bitch, how dare you seduce my husband!” she screamed.

Leonard, realizing this, pulled Avery's body toward him before the bowl could fully hit her, though there were still a few splashes of soup. The sound of shattered glass hitting the floor started the commotion. Everyone was startled and rose from their seats while Leonard focused on checking Avery's body. “Are you hurt?”

Leonard helped Avery to her feet, then turned to Sophie, who looked shocked and had just realized what she had done. Sophie stared at Leonard with wide eyes. “Leonard, I—I didn't mean to do that.”

“Not only are you useless, you're also a terrible person. I don't know why I ever chose trash like you over a diamond like Viviene,” Leonard said.

Hearing that name, Sophie froze in place. That name had been mentioned again in this house, even though she had insisted that it never be mentioned again in this house or anything related to it. “Are you comparing me to another woman?!” she asked in a loud voice.

Leonard shook his head. “No, I'm not comparing. I just want you to realize what you're doing.” 

Sophie turned to look at Avery, who was clinging affectionately to Leonard's arm. That style, that hair, that outfit, everything looked just like her. She couldn't let this happen. She grabbed a knife and quickly moved towards Avery, raising the knife towards the woman's face. Fortunately, Maxim stopped her first. "Mother, stop it. Calm down, don't do anything that will endanger you," he warned.

“Let go of me, Maxim!” Sophie screamed.

Avery smiled thinly at Sophie, tightening her embrace on Leonard and whispering to him, but deliberately raising her voice so everyone could hear, “I'm scared, Leonard. I think that woman is going to kill me.”

Leonard looked at Maxim with sharply arched eyebrows, “Take care of your mother, make sure she doesn't bother my wife again or she'll suffer the consequences.” Leonard clasped Avery's hand and walked out of the room, leaving Maxim, Sophie, and Olivia behind. Maxim's children had already been taken away by their nannies when the dining room atmosphere became chaotic.

“Why did you restrain Mom? Are you defending that woman? Do you still like her?” Sophie asked repeatedly.

Maxim rubbed his face roughly, “It's not like that, Mom. I don't want anything to happen to you because you hurt Dad's new wife so openly.”

“Yes, my husband is right. Mom should think rationally like she used to,” Olivia interjected.

“I have to deal with that woman in an elegant way,” said Sophie.

Olivia approached, “I will always help you, Mother.” 

Sophie stroked Olivia's hair, “You are indeed my best choice for a daughter-in-law.”

Olivia whispered softly to Sophie, “We have to start with a plan. Mum, you mustn't lose your cunning talent like you used to,” said Olivia.