After hanging up the phone, Christopher looked at Aunt Harper, his expression unchanging and his heart unflustered, "Go wake Hope up and tell her that mommy is coming."
"Okay, Mr. Hart," Aunt Harper replied with an inscrutable expression, careful not to show anything, and quickly went upstairs to call the child.
The kitchen was busy preparing a lavish breakfast, all the favorites of a certain soone.
Mr. Hart sat at the dining table, gazing at the high clear skies outside, replaying in his mind the sight of that woman standing under the spotlight, her whole being shimring, the night before.
Past the age of thirty, the trajectory of his life had long since been set; the desire for life and love, from the fervent clamor of his reckless youth, had gradually settled into tranquility.
In these past few years, Lily Garcia had clung to his side, offering herself up more tis than he could count.
He had his confused monts, too, thinking that if it’s given freely, there’s no loss in partaking.
But when he was truly alone with her, that sense of repulsion, both physical and emotional, from the inside out, surged uncontrollably.
He had thought it was because he was getting older, his hormones past their peak, lacking the passion and need of a young man.
Yet, last night, upon seeing that woman, his once-dead-and-now-revived ex-wife, his precious daughter’s mother—God knows how his heart had tossed and turned all night.
Returning ho, he had tossed and turned through the night, the long-absent desire suddenly flaring up like a wildfire.
He understood.
It wasn’t that with age ca a lack of desire; it was that the person wasn’t right.
He had also finally figured out why, despite deep misunderstandings and a frozen relationship, during their three-year marriage, he had delighted in his marital duties.
His heart recognized its master, and so did his body.
If it wasn’t her, he would rather have none.
Even though his reason might think that sleeping with another woman wouldn’t be any different, his body would instinctively resist and would overco the rational thoughts in his mind.
So, with dawn, ca the desire to see her.
Even if seeing her wouldn’t allow him to do anything, at least he could see her, and the fire inside him could be sowhat quelled.
Alia arrived promptly.
Upon entering, she saw father and daughter at the dining table, getting ready for breakfast.
"Mommy!" Hope saw her and imdiately jumped off her chair and ran over.
Alia touched her daughter’s face, hugging and kissing her joyfully, "Let’s go, Mommy has the day off today and can spend quality ti with you."
"There’s no rush, eat breakfast first."
"No rush? Weren’t you waiting anxiously?"
The little girl had already been won over by her father, and in collusion, she explained, "I wanted to see mommy, and as long as I can see her, it doesn’t matter where we are."
Alia thought to herself, you can be content with that, but mommy can’t!
This was Christopher’s territory, and she felt uncomfortable all over here.
As she hesitated on how to coax her daughter away, Aunt Harper ca to her aid, "Miss Norton, have breakfast before you go. There’s no rush."
Aunt Harper’s way of addressing her had changed, which made Alia feel a lot more comfortable.
It must have been Christopher’s doing; otherwise, these people would still be calling her "Mrs., Mrs."
"Mommy, let’s go, I’m really hungry," Hope tugged at her hand, pulling her toward the dining table.
Alia had no real choice but to sit down at the table, half pushed and half willing.
Aunt Harper imdiately brought over the cutlery.
Christopher sat at the head of the table, drinking coffee and flipping through a financial magazine as if the arrival of the woman didn’t interest him at all.
On the other hand, Alia, thinking of the fortune he had spent the night before, felt like she should say sothing.
"About that... you bought three sets of jewelry yesterday?"
The man looked up, "Are you talking to ?"
She countered, "Besides you, who else would be so generous?"
Christopher cracked a faint smile, "That amount of money ans nothing to . Hope likes it, so I bought it."
Alia wanted to say, it wasn’t all for your daughter, right— but she feared that asking such a question would make him think she was jealous or sothing, and then it would be hard to explain.
So, she simply kept quiet and focused on her al.
"Daddy, the weather is so nice today!" Hope began.
"Mm."
"I really want to go on a picnic!"
Alia was surprised, "A picnic?"
"Yeah! It’s like finding a beautiful lawn, laying down a mat, filling it with all kinds of food, and sitting on the mat to eat and play!"
Hope explained eagerly, as if afraid her mother wouldn’t understand, gesticulating wildly.
Alia thought it wasn’t a difficult request, so she nodded, "Okay! Then Mommy will get ready in a bit."
Hope turned to look at the head of the table, "Daddy, are you going to join us?"
Mr. Hart, "Daddy is busy today; you two go ahead."
"Just a few hours, is that not okay?"
"Daddy has so very important work today."
The little girl threw down her fork, pouted, and said, "My birthday is coming up, and I don’t even know if you’ll be able to celebrate it with ... Today, mommy finally has ti, and you’re busy again..."
Alia’s heart gave a guilty lurch.
That’s right!
She had been so busy these past few days that she had forgotten the children’s birthdays were coming up!
In early next month, it would be the triplets’ birthday!
In the blink of an eye, the kids would be five years old!
Christopher Hart glanced up from behind his magazine, saying indifferently, "Haven’t I celebrated your birthday with you every year? Be good, let’s wait until the day cos."
"But this year is different!" the little girl emphasized, "This year I have Mommy!"
Hope was close to tears, turning to cling to Alia’s arm and beg, "Mommy, please persuade Daddy... I just want to celebrate my birthday in advance today, in case you both won’t have ti that day..."
Alia couldn’t bear to see her daughter’s tears, especially thinking she had never celebrated her daughter’s birthday before, she felt even more guilty.
Looking to the man, she deliberated repeatedly, and finally spoke up, "Um... is your work really that urgent? Can you postpone it? Or have Benny Palr cover for you?"
The man looked at her, "You agree to let accompany you?"
The woman thought, no, not really...
But her daughter was pleading like this, what could she do.
"Since you asked, I can only agree." The man turned a page of the magazine, still expressionless, and while lifting his coffee glanced at his daughter and urged, "Eat quickly, it will take ti to get ready afterward."
"Yay! That’s great!" Hope cheered joyfully.
Alia scrutinized him, then her gaze suddenly fell on the magazine cover, her brow furrowed, "You’ve got your magazine upside down."
The sip of coffee the man had just taken, spilled out in a spray!
Hope clapped her hands rcilessly, mocking, "Daddy looks like an elephant! His nose can spray water! Hahaha..."
Alia really didn’t want to laugh.
In this situation, it wasn’t appropriate for her to laugh either.
Otherwise, the atmosphere would beco very warm and jovial.
That didn’t suit their awkward relationship.
But watching the man scrambling to wipe his face and the table, along with the image of coffee spraying out, she just couldn’t help it.
And President Hart, who felt embarrassed to the point of blushing to his ancestors, seeing the woman also genuinely laughing, suddenly felt the embarrassnt was worth it.
However, he had to maintain so dignity on the surface, "What’s so funny? Don’t you know that mocking others is rude?"
"Hahaha, Daddy’s face is red, and his ears too—"
Christopher Hart, "..."
This silly girl! She had gotten her lines right all morning, but she hadn’t expected this mishap.
That woman, hopefully, she hasn’t seen right through everything!
Reviews
All reviews (0)