A look of admiration crossed Margaret Jennings's face. "Ah... I didn't expect you to be so concerned about Ian, Renee. It's good of you to go to the trouble of bringing him food."
"That poor child, Ian, has had such a hard life. I really can't bear to let him go hungry. Ian and Nathan are around the same age, and when I see Ian, it's like I'm looking at Nathan..."
Renee Jennings lowered her head, glancing sideways to catch the camera's close-up. She then brought a finger to dab at the corner of her eye. "When I first met Nathan, he was also so thin and small, and all alone. Seeing Ian now... it's like I'm seeing Nathan back then..."
Margaret Jennings comforted her, "Nathan is growing up so well now. Renee, you've done a wonderful job. As for Ian..."
Margaret Jennings's elegant brows furrowed. She suddenly found herself at a loss for words when it came to Ian. After all, saddled with an irresponsible mother like Naomi Kenway, Ian's life was indeed very difficult.
She could only change the subject. "I heard the breakfast the crew prepared is pretty simple, but there was one portion of filled buns. I figure they must have gone to you, Renee."
"Filled buns?" Renee Jennings frowned slightly in thought. She glanced down at the plain buns in her hand. "Filled buns? Pearl, you must be mistaken. There weren't any filled buns, just these plain ones."
"Really?" Seeing that Renee Jennings's expression didn't seem fake, Margaret Jennings pressed her temples and smiled. "Perhaps I misremembered. Oh..." Her attention was suddenly caught by the area under Renee's eyes. With concern, she asked, "Why do you have dark circles? Renee, did you not sleep well last night?"
"Ah..." Renee Jennings quickly covered her eyes. "I can't believe you noticed, even after I put on makeup so carefully, Pearl. I really didn't sleep well last night. Nathan gets a bit anxious in unfamiliar places and has trouble sleeping, so I was up half the night telling him fairy tales."
"Carina is always pestering me to tell her stories, too. Do you have any good classic children's stories you'd recommend, Renee?"
Renee Jennings froze for a second, then forced a casual smile. "I just make them up on the spot. Nothing worth recommending."
"It's getting late," Renee Jennings said, grabbing a quick excuse. "I have to get going. My son is waiting for me at home."
Margaret Jennings gave her a gentle smile and politely said goodbye.
Renee Jennings turned and walked away, a thrill of excitement running through her at the thought of delivering food to Ian Shaw. 'Naomi Kenway completely neglects Ian Shaw. If I go show him some warmth, it'll be the perfect chance to win the little boy's heart.'
Margaret Jennings stared in the direction Renee Jennings had gone and asked the cameraman beside her, uncertain, "Isn't Renee Jennings going the wrong way?"
Renee Jennings's house was on the north side, and Naomi Kenway's was on the west. But Renee Jennings was now heading west.
'Renee Jennings pitied and doted on Ian, but was she really going to deliver breakfast to someone else's child first? Her own son, Nathan, was at home hungry...'
Margaret Jennings couldn't figure it out, but she had a faint suspicion that Renee Jennings's treatment of Nathan Lynch wasn't as wonderful as everyone said.
*[Nathan is such a handful. It's so hard on Renee as a stepmom! Her temper is amazing. If it were me, I don't think I'd have the patience to spend half the night coaxing a kid to sleep.]*
*[Renee is the model of a good mom. She's beautiful and kind-hearted. I think someone as motherly as Renee is the kind of person who should be on this parenting show. Scumbags like Naomi Kenway should be kicked off!]*
*[I don't really agree with the comment above. You can't say Naomi Kenway has no maternal love, right? She got up super early to get her kid breakfast too, and she was the first one of all the cast members to get up!]*
*[Renee meant well, but it's too bad Naomi Kenway decided to wake up early for once. This whole trip is going to be a waste. I just saw that the number of breakfasts is limited. If Renee took two, doesn't that mean the last person to arrive won't get any?]*
*[I wonder who the unlucky soul who gets there last is.]*
*
At 5:40 AM, Ruby Preston arrived, hurried and flustered, at the meal pickup spot on the east side of the village, only to find the large table completely empty. There wasn't a scrap of food in sight.
She wasn't one to oversleep, but there had been a small issue that morning. Simon Sawyer had caught a chill and had an upset stomach, so Ruby Preston had to give him some medicine before she could leave the house.
'It was fine if she didn't eat, but how could her son go without food when his stomach was upset?'
Ruby Preston looked at the staff member standing by the table and asked, "Am I too late?"
The staff member explained that all the breakfasts had been claimed and suggested she could go to Renee Jennings's house to get some food.
Ruby Preston was no fool; she instantly understood that Renee Jennings had taken more than her share.
'The number of breakfasts was limited, yet Renee Jennings took an extra portion. This newcomer is far too inconsiderate!'
Ruby Preston's initially excellent impression of Renee Jennings soured. Now, she just seemed petty and clueless.
She reined in her emotions and strode briskly toward Renee Jennings's house.
*
Renee Jennings arrived at Naomi Kenway's simple earthen house. She reached for the wooden door, but just as she was about to knock, it swung open with a CREAK. A look of astonishment crossed Renee Jennings's face. 'Has Naomi Kenway already left? Who else would leave the main door open like this? Or does she just not lock her door at night?'
The courtyard was swept perfectly clean, without a single fallen leaf in sight. It was a far cry from what Renee Jennings had imagined.
Before Renee Jennings could reach the inner room, the door curtain was pushed aside, and Naomi Kenway's stunningly beautiful face appeared. When Naomi saw her, her eyebrows twitched slightly, as if she, too, was surprised.
Seeing that she hadn't gone out, Renee Jennings felt a little relieved, though she was still puzzled as to why the other woman was up so early. She voiced her question, "Why are you up so early?"
"I just used the restroom." Naomi Kenway's eyes swept over Renee Jennings from head to toe. "What are you doing here?"
Hearing that Naomi Kenway had only gotten up because she needed the restroom, Renee Jennings completely relaxed. She smiled amicably, her voice soft and gentle. "Nina, don't be so resistant. I really want to be friends with you."
Naomi Kenway's gaze turned sharp, but it was only for an instant before she resumed her indifferent expression.
'If I hadn't become self-aware, I'm afraid I would have been fooled by Renee Jennings's act too. She's a venomous snake disguised as a harmless rabbit.'
Pinned by Naomi Kenway's gaze, Renee Jennings felt a prickle of unease. For the first time, she felt like someone was seeing right through her. Thankfully, the intense stare quickly shifted away.
"Nina, aren't you going to invite me in?"
Naomi Kenway glanced at her with a smile, her tone half-joking. "The house is full of dust. It's not a suitable place for you."
It was a clear dismissal. Renee Jennings didn't press the issue, but she asked another question. "Where's Ian? I haven't seen him."
'I went to all this trouble to bring him food. If Ian Shaw doesn't even see me, all my effort will be for nothing.'
Hearing her mention her son, Naomi Kenway's previously nonchalant gaze instantly hardened, becoming as sharp as a drawn sword.
"What do you want with my son?"
'She didn't mind playing along with the female lead's petty games, but Ian Shaw was her bottom line. A line no one was allowed to cross!'