Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Scolding Cedric Grant Like a Dog

Julian Grant gave his son a deep look but didn’t answer.

Old Mrs. Grant couldn’t be bothered with him either, pulling Sophia Shaw into the house.

They treated him like he was invisible.

Only when Eleanor Crawford walked past did she whisper, "Faye already made it clear. That incident had nothing to do with you."

Vincent Grant looked toward Sophia Shaw, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

He had thought that even if just to vent her anger, Sophia would have the Grants give him a beating.

From his position, he could only see Sophia’s back.

Her back was slender and straight, her waist slim. He could even faintly make out the full curve of her bust from the side.

Old Mrs. Grant initially didn’t want Sophia Shaw to cook, but Sophia insisted. Unable to dissuade her, Old Mrs. Grant had no choice but to let her be.

It wasn’t long before Ms. Archer arrived with Bun.

Old Mrs. Grant held the little one, unwilling to let go.

Even the perpetually stern Julian Grant’s features softened at the sight of such an adorable child.

Having been on Sophia’s livestreams, Bun had become a little trouper who wasn’t afraid of anyone.

Julian Grant was naturally imposing and rarely smiled; none of his subordinates dared to be presumptuous in his presence.

Only Bun would pounce from Old Mrs. Grant’s arms into his, curiously tugging at his face, poking at his nose, lifting his eyelids, and grabbing his hair.

She left faint patches of drool all over his chest.

There were plenty of dishes to be made in the kitchen.

Eleanor Crawford offered to help Sophia Shaw with the cooking.

"Eleanor, you look so pale. Are you not feeling well?"

Ever since she saw her standing next to Old Mrs. Grant, Sophia had noticed her distressed state.

"I’m fine," Eleanor Crawford said with a smile.

But the smile was forced, looking almost as bad as tears.

Sophia Shaw didn’t know Eleanor Crawford very well, so seeing that she didn’t want to elaborate, Sophia said no more.

"Eleanor, let me."

Vincent Grant had entered the kitchen at some point, rolling up his sleeves slightly to reveal a pair of taut forearms.

"Eleanor, go get some rest."

Eleanor’s condition was genuinely worrying. Sophia was afraid something might happen to her.

Eleanor didn’t protest, simply humming in agreement before leaving.

Vincent Grant came to Sophia Shaw’s side, waiting for her to assign him a task.

Sophia remained silent, moving around the kitchen as if he didn’t exist.

Vincent Grant grit his teeth slightly and leaned against the sink. "Sophia, now that you’re done launching your rockets, you won’t even speak to me?"

Sophia was speechless.

’When I wanted to talk, he ignored me.’

’What’s there to say now that we’re divorced?’

"There’s nothing for you to do here. Get out, you’re in the way."

Vincent Grant finally understood.

She never intended for him to stay; she had just used him as an excuse to get Eleanor Crawford to rest.

Vincent stood silently by her side, neither bothering her nor leaving.

He only turned and stepped out to answer his phone when it rang.

Sophia faintly overheard the name "Qiao."

Her hands still paused for half a beat at the name, and she slowly crushed the vegetable leaf between her fingers into a tight ball.

’Not out of jealousy, but hatred.’

Cedric Grant came running home from outside.

He came to Crestfall every week for tutoring, and today he had come back early on purpose.

He burst into the kitchen and saw the familiar figure. Tears instantly welled in his eyes as he called out softly, "Mom."

’Mom hadn’t been back for a long, long time.’

’It had been a long, long time since he’d tasted his mom’s cooking.’

’He’d been having nightmares these past few days, all of them scenes of his mom letting go of his hand, abandoning him, and leaving without a backward glance.’

Cedric had cried himself to sleep under the covers several times.

’A sight that was once unremarkable now felt impossibly precious.’

Cedric Grant stared longingly at Sophia Shaw, wanting to get closer but not quite daring to.

Sophia only gave him a brief glance. "Dinner’s almost ready. Go wash your hands."

Her tone wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t warm either—it was merely polite.

It was as if he were just some other family’s child visiting for dinner.

Cedric Grant couldn’t hold back his tears, and they streamed down his face.

He was too embarrassed to cry in front of her, but he didn’t want to leave, either. He could only retreat outside the kitchen and peek through the window, sobbing his heart out.

Outside, laughter rang out continuously.

At just over seven months old, Bun had already learned to crawl.

Her little bottom bobbed up and down as she moved, making her look like a tiny porcupine digging a hole. She’d then lift her rosy little face to make funny faces at everyone, hamming it up for all she was worth.

Old Mrs. Grant was absolutely smitten; she hadn’t stopped laughing since Bun arrived.

Julian Grant sat beside the sofa, his large hand protectively hovering over her little body to keep her from rolling off.

The corners of his mouth were turned up in a smile that held a newfound gentleness.

Even Eleanor Crawford, whose face usually looked as if it were steeped in misery, showed a glimmer of genuine delight.

Cedric Grant wiped away his tears and looked over. He had never really paid close attention to Bun before.

Only now did he realize that Bun had a fair, tender little face, rosy and unspeakably cute.

Her lively, expressive eyes were even prettier than Stella Grant’s.

His heart stirred, and he slowly walked over.

Seeing Bun having so much fun with the adults, his hands itched to join in. He reached out to her. "Bun, I’m your big brother. Let’s play together."

Cedric already had plenty of experience from taking care of Stella Grant. He pulled a small toy drum from his pocket, shook his head, and started beating it, waiting for Bun to come and try to snatch it away.

Sure enough, Bun stopped playing with the adults and turned to look at the little drum in Cedric’s hands.

Seeing that she was taking the bait, Cedric beat the drum with even more enthusiasm.

Bun slowly moved her chubby legs, turned around, and presented him with her back.

Cedric: "..."

He held the drumstick awkwardly, his face flushing bright red with embarrassment.

Old Mrs. Grant saw the exchange. Her gaze flickered, but she didn’t try to coax Bun into interacting with Cedric.

Julian Grant was a gruff man and was even less likely to intervene in such matters.

Eleanor Crawford raised her hand, intending to carry Bun back to Cedric’s side, but ultimately lowered it again.

She turned her head, pretending she hadn’t seen a thing.

Not one to give up, Cedric ran to her other side and started drumming again.

He shouted as he played, "Bun, look, look! See how loud your big brother is playing!"

’He refused to believe that Bun could be harder to please than Stella Grant.’

’Stella cried so much, but he always managed to cheer her up eventually.’

SMACK!

Bun snatched the little drum and threw it on the floor.

She sat up, her big eyes wide, and started babbling at Cedric in a language only she could understand.

But from her dead-serious expression and arched brows, you could guess she was telling him off!

She even kicked her little legs and tried her best to put her hands on her hips.

The fact that she couldn’t quite manage it didn’t hinder her performance. She pressed her hands to her tummy instead, kicking a leg with every "Ah-ya-ya!"

Ms. Archer, standing to the side, had the strangest feeling she’d seen this pose somewhere before.

Nearby, Old Mrs. Grant burst out laughing. "Good heavens, which old lady has this child been learning to scold people from?"

That’s when it hit Ms. Archer.

"Isn’t it, though?"

Every time she took Bun for a walk, they would pass by a small shop.

The old woman who ran the shop would frequently scold someone just like that.

Except she wasn’t scolding a person, but her family’s dog.

Ms. Archer could hardly say that Bun was scolding Cedric Grant as if he were a dog, so she just gave an awkward laugh and picked Bun up, carrying her away from him.

Vincent Grant returned from his phone call, his brow slightly furrowed, as if he had important business to attend to.

Sophia Shaw was just walking out with a dish.

"Grandma, Dad, Eleanor, dinner is served."