Raphael POV
The kitchen was large, with a variety of fresh ingredients on the table.
I stood at the kitchen door, always staring at Araceli's figure.
Suddenly, I felt that there was nothing wrong with having another woman in the house...
I leaned against the kitchen door and just kept watching until Krish came over.
"Mr. Lancaster, can I ask you a few questions?"
Krish tugged on my sleeve.
I looked back and I scanned the book in Krish's hand.
It was a programming-related book.
Krish frowned and said, "There are a few sentences here that I don't understand. Mr. Lancaster, can you explain it to me?"
I brought Krish's book over, sat down on the couch, and asked, "Where is it that you can't read?"
Krish came over to my side and sat down on the couch.
I was a little slightly surprised.
Before Krish always kept a distance from me.
Krish always looked at me with a certain hostility implied in his gaze. But now, Krish was actually so close to me.
Did Krish accept me?
I smiled and said, "This book is perhaps too difficult for you..."
I spoke eloquently.
Krish tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Mr. Lancaster, you have dust on your shoulder."
I didn't notice the difference and handed the book over. "Do you understand when I explain it this way?"
"Thank you, Mr. Lancaster. I understand it now."
Krish picked up the book and continued to look through it.
I stared at the side of Krish's face. I don't know why, but I always thought Krish looked a lot like Micah.
Valeria was eating a chocolate chip cookie.
Essel hurriedly ran down from upstairs.
"Valeria, I missed you so much..."
Essel jumped over and wrapped her arms around Valeria's neck.
Every time we met before, she would give Valeria a hug...
However, this time, Valeria pushed Essel away without mercy.
Essel didn't stand still and fell to the ground unexpectedly when Valeria pushed her.
Valeria also did not expect Essel to fall to the ground, obviously a little stunned.
I immediately got up and went over to help Essel up.
"Valeria, don't you like me anymore?" Essel sat on the floor and tilted her head sadly, with tears in her eyes. "You clearly weren't like this before! Why did you suddenly stop liking me? What did I do wrong?"
The last time I was at Araceli's house, Valeria rejected Essel a bit, and I thought it was because Valeria was in a bad mood, so I didn't take it seriously.
Today Valeria actually pushed Essel down.
I frowned slightly.
Maddox hastily picked Essel up and placed her on the sofa to sit.
"Ms. Valeria was eating a cookie. Ms. Essel, Ms. Valeria pushed you away because she was afraid of getting your clothes dirty. She did not have meant to do it."
"Is that so?"
Essel blinked her eyes and looked at Valeria.
Valeria, however, buried her head and continued to eat her snack with her eyes lowered. No one could see the emotions under her eyes, but I clearly felt that Valeria was not quite right.
Valeria used to be quiet, but would look at Essel curiously with those big eyes.
Now, Valeria was clearly repulsed by Essel.
Maddox finished comforting Essel and immediately sat down next to Valeria and continued coaxing, "Ms. Valeria, take a sip of water. Don't choke..."
Essel narrowed her eyes slightly and sadly walked over to Krish and asked in a low voice, "Hey, is it because of you?"
Krish looked up and frowned.
"What?"
"Valeria doesn't like me anymore. Did you say something bad about me in front of Valeria?"
"That's too childish," Krish snickered, "Valeria doesn't like people getting too close to her."
Essel's eyes were tearing up. "I didn't! I just tried to give her a hug, and she pushed me away. Krish, you must have said something bad about me, or Valeria wouldn't have disliked me! I hate you now!"
Krish's eyes dropped and he didn't talk to Essel again.
It seemed that Valeria's attitude towards Essel had changed after the incident with Melany when they were last at Royal Pack.
Why?
Krish sat down next to Valeria and asked, "What's wrong?"
Valeria looked at him and didn't seem to understand what that meant.
Krish glanced at Essel, who was sprawled out on the couch not far away.
Valeria frowned slightly, propping her chin up with both hands and pursing her lips.
After a moment, Krish showed a shocking expression. I thought Valeria said something to him with the mind-link.
"What's going on?"
I also noticed what was going on between a few kids.
I didn't want to care, but I noticed Krish's shocked face.
Krish was smart enough and tough enough that few things seemed to panic him so much.
Could it be that Essel had done something to Valeria?
I frowned and walked over.
Krish took a deep breath, looked up, and stared at me angrily. His eyes were cold.
I lurched.
Krish had just expressed friendliness to me, but why was he suddenly looking at me with such eyes?
The look was filled with deep coldness and hatred...
I knew that no matter what I asked Krish and Valeria, they would not be able to tell me.
I bent down slightly and extended my arms to Valeria.
"Valeria, come here."
Valeria's face was sad. When she saw me, she immediately jumped into my arms.
Krish frowned and stopped looking at me.
"Daddy! I want to play too!"
Essel darted over and tugged at my shirt.
I glanced at Essel. "Essel, be good. I have something to say to Valeria."
Essel beamed, looking a little reluctant.
I took Valeria in my arms and asked softly, "Valeria, is something bothering you?"
Valeria instantly hugged my neck and buried her head in my arms.
"Valeria, if you are upset about something, you can tell me. Are you okay?"
I sat down on the sofa with Valeria in my arms, my eyes and voice soft. Valeria looked at me as if she was thinking about something.
She hesitates to tell me.
Valeria thought for a moment, looked into my eyes, and then looked at Essel.
Suddenly, a sweet voice came into my head.
"Daddy."
It was Valeria's voice.
She really could use mind-link. It meant she had awakened her wolf.