Landon chose to ignore the look Emma gave him as he led Asher out of the room.He sat down at a table while Emma took Asher to select their food from the breakfast buffet."When we get our food, we need to pick up our utensils here," Emma said, bending down to retrieve a plate from below.Asher mimicked her and picked up a plate. "Mommy, I want to eat that," Asher said as he pointed to something on the table.It looked delicious, and he was eager to try it."Okay," Emma said with a smile, picking up the tongs and placing a serving on his plate. "At a buffet, you can choose whatever you like, but remember to take a little at a time and return for more if you want."That way, you won't take too much at once and waste food."Asher nodded obediently, taking the advice to heart."See, different items go in different containers. Soup, for example, goes in a bowl," Emma demonstrated. "And remember, if you use any tongs or spoons from the serving area, you must return them so other
“Okay,” Asher nodded and stood up.“Asher, go with Mommy to get some coconut juice, and Daddy will stay here and keep an eye on things,” Landon said with a smile.“Thanks, Daddy.” Asher was thrilled to hear that Landon would be watching over his castle.Just then, a ball flew from the side and crashed into the unfinished sandcastle, causing a large section to collapse.Asher stood in shock and stared at the ruins of his castle before looking over at Landon.Landon was equally stunned. He had just promised to keep an eye on the castle.How could such a thing happen? ‘Asher must think that I can’t even manage this,’ Landon despaired silently.“Daddy, don’t be sad,” Asher said. “Mommy said this is an accident.“Accidents are unpredictable. It’s not your fault,” Asher added as he hugged Landon. “Don’t be sad, Daddy. We can rebuild it later.”Landon patted Asher’s back lightly and looked slightly confused as he gleaned at Emma.Emma however looked very pleased by what she saw.
Emma was seething with anger. How could someone be so unreasonable?"Ma'am, your son’s ball damaged the castle we built. We’re not asking for anything drastic, just an apology," Emma said, trying to remain patient.Grace, however, lost her temper immediately. "Two adults ganging up on my child—what are you trying to do?"You have a child of your own but this is how you treat someone else's child?"Grace was so enraged that she reached out to grab Asher by the ear. That was the final straw for Emma and her fury boiled over. She could tolerate a lot, but someone threatening Asher was something she would not stand for.Emma was about to intervene but Landon was faster. He slapped Grace across the face. The sound of the slap cut through her vitriol."How dare you hit me?" Grace screamed, her face contorted in rage. She tried to claw at Landon, but he kicked her away.As the commotion unfolded, several bystanders came forward to intervene. Some voiced their displeasure at Lando
Asher shook his head and replied bravely, “I’m not, Daddy.”“What’s going on? What’s happening?” A man, Jason Abrahm, pushed through the crowd, his face etched with concern.Upon seeing Jason, Grace cried out excitedly, “Honey!”Jason ignored her and rushed to embrace Piers. “Son, what’s wrong? Who hurt you? Daddy’s here.”Piers burst into tears at the sight of his father. “Daddy, they’re bullying me! They’re bullying me!” he shouted while pointing at Asher.Asher immediately protested loudly, “I didn’t bully him! He threw the ball and destroyed my castle! And he hasn’t apologized!”“Daddy, they’re bullying me and they’re being mean!” Piers pointed at Landon, jumping up and down in a tantrum.Jason placed his hand on Piers’s shoulder to calm him down. “It’s okay, Daddy’s here. Daddy will make them apologize.”Piers lifted his head and glared triumphantly at Asher.Asher pouted and turned to Emma. “Mommy, they’re being unreasonable.”Emma smiled and said, “It’s okay, sweethe
"What do we need lawyers for? Do you think only you can afford one?" Grace shouted defiantly."Honey, let's hire a lawyer too!" Grace said as she tugged at Jason’s arm.She glared venomously at Emma.Emma was not intimidated as she had Landon backing her up.Jason looked at Landon. "Do you really want to take it that far?"Landon said nothing. Instead, he picked up Asher and said to Emma, "Let's head back.""Hey, you can't leave! Who gave you permission to go?" Grace asked as she stepped in front of Landon.Landon gave Jason a warning glance. "Control your wife."Jason's brow furrowed. Landon's arrogance made him uneasy, and he wondered what leverage Landon had."Buddy, there's no need to make such a big deal out of a children's dispute," Jason warned Landon.Landon gave the man a cold, silent glance and said nothing."I'm here, Mr. Stirling," said a middle-aged man dressed in a sharp suit as he approached Landon."You know what to do, Saul," Landon said as he casually ti
Jason felt a growing unease but focused solely on getting back to their room to make a few calls. He walked briskly ahead, while Grace took Piers into her arms. Piers was used to being a little tyrant at home so he had a hard time stopping his tantrum. Grace had to soothe him for quite a while before he slowly calmed down.Once inside their room, Jason turned to Grace. "Where's the business card? Give it to me."She quickly set Piers down and pulled out Saul’s business card. Jason took the card, examined it, and began reading the name aloud into the phone.The person on the other end responded while Jason listened attentively, nodding as he replied, "Yes, yes, that’s the right age, a bit plump in the face... Yes, that’s the one. Good, send it to me, I’ll check if it’s the right person."After receiving a photo, Jason confirmed the details. "Yes, that’s the lawyer. How does this lawyer handle cases? We’re dealing with a dispute that started with my child and the client.
“Come on, Ash, let’s go take a bath.” Emma smiled as she gently patted the little guy on the head.She could tell that her child was not really scared by what had happened earlier. As long as parents did a good job at protecting their kids, children would not be so easily frightened. It would also help them toughen up.After all, parents could not shield their kids from everything. Even if they tried, it would not be the right thing to do. How would the child grow and face the world if they were sheltered from every little thing?Emma believed it was not about avoiding the problem, but teaching kids how to handle them when they arise.After playing on the beach all day, Asher was covered in sand. Emma laid some paper on the bathroom floor and had Ash stand on it while she rinsed the sand off with the showerhead. That way, Ash would be clean, and the sand would stay on the paper. Once he stepped off, she gathered the paper and tossed it in the trash, keeping the sand from clogging
“Some trash is just too stubborn for us to throw away ourselves. That’s when we need someone strong, like Daddy, to help us toss it into the trash can!” Asher said, completely serious.Landon was momentarily taken aback, but then he chuckled and patted Ash’s head. “You’re a smart kid, Ash. That’s exactly how it should be done.”Pleased with the praise, Ash grinned, while Landon turned to Emma. “That’s quite a metaphor you came up with.”Emma’s lips curved into a smile. “Well, most people don’t have the time or energy to deal with that kind of trash, but there’s always someone out there who can take care of it.”“Like you,” she said as she looked at Landon with admiration. “You found a lawyer to deal with those clueless parents who don’t know how to raise their kids.”Emma firmly believed that all children started as blank slates. They had no idea what was right or wrong until their parents taught them. If parents corrected their kids, they would grow up to be well-mannered, but if
“Of course, marriage is about mutual benefit. You treat me well, and I treat you well in return. You help me shoulder life's pressures, and I offer you support. That’s what fosters a stable marriage,” Emma stated matter-of-factly.“It won’t work if one side keeps giving while the other takes without giving anything in return.“And sometimes, it may seem like one side isn’t contributing, but there are always invisible sacrifices being made.“Otherwise, how could any marriage last?” Landon wrapped his arms around Emma and sighed softly. “You know, what I love most about you is your clear understanding of things.“You give me a sense of security,” Landon said candidly. He knew Emma was not the type to overthink things as she was a very reasonable person.“You see, Asher has grown so optimistic and cheerful because of you. Being with you makes me feel incredibly at ease. That’s something money can’t buy.”Emma thought seriously for a moment. “If you need comfort, I feel like ther
Emma froze, her curiosity piqued. “What did you learn?”She was not surprised that Asher had absorbed her lessons as that was her goal in teaching him. But what had Landon learned? “I learned a lot,” Landon replied with a smile. “For example, your attention to detail and patience, your tolerance for others, and your ability to handle situations calmly—”Emma laughed, breaking his train of thought. “Stop, stop, stop! If you keep going, I might start believing I'm some kind of superhero! I’d be even better than you!” “Then I'd really be lacking in self-awareness if I think that,” Landon said as he wrapped his arms around her. “You genuinely possess many admirable qualities—exactly what I need.”“Alright, alright... what you need,” Emma replied casually.Landon gently tapped her shoulder. “Are you brushing me off?”Emma pouted. “You hit me…”Landon hurriedly rubbed her shoulder. “Did it hurt?”He had not even used enough force to swat a fly but hearing Emma say it made him do
People loved to take advantage of a good deal, and after consulting the owner, the manager anticipated such behavior from the customers when he proposed the solution. Besides, both the owner and the manager possessed a broader vision. They understood that they could not let a small financial loss tarnish their restaurant's reputation.The way they handled the incident turned into a great advertising opportunity. Those diners who experienced the situation firsthand became loyal customers. They now had a favorable impression of the restaurant and would be the first to recommend it for future gatherings or family outings. No amount of traditional advertising could rival the power of genuine recommendations from friends and family.Both the restaurant owner and manager knew how to effectively navigate a business crisis. What could have been a damaging situation had transformed into positive publicity due to their prompt action.“Let Daddy explain the specifics of the business
The restaurant manager politely apologized and thanked them before clearing all the food from the table. Emma smiled. "I really like this restaurant."Landon nodded, recognizing that this was a business that understood customer service. Just then, Emma spotted Asher’s confused expression. "Those dishes we had earlier might have been touched by that lady."If someone used a spoon that others had already used to scoop food for me, would you be pleased by that?" Asher shook his head vigorously. "Not at all!""Exactly! So, the food that might have come into contact with that lady's saliva was removed and destroyed by the restaurant staff," Emma continued. Asher looked concerned at Emma’s words. "That's such a waste!" "It is, but there's no other option," Emma sighed lightly. "If someone were to get sick from eating that food, it would be much worse. That was a terrible mistake that the lady made. "So the restaurant staff wants to make sure that the mistake was dealt with the
Asher nodded energetically. “Yes!”“Exactly! So, making mistakes isn’t scary, and not knowing things isn’t scary either. The key is to admit it boldly,” Emma explained.“When we make a mistake, we correct it. If we don’t know something, and it doesn’t affect others, we don’t have to learn it if we don’t want to.“But if it impacts others, we need to learn from it,” she continued.“Just like that lady earlier, she needed to learn not to use shared tongs to serve food. But for something like not wanting to do someone’s makeup, that’s okay, she doesn’t have to learn that.“Shared tongs are necessary for everyone, and they can’t be replaced. If you don’t want to do someone’s makeup, they can find someone else to help. That service can be substituted.”Asher listened intently and nodded his head. “I understand now, Mommy!”Landon watched the entire exchange and silently marveled at Emma’s approach. She had a knack for using examples from Asher’s own experiences to explain things, m
Asher beamed up at Emma, a sense of pride shining on his face.Emma finally gathered her emotions and turned to Asher. “Mommy makes mistakes too, Ash.”Asher’s smile faltered as confusion washed over him. “Huh?”Emma chuckled softly and ruffled his hair. “It’s not just Mommy who makes mistakes, Daddy does too.”“Really?” Asher exclaimed as he turned to look at Landon. His face was filled with disbelief.Landon smiled, though he was unsure where Emma was going with the conversation. Nevertheless, he cooperated without hesitation. “That’s right. Daddy makes mistakes too.”Asher’s mouth hung open in surprise, clearly shocked to learn that his impressive parents could also err.“Not just your parents,” Emma continued with a smile, “even people who are more capable than us make mistakes.”“Why?” Asher asked, furrowing his brows in confusion. “If everyone makes mistakes, then why do we even learn?”“Because we work hard to make fewer mistakes and try our best not to cause trouble
“What disruption? You’re just bullying your customers because your business is big!” The middle-aged woman exploded in anger. “Don’t think I’m easy to push around. I’m calling the police!”The restaurant manager nodded calmly. “Please do. Since your actions have caused damage to our establishment, we will also hold you accountable for those damages.”“Damages? What damages?” the woman shouted, stomping her feet in frustration.Unfazed, the manager responded evenly, “Because of your actions, we now need to remove and replace all the food at the serving stations. You’ll be responsible for covering those losses.“And if any customers request refunds because of this, we’ll refund them in full. If they ask for compensation, we’ll provide that too. All of these expenses will be your responsibility.”The woman nearly exploded at the manager’s words. “You’re deluded!“Come on, son, we’re leaving!” She yanked her son’s arm, pulling him toward the exit.But the restaurant staff was not ab
Since Asher had decided to eat one piece of cake himself, he chose fewer cakes, worried that he would not be able to finish them.‘Look at that! He’s already learning how to make his own choices,’ Emma thought proudly.Emma followed Asher’s lead, picking up the cakes he wanted. Just as they were about to leave, Asher suddenly grabbed her sleeve.Puzzled, Emma looked down and asked, “What is it, sweetie?”“They’re using tongs to feed each other,” Asher said, frowning in displeasure.Emma glanced over and saw a middle-aged woman holding a pair of tongs, about to feed a cake to her son. The boy, around eight or nine, reached out to take the cake with his hand, but the woman pulled the tongs back and scolded him, “Don’t use your hands! Just open your mouth.”Emma felt her face flush in disbelief. ‘What are they thinking?’ she protested quietly.The woman did not want her son to use his hands, claiming it was dirty, yet she was about to feed him with the tongs that everyone used to
Landon smiled. “I like eating too. Our whole family does. But what I enjoy most is eating with all of you.”Asher quickly agreed, “I’m always happy when I eat with Mommy and Daddy.”The family of three arrived at the buffet. Thankfully, Emma had already reserved a spot using her phone while they were still on the road.They headed straight to a small private room, ordered their food through the app, and waited for the server to bring it.“Mommy…” Asher called as he tugged at Emma’s shirt. “I want some cake.”Emma laughed and put on her sunglasses. “Let’s go get some cake.”Asher beamed with excitement. “Okay!” With one hand he held Emma’s hand tightly, while he swung the other one back and forth enthusiastically. He hurried along, and his wide, gleaming eyes searched eagerly for the cake display ahead.“Mommy, over there!” He spotted the table filled with cakes in an instant.Even though he was thrilled to see the cakes, Asher did not let go of Emma’s hand or rush ahead.