Eren accepted the plate Helen handed him with a smile and thanked her politely.
"You're welcome," Helen replied, adding with a gentle smile, "And no need to call me 'Mrs.'—just Helen is fine. Let's not be so formal."
Like George, Helen was deeply grateful to Eren for saving Gwen.
As a woman, she understood all too well the devastating impact such an event could have had on Gwen's life.
"Oh, by the way, tonight's main course is lemon sea bass. I hope you like it," Helen said as she introduced the dish.
Eren glanced at the plate of sea bass before him.
Interesting.
"Lemon sea bass"—probably one of the most iconic dishes in the Marvel universe. It hadn't even been a week since he arrived, and here he was, getting a taste of it.
Even Spider-Man himself might not have been so lucky.
Speaking of Spider-Man, Eren had been curious and had discreetly asked around at school. Oddly, no one seemed to know anyone named Peter Parker.
Could it be that in this world, thanks to the existence of Tony Stark, Peter Parker, who was supposed to be Gwen's classmate at Midtown High, had become the wisecracking Spidey from the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
"Ah-hem!"
George's cough interrupted Eren's thoughts. Sitting directly across from him, George seemed a bit miffed by Helen's warm attitude toward their guest.
"So, Eren," George began, "what's your connection to Pepper Potts? If it weren't for her pressure on the city government, our investigation into the Water Ghost Gang wouldn't have progressed as smoothly."
Gwen perked up. "Pepper Potts? You mean the Pepper Potts who's currently Tony Stark's assistant and the de facto chairwoman of Stark Industries?"
George nodded. "That's right. Tony Stark's personal assistant herself."
As the largest industrial conglomerate in the Federation, Stark Industries was well-known to George, especially since a significant portion of the NYPD's equipment came courtesy of their sponsorship.
It was no small matter for Eren to have connections with someone like Pepper Potts.
Eren chuckled and explained, "Pepper is my mom's best friend. After my mom passed, she's looked after me. So when I got into trouble, she stepped in to help."
"Ah, that makes sense," George said with a nod.
At this point, Helen chimed in, "In fact, after Eren's mother passed, Pepper even wanted to adopt him as her own son. If Eren had agreed, she would officially be his guardian now."
Though Helen and Pepper weren't particularly close, they were friendly enough for Helen to have gathered this information after Gwen's incident.
"Really? I didn't know that," George remarked, surprised.
Eren nodded. "Aunt Pepper has always looked out for me."
While not his legal guardian, Pepper had taken on a role nearly as significant. Without her guidance, Eren wasn't sure what his life would have become after his mother's death.
George continued to ask Eren more questions, which Eren answered openly.
As they talked, George gradually warmed up to Eren, his demeanor softening.
Meanwhile, Eren's attention wasn't just on the conversation.
The lemon sea bass, though unassuming in appearance, was surprisingly delicious.
Helen had chosen the freshest sea bass straight from the docks. The lemon's tangy aroma neutralized the fishiness, enhancing the bass's natural flavor. Paired with a special sauce, the dish exceeded Eren's expectations.
It was no wonder Helen had chosen it as the main course to welcome him.
In addition to the sea bass, Helen had prepared several side dishes and a selection of fresh fruits for dessert.
Eren thoroughly enjoyed the meal, frequently complimenting Helen's cooking. His praise kept Helen smiling throughout dinner.
Her culinary skills were truly impressive.
As Eren savored the food, he couldn't help but wonder how George had managed to win over someone as exceptional as Helen—beautiful, capable, and a fantastic cook.
After finishing the meal, Eren prepared to leave.
It was getting late, and staying any longer would have been overstepping.
In the living room, Eren turned to Helen and George, who were tidying up the kitchen. "Mr. George, Helen, thank you for having me. The lemon sea bass was amazing. I'll be heading out now."
Helen smiled warmly. "You're welcome anytime, Eren."
She glanced at Gwen and added, "Gwen, why don't you see Eren off?"
"Sure, Mom."
Gwen nodded toward George and Helen before standing up to accompany Eren.
Just as they were about to leave, George rose from the sofa. "I'll see him off instead. The city's been a bit chaotic lately, and I'll drive him home to ensure his safety. Gwen, stay and help your mom clean up."
After washing his hands, George grabbed his jacket and car keys, gesturing for Eren to follow him.
Gwen pouted but ultimately yielded to George's authority, throwing Eren an apologetic look before heading to the kitchen.
Outside, George led Eren to the building's underground garage.
Pressing the key fob, George unlocked his car, its lights flashing in response.
"Mr. George, it's late. I can just grab a cab home. You don't need to go out of your way," Eren said.
George waved him off. "You saved my daughter. Driving you home is the least I can do. Besides, I wasn't exaggerating—there've been a lot of incidents in New York lately."
"Many people have gone missing after taking cabs at night. So don't argue—get in the car."
George patted the car door as he spoke.
Is that so?
Hearing this, Eren hesitated briefly before climbing into the car.
As soon as Eren fastened his seatbelt, George handed him a small box.
"Mr. George, what's this?"
"It's a gift," George replied. "A token of thanks for saving Gwen. Nothing fancy—just take it."
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]