NTR: Mommy Will Help You! 260. Dinner With Anna

Following their brief conversation and shared intimacy, the pair exited the tub and dried off. They soon transitioned to the bedroom.

After changing into more relaxed attire, they made their way toward the dining area for their evening meal.

Naturally, Oliver intended to dine with his mother and father.

However, as he turned toward their quarters, Elle stepped in to stop him.

"Mr. Oliver, they aren't currently in the building. Your parents headed back to their old residence to retrieve their belongings as quickly as possible," she informed him.

"Oh! When did they leave?" Oliver asked, sounding surprised by the news.

"Mrs. Mia messaged me while we were occupied with your driving lesson. I didn't want to distract you while you were concentrating, so I didn't mention it then," Elle explained.

Oliver nodded in understanding. It made sense that they needed to gather their things to complete the move, so he didn't dwell on it.

Changing his course, he headed toward Anna’s room instead.

"Aunt Anna should be here at least, right?"

Elle confirmed with a nod. "Yes, she has been focused on work in her study since lunch. You two can have dinner together, though I must depart to handle some business for Mr. William."

Though a flash of disappointment hit him because Elle wouldn't be joining them, Oliver accepted the situation.

The two exchanged farewells before going their separate ways.

Reaching Anna’s door, he gave it a light knock.

"Aunt Anna, are you in there?" he called out.

"Come in!" Anna replied instantly, her voice devoid of any hesitation.

With a smile, Oliver pushed the door open and entered. He saw his aunt seated at her desk, which was buried under stacks of paperwork.

Without lifting her gaze from the documents, she asked, "What’s the matter, Oliver? Do you need something?"

She maintained a focused expression as her pen continued to move across the page.

Recognizing how busy she was, Oliver kept his tone gentle. "It’s time for dinner. I was hoping we could eat together."

Anna paused her writing and looked up at him. She checked the wall clock, realizing that the evening had indeed slipped away.

"Hmm..." She let out a soft sigh, setting her work aside to stand up. "My apologies. I’ve always disliked dining when my father is present, so I usually just eat in my room."

Oliver was taken aback by her honesty, but he could relate. The atmosphere during lunch had been stifling and unpleasant.

"I understand. I felt pretty suffocated during lunch myself." Oliver nodded, a grin forming on his face. "Why don't we just eat in here? I’m not exactly in the mood to dine with Grandfather after earlier, either."

Anna chuckled at his suggestion. "No need to worry, your grandfather isn't here tonight—and likely won't be for a few days. He had an appointment for a treatment. We can enjoy our meal without any concerns about him."

She stood up, reaching her arms high to stretch before rolling her neck to get the kinks out.

The movement caused her chest to rise, pulling the fabric of her shirt tight. Oliver’s gaze momentarily locked onto her figure, but he quickly averted his eyes, not wanting to leave a bad impression.

"That’s good to hear..." Oliver muttered, following Anna out of the study and toward the dining hall.

Upon arrival, Oliver took a seat beside her as the staff began serving the meal.

The spread was impressive, featuring a wide array of dishes. The savory scents wafting from the plates made Oliver’s mouth water in anticipation.

The two enjoyed their time together, engaging in light conversation and trading jokes as they ate.

Anna seemed like a completely different person compared to the stern professional he had encountered earlier. She was at ease, laughing and chatting freely with him.

Even so, she maintained a certain aura of detachment, like someone who hadn't truly let anyone in for a very long time.

"Are you always this way? I mean... so cold and distant?" Oliver asked, deciding to be blunt.

Anna’s posture stiffened at his words, and she fell silent for a moment. After a few seconds, she replied, "You certainly don't hold back, do you?"

Oliver shrugged casually. "I was just curious. It feels like you've built a wall to keep people away. It makes me a bit sad... it seems like you're all alone with no friends to rely on."

"Friends...?" Anna repeated the word as if it were a foreign concept.

A bitter expression crossed her face, followed by a look of longing and distance.

"I had friends once, in the past... but things changed the moment they realized I was wealthy. Suddenly, their interest wasn't in me, but in what they could get from me. They didn't actually care about my company."

Oliver understood completely; he knew how easily money could poison people's hearts. He had seen enough stories to know that many friendships fail when wealth enters the equation.

"You have to realize... wealth makes you a target in many ways," Anna continued, explaining her perspective. "When people approach you, it's rarely out of a desire for genuine connection. They’re usually just looking for a way to profit."

"So you got hurt... and now you find it impossible to trust anyone," Oliver summarized, hitting the nail on the head.

Anna gave a small, pained smile. "That’s essentially it."

Oliver disliked seeing her look so dejected. He could sense the deep-seated pain she was carrying.

"I can't speak for others, but... you have Mom and me now. No strings attached. We aren't looking for anything from you, and you don't have to second-guess our motives. Mostly, I just want us to be close because we’re family," Oliver said, offering a warm, reassuring smile.

"Family, huh?" Anna whispered. She felt a surge of emotion at his words, and her burden seemed to lighten slightly now that she had shared her feelings.

She looked at her nephew, seeing him in a brand-new light. His concern for her felt remarkably sincere.

"Very well... I’ll make an effort to be more open. You’ll have to be patient with me, though. I’ve been on my own for a long time and I'm not very good at this social thing."

Anna spoke from the heart, finally letting her guard down for him.

"That’s all I’m asking for," Oliver replied with a bright grin.