After leaving the living room, Ethan quietly walked towards the kitchen.
With the sudden change of plans, he needed to confirm why they had guests tonight.
Today was supposed to be one of those days when his dad came home late; however, since this morning, everything had been thrown off.
His plan was simple: finish college quickly and have some quiet time with his mom.
But of course, things never went as planned.
Ethan shook his head and walked into the kitchen.
As soon as he stepped in, a scrumptious aroma hit his nose.
Mrs. Willow always had a knack for cooking, and her family loved how she made such mouth-watering dishes.
The dish she was cooking today was straight from Ethan's favorite list.
The dinner she was preparing was something called French bistro. It's a traditional dish, usually made for family meals or dinner parties. Mrs. Willow had made the same combo on Lilly's birthday. The spread included Coq au Vin—chicken braised in wine with mushrooms and bacon. Then there was Beef Bourguignon ; it has to be slow-cooked in red wine with veggies. And the last one—Ethan's most favorite—cheesy baked potatoes.
The dinner was already prepared. Mrs. Willow was just arranging the dishes. She wore a silky, cream-colored wrap dress that clung just enough at the waist, with a soft V-neck that hinted at her curves but stayed tasteful. The fabric flowed with her movements—showing off her body's shape without her even realizing it. A thigh slit revealed her soft, creamy skin whenever she bent or reached across the table. A light linen half-apron was tied around her waist. Her hair was pulled back in a low bun, with a few loose strands falling around her face whenever she leaned forward. She wore just a touch of jewelry—small gold earrings and a thin gold necklace. And, as always, she was barefoot.
Even though his mother looked stunning in that pretty dress, Ethan's face stayed indifferent. He already knew how beautiful she could be, even with the slightest effort. Mrs. Willow sensed him the moment he stepped into the kitchen. Before Ethan could say a word, she spoke up.
"I know, I know. I'll explain everything to you—but not now. Let me finish this task at hand first."
She said all of it without even turning her head toward him.
Hearing her direct response like that, without even a glance, Ethan blinked.
"Huh? Hey, I didn't even say anything," he replied, a mix of surprise and frustration in his voice.
He had hoped to at least get some answers by asking her directly—but she didn't even look at him.
"I could tell," she giggled, finally turning her gaze toward him.
But the moment her eyes met his, her heart clenched.
The bright sky-blue pupils she had seen this morning had now turned dark blue, akin to the depths of the ocean. She could feel the tiredness and negative energy radiating from his body. Her eyes widened as she looked at his pale skin. Instinctively, she pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her aching heart.
She completely froze seeing Ethan like this.
She had already guessed he might be a little surprised by the sudden guests and had planned to comfort him later tonight. But now? Seeing him look this tired?
Though to Ethan, it didn't feel all that exhausting.
Sure, he'd lost a fair bit of milk today, but physically, he was fine. The real problem was what?
came after. And that—that was what frustrated him.
Tomorrow, he had to go to the damn art club with Luna and Lucy. On top of that, he was hoping to finally get a little closer to Lisa. Tobi and Lucy were already a pain in the ass on their own—but who could've guessed that Lisa's parents were his dad's old friends?
And now they were tonight's guests? Along with Lisa... and that horse-faced bastard?
Mrs. Willow put down the plate on the counter and walked toward him, sliding her fingers gently along the table's edge. Seeing his mom approach like that with wide-open eyes, Ethan narrowed his brows in confusion. But then—she cupped his cheeks softly with both palms. Ethan blinked, caught off guard.
"Sweetheart, what happened to you?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Okay... now what happened to me again?" Ethan asked himself silently. He was already confused with all this random shit going on around him, and now this just added another layer of confusion.
"Ah... What?"
"What do you mean?" Ethan replied to her with a cautious tone.
Mrs. Willow stared into his eyes, thinking to herself, "What could've happened?" She slowly withdrew her hands.
"Nothing," she said quietly.
Now Ethan became even more confused.
"You look tired today," she said softly, rubbing her hand on the slit of her thigh. It was totally unintentional, but Ethan noticed it.
"Ah... yeah, I am a bit," he said, tilting his head with his hand.
"Okay, since you're so busy, I'll go and just take a bath," he said while turning his foot toward the exit.
*Sniff*
"Yes... you're smelling a bit... wait!" she said suddenly.
She was also about to walk away, but she caught the smell. Ethan froze at her sudden halt. Mrs. Willow turned him face-to-face. Her breasts jiggled violently through the silk fabric as she leaned toward him. Her face was just an inch or two from his bottom.
"Oh no..." Ethan gulped.
*Sniff* *Sniff*
Even though Brianna didn't catch the unfamiliar scent, Mrs. Willow sure did. It was Janice's fragrance, still lingering on her son's body. She straightened her waist and looked at him eye to eye. A drop of sweat rolled down his temple.
"Hope she doesn't yell at me," Ethan thought to himself. His heartbeat had quickened since earlier. He was worried something like that might happen. But because of his mother's sudden actions, he had totally forgotten and let his guard down.
A cold breeze blew through the kitchen window, and the room was so quiet he could hear the loud voices from the living room. Mrs. Willow stood in front of him, one arm on her waist, eyes narrowed like she was trying to piece things together.
"Before you go, can I ask what you did all day?" she asked, glaring at him.
"Eh..." Ethan was trying to figure out what to say, but no words came. He already knew—she had found out.
Seeing him hesitate, Mrs. Willow said, "Where have you been, Ethan?"
This time, her voice was louder than he expected.
No matter how cold or bloodthirsty Ethan could be, his mother's glare still scared him. It wasn't the kind of fear normal people felt toward someone. For Ethan, it was different—he always feared the thought of hurting his loved ones.
"Ah... I was at Alex's place, playing video games," he replied, forcing a fake smile while tilting his head.
"Playing video games?" Mrs. Willow repeated, narrowing her eyes at him. Her breathing grew heavier with each passing moment, her chest rising and falling visibly. She stepped forward, her warm breath brushing against Ethan's neck.
"And what else did you do there?" she asked again.
"Well, uh... playing, pretty much," Ethan replied.
"Ohh, I see..." she muttered under her breath.
"Umm... what do you see?" Ethan asked, confused.
She took a step back, then leaned in again.
*Sniff* *Sniff*
She sniffed again.
"I can smell the scent of dried cum on you," she said, straightening up and looking him in the face.
Ethan already had his eyes squeezed shut in embarrassment.
"It was Janice, right?"
"That bitch!" she growled through gritted teeth.
Then she took one or two steps forward and leaned fully into Ethan, her boobs pressing firmly against his chest. Her mouth was just an inch away from his chin, her breath warm against his neck.
She jabbed a finger into his chest. Ethan felt a slight pain on his left side.
"Look, honey, I know your libido's out of control, but don't go sticking your dick in just anyone. You got that?" Her tone was fierce, her finger still pressing into his chest.
"Awuch," Ethan let out a small cry as her nail dug into his chest.
Mrs. Willow withdrew her hand and turned her face away.
"Now go," she said, without even looking back.