Chapter 57 - Coke vs. vegetables

"Eeh!" Adrien hesitated and raised his little hands to his mouth before asking puzzled. "What's a deal?" He stared at Alec with big eyes.

"A deal is when we two make a trade."

"A trade?" Adrien flash with his big eyes, causing the small child's eyebrows to scrunch up.

"Adrien, you can drink cola today, but you have to eat your vegetables." Alexandre calmly explained to the toddler.

"Hahhhh!? Don't wonna." Adrien complained, peering curiously at Alexandre. Before he pouting stared at Lily.

Adrien's puppy eyes immediately hit Lily in the heart, but shortly before she could agree she was interrupted by the smiling Alexandre. "I thought we should practice saying no?" He asked innocently. She immediately remembered her words at breakfast.

Guilty, she looked away. It was so hard not to spoil Adrien, Lily noted bitterly.

"Lily?" The toddler cried with his tearful voice.

"Yes?" Lily bit her lips.

"Lily can I drink a Coke?" His eyes were glassy as he tilted his little head to the side innocently. Lily stared at the little guy. Her instinct told her to order him as much Coke as he wanted. But her mind said that she should stay on Alexandre's side.

"Addy, vegetables should also be eaten. They are healthy, nutritious and tasty. If you eat vegetables, you'll be big and strong."

The little guy puffed up his cheeks and then reluctantly nodded at Alexandre.

After that Alexandre ordered a plate of grilled vegetables, antipasta, beef steaks and various kinds of pasta dishes.

Adrien's eyes began to glow when the drinks were first carried in and a brown drink was placed in front of him. Greedily he reached for the glass and took two large sips. It was sweet, but at the same time a little sour and very refreshing. His maman had always forbidden him to drink Coke, but his dad had always secretly given him a sip. He was very happy that he was allowed to drink coke again.

When the dishes were carried into the room on plates and Adrien saw the vegetables, he felt the first signs of distress.

As Alexandre even took his plate and began to fill it with different kinds of vegetables, Adrien began to regret having wanted a Coke.

Lily luckily put some pasta on his plate and a small steak that she cut into small pieces for him.

However, Adrien's plate was almost empty after a while and only the hated vegetables were visible. Suspiciously he stuck his little fork in something red and decided it looked the friendliest. It had such a beautiful color as the tomato sauce on his beloved spaghetti.

Suspiciously he chewed on the soft vegetables. It tasted slightly sweet, but also aromatic. Nevertheless, he didn't want any more.

When Alexandre saw that the toddler's plate was empty except of the vegetables, the corners of his mouth pulled up to an innocent smile. "Adrien, all the vegetables must be eaten."

Lily looked anxiously at her protégé before piking her fork into a grilled eggplant. "Look, Addy, we're eating together. That's delicious!" She said encouragingly to Adrien, putting the piece of vegetable into her mouth and chewing on it with pleasure. "Mhm...delicious."

As soon as the little guy saw this, he grimaced painfully, pricked with his fork again into a vegetable unknown to him and ate it reluctantly and slowly.

Lily felt with Adrien. She didn't want to force him. But she knew it was for his own good.

After Adrien had finally eaten his plate, he proudly looked at Alexandre and then at Lily, who bent over and gave the toddler a gentle kiss on the forehead.

Immediately Adrien felt happy and giggled.

"Will I get a reward?" The little guy asked self-confidently.

Alexandre laughed. "Didn't you already get one?

"I've eaten so many vegetables." Adrien stretched out his hands and made a sweeping movement with his chubby little arms.

"What kind of reward do you want?" Lily asked then.

"Chocolate ice cream!"