Chapter 68: An Outsider
Sienna returned her attention to the cutting board, slicing carrots before calmly asking him—
"Zach," she said casually, though a hint of amusement slipped into her voice, "why are you looking at me like I’ve just committed a crime?"
There was a brief pause.
Then he cleared his throat, as if preparing himself. "Sienna," he began, "can you dine with us?"
Her hand stopped mid-air. The knife hung just over the carrot, leaving her utterly stunned.
For a second, she didn’t move.
Then she slowly lifted her head and turned to look at him properly. Just gazing into his gentle eyes makes her feel nervous in a way she can’t put into words.
Before she can think too much, the words slip from her lips: "Zach, I can’t—"
"You had no idea how much I’d appreciate it if you could dine with us," he interrupted gently, but firmly.
Once again, his words caught her off guard. She could tell from his tone that he wasn’t demanding, but he wasn’t joking either.
"Besides, I feel like it’s weird to let you eat alone," he continued, his tone calm but carrying a quiet insistence. "You are my guest and friend... and only the three of us are here. So please, you must join us..."
Sienna stared at him for a moment, studying his expression. She could see that there was no hesitation there; he genuinely meant it.
And somehow... that made it harder to refuse. She exhaled softly, her shoulders relaxing.
"Alright," she said finally. "I will prepare dinner for three." The answer came easier than she expected.
She turned back to the counter, resuming her work as if nothing had happened. But the small smile on her lips said otherwise.
"Do you need my help?" Zachary asked.
She blinked and answered without turning to see him, "Oh, well, yeah, if that’s okay with you..."
"Tell me what to do?" he asked, and this time, there was a noticeable hint of enthusiasm in his voice.
Sienna slowly turned to look at him. She could see the same man who had been standing there like he was about to deliver serious news... now looked like Prince Charming, ready to roll up his sleeves and join a cooking show in his castle’s kitchen.
She tries hard to appear calm, not to burst into laughter at his expression now.
"Zach, on second thought, do you mind letting me cook alone?" she asked softly. Yet when she saw the disappointment in his eyes, she hurriedly added, "I need to concentrate here, or I might cut my fingers on these onions and carrots..."
Zachary’s face suddenly grew tense. He glanced at her before shifting his gaze to the knife in his hand.
Sienna could guess what he was thinking. She found it amusing to see this man already giving up on helping her.
"Right. That sounds dangerous..." he responded, taking a small step back.
"Very," she confirmed with a slight nod.
Without another word, he turned and walked away, disappearing into his study like a man who had just been politely banned from the kitchen.
Sienna stared after him for a second.
Then her amused smile widened.
"Such a gentleman..." she muttered softly, returning her attention to the cutting board.
...
Dinner felt more enjoyable than Sienna expected.
Sitting at the same table with Zachary and Skylar felt like stepping into a space with its own rhythm and unspoken rules.
Sienna had imagined herself quietly eating, carefully choosing her words, smiling politely when spoken to, and counting the minutes until she could retreat back to her room without seeming rude.
She is an outsider. That was what she had prepared herself to be.
However, the moment she sat down across from them, placed her hands near her plate, and glanced up at them, she could feel something shift. Not loudly or dramatically, but just enough to make her realize she had been wrong.
Zachary wasn’t distant at the table. Instead, he was more attentive, more present. There was a quiet ease in the way he moved, in the way he spoke, but beneath it was something steady, something that showed in the smallest details when he spoke to his son.
"Sky, vegetables," he said calmly, gesturing toward the untouched portion on his son’s plate.
Skylar looked at the vegetable as if it were his sworn enemy, then returned his gaze to Zachary.
"But, Dad, I’ve eaten three pieces of roast chicken," Skylar replied cheerfully, munching on the last piece.
"That’s not how balance works," Zachary responded without even a hint of frustration, as if this conversation had happened many times before.
Sienna lowered her gaze slightly, hiding the small smile forming on her lips as she picked up her fork.
"Sky, I think," she added gently, "vegetables won’t hurt you. They might even help you grow taller."
Skylar turned to her immediately, his expression shifting into something thoughtful, almost suspicious. "...How much taller?" he asked innocently.
Sienna paused, pretending to calculate something very serious. "At least... two centimeters."
Zachary glanced at her, one eyebrow lifting. "Two?" he repeated.
She gave a small shrug. "I like to motivate people."
Skylar considered this with the seriousness of someone negotiating an important deal. Then, without another word, he picked up his fork and stabbed it into the carrot.
Sienna blinked, impressed that her suggestion had worked.
"...That worked too well," Zachary said, amazed.
Sienna tried hard not to laugh, though the amusement was already showing in her eyes.
As the meal continued, the conversation slowly shifted into something livelier, lighter. It moved naturally, without effort, flowing between small observations and bigger plans as if they had been doing this for a long time.
"We’re going to drive around the property tomorrow," Skylar announced, his voice filled with excitement that he didn’t even try to hide.
"In the morning," Zachary added calmly. "Before the heat makes it unbearable."
"We’ll bring snacks," Skylar continued, already deep into planning mode. "And water. And maybe something better."
Sienna tilted her head, intrigued. "Something better?"
The little boy’s eyes landed on her almost immediately, as if he had been waiting for that exact question.
"Yes," he said, leaning forward slightly, "...Aunty Sienna, can you make sushi rolls?"
For a moment, she simply stared at him, slightly caught off guard to hear his sudden request. Sushi wasn’t on her menu plan.
"Sushi?" she repeated.
Skylar nodded eagerly. "I want to eat them tomorrow. Can you make it for us...?"
There was something so hopeful in his voice that it made it impossible to say no outright.