Chapter 866: 432: Unity of Heaven and Man

Francis Johnson looked at Kenneth Osborne’s reply and grinned. The little rascal, couldn’t hold back, huh...

...

The day before Kenneth Osborne boarded the plane, at noon, across the ocean in the dining room of Stetford Manor, Lawrence Winters and Evan Stetford sat side by side on one side of the long dining table, with Aiden Sheldon and Autumn Stetford sitting opposite them.

Richard Stetford sat at the head of the table.

The dishes on the table were mostly Lawrence Winters’ favorites: steamed Maine lobster, creamy garoupa, steamed eggs with clams, crab-flavored sticky rice cake, and bamboo-wrapped chicken with mushrooms and sticky rice.

The freshly airlifted Maine lobster weighed a full two pounds, and Lawrence Winters was already quite full after finishing the entire steamed lobster.

But the creamy fish in the garoupa soup was tender, and the soup was delicious—she couldn’t stop after drinking a bowl.

She only had a spoonful of the steamed eggs with clams and didn’t have time to ’favor’ the crab-flavored sticky rice cake, but she still managed to eat a piece of the bamboo-wrapped chicken with mushrooms and sticky rice.

Evan Stetford noticed how much she liked the creamy garoupa. It was made using high-quality garoupa, boiled briefly—just until cooked—to avoid toughening the meat.

This dish was particularly difficult to make well because it depended on the chef’s precise control of the cooking time. When to add the fish and when to remove it—all require perfect timing, or else you’d waste a precious garoupa.

Garoupa is the best kind of grouper fish, with incredibly delicious, tender, and white meat. Typically steamed, only a master chef can maintain its tender texture when using it in fish soup.

Yet, Autumn Stetford ate very little, opting only for a bowl of fish soup. As she drank, she scrutinized Lawrence Winters, saying, "Miss Winters, since you’re here traveling, why are you setting up a fortune-telling stall on Fortune-Telling Street?"

Lawrence Winters put down her spoon and responded calmly, "To me, setting up a fortune-telling stall abroad is a form of practice; it’s part of my journey. Besides, as someone from the Celestial Path Sect, I follow the course of nature. If I feel like fortune-telling, I simply do it. Who says you can’t set up a fortune-telling stall while traveling?"

"Really? I thought Miss Winters was representing the Fang Branch to challenge the Grant Branch," Autumn Stetford also put down her spoon and used a warm towel from a nearby small plate to wipe her hands.

"Why would Mrs. Sheldon think that?" Lawrence Winters curled her lips, leaning slightly forward, her eyes dark as ink and her face carrying a slight smile, "Besides, even if I were here to challenge, what does it have to do with Mrs. Sheldon? Could it be that Mrs. Sheldon is part of the Grant Branch?"

Autumn Stetford frowned displeasedly, saying, "Miss Winters, I was just casually chatting, and you don’t have to be prickly, coming at me aggressively when I casually ask a question."

"... Mrs. Sheldon, I feel you have a prejudice against me. Whenever I casually speak, you think I’m aggressive." She shook her head regretfully, looking at Evan Stetford beside her, "Evan, do you think I’m speaking aggressively?"

Evan Stetford smiled and said, "Of course not."

He looked at Autumn Stetford and continued, "Sis, Lawrence is my guest. Could you be more polite to her?"

This was a direct comment that Autumn Stetford was being impolite.

Autumn Stetford’s eye uncontrollably twitched, retorting, "You say I’m impolite? I just asked her a few questions, and you’re saying I’m impolite? Evan, you’re being excessively biased, aren’t you? If you were to be together with her in the future, would this house still have a place for me, Autumn Stetford?"

Lawrence Winters widened her eyes.

What nonsense is Autumn Stetford spouting?!

How has it shifted to her being together with Evan Stetford?

At this time, Lawrence Winters had no interest or desire in starting another relationship.

Even though she was already divorced, to her, the current situation was perfect for focusing on her career.

Before Evan Stetford could speak, Lawrence Winters had already raised a hand and earnestly said, "Mrs. Sheldon, Evan and I are just ordinary friends. You’re being far too imaginative."

"Besides, whether or not I’m with Evan, it doesn’t impact your status in this family. Please don’t dramatize the situation, alright? Everyone is trying to enjoy their meal, and this ruins everyone’s appetite."

Evan Stetford’s face darkened, picking up the napkin from his knee, crumpling it up, and tossing it onto the dining table, adding, "Sis, I’ve wanted to say this for a while. Back in the country, you targeted Lawrence even though she hasn’t disrespected you in any way. I won’t dwell on Betty’s birthday. Lawrence repaid grievance with kindness, even offering to help with your family’s Geomantic Formation. Now, at our family’s house, could you remember your surname is Stetford and show me some face?"