Chapter 101: Let’s… have a meal together..?

She sat properly, both hands folded neatly on her knees, as if she had been taught since childhood to sit this way when receiving guests.

Eileen’s eyes brightened again. She sat down on a low stool beside her. Flora looked at her and suddenly asked, “Do you live here alone now?”

“Kaan and Brother Cole live on the other side of town. They have their own things to take care of. I…” Eileen paused for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, it’s just me here.” She hesitated, then added, “I can take care of myself.”

When she said this, there was a hint of pride in her voice, along with a faint, almost imperceptible loneliness.

Flora’s grip on her cup tightened slightly.

“Was this house left to you by your parents?” Ilya suddenly asked.

Eileen turned to look at her and nodded. “Yes. My father passed away early, and my mother…” Her voice lowered. “She died when she gave birth to me.”

Her tone was calm, as if she were simply stating a fact.

“It must not have been easy for you to live alone,” Ilya said.

Eileen was momentarily taken aback by the bluntness, then smiled. “It’s been alright. I used to have my brother… They all took good care of me. Kaan and the others come by often.” She didn’t continue.

Flora lowered her head, staring at the tea leaves floating in her cup.

“Your brother?” Ilya asked again. There was a trace of hostility in her tone, though it still sounded casual.

Flora quickly turned her head and shot Ilya a slight glare, but Ilya ignored her.

Eileen pressed her lips together. “He… is gone as well.”

Ilya did not ask further. The living room fell silent for a few seconds.

Eileen seemed to find the silence awkward and hurriedly said, “Didn’t I say I’d show you the flowers I planted? Please wait here for a moment. I’ll bring them inside.”

“I saw the sun was nice today, so I moved them outside to get some light.” She quickly stood up and walked toward the garden as she spoke.

“There’s no need. We can just go outside with you to take a look. No need to trouble yourself moving them again,” Flora said, standing up to stop her.

On one hand, she didn’t want Eileen to go through the effort of carrying the flowers. On the other, they were guests, and it didn’t feel right to have the host going back and forth moving things.

After Flora spoke, Ilya also stood up, though she said nothing.

Eileen looked at the two of them standing and seemed a little embarrassed. “Then… please follow me.”

Eileen walked ahead, while Flora and Ilya followed side by side behind her.

Flora kept her head lowered along the way, as if deep in thought. As they neared the garden, she lifted her head and looked toward a few plants in the corner of the yard.

Purple petals, shaped like sunflowers, glowed faintly under the sunlight. She had noticed them earlier before entering; it was an especially eye-catching flower.

It was the purple flame flower, just as radiant as Eileen had described yesterday.

Eileen followed her gaze and smiled slightly. “That one is growing quite well.”

“That one is rather special. I happened to see it at a flower shop and liked it at first glance, so I bought it.”

She walked over, crouched beside the flower, and gently touched its petals. “Watching it bloom makes me feel like life can still go on.”

Flora watched her crouched there, her back looking a little fragile, and felt a slight tightness in her throat.

“Sometimes I feel like it’s a companion,” Eileen said softly.

Ilya glanced at her but said nothing.

“May I take a closer look?” Flora asked, standing up.

“Of course.” Eileen quickly stepped aside.

Flora walked over and crouched in front of the flower. The petals were an even deeper shade of purple up close, with a faint hint of silver at the center, almost imperceptible unless you looked carefully.

She extended her hand, her fingertips hovering just above the petals without touching them.

“Is it sensitive to cold or heat?” Flora asked casually.

“It handles both fairly well,” Eileen replied.

Flora nodded, her gaze shifting to the base of the pot. The soil looked a bit dry.

“You can water it a little more,” she said. “The soil is a bit dry. If it stays like this too long, the roots won’t do well, and the color of the petals will change.”

Eileen was momentarily surprised, then nodded. “Alright, I’ll remember that.”

Then she suddenly smiled. “You’re very attentive.”

Flora didn’t respond. She stood up and stepped back a couple of paces.

It suddenly occurred to her that her behavior just now might have been a bit strange. At first, she had pretended not to be familiar with this kind of flower, yet now she was giving such detailed advice.

Had she revealed something?

But it seemed Eileen hadn’t thought much of it and simply found her attentive.

Flora let out a quiet sigh of relief.

At that moment, the garden gate was pushed open.

“Eileen! We’re here—” It was Kaan’s voice. He had just stepped into the yard when he saw Flora and Ilya, and his words got stuck in his throat.

Cole, who followed behind him, also froze.

“Miss Flora, Lady… you really came,” Kaan quickly straightened up and said awkwardly, “It’s just… a bit unexpected. We haven’t properly thanked you for what happened yesterday.”

“What, are we not allowed to come?” Flora looked at him.

“No, no, that’s not what I meant.” Kaan waved his hands hurriedly.

Eileen spoke softly from the side, “Why did you come so early?”

“Just wanted to stop by,” Kaan said.

Cole nodded beside him, though his gaze kept drifting toward Ilya. There was a hint of reverence and curiosity in his eyes.

Last night, this lady had sat in the restaurant and barely moved the entire time, yet her presence was unforgettable.

Ilya gave him a slight nod in greeting.

Cole immediately nodded back, flattered, his movements a bit stiff.

Watching this, Flora suddenly felt like laughing.

“Miss Flora, Lady Alison, would you like to stay for lunch? Consider it a way to thank you for your help yesterday. And since there are more people now, it’ll be livelier,” Eileen suddenly asked.

Flora froze for a moment, then instinctively looked at Ilya. She stepped closer and asked in a low voice, “Mother, what do you think…?”

“Why ask me? Didn’t I say I’d follow your lead? I didn’t give you any hints,” Ilya interrupted quietly, her tone serious.

“I just wanted to hear your opinion,” Flora said, sounding a bit aggrieved. “I’ll do whatever you say.”

“Didn’t you say you’d decide? Then why ask me?”

“Just give me a suggestion…”

“If you ask me, then stay and eat,” Ilya said calmly. “Food you don’t pay for is food you don’t refuse. We can try her cooking, save ourselves a meal, and make her feel better so she won’t think she’s treated us poorly.”