Chapter 5 Leaving Home Out of Pique.

Henry and Regina turned towards the boy barging in. "Kevin, you can't just barge in like that!" Henry advised.

Kevin stepped forward. "Dad, why didn't you discuss this with me? If I hadn't come down and overheard the servants' conversation, I wouldn't have known about this. Give me that contract, I need to remove the clause about divorce!"

Henry withdrew the contract from his hand, holding it high out of reach of the boy standing less than 150 cm tall. "Children shouldn't meddle in these matters. Let the adults handle this."

"Just because I'm a child, I don't have the right to voice my opinion? Why are adults always so selfish? What about me when you two split up? You never think about that, do you? It's all the same, I hate you both!" Kevin blurted out his emotions before storming off.

Regina stared at his departure without blinking, her mind drifting to a little girl clutching a teddy bear. The child was in tears, screaming, "Mom and dad are selfish! Why can't I decide? Just because I'm a kid, you won't listen to me! I hate you!"

A slap landed on the cheek of the 10-year-old. "Who taught you to say such things and defy your parents? Didn't you learn ethics properly? Come with me!"

A woman with long hair in a maxi dress grabbed the little girl's hand and ushered her into a room. "Go to your room and reflect on your mistakes. Today, you won't get any food or leave your room." The door shut tight. No one cared about the little girl's cries.

"Hey, Regina Tan! Are you daydreaming?"

Regina snapped out of her reverie. "You better go after that kid. Seems like he's really upset about what happened."

"You relax. Assistant, you help me calm the kid down! Don't let him cause trouble! You're good with kids, right?" Henry commanded.

The assistant promptly left.

"Now let's deal with this contract!" Henry said. "The sooner you sign it, the sooner this will be over."

"I need to read it first." Regina finally took the contract. She found some clauses she didn't like. "Why do we have to sleep in the same room? Our relationship is just a contract, don't take advantage!" Regina showed a sharp expression.

"It's to control public opinion, you know the servants love to gossip, right? They'll spread rumors if we don't look like a typical couple," Henry explained.

Regina read the contract again, seriously. "But this is too much. Not all couples sleep in the same room, right?"

"We'll play the role of a couple married for love. Wouldn't it be strange if we slept separately? Miss Regina, if the public response is good about our marriage, it will also be good for the company."

"Henry Jian, do you think we can deceive everyone? We're known for hating each other, we were even competing yesterday, and now we're supposed to be lovers. Which fool would believe that?" Regina responded cynically.

"Hey, haven't you ever seen couples who seem to hate each other but are intimate behind the scenes? Do you choose to be known like that or as parents who neglect their child? You must know the impact of each choice."

Regina looked away from the contract. She stared at Henry seriously. "I--"

"CEO Jian, this is urgent!" Their assistant suddenly barged in, interrupting their serious conversation.

"What's got you so panicked?" Henry asked, surprised. "What about the kid? Have you calmed him down?"

"I tried my best, but the kid, I mean the young master, insisted on leaving. He even bit everyone who tried to stop him," the assistant said.

"Just bites, but you lost. You could've forcibly detained him."

"We dare not hurt him. The Young Master has already left in a taxi."

"Since when are there taxis this late at night?" Henry wondered.

"I don't know either, but we're still trying to get someone to chase him. CEO Jian and Miss Tan, it's better if you persuade the kid yourselves. If not, he might--"

"Let it be. The kid probably went to another family member's house. He's my rival's pawn. Keep an eye on him and report back to me!" Henry ordered firmly. "One more thing, find out about the kid's background as soon as possible."

The assistant wanted to complain about the many tasks he had to do tonight. However, seeing the stern face, he could only nod obediently and leave the room.

"Miss Regina, you haven't signed it yet!"

"We'll discuss this later, for now, let's find the kid!" Regina suddenly stood up. "It's already late at night, and that sudden taxi arrival is suspicious. The kid might be in danger."

Henry sighed heavily. "Why are you suddenly concerned about the kid? He might be a fraud. Weren't you initially bothered by his presence?"

"Yes, but without the kid, there's no reason for us to be together. Didn't you feel something when you heard the kid disappear?" Regina said.

Henry fell silent. Regina didn't wait for her rival's action anymore. "I'll find him myself!"

Henry held onto her hand. "You don't have a car, are you going to walk?"

"There's still online taxis." Regina brushed off his grip. But Henry refused to let go.

"I'll go with you. Let's find him together."

Meanwhile, in the dark city night, Kevin sat in the taxi with swollen eyes radiating anger and disappointment. The driver observed the boy sitting in the back seat through the rearview mirror. "Son, where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere as long as it's far from that home," Kevin replied.

"Are you running away from the bad people at the house earlier?"

"No. The people who live there are my parents. Although they're annoying, they're not bad people."

"Then why are you leaving and wanting to get away from them?"

"Because..." Kevin hesitated to answer.

"Did you have a fight with your parents, so you want to leave? Don't do that, sometimes parents act tough, but it's all for your own good." The taxi driver offered advice.

Kevin shook his head. "Uncle, you don't understand. My parents don't care about me. They only care about their own selfishness."

"I may not understand what's going on, but haven't you noticed the car following us? Aren't they from your parents? If your parents didn't care, they wouldn't do this and let you leave just like that. Besides, don't you have important tasks?"

Kevin furrowed his brows upon hearing the last sentence from the man. "Uncle, could it be that you're...?"