The sound of utensils moving and touching the plates from time to time created a warm melody in the silent dining room. The decoration that didn't skimp on expenses without nevertheless bringing about extravagance added softness to the warmth, though the latter was dulled by the incomplete family at the dining table.
The warm rays of the morning sun illuminated the place after streaking through the windows, shining on Tyler's dark hair and quiet expression as he ate. Across from him, on the other side of the table, his mother was in her middle age, more in the later part of the latter than in the early stage. Her dark brown hair was combed in a style that was both mature and modest, cradling the beauty that had yet to fade, not even marred by the slight sternness in her temperament.
As she ate, she glanced at Tyler, then asked after taking a sip of the freshly squeezed orange juice before her:
"What is it that is bothering you?"
Tyler, a little startled, paused his hands and looked at his mother:
"Huh!? Why do you ask that, mom? Nothing is bothering me!"
Lenore Darkhope quietly looked at her son, then nodded:
"Alright, since you say so."
Cutting another piece of the omelette in her plate, Mrs Darkhope chewed and swallowed it, then changed the subject:
"Now, tell me. When will you start focusing on your career? You asked me for some time, but it seems that there is something distracting you, or someone."
When Tyler heard the question, he didn't get displeased or rebellious like one would expect. He only hesitated, as if troubled by something, contrary to his denial just earlier. As he was thinking about how to answer, his mother continued speaking, bringing up the request he had made, and which she had not refused him.
Up till there, his mind only tried to come up with ways forward, not only to not disappoint his mother, but also himself. However, when the words got to the point of something bothering him, or rather, the alternative, someone, his hands shook, subtly, but obviously enough for the eyes across from him to flicker.
He blinked, then let out a smile:
"Don't worry, mom. Since I asked for some time, I will straighten my mind and put aside every distraction soon enough. Trust me."
Tyler said everything in a single breath and smiled reassuringly at his mother. She gave him a deep look, and he didn't avoid her eyes. After a moment of quiet scrutiny, his mother assented:
"Alright, I will trust you."
Tyler's face immediately softened with gratitude:
"Thank you, mom."
Lenore nodded indifferently at Tyler, and returned her full focus to her breakfast. The meal continued in the dimming silence of the growing morning until the noise of the city now wide awake stabilized in a background melody of chaos.
Not long later, Lenore finished the more modest portion of food before her, and emptied her glass of juice, before elegantly wiping her lips.
"I'm done. I will be leaving first."
Tyler raised his head, his eyes sweeping over the empty plate before his mother, before he nodded at her with a smile:
"Alright, mom. Remember to take care of yourself."
Lenore pretended not to see her son checking whether she had finished all her food. Her expression still severe but calm, she took a sip of water to wash away the residual taste in her mouth, then nodded:
"I will, while you try to not forget your promise to me. Your friend has already taken the first step into the world of grown-ups, do not procrastinate for long if you do not want to be left far behind."
Tyler paused. Alex's image came to his mind, followed by the misery Lance had been broadcasting lately. He held back the laughter rising within him and smiled:
"Don't worry, mom. Have a good day."
Lenore gave him a look, then nodded
"Hm."
With that, she turned to glance at the third person that had been in the dining room all along, only, discreet enough to have felt unnoticeable. It was a woman in her late thirties, almost forty, her presence an imitation of Lenore's just like Leyna's was an imitation of Grace's.
In a tailleur radiating the same strictness as the bun at the back of her head without taking away from her womanly charm, she stepped forward with her black pumps, to the back of Lenore's chair. Tyler raised his head to her, and called out:
"Miss Leen, please."
The woman, younger than Lenore, nodded without too much stiffness, replying to the unspoken message Tyler was trying to convey:
"I will take good care of the director."
"Thank you."
As Tyler nodded with a smile in gratitude, Miss Leen took hold of the handles of the chair that now appeared to be a wheelchair, and pulled it back, before spinning it and pushing it out of the dining area of the house. Throughout the short interaction between her son and her assistant, Lenore kept her expression impassive, but a small smile came to float at the corner of her lips as she was pushed away.
Her features softened for a second, before going back to the hard mask she had taken to facing life with. Tyler looked at her back with a smile, before he returned his focus to the dishes before him.
Now alone, his mind only took a moment before wandering to the short dark hair that his thoughts couldn't help but keep going back to. His eyes softened in an all too recognizable look full of affection, of love, even, and for a moment, he forgot what had been troubling him, even though he told his mother there was no such thing.
Meanwhile, outside, in the front courtyard of the villa, Miss Leen went around the sedan to sit at the back beside her superior after helping her get inside. With a nod to the driver, the latter started the car and drove out slowly.
Lenore looked back at the house as if she could see Tyler daydreaming inside, until they left the compound, and she could not see it anymore. Her face, already a mask of sternness, immediately lost the last bit of softness bearing the maternal glow and hardened further. She looked in front and ordered, her voice calm, but cold, almost frigid:
"Liz, look into Tyler's acquaintances and find out who the girl he is trying to hide from me is."
Miss Leen's face showed no change at the order. She only replied with one word:
"Understood."