Chapter 203: He Was Whole Again

“Leo, eat your food.” Celine said ruffling his hair to cut off the sudden tension his question had awakened at the dinner table. The past was a bit awkward and it might ruin the moment, so she brushed it off.

Celine placed a plate in front of Tristan, as if it was something she had always done.

These past few days felt unreal, at the same time she was trying to get used to seeing these warm moments of him interacting with the kids.

“Try this.” She said softly as she placed a dish in his plate, “It’s Leah’s favorite.”

Leah immediately leaned over. “No! Daddy has to eat from my plate!”

Before anyone could react, she scooped up some food with her spoon and stretched it toward Tristan’s mouth. “Open!”

Tristan froze as the spoon hovered near his closed lips, for a split second, the powerful CEO of the Grayson Corp, who could command boardrooms and control empires, found himself completely at a loss.

Celine pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh at his astounded expression. Surely he didn’t expect to be force fed by a five year old, but here he was.

Leo looked away, clearly pretending not to watch… in truth he was actually watching.

“…Open, Daddy.” Leah insisted, wiggling the spoon impatiently.

Tristan hesitated only briefly before leaning forward slightly and accepting the bite.

Her eyes sparkled like a thousand stars lighting up the sky. “Daddy is a good boy.”

Tristan chewed slowly, then nodded. How else could he react to such a compliment?

“Do you like it? Tasty isn’t it?” She asked with eager eyes.

“Very tasty.” He replied.

“I told you!” she said proudly, puffing up her chest.

Celine finally couldn’t hold back the soft laughter. “She’s been waiting all day to do that.”

“I can see that,” Tristan replied, a hint of amusement in his tone as the little girl scooped another spoonful.

“Again!” She exclaimed excitedly.

“Leah.” Celine knew Tristan was being patient with her, but she didn’t want the kid to push his buttons too much. He was always cold and strict, what if Leah’s insistence started becoming annoying.

“It’s fine,” Tristan interrupted gently, leaning in again to accept the next bite, “I think it tastes a lot better because you’re feeding me.” He added making Leah giggle.

Leo who was sitting across the table, frowned slightly. His fingers tapped lightly against the table before he suddenly spoke.

“That’s not how you hold the spoon.” He said, the little adorable yet slightly frigid voice cut through.

Leah blinked. “Huh?”

Leo sighed lightly, as though burdened by her incompetence. “You’re supposed to angle it like this. Otherwise, the food might fall.”

Leah looked down at her spoon, confused, not knowing what she was doing wrong.

Tristan watched the interaction, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. He could clearly see that the boy wanted to be included. Since the boy had been a bit cold towards him, he’d been keeping a bit of a respectable distance, waiting for Leo to approach him first so he wouldn’t be pushing the kid too hard.

“Then why don’t you show her?” he said, perhaps startling Leo who didn’t seen to expect his father to talk to him. Yet even though he liked being spoken to by his father, he tried not to show it.

“I don’t need to.” He replied, but his tone wasn’t as firm as before.

Tristan didn’t push, still deciding to be patient. Instead, he simply picked up another spoon, scooped some food, and held it out to Leo.

“Here.” He said calmly. “Your turn.”

Leo blinked, clearly caught off guard.

“I don’t…” He was about to refuse when Tristan said again, imitating Leah.

“Open,” His tone left no room for argument.

Celine quietly watched, her eyes soft, this moment filled her heart with warmth, more than she could describe.

Leo hesitated for a bit then leaned forward slightly and accepted the bite.

Silence followed for a moment. “Well? Is it good?” Tristan asked.

Leo swallowed, then looked away. “…It’s fine.” The slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his indifferent expression.

Leah gasped dramatically as if she had just witnessed something that had never happened before. “Brother ate from Daddy too!”

Leo shot her a sharp look. “Be quiet.”

“But you did!” she giggled playfully.

The atmosphere grew lighter, laughter quietly filling the space. At some point, Leah attempted to grab a glass of juice but nearly knocked it over, Tristan reacted quickly, catching it before it could spill.

Leah gasped as the glass almost spilled but then smiled brightly when Tristan caught it. “Daddy saved it!”

“Careful,” he said, placing it back properly, without thinking, his hand rested briefly on her head, steadying her.

Across the table, Leo’s eyes rested on his father’s hand which caressed his sister’s hair gently, he didn’t look away for a long time but he didn’t say anything.

Dinner continued with small conversations. Leah kept talking endlessly about random things, stories, and even imaginary games, while Tristan listened, responding more than he ever thought he would.

Though Leo spoke less he stayed with them as they moved to the couch in the living room.

At some point, Leah leaned fully against Tristan, her small body pressed to his side as she continued talking, slowly growing quieter.

“…and then the princess said… she wants her Daddy…” her voice trailed off.

Tristan glanced down at the small bundle in his arms, she had fallen asleep.

His expression softened as he stared at her face, cheeks red and adorably soft. Carefully, he adjusted his hold on her, making sure she was comfortable.

For a moment, no one spoke, Celine watched him silently, something warm in her eyes.

Leo hesitated… then spoke.

“…You didn’t answer my question earlier.”

Tristan looked up. “Which one?”

“Why you didn’t come to find us.”

Celine stilled slightly but she didn’t brush off Leo’s question this time. If his relationship with his father was going to improve, they would have to have this discussion at some point.

Tristan held Leo’s gaze. “I didn’t know,” he said honestly. “If I had… I would have come sooner. I would have…” He paused, his eyes lifting up to meet Celine’s, “I would have done a lot of things differently.”

Leo studied him carefully, as if searching for any sign of falsehood.

“…Hmph.” He scoffed lightly but said nothing afterwards.

Tristan shifted a bit, making space beside him. “Come sit.” he called, a flash of hope in his hazel eyes.

Leo glanced at the empty spot beside his father then up at his face before his gaze shifted to Leah who was peacefully asleep against him.

Slowly, he stood up and walked over and took the seat, not too close, but not far either.

Tristan didn’t say anything, his lips merely raised briefly and he sent a triumphant look in Celine’s direction which she returned with a warm smile as he patted the space next to him, gesturing for her to come cover.

Celine scooped Leo closer, dropping a firm kiss on his cheek before she curled against Tristan, laying her head on his shoulder.

And for the first time in his life, it felt like a family. A true whole family. Finally, the empty, vacant, dark and dead spot in Tristan’s heart filled up, for the first time…he was whole again.

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