"Of course," Zoe replied.Wendy promptly opened her camera app and took a selfie with Zoe before suddenly calling out to Cordy too. "How about we take another one together?"Cordy was left staring at Wendy, wondering how carefree that woman could be."Come on," Wendy kept urging nonetheless.Cordy joined them in the end, since she did not want things to get awkward.However, after taking the selfie, Wendy was muttering, "Oh, it's not surprising that Dicky is that handsome—he really got some good genes from his parents. I wonder if Johnny and my kids would look that good.""Wait, you guys are getting married?" Zoe was a little agitated at the prospect."Not that soon—we just met a while ago," Wendy smiled, chagrined, though she soon added meekly, "But if Johnny proposes, I think I'll say yes…"As she spoke, she glanced at John, who did not answer directly and said instead, "Time to eat. Go wash your hands."Wendy stuck her tongue out at him. "You're coming with me."John did n
"Cordy?" Zoe had to call out to her several times before she came to her senses and realized that she had been spacing out."What's with you tonight?" Zoe asked, perplexed. "You're looking at Yelena one second, and then at John and Wendy the next.""Was I? I was just thinking, not really looking," Cordy replied half-heartedly."Then what were you thinking?" Zoe pressed relentlessly."I was just thinking… Yelena is really cute," Cordy hastily came up with an excuse, giving in to Zoe just then. "So you want a daughter too?" Zoe asked.Cordy frowned—so it was a trick question!"Can't I just like Yelena?" she snapped grumpily."I like you too, Godmother!" Yelena quickly exclaimed loudly. "Well, your daughter would definitely be very beautiful," Zoe pressed on nonetheless."I refuse," Cordy said flatly. "Dicky is enough.""You can do it," Richard suddenly said. "I want a younger sister too.""Me too!" Yelena promptly raised her little hand since Richard had spoken."Ask your
Before Cordy could speak, Zoe was already excited and asked, "Is John impotent?"Cordy was speechless.Did Zoe really just ask John's ex—right in front of John's current girlfriend—about how he was in bed?!She thought to herself then that Jay had really been pampering Zoe to no end."Shouldn't you ask Wendy about that instead?" she asked.Zoe came to her senses and turned toward Wendy."Of course we are compatible." Wendy smiled gingerly. "I mean… John is such a stud."Zoe was actually a little embarrassed just then.The young really did not watch their language these days, did they?She then turned to find Cordy looking perfectly calm."Sorry, I need the ladies' room." Wendy excused herself right then, worried that the topic was spiraling out of control.After she left, Zoe kept staring at Cordy.Cordy was speechless again. "What are you staring at me for?""No, I wasn't." Zoe denied it. "I just thought it's nice being young."Cordy knew that Zoe was deliberately messin
Tilting his little head just then, Richard asked, "Mommy, do you not like having Wendy around?""I'm fine with her," Cordy said generously. "Oh," Richard replied with a tinge of disappointment.Cordy did not dwell on it, simply dismissing it as John's issue that had nothing to do with her.-Saturday morning soon arrived, and Cordy only woke up when it was already 10 AM.She had been working late on Friday and came home so late it was long past midnight when she got into bed. She decided to sleep in, considering that she did not have work tomorrow. When she finally woke up, she stretched her back and headed downstairs in her pajamas, wondering if Richard had any arrangements for the day. She was still yawning just as she arrived downstairs, where she found Richard and John in the kitchen, with John cooking and Richard filming with his phone.Cordy was stunned for a while before remembering Richard's school project—the family vlog."You're up, Mommy!" Richard exclaimed as
"Okay."Cordy picked up her knife and fork and started eating slowly.She was going to argue but noticed upon a closer look that the food really were all her favorites. "You didn't have to make my favorites exclusively," she said, seemingly offhandedly. "I'm not picky with food…""I feel guilty imposing on you today, so take this as a token of gratitude."Cordy said nothing else at that and treated it as an actual polite gesture."By the way, didn't Wendy say she was coming? Why isn't she here?" Richard asked.Cordy looked up at Richard just then—her son really liked Wendy, did he not?"She always sleeps in. Leave her be—don't disturb her now," John said flatly.Cordy somehow thought she heard a tinge of tenderness in his tone."Okay." Richard nodded. "What about the afternoon?""That depends if she has other arrangements. She'll be here if there aren't any.""Okay."And with that, they finished brunch, with Richard and John conversing intermittently, while Cordy remained
Cordy quickly said, "No, it's not made for me."She could understand that Richard meant no harm since he was still a child.But with Wendy around, saying something like that was inevitably inappropriate."No, it really was made for you," Wendy said bluntly then. "I told Johnny to make it for you, since Dicky said you like it. Why don't you have a taste?"Cordy pursed her lips, surprised that Wendy was that magnanimous.In contrast, she felt petty.Nonetheless, she opened her mouth and ate the slice.It was much softer than those purchased, and its sweetness melted in her mouth right away.In fact, Cordy had not been feeling an appetite, but she was suddenly seized by an impulse to start gluttoning."It's good, right?" Wendy asked her expectantly."Yeah.""That's what I've been saying," Wendy said sweetly. "I'm so lucky to have met Johnny. He's rich, handsome, kind, and a good cook. He's just so perfect…"Cordy was going to tell her that she did not have to go that far just
Understanding that she should be grateful, Cordy moved to stand next to John.Wendy raised the smartphone again and said, "Three, two, one, smile!"She even took several more after that."Alright!" Wendy exclaimed when she was done, and she passed Richard his phone back. "Check it out. Are they good?"Richard scrolled through them and quickly said, "It's great, Wendy. Thank you.""Oh, it's nothing," Wendy replied.Things were perfectly harmonious, and Cordy felt like she was not a part of it.However, Richard would always reach out to her, always paying attention to her mood like he did now."Mommy, can I film a video of you and Daddy working together?"Cordy was going to say no, but John agreed to it right away. "Sure."Cordy glanced between John and Wendy, the latter who shrugged nonchalantly. "Of course—anything that makes you happy, Dicky.""You're the best, Wendy.""Of course," Wendy said smugly. "And I'll treat you the same even after I have a soccer team with your da
Stunned, their eyes met for seconds before Cordy quickly pushed John away and turned her back on him.They had been so close she spaced out for a moment, but she still felt John's hot breath becoming rushed.She could also feel her own heart racing wildly, while her cheeks burned.She took a deep breath to calm herself, deciding that she had been a little careless just then."That was great, Mommy! Do your best!" Richard quickly exclaimed just then, cheering her on as he noticed the awkwardness between his parents.Cordy slowly calmed down as well and seriously learned baking from John while quietly keeping his distance.Naturally, he did not step out of line either—in fact, he was paying considerable attention not to get too close since he felt her aversion.Soon, they finished making cookies, which were a little charred but tasted good.Cordy felt a strong sense of accomplishment, especially with Richard munching while flattering her."Wow, your cookies are wonderful, Mommy!