Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 215

"Not me. He made it," Rachel laughed, pointing at Mason.

"Come sit down. I'll grab you some silverware."

"Mason's skills easily match any five-star chef. Let's dig in while it's hot."

Rachel immediately ladled a bowl of the Wild Squab Consommé and placed it in front of Mira. "Drink up. You work so hard all day, you need the nourishment."

The milky-white broth, speckled with red goji berries and bright green scallions, looked incredibly appetizing.

"I will. Make sure you eat too, don't just fuss over me."

"Mom, dish me up a bowl too," Mason complained, faking jealousy.

"Are your arms broken?" Rachel shot him a withering glare.

"Give it up, man." Ronan Creed patted Mason's shoulder.

"Yeah, you gotta know your place in the pecking order. In Rachel's eyes, Miss Mercer is the favorite child."

Even the usually stoic Iron Wolves were cracking jokes.

They had grown completely comfortable and integrated seamlessly into the household. Mira found them incredibly reliable.

They were perfect in every way except one: if she ever tried to pry into Owen's background, their mouths clamped shut tighter than a steel trap.

But that unwavering professionalism only made Mira trust them more.

"You guys don't get it. I accepted my fate a long time ago. Ever since my mom started looking after Mira, she completely forgot she had a son." Mason feigned absolute misery.

"Keep talking, see if I don't smack you."

"Lips are sealed. I swear." Mason shrank back playfully at his mother's raised hand, begging for mercy.

Everyone burst out laughing.

"You're a grown man. You expect me to baby you?"

"No babying required. I'm good."

It was plugged into the charger, and she couldn't be bothered to get up. Rachel glanced at the screen. "It's Ethan."

Mira had blocked his number previously, but he just kept calling from new ones. Figuring it wasn't worth the effort, she had unblocked him.

"What do you want? Make it quick," Mira answered.

"Mira, please come back and see Mom. She hasn't eaten anything since lunch, and she skipped dinner too. With everything happening to Mara, she's drowning in anxiety. She's wasting away. If this keeps up, I'm genuinely scared for her health. Just make some time to come see her."

"She's choosing not to eat. What does that have to do with me?"

"Don't be like that. She's your mother. Of course she cares about you."

"Could have fooled me."

Meanwhile, back at the Mercer estate, the rest of the family was seated around their dining table.

With Mara locked in the Riverdale Detention Center, Lacey was utterly consumed by despair. Her obsession over her precious daughter killed her appetite, which in turn ruined dinner for the rest of the household.

Julian Mercer was visiting today. He had suggested that if their estranged sister came back, it might lift their mother's spirits.