Chapter 264: Why can’t Eira stay with her?
Adelyn hadn’t kept her hopes very high.
But even so, she had still hoped to make Eira just a little happier.
The little girl craved motherly affection so deeply. And what could have made her feel that warmth better than a lovingly prepared meal made by her own mother?
She might not really be her mother, but since the little girl already called her Mama —there was nothing wrong with making her feel that motherly affection.
Yet ...
She had ruined it.
Disheartened, Adelyn slowly reached out to pull the plate away and replace it with a fresh one.
But before she could—
Eira quickly wrapped both hands around the plate, pulling it closer to herself.
Adelyn paused and looked at her.
"Baby ..." Her brows knitted together gently. "You promised me you wouldn’t force yourself to eat this if it didn’t taste good."
"But Mama ..." Eira said earnestly, "... it tastes delicious."
Adelyn frowned.
Delicious?
She simply couldn’t believe that.
"Eira, you—"
Before Adelyn could even say anything, Little Eira quickly picked up another bite with her fork and happily placed it into her mouth, chewing it with obvious enjoyment.
"Anything Mama cooks is delicious," she said sweetly. "Eira can’t help but love it."
Her innocent voice softened Adelyn’s heart instantly.
Yet ...
She still couldn’t bring herself to believe it without confirmation. So she turned toward Dylan.
He had already taken another bite of the food as well.
Feeling her gaze, he paused and lifted his eyes to meet hers. He knew what she wanted to ask, but he didn’t speak until she finally asked him.
"... Is it edible?"
Dylan glanced down at the food before looking back at her.
"It’s not that bad."
"Really?"
Instead of answering directly, he gestured toward her own plate.
"Why don’t you taste it yourself and find out?"
She was still skeptical. But since he suggested it, she nodded.
Picking up her spoon, she slowly scooped up a bite and placed it into her mouth. The familiar taste spread across her tongue.
Exactly the same as it always did.
If only ...
If only she could actually distinguish flavors.
Perhaps then she would have understood whether it was good or bad.
But unfortunately ...
Everything tasted the same to her. She could only tell whether food was cooked or uncooked.
And this—
This was clearly cooked.
As for the flavor ...
She couldn’t judge it at all.
Since it tasted no different from everything else she had ever eaten —didn’t that simply mean she had cooked it the way she always did?
Then ...
It shouldn’t be that bad.
She still wasn’t completely convinced.
But when she looked toward the father and daughter sitting across from her ...
Neither of their expressions suggested they were forcing themselves to eat.
So, perhaps it really was alright.
"How is it?" Dylan asked, one brow lifting slightly.
Adelyn slowly shook her head. "It doesn’t seem bad."
That was all she could honestly say. Not that she couldn’t actually taste the difference.
Dylan quietly watched her. Although he didn’t say a word, the way he looked at her almost made it feel as though he could see right through her.
The three of them finished dinner not long afterwards.
Once they were done, Adelyn was the first to push back her chair and stand.
"Mr. Warren," she said, "I just remembered I need to make a phone call. Please excuse me."
Dylan looked at her for a moment before nodding.
She then turned toward Little Eira, gently stroking her soft hair. "Sweetie, take your time. Mama will come to your room later and tuck you into bed."
Little Eira glanced down at her plate. There were still three more small bites left. She couldn’t simply leave them unfinished.
So ... she obediently nodded.
"Okay, Mama!"
Adelyn smiled before turning and walking away.
As she left, both Dylan and Eira quietly watched her.
Only after she disappeared upstairs did Eira lower her gaze and continue eating.
Dylan watched her for a moment before a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"You didn’t have to finish everything," he said gently. "Leaving the last few bites wouldn’t have been a problem. She wouldn’t have blamed you."
Eira paused and looked up at him. Then, pouting slightly, she said, "Mama worked very hard to make it for Eira. Eira can’t waste it."
She had stayed in the kitchen the entire time. She had watched her mother carefully prepare every step with so much effort.
If she wasted even a single bite ...
Wouldn’t that mean she was wasting all of Mama’s love and hard work?
How could she ever do something like that?
Dylan understood his daughter’s thoughts better than anyone. That was precisely why he hadn’t stopped her earlier.
But now, seeing her still determined to finish every last bite, he couldn’t help asking, "Didn’t you promise her that you wouldn’t force yourself to eat it?"
Eira paused once again.
Then she calmly picked up another bite with her fork, placed it into her mouth, and savored it as though it were the most delicious meal in the world.
"Eira didn’t break my promise," she answered softly.
"Mama’s cooking might not be the best ..." She smiled brightly. "... but Mama’s love in it is the best."
"Eira couldn’t help but enjoy every bite."
"And since Eira enjoys it ..."
"... there’s no reason to spit it out."
With that, she picked up the final bite remaining on her plate and happily finished it.
Dylan watched her quietly before an affectionate smile appeared on his face.
That ... was his daughter.
He had expected exactly this answer from her.
Once Eira finally finished eating, she looked back at her father. Her eager eyes immediately gave away what she wanted.
One glance was enough for Dylan to understand.
He sighed inwardly.
"She’s here for you," he said patiently, "but you can’t stay attached to her every single moment."
The little girl frowned almost immediately.
"But Mama likes Eira being around," she protested. "Why can’t Eira stay with her?"
"You can," Dylan replied gently. "Just ... not all the time."
"You need to leave some time for me to spend with her as well."
He paused before quietly adding, "Otherwise ... when she decides to leave one day, you won’t have anything left to keep her here."
Eira fell silent.
The little furrow between her brows deepened as she tried to understand the meaning behind his words.
