For the last few days , Anathea had been getting up early to go to work and hadn't returned until late into the evening . Xander had gone to bed without bedtime stories during her absence , and lie was starting to feel neglected , which explained his madden needy behavior toward Anathea . However , Anathea gently nudged him away and said , " Start dinner without me , Xander . I need to take care of something " Anathea had just received a customer's order detalls for a floral arrangement . She needed to pick out the materials to complement the verse of choice and come up will a design propisal Xander froze . He'd heard Gregory Jummor him with the same excuse plenty of times whenever he went into Gregory's study . " I need to take care of something , " the man would say impassively " Mom … " Xander posted , looking like an abandoned puppy . " It's been so long since you spent time with me . Can't you have dinner with me tonight ? " Anathea grew exasperated when she saw the tears in Xander's eyes . He looked as if he might cry any second . There was no stopping the waterworks when they started , so she said with mild resignation , " Alright . I'll have dinner with you , but let me wash my hands first . " " Okay ! " Xander's eyes sparkled , and he looked visibly chipper . Not even Gregory could switch expressions that quickly . Sighing inwardly , Anathea set her phone on the table and went to the sink to wash her hands . A second after she turned her back on her phone , Evangeline's message popped up in the studio group chat Anathea's phone screen lit up with the notification . Curious , Xander glanced at the message and saw the words " work arrangement " . " Let's eat dinner , " Anathea said when she returned from washing her hands . " Okay . " Xander nodded and bounded over to the dining table . He exclaimed , " Wow ! Tom , what's with the feast today ? " Anathea and Xander usually had a simple meal for dinner . But tought , Thomas had made seven dishes . Thomas didn't have to answer for Anathea to figure out what was happening . He'd made Gregory's favorites , after all . Sure enough , the next second , they heard the sound of a car pulling up at the driveway . Jenny's respectful greeting followed . " Welcome home , Mr. Sinclair " She added a pause later , " And good evening , Ms. Whitman " Dad ! Ms. Whitman ! " Xander beamed when he saw Gregory and Natalie . He beckoned them over to the dining table with a wave . " Join us for dinner ! " Anathea had none of Xander's enthusiasm . In the past , she would've gone up to Gregory and taken his jacket , but she didn't so much as glance over her shoulder at him this time . Instead , she took her seat at the table and began eating as if Gregory and Natalie were invisible . Gregory frowned as a stormy look etched itself on his face , but he routely handed his jacket to Cyrus . With long stric approached the dining table and took his seat . Natalie followed suit . She appeared to be in a good mood and even greeted Anathea . It seemed the business trip had gone well . Natalie brushed off Anathea's indifference . Upon taking her seat , she brought up details and moments from her business trip with Gregory , who gave her noncommittal respouses now and ther Gregory never liked it when Anathea asked him about his work - at that he would've told her anything . But now , he didn't seem to mind having a conversation about work with Natalie , and they talked as if they were in a bubble of their own completely closed off to others at the table . Anathea had no desire to join their conversation , so she kept on easing dinner . Everything was fine until Xander suddenly asked , Chapter 32 +25 BONUS " Mom , are you going to work again tomorrow ? " The words were well - articulated and hung in the air as a silence tell upon the dining table . Anathea stiffened when she felt " Gregory staring at her . He asked darkly , " Work ? " Xander was oblivious to the questions and emotions brewing In Cory's eyes . He had no qualms about telling everyone what he'd observed in the last few days . " Yeah , work . Mom's been going to work these days . She doesn't come home until late " Does she now ? " Gregory narrowed his eyes es at Anathea as if he wanted to bore a hole through her . Chapter 33