The atmosphere in the hall instantly plummeted to freezing point. Miji's gaze followed Gloria out the door. He wobbled, wanting to get up as well, but the noblewoman beside him pressed down on his leg, shaking her head with a hint of warning. Her face showed a mixture of worry and relief.
The expressions on everyone's faces varied, but most were gloating, wondering what kind of punishment Jeffrey would give Gloria, or even Lance and his family, in his anger.
Jeffrey's eyes also betrayed his surprise. His gaze lingered on the empty seat Gloria had left for a moment, but surprisingly, he didn't show much anger. He calmly cut his steak with his knife, saying, "Let's eat."
"Father, Gloria…" Aurora hesitated before speaking.
"I'd be more comfortable if you wore a veil to cover your inhuman face, instead of having it plastered on like a mess of powder. If I find out you're using those dark mages' potions again, your pocket money will be zero, and you'll be kicked out of this house." Jeffrey's voice was cold. The medium-rare beef, still slightly bloody, was easily chewed in his mouth, his deep gaze seemingly knowing everything.
"Yes...yes..." Aurora lowered her head immediately, not daring to say anything more.
"What great things can a woman accomplish? Only that old senile Ian would let a woman run the household." Jeffrey thought to himself as he ate. But this seemed to be the first time Gloria had objected to his words. Just like when Lance first questioned him, the way father and daughter looked when they were serious was quite similar.
"What can I do if the spot on my face heal?" In the garden of Morton Manor, Gloria squatted by the small pond, watching the fish swimming in it, and murmured to herself.
...
"Why is Boss Mai here?" Luna stood not far away, watching Mai Ge's back in the corridor, wondering to herself. She took two steps forward and saw a row of little ones sitting there happily eating their meal. Their happy smiles were full of energy and vitality.
"Could it be... that Boss Mai brought some delicious food for the little ones?" Luna's eyes lit up immediately. Looking at Amy, who was standing to the side holding the Ugly Duckling, she immediately understood. It must be Amy who brought Mai Ge. The kind little one is someone who is happy to share.
As for Mai Ge, she hadn't expected him to come. Every dish at Restaurant Mai Mi was so expensive, it was incredibly generous of Mai Ge to treat the children to the restaurant's food.
"Teacher Luna!" Amy turned around and saw Luna, immediately waving happily at her.
"Hello, Teacher Luna!" The children all stood up at the sound of her voice, cheerfully greeting Luna, not even letting the delicious food slow them down.
"Miss Luna." Mai Ge turned around in surprise, looking at Luna carrying a cloth bag and the children's behavior, and immediately understood why Luna had come.
Over the past three years, Luna has given Amy a lot of help and warmth, which is unique to Amy. For Luna, it's probably the same for every child.
"Hello, children." Luna waved to the children with a smile, walked quickly forward, and nodded to Mai Ge with a smile: "Hello, Mr. Mai Ge."
"Did you come to see the children?" Mai Ge asked Luna with a smile. Today, Luna was wearing a dark green floral dress and the same silk scarf embroidered with golden lilies around her neck. Her smile in front of the children was incredibly warm and approachable.
"Yes, but it seems I'm not needed today. Mr. Mai Ge has brought delicious food for the children." Luna nodded, took a deep sniff, and looked at the braised chicken in the box. Her eyes lit up as she said, "It smells so tempting! But this seems different from the restaurant's previous dishes. Mr. Mai Ge, have you introduced a new dish?"
"Yes, this is a new dish at the restaurant, but it hasn't been officially launched yet. If you haven't had dinner yet, Ms. Luna, perhaps you could have dinner with the children." Mai Ge nodded and took out a serving of Braised Chicken Rice from the bag. "I just happened to make two extra servings."
"No, I've already eaten. Little Colin doesn't seem to be back yet. I'll go check where he is." Luna waved her hand, her gaze sweeping over the children, and put down the cloth bag in her hand before heading out.
"Teacher Luna, you don't need to look for him anymore. Colin said that someone said he wanted to take him home as his son today. The adults in the Gray Temple have already completed the formalities for him. He won't have to beg anymore and can eat delicious white rice everyday." A child said with a hint of envy.
"White rice can't compare to the chicken that Amy's father makes. This is the first time I've ever eaten chicken. It makes me feel warm and comfortable." the child nearby said with a grin, his face beaming with joy.
"Oh, that's great." Luna stopped in her tracks upon hearing this, a smile spreading across her face. The best outcome for these children would be for the Gray Temple to find suitable adoptive parents for them. However, those who have the need and means to adopt children generally prefer to adopt newborns rather than children who have been out and about, even though they are still lovely and kind children in her eyes.
"Teacher Luna, please have a portion. You always eat with us when you bring us food. You probably haven't had any this time either. Daddy's braised chicken is so delicious!" Amy looked up at Luna, her eyes full of anticipation.
"Yes, Teacher Luna, it's so delicious I could cry." Jessica nodded, her tear tracks still wet on her face.
The other children chimed in, pleading with Luna to have a portion too. They said it was so delicious, and Luna had to have some as well. It would be such a pity to miss out.
"Have a serving, it won't taste good when it's cold. The kids all want you to eat it." Mai Ge said with a smile, handing over the Braised Chicken Rice he was holding.
Looking at the children's innocent and expectant eyes, and Mai Ge's kind smile, Luna hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the two boxes, nodding with a smile, "Okay, then today Teacher will eat with you all again, so you all have to eat your fill."
"Yay!" The children's faces lit up with happy smiles, and they obediently returned to their previous positions.
"This braised chicken must be more expensive than Yang Zhou Fried Rice, right?" Luna placed the boxes on the corridor, opened the lids, and the tempting aroma wafted out. Looking at the golden and enticing chicken pieces, she couldn't help but think to herself.