NTR: Mommy Will Help You! Chapter 266 266: Dinner With Anna

Following their brief conversation and shared intimacy, the pair stepped out of the bathtub to dry off. Shortly after, they moved into the bedroom.

Once they had changed into more relaxed attire, they made their way toward the dining area for a meal.

Naturally, Oliver had intended to dine with his parents.

However, as he started toward their quarters, Elle intercepted him.

"Mr. Oliver, they are currently out. Your parents returned to their former residence to facilitate moving their belongings here as quickly as possible," she informed him.

"Oh! When did they leave?" Oliver asked, caught off guard by the news.

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

Oliver simply nodded, not giving it much further thought. It made sense that they needed to retrieve their things to complete the move.

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

"Aunt Anna should still be around, right?"

Elle gave a nod of confirmation. "Yes, she has been occupied with work in her study since lunch. You can eat with her, though I must depart to handle some matters for Mr. William."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Oliver's face knowing Elle wouldn't be joining them, but he accepted the situation.

After exchanging farewells, the two went their separate ways.

Oliver reached Anna's door and gave it a soft knock.

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

"Come in!" Anna replied instantly, her voice steady and certain.

With a smile, Oliver entered the room to find his aunt seated at her desk, which was currently buried under stacks of paperwork.

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

She maintained a focused, serious expression as her pen moved across the page.

Noticing how busy she was, Oliver kept his tone soft. "It's time for dinner. I was hoping we could eat together."

Anna paused her writing to look at him, then glanced at the wall clock, realizing how much time had passed.

"Hmm..." She let out a sigh, setting her papers aside before standing up. "Forgive me. I've always disliked dining when my father is present, so I usually just eat in my room."

Though surprised by her confession, Oliver understood her perspective. The atmosphere during lunch had felt stifling, making it hard to appreciate the meal.

"I understand. I felt that same tension during lunch," Oliver said, nodding before his expression brightened. "Why don't we just have dinner here? I'm not really in the mood to dine with Grandfather after that unpleasant experience earlier, either."

Anna chuckled with amusement. "No need to worry, your grandfather isn't here tonight—and likely won't be for a few days. He has gone for his scheduled treatments. We can enjoy our meal without any concerns about him."

She stood up and reached her arms toward the ceiling, stretching and cracking her neck.

The movement caused her top to tighten across her chest. Oliver's gaze lingered for a moment before he quickly looked away, not wanting to leave a bad impression.

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

Upon arriving, Oliver took a seat beside her as the servants began presenting the various courses.

The spread was impressive, featuring a wide array of dishes. The air was thick with savory aromas, fueling Oliver's appetite.

They sat through dinner together, engaging in casual conversation and occasional lighthearted joking.

The woman sitting before him seemed entirely different from the stern figure he had encountered in the study. She appeared relaxed, sharing laughs and speaking freely.

Even so, a lingering sense of detachment clung to her, as if she were someone who had never truly let her guard down.

"Are you always this way? I mean... so distant and hard to approach?" Oliver asked, choosing to be completely honest.

Anna's body went rigid at his bluntness. After a brief silence, she replied, "You certainly don't beat around the bush, do you?"

Oliver shrugged with a nonchalant air. "I was just curious. It feels like you've built a wall to keep people away. It makes me feel a bit sad... it suggests you're quite lonely without friends to rely on."

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

A bitter expression touched her face, and her eyes seemed to look toward something far away.

"I had friends in the past, but... things shifted once they realized the extent of my wealth. Suddenly, their interest wasn't in me, but in what they could get from me. They didn't actually value my company."

Oliver understood her pain; he knew how easily money could poison people's motives. He had seen enough reality and fiction to know that wealth often destroyed friendships.

"You have to realize... wealth makes you a target in many ways," Anna continued, explaining her guarded nature. "When people try to get close, it's rarely because they want a genuine connection. They are usually just looking for a way to profit."

"So you got hurt... and now you find it impossible to trust anyone," Oliver summarized, reading her perfectly.

Anna offered a pained smile. "That's essentially it..."

Oliver hated seeing her look so dejected. He could sense the deep-seated hurt she carried.

"I can't speak for your past friends, but... you have Mom and me now. There are no catches. We don't want anything from you, so you never have to guess our intentions. More than anything, I just want us to be close because we are family," Oliver said, offering a comforting smile to lift her spirits.

"Family, is it?" Anna whispered. His words touched her, and she felt a weight lifting from her chest now that she had shared her burden.

She looked at her nephew again, seeing him in a new light. His concern for her felt remarkably sincere and kind.

"Fine... I will try to be more open with you. But please be patient, as I have been isolated for a long time and I'm not very practiced at getting along with others."

Anna spoke with genuine vulnerability, finally relenting.

"That is all I'm asking for," Oliver replied, his smile widening.