Chapter 17

If it weren't for the fact that the school needed the parents' information for enrollment, Kathie wouldn't have bothered tracking down the guy she hooked up with four years ago.

"If you remember anything, just let me know," Kathie said disdainfully.

Tom nodded frantically. "Yeah, I got it. Can you let me go now?"

Kathie pulled out the silver needles, and Tom's body slowly started to feel normal again.

Seeing Kathie about to leave, he lunged at her with open arms. "You think you can just walk away after coming all this way? You messed with me,now it's my turn to show you what I can do."

Kathie sighed, thinking, 'He's asking for trouble!' Calmly,she took a smooth stone from her bag and threw it with precision, hitting Tom on the head and causing blood to flow instantly.

While waiting for him in the lobby earlier, Kathie had already guessed Tom's intentions. She worried that the silver needles might not be enough,so she had picked the largest stone from a flowerpot in the lobby, which now proved useful.

Rolling up her sleeves, Kathie declared, "Today, I'm going to show you that I'm not someone to be messed with!"

Tom yelled, "Help! Someone's trying to kill me! Help!"

At 4 PM, in the small yard of Kathie's villa in the suburbs of Eldoria.

The three kids were in the kitchen preparing afternoon tea.

Normally, Kathie wouldn't be out this long, and since she hadn't returned yet,they had to fend for themselves.

As for Jonathan, he was just supervising.

But seeing the three of them fumbling around, it seemed he wasn't much of a cook either.

Eileen looked at him with wide eyes. "Seven, I want a fried egg, but Mommy told us not to touch the stove."

Jonathan smiled. "Do you want me to fry an egg for you?"

He had a look that said, "Do you think I can?"

Eileen nodded earnestly. "Yes, you try. I've seen Mommy do it, I can teach you."

Jonathan was speechless.

Having a kid teach him to cook felt a bit off.

Zachary scoffed, "Forget it, he can't even chop scallions, how could he fry an egg? He only knows how to eat."

Jonathan was silent.

He didn't like hearing that. Being looked down upon by a kid was a bit insulting.

Kyle sighed,"If only Mommy were here. I'm so hungry and don't want to eat dry food. Next time, I'll make sure Mommy teaches me how to use the stove."

Jonathan advised, "That's not safe. You're too young,and it could cause an accident."

The three kids looked at him in unison. "Then what should we do?"

Jonathan felt a sense of helplessness. Faced with their expectant eyes, he had no choice but to try frying an egg. "Alright, I'll give it a shot. Go get the eggs."

He could handle billion-dollar projects, surely frying an egg wouldn't defeat him.

Eileen clapped happily and led her brothers to the fridge to get the eggs.

"Seven, Mommy puts oil in the pan first. When the oil is hot, she adds the egg. If you're afraid of getting burned, you can crack it into a bowl first and then pour it in gently."

Kyle added, "Don't move it right away. Let it set beforeflipping it. When both sides are golden, it's done."

Zachary was already drooling. "I like my eggs with a runny yolk, don't cook it too long."

"I want mine medium-well, crispy on the outside," Kyle also requested.

Eileen was more accommodating. "I'm fine with anything!"

Jonathan felt immense pressure.

Jonathan first looked up a tutorial on his phone, then turned on the stove and added oil. When the oil started to sizzle, he quickly cracked the egg into the pan.

But within seconds, smoke rose from the pan, and a burnt smell filled the air.

Jonathan hurriedly flipped the egg with a spatula, but it was already charred.

.His face fell. The first attempt was a failure.

Kyle frowned. "Did you use too little oil?" Jonathan took a deep breath and added more oll. Eileen waved her small hand. "Too much oil makes it greasy. You've filled half the pan,"

Zachary chimed in, "We kids need to eat light."

Jonathan clenched his fists. These kids were hard to please. He poured out some oil and tried again.

As expected, the egg burned again. Despite using enough oil,something was still wrong.

Jonathan had always had smooth sailing in life, except for this incident.This was a new kind of setback.

"Can you do it or not? You've wasted two eggs already," Zachary doubted him.

Jonathan forced a smile. "No worries, we can feed it to the dog."

Kyle shook his head. "Even the dog wouldn't eat this."

Jonathan was silent.

Eileen tugged on his hand, encouraging him. "You can do it. Keep trying."

Jonathan was determined not to let these kids look down on him.He washed the pan, turned on the stove,and added oil again.

When the oil sizzled, he added the egg. To avoid burning it, he flipped it quickly, but it ended up a mess.

He saw disappointment on the kids' faces and gritted his teeth.

Kyle suddenly said, "I remember Mommy doesn't use such high heat."

'Jonathan looked at him with a pained expression. "Why didn't you say so earlier?" "I didn't think you wouldn't know. Every adult I've seen can fry an egg,"Kyle replied.

Jonathan took a deep breath. With the previous attempts in mind, he had a better idea now.

Following Kyle's advice, he used low heat and gently added the egg. After ten seconds, he flipped it, and it turned golden.

"Wow! You're amazing."

"Seven,you're awesome."

"The egg is ready!"

Amid the kids' cheers, the first fried egg was done. Though not perfect, it was edible.

Jonathan'crossed his arms, striking a chefs pose. "Not so hard,huh? Give it a try."

The kids eagerly grabbed their spoons and tasted it.

Jonathan waited for praise, but Kyle's comment deflated him."You forgot the salt."

Jonathan was silent.

He had been so focused on the technique that he forgot the seasoning.

Eileen suggested, "We can add some soy sauce."

Zachary,really hungry, poured some soy sauce on it, and it tasted fine.

Seeing the empty plate, Jonathan regained his confidence. "Wait here, I'll 'make sure you eat well."

The next egg with a runny yolk was ready. The medium-well egg was also done.

Finally, a double-yolk egg for Eileen.

Jonathan never imagined he'd become so skilled at frying eggs.

The kids ate everything,giving him thumbs up.

"Delicious! You're amazing."

"Almost as good as Mommy's."

"I want more!"

Jonathan was so pleased with their praise, it felt better than closing a billion-dollar deal.

With the eggs in the fridge used up, night fell.

The kids sat in the yard, their bellies full.

Jonathan noticed it was getting late. Where was Kathie? Was she planning to leave the kids with him?

"Kyle, has your mommy called?" he asked.

Yesterday,she had called several times to check in, but today there was no word.

Kyle shook his head. "No, let's call her."