The Valley.
The dining room glowed warmly under the crystal chandelier.
Plates of carefully prepared food sat untouched as steam slowly faded into the air and the delicious steak slowly grew cold.
"Young master, please. You need to eat your dinner."
Jimmy stood beside the table with the patience of a man who had repeated the same sentence far too many times tonight.
Oliver sat upright in his chair, arms crossed firmly over his chest, his small face set with stubborn determination.
"Later, Jimmy. I’m waiting for Daddy," he said thoughtfully. "We eat together."
Jimmy smiled gently. "Your father may be delayed, young master. You can start first."
"No," Oliver replied without hesitation. "Daddy will come any moment. I know it."
Jimmy tried again.
And again.
He changed his tone, softened his voice, and even tried a light bribe with dessert.
Nothing worked.
Oliver remained unmoved, staring at his untouched steak as if it had personally upset him.
After the fifth failed attempt, Jimmy finally gave up.
He straightened, adjusted his cuffs, and let out a quiet sigh.
His gaze shifted to Laura, who stood nearby pretending not to notice him. He gestured subtly, lifting his brows and tilting his head toward Oliver, silently pleading for help.
Laura caught the message immediately. She nodded once, confidence flashing in her eyes, and walked toward the table.
She stopped beside Oliver, leaning slightly closer.
"Young master," she said gently, her voice sweet and careful. "You need to eat now."
Oliver didn’t even look at her.
Laura smiled. Fine. Time to use her secret weapon.
"If you don’t eat," she continued softly, "mommy will be sad. You know that, right?"
Oliver blinked.
Slowly, he turned his head to look at her, his big eyes widening just a little.
Yes. Laura nearly laughed out loud. She had him.
She glanced at Jimmy and lifted her hand behind Oliver’s back, giving him a discreet OK sign, as if to say, Leave it to me.
Jimmy froze, watching closely.
Laura leaned in just a bit more, lowering her voice. "And if your mommy is sad, she might have to stay longer in the hospital. So—"
"I will eat!"
Oliver grabbed his fork before she could finish, startling everyone in the room.
"I will eat right now," he announced seriously. Then he looked at his plate, frowned, and added, "Uncle Danny, please give me more steak, please... I need to eat more. Mommy will be happy if she knows I eat a lot."
Danny, who had been standing beside Jimmy the entire time, burst into a grin. "Right away, young master!"
He turned and practically jogged toward the kitchen, clearly delighted.
Jimmy stared at the scene in disbelief. All that effort. All those polite reminders. And Laura had solved it in less than ten seconds.
He cleared his throat. "Very... impressive."
Laura smiled sweetly. "You just have to know what matters most, Jimmy!"
Oliver nodded while chewing, completely serious. "Mommy matters most."
"Yes, Master?"
"There was an accident."
Jimmy straightened. This is what he is curious about, "Madam?"
Axel nodded once. "Yes. She is still in surgery. The injuries are... severe."
Silence stretched between them before Jimmy asked, hesitant but needing to know, "How about the baby, Master?"
Axel briefly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they glistened with restrained agony. "We lost the child."
"I am so sorry, Master." Jimmy lowered his head immediately.
There was nothing else to say. No words could touch a wound like that.
Jimmy folded his hands together, silently praying. For his master. For his madam.
Axel straightened. "Prepare clothes for me, for Evelyn, and for Oliver. We will be staying at the hospital until she can return home."
"Yes, Master."
"And tell Laura to be ready. She will come with us to help take care of Oliver."
"Understood."
After settling a few more arrangements, Axel finally walked toward the house. He paused before entering the dining room, drawing in a slow breath, carefully smoothing the storm from his expression.
Oliver spotted him immediately.
"Daddy!" Oliver slid off his chair and ran over, smiling brightly. "Come, Daddy. Uncle Danny already prepared your dinner."
Axel smiled, even as something inside him shattered quietly.
He did not speak. He simply bent down and wrapped his arms around his son, holding him tightly for a moment longer than usual.
Then Axel carried his son to his seat and sat beside him, one hand resting protectively on his small back as he began eating the delicious-looking dinner that tasted bland to him.

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