Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby
Chapter 63: Cooking for Freya

Chapter 63: Cooking for Freya

In the dining room, Freya sat at the table swinging her legs under the chair, a slight frown forming on her delicate face. "Daddy, I’m hungry," she said, her small voice edged with impatience.

From the kitchen, Ethan called out, "Five more minutes for the pie, Princess. I’m bringing a starter in just one minute."

True to his word, he lifted the lid of the steamer and carefully scooped the tender green beans into a ceramic bowl. He sprinkled a bit of pink salt over them and gently stirred the steaming beans with a wooden spoon. Then, he added a dusting of freshly grated lemon zest, letting the citrus aroma infuse the dish.

He stepped into the dining room with the bowl in his hands and a theatrical flourish in his voice. "Your Highness, here are your Steamed Green Beans." He bowed as if presenting a royal offering.

Freya giggled at his exaggerated gesture, her eyes lighting up with joy.

Ethan sat down beside her briefly, took a spoon, and served a small portion onto her plate. "They’re still hot, so wait a little before eating."

Just then, the oven beeped from the kitchen.

"Oh! The broccoli’s done. I’ll be right back," he said, hurrying away.

Back in the kitchen, he opened the oven and took out the tray of beautifully roasted broccoli, their edges crisped to perfection. He transferred them into another serving bowl, squeezed a wedge of fresh lemon over the florets, and sprinkled more lemon zest on top to brighten the flavor.

Balancing the bowl of roasted broccoli in one hand and a Shepherd’s pie in the other, he returned to the dining room. He carefully placed the two dishes on the table and disappeared into the kitchen once again to remove his apron and wash his hands. After a quick refresh, he rejoined Freya at the table, settling into his seat beside her.

As soon as he sat down, Freya tugged on his sleeve. "Daddy, I want pie."

"Okay," Ethan replied, cutting a small piece and placing it on her plate. "Let it cool slightly. It’s still very hot."

"Okay, Daddy," she said, obediently staring at the food on her plate.

"Have some broccoli while you wait," he added, placing a few pieces on her plate with care.

At that moment, Eleanor entered the room.

She stopped short, taking in the scene with surprise. The dining table was neatly arranged and covered with dishes: a golden Shepherd’s pie fresh from the oven, garlic-roasted broccoli, and steamed green beans glistening under the light. A small bowl of salad rested in the center, filled with fresh arugula, baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, and dressed lightly with a balsamic vinaigrette. In front of Freya was a tall glass of citrus-infused water with slices of lemon and orange floating inside. Two additional glasses on the table were filled with red wine.

Eleanor’s eyes widened slightly in admiration.

"Ma’am," Ethan said, standing and gesturing politely toward the seat across from him, "please be seated."

She approached the table slowly, still scanning the array of food, and took the offered seat. A polished porcelain plate was already set before her.

Once she was settled, Ethan began to serve her, placing portions of each dish on her plate with practiced precision. Finally, he placed a glass of red wine before her and said, "Your favorite... Pinot Noir."

Eleanor arched a brow, her lips twitching in amusement. "You made all of this?"

He gave a sheepish smile. "The kitchen staff prepared the ingredients in advance. I just assembled and cooked everything. Nothing too complicated."

Eleanor picked up a fork and tried a small bite of broccoli. Her eyes lit up at the flavor. "Mmm. This is good. You’re a surprisingly good cook."

Freya, still chewing on a piece of pie, chimed in proudly, "My daddy is the best! He made all of this for me."

Ethan smiled warmly and ruffled her hair. "Eat slowly. It’s still hot, sweetheart."

Eleanor continued tasting the other dishes, surprised at how well everything was seasoned and cooked. The flavors were balanced, the textures perfect. There was a noticeable sense of care in every bite, and that touched her more than she expected.

She thought silently, I never knew he could cook like this. Sometimes it’s good to have a change from the kitchen staff’s food.

Out loud, she said, "You’ve got skills. What else can you cook besides this?"

Ethan served himself a portion and began eating alongside them. "What would you like to eat?" he asked, tilting his head curiously.

"Can you cook anything?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

He chuckled softly. "After Freya was born, I decided to take some cooking classes. Back then, I wanted to contribute in a way that could help you raise our daughter. I knew you couldn’t cook, so I thought I should learn."

Eleanor crossed her arms with a slightly offended look. "Excuse me... I can cook."

Ethan smiled knowingly. "Instant noodles and ready-to-eat frozen food you toss into the oven for a few minutes don’t count as cooking."

Eleanor’s eyes narrowed. "That’s also cooking. Freya loves my noodles. Don’t you, sweetie?"

With a full mouth, Freya nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Mommy’s noodles are yummy!"

Ethan raised both hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I surrender. You’re a great cook."

"That’s more like it." Eleanor smirked but kept eating, secretly enjoying the taste of the homemade meal. "Maybe it tastes better because I was hungry," she thought stubbornly, unwilling to give him too much credit.

After a few more bites, she asked, "Don’t you have work today?"

"I went to the office this morning," Ethan said, casually sipping his wine. "But then I came here to spend time with Freya. Jack can handle the rest. He’s a competent assistant."

He glanced at Freya fondly. "Besides, she’s starting school tomorrow. I wanted to make the most of today with her."

At the mention of school, Freya’s expression turned glum. Her fork paused mid-air. "I don’t want to go to school," she mumbled. "I can learn everything at home."

Eleanor sighed softly. "We’ve talked about this already, sweetheart. You’ll be at school from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. That’s the same time I go to work. You’ve been staying home alone during those hours. Instead, you’ll be with other children and learning new things. I’ll drop you off and pick you up every day. And don’t worry... you’ll make lots of friends."

Freya hesitated, staring at her plate. "But... what if they don’t like me?"

Eleanor leaned in and touched her daughter’s cheek. "You are smart, kind, and adorable. Everyone will love you."

Freya’s voice lowered. "What if someone bullies me?"

Eleanor’s eyes softened. "If someone is unkind, tell your teacher immediately. The teachers are there to protect you. And if anything happens... anything at all... ask them to call me. I’ll come right away, no matter what."

"But Mommy..." Freya said, her voice trembling slightly.

Ethan reached over and placed his hand over hers. "Your mommy is right. And remember, you don’t have to be friends with people you don’t like. It’s your choice. You can learn at home, that’s true. But school will help you grow in other ways too."

He continued gently, "One day, you’ll work with humans like your mother and me. Learning to understand them, starting now, will help you a lot. Besides..." He smiled. "There’ll be others like you in school... children who’ll come in their human form, just like you. It’ll be fun."

Freya looked at him, then at Eleanor. She sighed softly and gave a reluctant nod. "Okay... I’ll try."

Both parents smiled. Ethan leaned in and kissed the top of her head. "That’s my brave girl."

After lunch, Ethan returned to his office to catch up on work. Eleanor carried Freya to her room, changed her into comfortable clothes, and tucked her in for a nap. Once Freya fell asleep, Eleanor quietly returned to her own room and reviewed the documents sent from the office earlier that day.

The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully. But in her heart, Eleanor couldn’t forget the warmth of that simple lunch... the smell of lemon zest, the sight of Ethan carefully preparing each dish, and the joy in Freya’s face as she enjoyed a meal made just for her.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.