The Mafia King's Unknown Doctor Wife novel Chapter 390

The atmosphere in the five-star restaurant was awkward—more awkward than anything Elena had experienced in less fancy diners and dive bars.

Including Cameron, all four of Noah's brothers were there. They introduced themselves hurriedly—Elena barely heard the names "Jack" and "Kevin." The youngest one, just slightly older than Noah as Cameron explained, hadn't even looked at Elena when he muttered his name, which made the whole thing impossible for her to hear.

She could only guess that his name was between two and three syllables long. The conversation had sped along so quickly that Elena hadn't had a chance to ask him to repeat it.

But the disinterested brothers were the least of this evening's trouble. Sure, they constantly talked about the Winslow company or stocks or sports—refusing to explain any of the intricacies of any of their subjects for the benefits of the outsiders at the table—but at least they kept conversation flowing on halfway decent topics. Noah's parents were a different case.

Elena had seen plenty of stately elders in the mafia. The Winslow elders felt like if all those couples had been combined and averaged out. Even though they had gone gray and wrinkled, they looked like the television version of old—still glamorous and shining like silver.

But that, unfortunately, was the only kind thing Elena could say about them.

The parents riled up the rest of the table, acting like sergeants in the army. All it would take was for Mrs. Winslow to say something like, "I can't recall the last time I saw you" or Mr. Winslow to complain, "What are you up to these days? You haven't told me yet?" and suddenly, the conversation would shift.

"I haven't seen him since Christmas," Jack would say. "And didn't he leave before dinner, too?"

Or Kevin would jump in and say, "Oh, did Noah say he was too busy with some trip with his wife to talk to you, too?"

It took mere moments for the brothers and the parents to work as a team and berate Noah. The parents led the charge, complaining about how much they missed their son, while their other adult sons would attack more directly, insulting Noah's inability to meet up or talk with them. In particular, Elena noticed that Mrs. Winslow was very good at guilt-tripping and manipulating the conversation—she reminded Elena of her step-mother's own talent at these skills.

Noah, to his credit, tried his best to not get steamrolled by all these comments.

"You know I'm securing the licensing for our company's toy departments," he replied calmly. "That requires traveling. People don't want to sell or rent to some guy who won't even sit down and talk with him!"

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