A hint of admiration appeared in Margaret Jennings's eyes. "Oh... I didn't realize you were so concerned about Ian, Renee. It must have been a lot of trouble for you to bring him food."
"That poor child, Ian, has had such a hard life. I just can't bear the thought of him going hungry. Ian is about the same age as Nathan, and when I see Ian, it's like I'm seeing Nathan..."
Renee Jennings lowered her head, glancing sideways to make sure the camera was catching her, then raised a finger to dab the corner of her eye. "When I first met Nathan, he was also so thin and small, and all alone. Seeing Ian now is like seeing Nathan back then..."
Margaret Jennings comforted her, "Nathan is growing up so well now. You've done a wonderful job, Renee. As for Ian..."
Margaret's fine brows suddenly knitted together. She trailed off when the subject turned to Ian, finding herself at a loss for words. After all, with an irresponsible mother like Naomi Kenway, Ian really was having a rough time.
She had no choice but to change the subject. "I heard the breakfast the production team prepared was pretty simple, but there was a portion of filled buns. I imagine they must have gone to you, Renee."
"Filled buns?" Renee Jennings thought for a moment and frowned slightly. She glanced down at the plain steamed buns in her hand. "Buns with filling? Pearl, you must be mistaken. Where would there be any filled buns? They're all plain."
"Is that so?" Seeing that Renee's expression didn't seem fake, Margaret Jennings pressed her temples and smiled. "Maybe I remembered wrong. Oh..." Her gaze was suddenly drawn to the area under Renee's eyes. "How did you get such dark circles? Renee, did you not sleep well last night?"
"Ah..." Renee hurriedly covered the corners of her eyes. "I can't believe you noticed, Pearl, even after I carefully put on makeup. I didn't sleep very well last night, actually. That child, Nathan, is a bit shy around new people and always has trouble sleeping in unfamiliar places, so I spent half the night telling him fairy tales."
"Carina is always pestering me to tell her stories, too. Do you have any good fairy tales for young children to recommend, Renee?"
Renee Jennings froze, then forced a casual smile. "I just make them up as I go. I don't have any particular recommendations."
"It's getting late." Renee Jennings made up an excuse. "I have to get going. My child is waiting for me at home."
Margaret Jennings gave her a gentle smile and politely said goodbye.
Renee Jennings turned around, a thrill of excitement running through her at the thought of bringing food to Ian Shaw. 'Naomi Kenway doesn't care about him at all. If I go over and show him some kindness, it'll be the perfect way to win the little kid's heart.'
Margaret Jennings stared in the direction Renee had gone, then asked the cameraman beside her uncertainly, "Did Renee Jennings go the wrong way?"
Renee Jennings's house and Naomi Kenway's house were on opposite ends, one to the north and one to the west. But Renee was currently heading west.
'Renee claims to feel sorry for Ian and love him so much, but when it comes to delivering breakfast, she's going to someone else's child first? Isn't Nathan at home, hungry...?'
Margaret Jennings couldn't make heads or tails of it, but she had a faint suspicion that Renee Jennings's treatment of Nathan Lynch probably wasn't as wonderful as the public rumors claimed.
[Nathan is so rowdy. It must be so hard for Renee to be a stepmom! Her temper is just so good. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't have the patience to coax a kid to sleep for half the night.]
[Renee is the model of a perfect mother—beautiful and kind-hearted. I think someone as motherly as Renee is the one who should be on a parenting show. Scum like Naomi Kenway should get kicked off the program!]
[I don't really agree with the comment above. You can't say Naomi Kenway has no maternal love, right? She got up super early to get breakfast for her kid. In fact, she was the first one of all the guests to get up!]
[Renee's intentions were good, but unfortunately, Naomi Kenway, for once in her life, woke up early today. This trip of hers was all for nothing. I just saw that the number of breakfasts was limited. Renee took two portions, so doesn't that mean the last person to arrive won't get any breakfast?]
[I wonder who the unlucky soul who arrives last will be.]
*
At 5:40, Ruby Preston rushed anxiously to the village's east end where the food was distributed, only to find the large table completely empty. There was no food in sight.
She wasn't one to oversleep, but a small incident had occurred this morning. Simon Sawyer had caught a chill and had an upset stomach, so Ruby Preston had to give him some medicine before she could leave the house.
'It's fine if I don't eat, but how can my son not eat when his stomach is already upset?'
Ruby Preston looked at the staff member standing in front of the table and asked, "Was I too late?"
The staff member explained that all the breakfasts had been claimed and suggested she could go to Renee Jennings's house to get some food.
Ruby Preston was sharp; she instantly understood that Renee Jennings had taken extra food.
'The breakfast portions are limited, yet Renee Jennings still took extra. This newcomer is way too thoughtless!'
Ruby Preston had initially held a very good impression of Renee Jennings, but now she felt the woman was rather petty and inconsiderate.
She reined in her emotions and then strode quickly in the direction of Renee Jennings's house.
*
Renee Jennings arrived at Naomi Kenway's mud-brick house. She reached for the wooden door, but just as she was about to knock, it swung open with a CREAK. A look of astonishment crossed Renee's face. 'Could Naomi already be out? Who else would leave the main door open? Or does she not even lock her door at night?'
The courtyard was swept perfectly clean, without a single fallen leaf in sight—a far cry from what Renee had imagined.
Before Renee could reach the inner room, the door curtain was pushed aside, and Naomi Kenway's stunningly beautiful face appeared before her. When Naomi saw her, the corner of her brow twitched, as if she too were a little surprised.
Seeing that Naomi hadn't gone out, Renee felt a little more at ease, but she wondered why the other woman was up so early. She voiced this question aloud: "Why are you up so early?"
"I just went to the restroom." Naomi Kenway's eyes scanned Renee Jennings up and down. "What are you doing here?"
Hearing that Naomi had only gotten up because she needed the bathroom, Renee completely relaxed. She offered a friendly smile, her voice soft and gentle. "Nina, don't be so hostile. I'd really like to be friends with you."
Naomi's gaze turned sharp, but it returned to a state of indifference in an instant.
'If I hadn't 'awakened' my consciousness, I probably would have been fooled by Renee Jennings's facade, too. She's a venomous snake disguised as a rabbit.'
Pinned by Naomi's gaze, Renee felt a prickle of unease. It was the first time she had the feeling that someone was about to see right through her. Fortunately, that gaze quickly moved away.
"Nina, aren't you going to invite me in to sit for a bit?"
Naomi shot her a smile, her tone half-joking, half-serious. "The house is full of dust. It's not a suitable place for you."
This was an order to leave. Renee didn't push it, but she asked another question. "What about Ian? Why haven't I seen him?"
'I went to all this trouble to bring food. If Ian Shaw doesn't even see it, won't all my effort be for nothing?'
At the mention of her son, Naomi's previously nonchalant expression instantly hardened, her gaze turning as sharp as a sword.
"What do you want with my son?"
'I don't mind playing along with the female lead's petty games, but Ian Shaw is my bottom line. A line that no one is allowed to cross!'