Convincing her

Jen stood in place for almost thirty minutes before she turned around and saw that everyone was silently accompanying her.

"Why didn't you leave?" Jen asked them with confusion in her eyes.

"Why would we leave? Let's go back together," Rachel said as she hugged her arm. Jen had planned to go back home alone and wallow in her sadness, but it didn't look like they were going to let her do that.

"But…" she started to say but was interrupted.

"No buts, We'll go to the estate and tomorrow we can go home together," Alex said and grabbed Jen's other arm.

The three of them walked out of the building just in time to see the plane take off. Jen looked up in the sky with a lost expression before she was pulled out of her mood by her friends.

"Well, you will manage by yourself, right?" Rachel asked Brian who wasn't really given a chance to say anything before she went with Jen to the car she came in with Lucas. 

"I was tasked to drive you back by Mr. Lewis," the uniformed man that received the car keys earlier said as he unlocked the car.

"I'm also going-" Laura said but was pulled back by James.

"The car is full," James said as he put an arm over her shoulders.

"But," Laura said, but chose to keep quiet as she watched the three women get into the large car. Three people could comfortably sit in the backseat, four if they were all her size, but it was not practical for everyone to get stuffed in the one car.

James couldn't drive because he had been drinking, so she was the one driving. If she left with Jen and the others, then what happens to the car?

With a sigh, she gave in and walked towards their car. Everyone else also got in their cars and went back to the estate. 

"Is there anything you want to do when we get back? Anything you want to eat? I'll make it for you," Alex asked her sister, not letting go of her hand.

She knew Jen very well. She did not show her grief easily in front of people. She didn't cry on their father's funeral because of her mother's silliness. In this situation, she would be even more reluctant to cry in front of others. If she left her alone, she might go overboard. That was why Lucas had asked them to accompany her at least tonight and for her to go back to the hotel with her.

Although this was not a permanent solution, it would ease his worries. Alex was also worried and she would have done it even without him personally asking her to. 

"You'll cook?" Jen asked Alex, and she nodded. She knew her younger sister well. Even though she knew how to cook fantastic food, she was too lazy to do it. If she can help it, she would rather not cook at all.

"It's been a while since I had your cooking," Jen said with a nostalgic smile.

"I've never had it before, I want to try it," Rachel said from the front seat and Alex nodded. It was just one more serving, it wasn't a big deal.

It wasn't long before they arrived at the estate and the three got out of the car. The hotel staff that brought them also got off the car and looked at Jen for further instructions, but she didn't seem to notice him.

"Excuse me, Mrs… Sorry I meant Miss, should I leave the car with you or would you rather I come to pick you up when you are ready to return?" the staff asked. He was nervous about his slip up and hoped that Jen would be generous enough to ignore it. 

"Sister-in-law, I'll drop you off tomorrow, he can go back with the car," Jason chimed in as he had heard the staff talking to Jen.

"Will that be alright?" Jen asked as she looked at Jason and he nodded.

"It's not a problem," Jason said and sent off the man with his brother's car. 

"Could he just run off with it?" Laura thought out loud as she looked at the disappearing vehicle.

"Run off? To where? He would have to leave the continent if he is hoping for a chance to escape," James said and pinched Laura's cheek. Who would think about stealing from their family? Especially something that was as big as a car? They would be caught in an instant if they took matters into their own hands.

Soon, they were all back in the large house. It was already late, and the atmosphere was loud and warm as they all sat together in the cosy living room.

"I want to eat something. God knows when else I'll get to enjoy food," Laura said as she patted her belly. She was lying on James' lap while watching him lazily sip on his wine. She was enjoying the view to the fullest in that position.

"Oh? Didn't Alex offer to cook earlier?" Rachel asked, and Alex's eyes almost fell out of her head. When did she offer to cook?

"That's right, you said you'd make something when we were in the car," Jen added, blocking off her escape route. She did say that she would make something for her sister, but there were over ten people in their living room at the moment. Thirteen, to be exact. She is not willing to make so much food!

"I did but…" she trailed off as she looked at everyone with her blue eyes.

"I'll help," Nathan volunteered.

"No, I'll help," Michael said Nathan looked at him with a raised eyebrow before chuckling. 'Is he looking down on me?' Michael wondered.

"I'll also help," Rachel said, and more people chimed in. If everyone was so willing to help, she could make a feast.

"As long as you are all helping," Alex said and got up from the floor while clapping her hands. When they got to the kitchen, Alex started giving orders while busying herself. Jen was determined to watch, so she sat on the other side of the kitchen counter to watch the show.

Fortunately, a majority of them knew how to cook. David who knew nothing about cooking stayed out of the kitchen entirely and was being accompanied by James who was enjoying his wine too much. Soon enough, Michael was also kicked out of the kitchen after making mistakes three times.

Jen only heard Alex's cold voice say, "Get out of my kitchen" before Michael dejectedly left. Jen chuckled when she saw his expression and pulled him to sit next to her.

"Don't overthink it, she is just strict when she is serious. Even I try to avoid her," Jen said as she put his shoulder in comfort. For a moment, she really forgot about her sadness during this time.

At this time, a series of "it's perfect" "that's enough" "add a bit more" "it's fine" "you are really good" rang out from the kitchen. Michael sighed as he saw this, He was especially attentive to those words when they were directed to Nathan, who hadn't been getting in the way like he was. 

"Jason, you're really good," Alex said when she saw the evenly chopped ingredients.

"I had to be, even if I didn't want to," Jason mumbled as he handed them over to her. 

"Thank you," Alex said as she received them and added them to the pot. 

Jen continued to watch everyone busy themselves in the kitchen with a shallow smile while a few sighs spilt out of Michael's lips. He didn't know why he was behaving the way he was, but he was especially vigilant with Nathan as he seemed to be a better match with Alex. Especially because he was not her younger brother's age.

"Michael, will you be a sweetheart and fetch me a bottle of wine from the bar?" Alex asked and his face brightened immediately. Jen would have to be a dense fool if she did not realise what was going on.

An amused smile appeared on her face as she watched him almost fly to the other side of the room. Since when did he have such feelings for Alex? She wondered as her gaze turned back to her sister, who was tasting something she asked Rachel to make with a serious expression. 

It did not take long for them to finish cooking. Especially with how Alex took charge of the kitchen and properly delegated the work. The group had prepared a feast in no time. They all helped to set up the table, and they were soon sitting and enjoying their meal. Everyone was surprised at the first bite of food they took.

"I've made this before, but why does it taste better?" Laura asked as she stuffed her mouth. Even James smiled in appreciation as he ate the food. Alex watched everyone eat with a proud smile on her face while Jen took a photo of her meal and sent it to Lucas and her mother to tell them she was having Alex's food. 

She knew that Diane might end up calling Alex to compliment her because of how rarely she entered the kitchen. At this thought, Jen smiled fondly as she picked up a fork to have a taste of the food.

Alex looked at her sister, who had a smile on her face and felt some relief.

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