Chapter 23: Entangled to a Married Woman?

"Greetings, everyone. I hope I'm not intruding," Charles says politely.

The servants can't help but stare at him. He's an important and good-looking man, but his humble temperament and refined manners are a sharp contrast to Evan's proud demeanor and demanding attitude.  

"We were all trying to guess who Grandfather was bringing home," Leonie says charmingly, "It's an honor to dine with a doctor with such exceptional skills, Dr. Meyer!"

"You flatter me," Charles responds. He turns to look at Avery with concern, "I heard that Mrs. Howel isn't well?"

"Isn't it a little strange to care so much about another man's wife?" Evan asks possessively.  

He wraps a strand of Avery's hair around his finger and glares at Charles with frosty eyes. The doctor is really tempting fate by walking into the Howel home so brazenly, Evan thinks.

Francis Howel rebukes Evan like a child, "Come on Evan, where are your manners?"

Francis Howel's demeanor has changed from open and friendly to disapproving. He is the patriarch of the Howel family and the father of their empire. His word is absolute in the household, and Evan doesn't dare to contradict him. Evan leans back in his chair with false carelessness. Though his posture is unthreatening, his expression says otherwise.

Charles doesn't want to start a war with Evan so he smiles affably, "Sorry, it's a professional hazard."

"Well then," Francis says, "Let's eat."

Charles looks at the pasta on the table, "Mmm, it just so happens that pasta is my favorite," he says unwittingly.

The words pierce Evan. He twists Avery's hair harder until he's almost pulling it from her scalp. She almost screams. Evan continues to pull her hair, but his face is expressionless. No one knows that he's fantasizing about turning the table over and pouring boiling sauce on Charles' head.   

"Out of nowhere Avery decided to cook pasta, and then Charles has the nerve to strut into the house and proclaim it his favorite dish," Evan thinks, "Is Avery really cheating on me so blatantly?"

Avery feels a sudden pain in her shoulder. Evan is pinching her so hard she wonders if the skin might break.

"We can't treat Dr. Meyer to something as simple as pasta. He'll laugh and say we don't understand how to entertain our guests," Evan says.

Evan squints maliciously at Avery. He wonders how she'd greet Charles if he wasn't restraining her, and the thought makes him sick.

"Charles is like family—courtesy doesn't apply here," Mr. Howel says, "Charles, I'll ask the servants to bring you a plate."

"I appreciate it, Mr. Howel."

Charles smiles to himself. He wants this pasta as if it's a precious delicacy.

"I'm afraid that's not a good idea," Evan interrupts, "I think Avery dropped a hair into the sauce while she was cooking."

Avery glares at Evan again. She knows she didn't drop a hair into the sauce, and she knows Evan wouldn't have tasted the pasta so greedily if she had. His possessiveness is absurd, she thinks. It's not about romance or love. He's like a child who refuses to let anyone else touch his toys, even though he doesn't especially like them.

"Forget about it, then," Francis Howel says, embarrassed, "I'll have the cooks prepare pasta for you next time."

Mr. Howel gives Evan an irritated look. He doesn't understand why his grandson is being so immature. Why is he picking on Charles over some pasta?

"It's alright, Mr. Howel. I'm just grateful you invited me to dine here."

"It's nothing. You're welcome if you want to come by every day. Now let's eat."

"I feel like I'm honored to stay here too," Leonie says humbly to humor Mr. and Mrs. Howel.

The maids bring soups and salads for Mr. and Mrs. Howel and their guests. The tension in the atmosphere eases.

"I remember you're 26, the same age as Evan, right? When will we hear some good news about your personal life?" Florence Howel gossips, "Are you too choosy to pick a wife?"

A maid begins to fill Charles' glass with wine, but he signals for her to stop. He has to drive later although Mr. Howel was kind enough to offer him a ride home with his personal chauffeur. Still, he has to treat Mr. Howel.

"There's one girl I'm interested in, but I don't think the feeling is mutual."

As he speaks his gaze lingers casually on Avery.

"Really? She's not interested in a handsome doctor like yourself?" Florence Howel asks.

Leonie is intrigued too, "Who is this girl you're interested in, Dr. Meyer?"

Charles presses his lips together and smiles, indicating that he won't answer. This makes Leonie even more curious.

"You want to keep it a secret? Come on, Dr. Meyer. I know a lot of the society girls in this city. You can tell me and maybe I can put in a good word for you."

"I don't think it works that way," he says, "It's humiliating that she rejects me. Please let me keep my remaining dignity."

Evan swirls the wine in his glass with frost in his eyes. He lowers his voice, "Why are you so evasive? Are you into a married woman?"

Charles freezes in the middle of sipping his wine and doesn't know how to answer.

"Nonsense! How could a gentleman like Dr. Meyer be interested in a married woman?" Francis Howel exclaims, "Anyway Evan, it's been three years since you married. Where are my grandchildren?"

"We're endeavoring every night, aren't we, Mrs. Howel?"

Evan stresses the word "endeavor" to provoke and pain Charles. Charles can't help but clench the stem of his glass so hard that veins pop out on his long hands.

"Making an effort isn't enough. I want to see results," Mr. Howel looks disappointed and adds, "Maybe later Dr. Meyer can give Avery a look too."

"We'll see," Charles says, "Let's finish dining first."

Everyone at the dinner table harbors their own agenda. Avery lowers her head and focuses on eating her pasta. It's not bad, but the spaghetti is a bit underdone. Her illness makes it all taste the same to her, anyway.

Evan takes several bites and says in a mock whisper, "It's so tasty."

His words are clearly intended to irritate someone who wants to taste it but can't. "How juvenile!" Avery thinks.

She presses her lips together and remains quiet. She finds Charles's behavior strange. First, he gets himself invited to eat her pasta and then he says he's in love with a woman who doesn't love him back. Maybe the rumor that he's gay is not entirely true.