Obsession With My EX-wife

Chapter 8: My Taste Has Changed

According to the old man's chart, he suffered from a common coronary heart disease caused by coronary atherosclerosis. Catherine hadn't previously known about his condition because she didn't live with him before.

After the inspection, the old man said happily, "I told you that I'm in good health!"

Catherine smiled and said, "Yes, you will live to an even riper old age." She laughed, and then she held his hand gently. "Grandpa, I have to go back to the hospital now." 

The old man frowned and said, "I had hoped that you would visit with me for a while longer. Everyone here is boring!"

The old man had always been kind to Catherine, and she couldn't refuse him. She sighed and said, "I suppose I can stay for a while longer."

The old man got up and said, "Come. Let's have a walk in the garden." 

Catherine had no choice but agreed.

Leonard was going to follow them. Thus, he was stunned when his Grandfather made it clear that he was unwelcomed. 

Catherine helped the old man as they walked through the living room. The people that were there gave her dirty looks, but she just ignored them. And when the old man saw the looks on their faces, he glared at them and said, "Isn't there anywhere else that you could be?"

***

Catherine walked and chatted with the old man for a few hours, and when it was almost time for dinner, he said, "Cathy, will you stay and have dinner with me? After that, I can arrange for someone to take you home." 

Catherine shook her head to refuse, "Thanks, Grandpa, but I should really get going." 

"Cathy, don't you like me?" the old man asked, and there was a very child-like expression on his face.

Catherine was willing to have dinner with Leonard's Grandpa, but she didn't want to spend any more time with Leonard. That being said, it was because she didn't want to hurt the old man's feelings that she agreed to stay for supper. 

An enormous grin appeared on the old man's face. He summoned Smith and said, "Ask the kitchen staff to prepare Cathy's favorite food. You know what Cathy loves to eat."

Smith replied respectfully, "Yes, Master." 

***

Leonard was standing at the window watching his Grandfather and ex-wife as they wandered aimlessly through the garden. Smith returned and told Leonard that Catherine was staying for dinner, and Leonard smiled and said, "Got it." 

Smith signed and went to the kitchen.

Leonard was reluctant to move away from the window. He hadn't seen Catherine look so relaxed and serene in a long time. 

They didn't come back to the house until his Grandfather was getting tired. Catherine was stunned as she spotted him in the room.

The old man also saw his Grandson, and he said, "Leonard has been behaving lately." 

Catherine smiled and said, "Grandpa, let's get in." She didn't care to acknowledge his comment about her ex-husband. She had come to the castle to treat the old man's illness, not to get back with her ex-husband. She knew that the old man wanted her to be with her Grandson, but she wasn't going to change her mind, so she didn't see any point in belaboring the point.

The old man glanced helplessly in the direction of his Grandson. When he had learned about Leonard's intention to divorce Catherine, he'd been furious once. 

Once inside, Catherine helped the old man to sit down on the sofa in the living room, and she sat next to him. Leonard walked over and sat opposite them, but soon he was disappointed because Catherine wasn't even willing to look at him. After a few minutes, though, the old man excused himself to take his medicine and left them alone. 

Leonard asked, "How is my Grandpa?"

"You may read my report," she replied curtly.

At least she answered me– Leonard thought. "Have you gone on any dates recently?" he couldn't help but ask.

Catherine gave him a cold look and said, "Mr. Campbell, my private business has nothing to do with you." 

Leonard looked at Catherine seriously and said, "No, all of your business matters." 

Catherine heard the earnest tone in Leonard's voice, and she clenched her fists at her side. Careful – she told herself – Don't do anything foolish. You can't trust him anymore. She wanted to tell him off, but before she could, Smith called them to the dining room. It was time for supper.

 Catherine stood up and replied with a smile, "Okay, thank you, Smith." 

Catherine and Leonard walked into the dining room. The old man was already sitting there, and he asked Catherine to sit beside him. Leonard sat opposite to her.

Most of the dishes on the table were Catherine's favorite, which seemed very strange to her. She had never received this kind of treatment while she had been a member of the Campbell family. As she was dishing herself up, the old man looked over at her and said, "Eat up. You've been losing weight lately." The old man picked up a dish and served himself, "Leonard has been learning to cook. Maybe next time he could cook for you." 

Catherine said nothing but ate the food on her plate. The food was delicious, but having to eat with Leonard sapped all of the pleasure from the food, rendering it tasteless.

"Not only that," the old man continued, "he is also doing housework now. He is turning into a responsible young man!"

Catherine shrugged because she doubted that Grandpa was joking.  She was eating quietly when suddenly a pork rib appeared on her plate. She looked over at Leonard and saw that now he was picking up a shrimp for her. He looked at her and smiled gently, "Eat more. We don't want you to leave here hungry." 

Catherine was a little alarmed and bewildered by his smile, and she looked away. He hadn't looked at her that way since they were married. She took the food that he'd offered and passed it on to Grandpa, "Here you go," she said. "My taste has changed a bit over the years. I don't like to eat it now." 

The old man looked at the food in his bowl and then at Catherine, and then he sighed. He was trying to bring Catherine and Leonard back together, but nothing seemed to be working in his favor.