Sylvia froze. Thomas stroked and wiped the tip of her nose and then smiled at her. “There’s icing on your nose.” He smiled softly, as though he was a flower that bloomed in the spring after the snow melted away. He looked a lot warmer than his usual frosty self. Sylvia had a difficult time smiling or appreciating his kind gesture. Thomas noticed her blank reaction, so he asked, “What’s wrong?” “N-Nothing. Let’s go back, our cake is waiting,” she stammered and nervously walked away, trying to draw distance from him. Thomas felt slightly disheartened, but he followed her nevertheless. However, when he was at the table, he saw Sylvia got herself sandwiched between two female lecturers. He paused for a moment and sat down opposite her. The group soon gathered around the table. A piece of cake, taken randomly from everyone’s masterpiece, was served together with boxes of fruit juices. Christopher said with a smile, “Before we dig into our masterpiece, let’s have a to
He curled his lips and eyes and continued with a warm smile, “You’re only ruining it for me when you avoid me.” His words were like explosives that went off in Sylvia’s head. It blasted all the messy thoughts away and widened her eyes in shock. What did he mean by that? Thomas noticed the blank look on her face. He pinched her nose and said, “Stop staring into the air. Aren’t you going home?” His touch felt like a sting from a bee and it startled her, causing her to stagger a few steps to the side. It was at that moment that she saw Odell standing further behind Thomas. The man was wearing a navy blue coat. The frosty expression on his face was as cold as the weather. Isabel was in his left arm and Liam was on his right, holding his hand. The brother and sister were also staring at her and Thomas. Sylvia froze. “Odell? Why did you bring Isabel and Liam here?” Thomas heard her and turned around too. Odell stood there and glared at her and Thomas for a few seconds b
At the side door of the hall, the chilly wind whirred in the air. “It’s been a long time, Brother.” It was Thomas who spoke first after the long silent confrontation. Odell shot a deep gaze at him and asked, “Why are you teaching here at the academy?” “For a particular someone.” Odell’s frosty expression turned grim. He uttered each word with a hint of coldness, “She’s your sister-in-law.” Thomas’ calm and frosty look remained as he said, “As far as I know, you divorced her already.” “Even if we were already divorced, she could only be mine! She’s not someone you can extend your filthy fantasy to.” Thomas grinned in silence. Odell also pursed his lips in silence. As he regained his composure from his sudden anger, he said to Thomas, “I’d stop whatever thoughts I have for her if I were you. I’ll spare you this time but if I find out you’re trying to do anything to her, you’ll suffer the consequences.” Thomas did not answer. His calm and frosty look remained on his fa
Odell curled his lips and hummed a reply. “Okay. Liam and I will leave you be.” The mature little girl then followed her brother upstairs to the room. Aunt Tonya cleaned the table and took the plates into the kitchen. The living room became quiet, and so was the atmosphere. Sylvia got up and took a few steps back to draw distance from him. She then asked coldly, “Odell, what is it?” Odell remained seated on the chair as he stared at her. “Come closer and I’ll tell you.” “I can hear you just fine. Speak and leave.” He pursed his lips and stared at her silently. Some time passed but he showed no intentions of speaking. Sylvia took a deep breath and said, “What is it that you want to say?” He grinned. “Come closer.” Sylvia just wanted him out of the house, so she begrudgingly stepped forward. Before she knew it, his long arm grabbed her and hugged her around the waist. She fell onto his lap before she could even scream. She pushed him away but his other han
Sylvia glared at him with a flush. Odell grinned. “This is the punishment for letting him touch your nose.” Sylvia widened her eyes at him. Odell then released her hands and waist with a mischievous smile. Sylvia bolted up and took a few steps back from him. Her eyes remained glaring at him as she said, “Odell, I can agree to whatever request you come up with today but please follow the terms we agreed on the divorce papers. Don’t break your promise.” Odell got up. Seemingly in a good mood, he shot an amused gaze at her and said, “As long as you listen to me, I’ll keep my promise.” The man strode toward the exit. Sylvia cursed the man in her heart until he completely left her sight. She took a deep breath to calm down and then went upstairs to Isabel and Liam’s room. The two little ones stared at her with their puffy faces. Isabel curiously asked, “Mommy, why are you up already? You finished talking to the baddie?” Based on all the TV that she had been watching, t
“Shouldn’t Sebastian and the others be at Carter residence? Are they here because they miss the kids?” While Sylvia was baffled by the surprise visit, a black MPV drove over from next door and stopped in front of her gate. She knew at first glance it was Odell’s personal car. Isabel also recognized it. She moved her short legs and ran to the gate before she shouted, “Baddie! Are you going to work?!” The door opened and Odell’s towering figure emerged from within. He carried the little girl into his arms and said, “Yeah, I’m going now.” Isabel pouted. “You don’t want to eat breakfast?” “I had breakfast.” “Oooh, okay.” The girl protruded her lips, seemingly unwilling to part with her father. Odell patted her head. “Go play. I’ll come back and have dinner with you guys.” He then put the girl down. Then, the man looked up to the second floor, where Sylvia’s room was. Their gaze met mid-air and Sylvia immediately turned around to avoid it. Odell grinned. He shot a
The house looked almost the same as hers. The interior and the decoration followed a minimalistic yet luxurious design style. It did not seem like it had just finished renovation. ‘Did he buy the house fully furnished?’ Madam Carter’s room was located on the first floor, where it faced the east. When Sylvia walked into the room, Liam was beside the bed and Isabel was on the bed, blabbering next to Madam Carter’s ears. “Great-grandma, Liam and I will be able to come to see you every day. Wakey, wakey…” The two of them were adorable and obedient. Sylvia’s gaze shifted. She stood by the door for a while before she went inside. …At night, Sylvia prepared dinner with Aunt Tonya as usual. Both Isabel and Liam were in the living room. For some reason, the girl did not come into the kitchen tonight, not even once. She would usually come in a few times to mess around. Sylvia was not overly bothered by her absence. When dinner was ready, she walked out of the kitchen an
“Who are you talking to?” All of a sudden, the man’s gruff voice came from above her. Startled, Sylvia vented her annoyance at him. “It’s none of your business.” The moment the words escaped her mouth, she realized she was not speaking in the right tone. She immediately looked at Isabel and saw the girl snoozing on the couch. Sylvia had a glance at the boy beside her. The boy was not asleep but he was carried away by the book, seemingly uninterested in his parents’ conversation. She sighed a breath of relief. Without further concealing her feelings, she glared at Odell. Odell was looking at her with a bewitching grin. Sylvia wished she could scold him out loud but she had to hold back urge and chose to whisper her reminder instead, “It’s getting late. You should go back and rest.” “Good night.” The man then strode out of the house without pause. Sylva stared at his figure as he left her sight. Her brows strangely furrowed. At the end of the day, Odell only c