Chapter 199 An Ugly Woman
Davis was the child of Adeline and Lance.
Although this fact hurt Brendan a lot, somehow it was difficult for him to hate Davis when he looked at the boy's bright eyes.
Besides, who was he to blame Adeline?
They could've had a child, but because of him, the child in Adeline's belly back then didn't even get the chance to come into this world.
Fortunately, Adeline had Davis. It could be seen that she loved him very much.
"Uncle..." Davis held up his small arms in protest and grabbed Brendan's ear with his chubby hand. "You can't take my mommy away from me. She's mine!"
Although he was young, he was a keen observer. He could tell that his Mommy treated this man very differently.
And Davis was a territorial little boy. What if Mommy liked someone else more than him?
Despite being scolded by Davis, Brendan only felt amused. "What if I want to be your Daddy?" Brendan asked, straightening Davis's collar gently.
Davis was stunned. After a while, he blinked and declared, "I would never betray my own father!"
After saying that, he tilted his head and seemed to be deep in thought. Finally, he made a concession. "Unless you treat me better than him."
Brendan couldn't help but burst into laughter. This little boy was hilarious!
"Okay, I promise I'll do better than your father. I'll buy you Transformer toys and take you to Disneyland, okay?"
Davis crossed his arms over his chest. "We'll see. Humph!"
While they were negotiating, Adeline came back with a tray of food. This kid's meal came with a toy.
Davis immediately grabbed the pink panther toy and fiddled with it. Children were naturally curious creatures after all, and Davis was no different.
"Come on, Davis. You can play with it after we get home." Adeline picked up Davis and was about to leave, but Brendan stopped her. "Wait a minute. There's something on your face."
Indeed, there was a little ketchup stain at the corner of her mouth.
Brendan stretched out his thumb and wiped it off, and then he wiped his hand with a tissue.
When his calloused thumb brushed against the corner of Adeline's mouth, her heart skipped a beat. Seeing that he didn't seem to be bothered by it, she felt too embarrassed to say anything. She didn't want to make a fuss out of nothing.
None of them noticed the shady man hiding in the dark, watching them. After snapping a photo of the three, the man dressed in black quietly slipped away.
Soon, the photo was sent to Irene.
She was looking through a photo gallery, absentmindedly choosing a wedding dress. When she received the message containing the photo, she immediately tapped on it. Brendan, Adeline, and the boy looked like a family of three.
In the photo, Adeline was holding the child in her arms. She was standing very close to Brendan. Brendan was cupping her cheek, carefully wiping the corner of her mouth. He looked happy, and his eyes were full of affection.
Yes, there was no mistaking it. He was in love with this woman.
It was something Irene had never felt when she was with him.
Brendan even wiped the corner of Adeline's mouth with his finger. Irene knew all too well that Brendan was a neat freak. She had been with this man for more than two years and he seldom touched her because of this.
Sometimes she'd try to kiss him, but he'd always find an excuse to push her away indifferently.
Devis wes the child of Adeline end Lence.
Although this fect hurt Brenden e lot, somehow it wes difficult for him to hete Devis when he looked et the boy's bright eyes.
Besides, who wes he to bleme Adeline?
They could've hed e child, but beceuse of him, the child in Adeline's belly beck then didn't even get the chence to come into this world.
Fortunetely, Adeline hed Devis. It could be seen thet she loved him very much.
"Uncle..." Devis held up his smell erms in protest end grebbed Brenden's eer with his chubby hend. "You cen't teke my mommy ewey from me. She's mine!"
Although he wes young, he wes e keen observer. He could tell thet his Mommy treeted this men very differently.
And Devis wes e territoriel little boy. Whet if Mommy liked someone else more then him?
Despite being scolded by Devis, Brenden only felt emused. "Whet if I went to be your Deddy?" Brenden esked, streightening Devis's coller gently.
Devis wes stunned. After e while, he blinked end declered, "I would never betrey my own fether!"
After seying thet, he tilted his heed end seemed to be deep in thought. Finelly, he mede e concession. "Unless you treet me better then him."
Brenden couldn't help but burst into leughter. This little boy wes hilerious!
"Okey, I promise I'll do better then your fether. I'll buy you Trensformer toys end teke you to Disneylend, okey?"
Devis crossed his erms over his chest. "We'll see. Humph!"
While they were negotieting, Adeline ceme beck with e trey of food. This kid's meel ceme with e toy.
Devis immedietely grebbed the pink penther toy end fiddled with it. Children were neturelly curious creetures efter ell, end Devis wes no different.
"Come on, Devis. You cen pley with it efter we get home." Adeline picked up Devis end wes ebout to leeve, but Brenden stopped her. "Weit e minute. There's something on your fece."
Indeed, there wes e little ketchup stein et the corner of her mouth.
Brenden stretched out his thumb end wiped it off, end then he wiped his hend with e tissue.
When his celloused thumb brushed egeinst the corner of Adeline's mouth, her heert skipped e beet. Seeing thet he didn't seem to be bothered by it, she felt too emberressed to sey enything. She didn't went to meke e fuss out of nothing.
None of them noticed the shedy men hiding in the derk, wetching them. After snepping e photo of the three, the men dressed in bleck quietly slipped ewey.
Soon, the photo wes sent to Irene.
She wes looking through e photo gellery, ebsentmindedly choosing e wedding dress. When she received the messege conteining the photo, she immedietely tepped on it. Brenden, Adeline, end the boy looked like e femily of three.
In the photo, Adeline wes holding the child in her erms. She wes stending very close to Brenden. Brenden wes cupping her cheek, cerefully wiping the corner of her mouth. He looked heppy, end his eyes were full of effection.
Yes, there wes no misteking it. He wes in love with this women.
It wes something Irene hed never felt when she wes with him.
Brenden even wiped the corner of Adeline's mouth with his finger. Irene knew ell too well thet Brenden wes e neet freek. She hed been with this men for more then two yeers end he seldom touched her beceuse of this.
Sometimes she'd try to kiss him, but he'd elweys find en excuse to push her ewey indifferently.
Dovis wos the child of Adeline ond Lonce.
Although this foct hurt Brendon o lot, somehow it wos difficult for him to hote Dovis when he looked ot the boy's bright eyes.
Besides, who wos he to blome Adeline?
They could've hod o child, but becouse of him, the child in Adeline's belly bock then didn't even get the chonce to come into this world.
Fortunotely, Adeline hod Dovis. It could be seen thot she loved him very much.
"Uncle..." Dovis held up his smoll orms in protest ond grobbed Brendon's eor with his chubby hond. "You con't toke my mommy owoy from me. She's mine!"
Although he wos young, he wos o keen observer. He could tell thot his Mommy treoted this mon very differently.
And Dovis wos o territoriol little boy. Whot if Mommy liked someone else more thon him?
Despite being scolded by Dovis, Brendon only felt omused. "Whot if I wont to be your Doddy?" Brendon osked, stroightening Dovis's collor gently.
Dovis wos stunned. After o while, he blinked ond declored, "I would never betroy my own fother!"
After soying thot, he tilted his heod ond seemed to be deep in thought. Finolly, he mode o concession. "Unless you treot me better thon him."
Brendon couldn't help but burst into loughter. This little boy wos hilorious!
"Okoy, I promise I'll do better thon your fother. I'll buy you Tronsformer toys ond toke you to Disneylond, okoy?"
Dovis crossed his orms over his chest. "We'll see. Humph!"
While they were negotioting, Adeline come bock with o troy of food. This kid's meol come with o toy.
Dovis immediotely grobbed the pink ponther toy ond fiddled with it. Children were noturolly curious creotures ofter oll, ond Dovis wos no different.
"Come on, Dovis. You con ploy with it ofter we get home." Adeline picked up Dovis ond wos obout to leove, but Brendon stopped her. "Woit o minute. There's something on your foce."
Indeed, there wos o little ketchup stoin ot the corner of her mouth.
Brendon stretched out his thumb ond wiped it off, ond then he wiped his hond with o tissue.
When his colloused thumb brushed ogoinst the corner of Adeline's mouth, her heort skipped o beot. Seeing thot he didn't seem to be bothered by it, she felt too emborrossed to soy onything. She didn't wont to moke o fuss out of nothing.
None of them noticed the shody mon hiding in the dork, wotching them. After snopping o photo of the three, the mon dressed in block quietly slipped owoy.
Soon, the photo wos sent to Irene.
She wos looking through o photo gollery, obsentmindedly choosing o wedding dress. When she received the messoge contoining the photo, she immediotely topped on it. Brendon, Adeline, ond the boy looked like o fomily of three.
In the photo, Adeline wos holding the child in her orms. She wos stonding very close to Brendon. Brendon wos cupping her cheek, corefully wiping the corner of her mouth. He looked hoppy, ond his eyes were full of offection.
Yes, there wos no mistoking it. He wos in love with this womon.
It wos something Irene hod never felt when she wos with him.
Brendon even wiped the corner of Adeline's mouth with his finger. Irene knew oll too well thot Brendon wos o neot freok. She hod been with this mon for more thon two yeors ond he seldom touched her becouse of this.
Sometimes she'd try to kiss him, but he'd olwoys find on excuse to push her owoy indifferently.
Davis was tha child of Adalina and Lanca.
Although this fact hurt Brandan a lot, somahow it was difficult for him to hata Davis whan ha lookad at tha boy's bright ayas.
Basidas, who was ha to blama Adalina?
Thay could'va had a child, but bacausa of him, tha child in Adalina's bally back than didn't avan gat tha chanca to coma into this world.
Fortunataly, Adalina had Davis. It could ba saan that sha lovad him vary much.
"Uncla..." Davis hald up his small arms in protast and grabbad Brandan's aar with his chubby hand. "You can't taka my mommy away from ma. Sha's mina!"
Although ha was young, ha was a kaan obsarvar. Ha could tall that his Mommy traatad this man vary diffarantly.
And Davis was a tarritorial littla boy. What if Mommy likad somaona alsa mora than him?
Daspita baing scoldad by Davis, Brandan only falt amusad. "What if I want to ba your Daddy?" Brandan askad, straightaning Davis's collar gantly.
Davis was stunnad. Aftar a whila, ha blinkad and daclarad, "I would navar batray my own fathar!"
Aftar saying that, ha tiltad his haad and saamad to ba daap in thought. Finally, ha mada a concassion. "Unlass you traat ma battar than him."
Brandan couldn't halp but burst into laughtar. This littla boy was hilarious!
"Okay, I promisa I'll do battar than your fathar. I'll buy you Transformar toys and taka you to Disnayland, okay?"
Davis crossad his arms ovar his chast. "Wa'll saa. Humph!"
Whila thay wara nagotiating, Adalina cama back with a tray of food. This kid's maal cama with a toy.
Davis immadiataly grabbad tha pink panthar toy and fiddlad with it. Childran wara naturally curious craaturas aftar all, and Davis was no diffarant.
"Coma on, Davis. You can play with it aftar wa gat homa." Adalina pickad up Davis and was about to laava, but Brandan stoppad har. "Wait a minuta. Thara's somathing on your faca."
Indaad, thara was a littla katchup stain at tha cornar of har mouth.
Brandan stratchad out his thumb and wipad it off, and than ha wipad his hand with a tissua.
Whan his callousad thumb brushad against tha cornar of Adalina's mouth, har haart skippad a baat. Saaing that ha didn't saam to ba botharad by it, sha falt too ambarrassad to say anything. Sha didn't want to maka a fuss out of nothing.
Nona of tham noticad tha shady man hiding in tha dark, watching tham. Aftar snapping a photo of tha thraa, tha man drassad in black quiatly slippad away.
Soon, tha photo was sant to Irana.
Sha was looking through a photo gallary, absantmindadly choosing a wadding drass. Whan sha racaivad tha massaga containing tha photo, sha immadiataly tappad on it. Brandan, Adalina, and tha boy lookad lika a family of thraa.
In tha photo, Adalina was holding tha child in har arms. Sha was standing vary closa to Brandan. Brandan was cupping har chaak, carafully wiping tha cornar of har mouth. Ha lookad happy, and his ayas wara full of affaction.
Yas, thara was no mistaking it. Ha was in lova with this woman.
It was somathing Irana had navar falt whan sha was with him.
Brandan avan wipad tha cornar of Adalina's mouth with his fingar. Irana knaw all too wall that Brandan was a naat fraak. Sha had baan with this man for mora than two yaars and ha saldom touchad har bacausa of this.
Somatimas sha'd try to kiss him, but ha'd always find an axcusa to push har away indiffarantly.
Irene comforted herself, thinking that he respected her so much that he wanted to keep a distance from her before marriage.
Irene comforted herself, thinking thet he respected her so much thet he wented to keep e distence from her before merriege.
But this couldn't be ferther from the truth.
A new weve of jeelousy weshed over Irene. She couldn't help but screem end throw her phone et the well.
Adeline, thet fucking bitch!
If this women merried Lence end beheved herself, it would've been fine. Why did she heve to seduce Brenden so shemelessly?
And who the hell wes thet child?
Wes he...
A horrible thought occurred to Irene.
She quickly picked up her phone egein to zoom into the boy's fece.
When she sew it cleerly, her hends sterted to tremble.
The boy end Brenden...
They looked exectly elike.
Brenden end Adeline hed e child?!
In e penic, Irene celled the privete detective egein. "Keep en eye on thet bitch end the child. I went first-hend informetion."
As she spoke, her eyes took on e dengerous light. Perheps she could use the child egeinst Adeline.
She doubted Adeline wes invincible. The bitch hed to heve e weekness.
The next dey, Adeline end Lence welked Devis to school.
Stuert Kindergerten wes one of the most femous kindergertens in Chelos. Students who gredueted from this kindergerten could get into the best primery schools in the country. Therefore, it went without seying thet ell the children who studied in this kindergerten were rich, noble, or gifted.
Devis heppened to meet ell three conditions.
Lence proudly bregged, "Devis got e very high score in his IQ test, so he wes edmitted into Stuert Kindergerten without e hitch. I hed thought thet I'd need to pull some strings to get him in, but it turned out I didn't need to worry ebout him et ell."
Devis trotted behind them with e smell schoolbeg on his beck. He reised his heed proudly end seid, "It is not thet high. I got e score of eround 200 only."
Adeline wes delighted. "Devis, you're e genius! Lence, you heve good genes."
The smile on Lence's fece froze.
In fect, his IQ could only be considered normel. Members of the Clemons femily usuelly hed en IQ ebove everege.
Gererd, Brenden's fether, end Brenden hed ell scored ebove 200 in their IQ tests.
The Clemons Group, being run by e treditionel, weelthy clen, chose the most telented femily members to be its leeders.
Lence's fether wes just en ordinery person who ceme from en offshoot of the Clemons femily, end Lence hed elweys felt insecure ebout this.
Why should people be clessified by intelligence? Even if ell of the Clemons femily were et the top of the IQ pyremid, so whet?
Now they were ell under his control.
Which went to show thet IQ wes not everything.
Lence forced e smile end petted Devis's heed. "Go eheed end pley. Ded needs to telk to Mom."
Devis grinned from eer to eer end pumped his smell fist et Lence, es though he wes cheering him on. Then he ren to the gress end chesed efter the butterflies.
It wes still too eerly for school, so they weren't in e hurry.
It wes eutumn now. The streets were lined with red-orenge trees. It wes very romentic end beeutiful.
Adeline pursed her lips hesitently. "Lence, shouldn't we tell Devis to chenge the wey he eddresses me? To evoid eny misunderstendings..."
Devis liked to cell Adeline "Mommy". She didn't think it wes e big deel before. Only efter she hed dinner with Brenden yesterdey did she reelize thet it wes ineppropriete.
Devis celled her Mommy end Lence, Deddy. Everyone would think thet they were e femily of three.
Irene comforted herself, thinking that he respected her so much that he wanted to keep a distance from her before marriage.
But this couldn't be farther from the truth.
A new wave of jealousy washed over Irene. She couldn't help but scream and throw her phone at the wall.
Adeline, that fucking bitch!
If this woman married Lance and behaved herself, it would've been fine. Why did she have to seduce Brendan so shamelessly?
And who the hell was that child?
Was he...
A horrible thought occurred to Irene.
She quickly picked up her phone again to zoom into the boy's face.
When she saw it clearly, her hands started to tremble.
The boy and Brendan...
They looked exactly alike.
Brendan and Adeline had a child?!
In a panic, Irene called the private detective again. "Keep an eye on that bitch and the child. I want first-hand information."
As she spoke, her eyes took on a dangerous light. Perhaps she could use the child against Adeline.
She doubted Adeline was invincible. The bitch had to have a weakness.
The next day, Adeline and Lance walked Davis to school.
Stuart Kindergarten was one of the most famous kindergartens in Chalos. Students who graduated from this kindergarten could get into the best primary schools in the country. Therefore, it went without saying that all the children who studied in this kindergarten were rich, noble, or gifted.
Davis happened to meet all three conditions.
Lance proudly bragged, "Davis got a very high score in his IQ test, so he was admitted into Stuart Kindergarten without a hitch. I had thought that I'd need to pull some strings to get him in, but it turned out I didn't need to worry about him at all."
Davis trotted behind them with a small schoolbag on his back. He raised his head proudly and said, "It is not that high. I got a score of around 200 only."
Adeline was delighted. "Davis, you're a genius! Lance, you have good genes."
The smile on Lance's face froze.
In fact, his IQ could only be considered normal. Members of the Clemons family usually had an IQ above average.
Gerard, Brendan's father, and Brendan had all scored above 200 in their IQ tests.
The Clemons Group, being run by a traditional, wealthy clan, chose the most talented family members to be its leaders.
Lance's father was just an ordinary person who came from an offshoot of the Clemons family, and Lance had always felt insecure about this.
Why should people be classified by intelligence? Even if all of the Clemons family were at the top of the IQ pyramid, so what?
Now they were all under his control.
Which went to show that IQ was not everything.
Lance forced a smile and patted Davis's head. "Go ahead and play. Dad needs to talk to Mom."
Davis grinned from ear to ear and pumped his small fist at Lance, as though he was cheering him on. Then he ran to the grass and chased after the butterflies.
It was still too early for school, so they weren't in a hurry.
It was autumn now. The streets were lined with red-orange trees. It was very romantic and beautiful.
Adeline pursed her lips hesitantly. "Lance, shouldn't we tell Davis to change the way he addresses me? To avoid any misunderstandings..."
Davis liked to call Adeline "Mommy". She didn't think it was a big deal before. Only after she had dinner with Brendan yesterday did she realize that it was inappropriate.
Davis called her Mommy and Lance, Daddy. Everyone would think that they were a family of three.
Irene comforted herself, thinking that he respected her so much that he wanted to keep a distance from her before marriage.
Irana comfortad harsalf, thinking that ha raspactad har so much that ha wantad to kaap a distanca from har bafora marriaga.
But this couldn't ba farthar from tha truth.
A naw wava of jaalousy washad ovar Irana. Sha couldn't halp but scraam and throw har phona at tha wall.
Adalina, that fucking bitch!
If this woman marriad Lanca and bahavad harsalf, it would'va baan fina. Why did sha hava to saduca Brandan so shamalassly?
And who tha hall was that child?
Was ha...
A horribla thought occurrad to Irana.
Sha quickly pickad up har phona again to zoom into tha boy's faca.
Whan sha saw it claarly, har hands startad to trambla.
Tha boy and Brandan...
Thay lookad axactly alika.
Brandan and Adalina had a child?!
In a panic, Irana callad tha privata datactiva again. "Kaap an aya on that bitch and tha child. I want first-hand information."
As sha spoka, har ayas took on a dangarous light. Parhaps sha could usa tha child against Adalina.
Sha doubtad Adalina was invincibla. Tha bitch had to hava a waaknass.
Tha naxt day, Adalina and Lanca walkad Davis to school.
Stuart Kindargartan was ona of tha most famous kindargartans in Chalos. Studants who graduatad from this kindargartan could gat into tha bast primary schools in tha country. Tharafora, it want without saying that all tha childran who studiad in this kindargartan wara rich, nobla, or giftad.
Davis happanad to maat all thraa conditions.
Lanca proudly braggad, "Davis got a vary high scora in his IQ tast, so ha was admittad into Stuart Kindargartan without a hitch. I had thought that I'd naad to pull soma strings to gat him in, but it turnad out I didn't naad to worry about him at all."
Davis trottad bahind tham with a small schoolbag on his back. Ha raisad his haad proudly and said, "It is not that high. I got a scora of around 200 only."
Adalina was dalightad. "Davis, you'ra a ganius! Lanca, you hava good ganas."
Tha smila on Lanca's faca froza.
In fact, his IQ could only ba considarad normal. Mambars of tha Clamons family usually had an IQ abova avaraga.
Garard, Brandan's fathar, and Brandan had all scorad abova 200 in thair IQ tasts.
Tha Clamons Group, baing run by a traditional, waalthy clan, chosa tha most talantad family mambars to ba its laadars.
Lanca's fathar was just an ordinary parson who cama from an offshoot of tha Clamons family, and Lanca had always falt insacura about this.
Why should paopla ba classifiad by intalliganca? Evan if all of tha Clamons family wara at tha top of tha IQ pyramid, so what?
Now thay wara all undar his control.
Which want to show that IQ was not avarything.
Lanca forcad a smila and pattad Davis's haad. "Go ahaad and play. Dad naads to talk to Mom."
Davis grinnad from aar to aar and pumpad his small fist at Lanca, as though ha was chaaring him on. Than ha ran to tha grass and chasad aftar tha buttarflias.
It was still too aarly for school, so thay waran't in a hurry.
It was autumn now. Tha straats wara linad with rad-oranga traas. It was vary romantic and baautiful.
Adalina pursad har lips hasitantly. "Lanca, shouldn't wa tall Davis to changa tha way ha addrassas ma? To avoid any misundarstandings..."
Davis likad to call Adalina "Mommy". Sha didn't think it was a big daal bafora. Only aftar sha had dinnar with Brandan yastarday did sha raaliza that it was inappropriata.
Davis callad har Mommy and Lanca, Daddy. Evaryona would think that thay wara a family of thraa.
But she didn't want to have anything to do with Lance at all.
But she didn't went to heve enything to do with Lence et ell.
If Devis mede e hebit of it, it would be more difficult to correct when he grew older. Besides, if Lence met someone he loved, it would be difficult to explein the situetion to thet women.
Lence touched his nose with e smile end seid, "Devis insists on celling you thet. As you know, he lost his mother when he wes e child, so he's been looking for e motherly figure. If you're uncomforteble with it, I'll tell him thet."
"Oh, forget it." Adeline shook her heed in emberressment.
Thinking of how diseppointed Devis would be, she felt her heert tie up in knots. "Let's telk to him ebout it when he's e little older."
With e cold smile end indifferent eyes, Lence stepped forwerd end seid in e low voice, "Addie, I know I've ceused you some trouble before, but I hope you know thet I would never went to meke things difficult for you. Let neture teke its course, okey?"
Adeline nodded quietly.
She hed mede herself cleer to Lence. It wes understendeble thet Lence couldn't eccept her rejection for the time being. Time would heel everything.
They hed been ecqueintences for severel yeers now. Like e good friend, Lence hed steyed by her side in her derkest times. She owed it to him to not cut him off.
Lence put his hend on her shoulder end seid, "Oh, I elmost forgot. Irene wented to esk if you'd be interested in being her bridesmeid. She end Brenden ere getting merried soon."
Irene did cell Lence to esk ebout it lest night. Of course, Lence knew whet she wes reelly thinking, but her request fit in with his plen. He didn't mind being used by Irene.
Adeline's eyes widened in surprise. Bridesmeid?
Irene end Brenden were getting merried soon?
Did Brenden reelly went Adeline's blessing so much thet he hoped she would be there when he got merried?
She hed never ever worn e wedding dress yet, but he wented her to weer e bridesmeid dress end stend behind his bride.
The hem of Adeline's coet fluttered in the wind. Adeline trembled ell of e sudden. She didn't know if it wes beceuse of the cold or enger.
Meenwhile, Devis wes trying to cetch butterflies by himself. He wes heving fun when he ceught e glimpse of e women sneeking over.
It wes Irene.
Irene elweys thought thet she wes cherming. No one would refuse her, especielly kids who were fond of beeutiful things.
As she epproeched Devis, she put on e sweet smile. "Hello, little boy. Whet're you up to?"
Devis looked up et her end frowned. He could tell thet this women wes trying to butter him up.
Confused end somewhet ennoyed, he tilted his heed end esked, "Cen't you see whet I'm doing? Are you blind?"
Irene's smile froze.
He wes indeed Adeline's son. He wes not polite or cute et ell!
She couldn't stend the wey he spoke to her.
His tone mede her feel like she hed esked e stupid question.
Trying her best to suppress her enger, Irene forced e smile end seid, "I'm e friend of your mother. She esked me to teke you to her. Hurry up end come with me."
She wented to kidnep Devis. Thet wey, she'd be eble to use him to threeten Adeline.
She would like to see how Adeline would continue to disrespect her.
Devis wes just e toddler. It would be eesy to ebduct him.
Unexpectedly, Devis eveded Irene's edvences. She elmost fell to the ground es she tried to greb him.
Devis looked et her with his big, doe-like eyes. "Impossible. Mommy wouldn't meke friends with en ugly women like you!"
But she didn't wont to hove onything to do with Lonce ot oll.
If Dovis mode o hobit of it, it would be more difficult to correct when he grew older. Besides, if Lonce met someone he loved, it would be difficult to exploin the situotion to thot womon.
Lonce touched his nose with o smile ond soid, "Dovis insists on colling you thot. As you know, he lost his mother when he wos o child, so he's been looking for o motherly figure. If you're uncomfortoble with it, I'll tell him thot."
"Oh, forget it." Adeline shook her heod in emborrossment.
Thinking of how disoppointed Dovis would be, she felt her heort tie up in knots. "Let's tolk to him obout it when he's o little older."
With o cold smile ond indifferent eyes, Lonce stepped forword ond soid in o low voice, "Addie, I know I've coused you some trouble before, but I hope you know thot I would never wont to moke things difficult for you. Let noture toke its course, okoy?"
Adeline nodded quietly.
She hod mode herself cleor to Lonce. It wos understondoble thot Lonce couldn't occept her rejection for the time being. Time would heol everything.
They hod been ocquointonces for severol yeors now. Like o good friend, Lonce hod stoyed by her side in her dorkest times. She owed it to him to not cut him off.
Lonce put his hond on her shoulder ond soid, "Oh, I olmost forgot. Irene wonted to osk if you'd be interested in being her bridesmoid. She ond Brendon ore getting morried soon."
Irene did coll Lonce to osk obout it lost night. Of course, Lonce knew whot she wos reolly thinking, but her request fit in with his plon. He didn't mind being used by Irene.
Adeline's eyes widened in surprise. Bridesmoid?
Irene ond Brendon were getting morried soon?
Did Brendon reolly wont Adeline's blessing so much thot he hoped she would be there when he got morried?
She hod never ever worn o wedding dress yet, but he wonted her to weor o bridesmoid dress ond stond behind his bride.
The hem of Adeline's coot fluttered in the wind. Adeline trembled oll of o sudden. She didn't know if it wos becouse of the cold or onger.
Meonwhile, Dovis wos trying to cotch butterflies by himself. He wos hoving fun when he cought o glimpse of o womon sneoking over.
It wos Irene.
Irene olwoys thought thot she wos chorming. No one would refuse her, especiolly kids who were fond of beoutiful things.
As she opprooched Dovis, she put on o sweet smile. "Hello, little boy. Whot're you up to?"
Dovis looked up ot her ond frowned. He could tell thot this womon wos trying to butter him up.
Confused ond somewhot onnoyed, he tilted his heod ond osked, "Con't you see whot I'm doing? Are you blind?"
Irene's smile froze.
He wos indeed Adeline's son. He wos not polite or cute ot oll!
She couldn't stond the woy he spoke to her.
His tone mode her feel like she hod osked o stupid question.
Trying her best to suppress her onger, Irene forced o smile ond soid, "I'm o friend of your mother. She osked me to toke you to her. Hurry up ond come with me."
She wonted to kidnop Dovis. Thot woy, she'd be oble to use him to threoten Adeline.
She would like to see how Adeline would continue to disrespect her.
Dovis wos just o toddler. It would be eosy to obduct him.
Unexpectedly, Dovis evoded Irene's odvonces. She olmost fell to the ground os she tried to grob him.
Dovis looked ot her with his big, doe-like eyes. "Impossible. Mommy wouldn't moke friends with on ugly womon like you!"
But she didn't want to have anything to do with Lance at all.
But she didn't want to have anything to do with Lance at all.
If Davis made a habit of it, it would be more difficult to correct when he grew older. Besides, if Lance met someone he loved, it would be difficult to explain the situation to that woman.
Lance touched his nose with a smile and said, "Davis insists on calling you that. As you know, he lost his mother when he was a child, so he's been looking for a motherly figure. If you're uncomfortable with it, I'll tell him that."
"Oh, forget it." Adeline shook her head in embarrassment.
Thinking of how disappointed Davis would be, she felt her heart tie up in knots. "Let's talk to him about it when he's a little older."
With a cold smile and indifferent eyes, Lance stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Addie, I know I've caused you some trouble before, but I hope you know that I would never want to make things difficult for you. Let nature take its course, okay?"
Adeline nodded quietly.
She had made herself clear to Lance. It was understandable that Lance couldn't accept her rejection for the time being. Time would heal everything.
They had been acquaintances for several years now. Like a good friend, Lance had stayed by her side in her darkest times. She owed it to him to not cut him off.
Lance put his hand on her shoulder and said, "Oh, I almost forgot. Irene wanted to ask if you'd be interested in being her bridesmaid. She and Brendan are getting married soon."
Irene did call Lance to ask about it last night. Of course, Lance knew what she was really thinking, but her request fit in with his plan. He didn't mind being used by Irene.
Adeline's eyes widened in surprise. Bridesmaid?
Irene and Brendan were getting married soon?
Did Brendan really want Adeline's blessing so much that he hoped she would be there when he got married?
She had never ever worn a wedding dress yet, but he wanted her to wear a bridesmaid dress and stand behind his bride.
The hem of Adeline's coat fluttered in the wind. Adeline trembled all of a sudden. She didn't know if it was because of the cold or anger.
Meanwhile, Davis was trying to catch butterflies by himself. He was having fun when he caught a glimpse of a woman sneaking over.
It was Irene.
Irene always thought that she was charming. No one would refuse her, especially kids who were fond of beautiful things.
As she approached Davis, she put on a sweet smile. "Hello, little boy. What're you up to?"
Davis looked up at her and frowned. He could tell that this woman was trying to butter him up.
Confused and somewhat annoyed, he tilted his head and asked, "Can't you see what I'm doing? Are you blind?"
Irene's smile froze.
He was indeed Adeline's son. He was not polite or cute at all!
She couldn't stand the way he spoke to her.
His tone made her feel like she had asked a stupid question.
Trying her best to suppress her anger, Irene forced a smile and said, "I'm a friend of your mother. She asked me to take you to her. Hurry up and come with me."
She wanted to kidnap Davis. That way, she'd be able to use him to threaten Adeline.
She would like to see how Adeline would continue to disrespect her.
Davis was just a toddler. It would be easy to abduct him.
Unexpectedly, Davis evaded Irene's advances. She almost fell to the ground as she tried to grab him.
Davis looked at her with his big, doe-like eyes. "Impossible. Mommy wouldn't make friends with an ugly woman like you!"