Chapter 71: Gwen

Manhattan, Goring Apartment!

Helen Stacy, who had been a stay-at-home wife and mother ever since marrying George Stacy, was in the kitchen preparing tonight’s dinner.

Nine-year-old Howard Stacy and eight-year-old Simon Stacy, Gwen’s two younger brothers, were sitting in the living room, racing against time to watch television.

Yes.

Racing against time, because once Helen had a free moment, she would urge them to study.

In Helen’s words, your sister Gwen is so good at her studies, and since you all came from the same womb, your grades should be pretty good too.

But in reality, Howard and Simon’s grades couldn’t be called poor; they just hovered on the passing line, and sometimes, if they weren’t careful, they would even fall below it.

And so.

Howard and Simon failed their year-end exams this year, and for this, Helen cut their daily hour of entertainment.

Just then.

The doorbell rang.

“Howard, Simon, it’s time for you to go back to your rooms and read.”

“……Alright.”

Helen walked out of the kitchen, glanced at Howard and Simon sitting on the sofa, and said this calmly. Then, while watching Howard and Simon obediently accept their fate and head toward their rooms on the second floor, she walked to the door and opened it.

Hawk, standing at the doorway, saw Helen appear after the door opened. His first impression was that she gave off a very gentle feeling, so he smiled and greeted her: “Good evening, Mrs. Stacy.”

Helen, who had opened the door, was stunned for a moment, then warmly invited Hawk inside: “Good evening, Hawk, come on in.”

Hawk said thank you, and was then pulled into the house by Gwen, who was standing to the side.

This was the first time in this life that Hawk had been a guest in someone else’s home.

Gwen’s apartment was also on the top floor and was a two-story duplex. The area wasn’t very large, but everything within sight gave off a feeling of warmth and tidiness.

Hearing the movement downstairs, George Stacy, who had been in the second-floor study, walked down the stairs with a serious expression.

Gwen, who was downstairs helping Hawk quickly get familiar with her mother, heard the footsteps and looked at George as he came down: “Dad.”

After seeing George, Hawk greeted him politely: “Mr. Stacy.”

George’s face was serious and meticulous, looking exactly like a high-ranking official who never cracked a smile.

But this time was much better than yesterday.

At the very least, George gave a grunt, then walked toward the dining table without saying a word.

Helen looked at her husband’s demeanor, shook her head with a hint of amusement, and said to Hawk: “Hawk, sit down, let’s eat.”

Hawk said thank you again, then, led by Gwen, he nodded and smiled at George, who was sitting across from him, before taking his seat.

Helen then called out toward the second floor.

“Howard, Simon, come down for dinner.”

“Coming.”

Howard and Simon, who had already been in their rooms holding their books waiting for this moment, scrambled down from the second floor. They were slightly stunned when they saw a stranger in the dining room, and even after sitting in their seats, they continued to stare straight at Hawk.

Hawk noticed this and extended his right hand toward Howard.

“Hello, Howard, my name is Hawk.”

“My name is Howard.”

“My name is Simon.”

Eight-year-old Simon, who had risen from his seat, also extended his small hand to shake Hawk’s. After shaking hands, he looked at Hawk and blinked: “Are you my sister’s boyfriend?”

Hawk subconsciously glanced at George, who was sitting across from him.

Sure enough.

George’s face was as dark as a black man’s right now.

Very dark.

But……

He didn’t voice any objection.

Hawk smiled slightly and nodded at Simon, who had the same blonde hair as Gwen: “Yes.”

As soon as these words were spoken.

George’s face grew even darker.

Gwen, meanwhile, smiled and reached out to ruffle her brother Simon’s hair.

Well done, little brother.

She decided that before bed tonight, she would give her brother ten dollars as a reward.

As for Howard, he didn’t get any.

Unlike the way of dining together in the East, the Stacy family’s dinner was a very clear and typical American-style individual serving system.

Of course.

This might also have been George Stacy’s preference.

Regardless, Hawk was an outsider. Unless one was very familiar from childhood or had visited many times, generally speaking, one wouldn’t use a communal dining system on the first visit.

Hawk could understand that.

But individual servings aside, it had to be said that the dinner was indeed quite good.

Just speaking of this life, this was the first dinner Hawk had eaten that actually felt like a dinner.

There was no need to even mention the school cafeteria food.

As for when he was alone, Hawk didn’t pursue color, aroma, or taste; as long as it filled him up, that was enough, because just staying alive was already hard enough.

At the dining table.

George, like the head of the household, ate his dinner in silence.

Helen, like a gentle matriarch, would occasionally show concern for whether Hawk liked the food and ask some simple, non-intrusive questions.

Gwen, meanwhile, acted as a regulator between her boyfriend and her mother, while also serving as a lookout, wary of her father George suddenly blowing his top.

Nine-year-old Howard and eight-year-old Simon just ate the food on their plates on their own.

They were eating happily.

Just then.

George, who had picked up the whiskey placed to the side and taken a sip, coughed and cleared his throat.