She could never compete with him for custody. Yvette was still sitting in the living room, as she still had some questions to ask Mark. Mark had changed into a clean set of clothes and came out. He took a sip of water. “What are you doing here?” “Your grandma is worried about you. She wants to make sure I buy you some supplements. By the way, who is that child?” She pretended she did not know. Unconsciously, his voice became deep and soft: “She is my daughter.” His voice spontaneously became gentle. “With Summer?” she asked knowingly. Mark nodded, sat down on the settee, and folded his legs in a graceful fashion. “She didn’t demand things such as money from you? She was sanctimonious.” Again, she tried to sound him out. Her words caught Mark’s attention. “What did you hide from me four years ago? What do you mean by saying she was sanctimonious?” “Four years ago, when you took Raine abroad and gave me a blank check to pass to Summer, she sanctimoniously refused it. I
“Really?” Mark’s long eyebrows were raised questioningly to tease her. “Really.” Charlotte nodded her head like a pigeon. “I will eat it, Mark. Look.” She plucked three grapes at a time with her tender hand, and then popped them all into her small mouth. Her round face bulged even rounder. She looked adorable and innocent. At the same time, she did not forget to lick her pink lips. “Look, it is very sweet this time. I’m not lying.” The corner of Mark’s lips turned up. He leaned forward and ate a few grapes from her hands. “Mark, why didn’t Mommy take me away with her today? Will she really come to see me tomorrow?” “She will…” Charlotte was relieved and looked around the living room. “Where is Kaka?” “It is having a shower. It will be sent over in a while.” Acting mysteriously, Charlotte put her mouth to his ear and said in a very low voice. “Let me tell you a secret, Mark.” “What secret?” Her dark eyes rolled in her eye sockets a few times, and then her innocent bu
“Well, you must be tired now. Just rest. My chauffeur is waiting downstairs. By the way, don’t forget to take the supplements that I bought for you. And your grandma has returned from Athana. She looks full of beans judging by how loud she lectures people.” Apparently, Mark was showing her the door. Yvette stood up from the settee. “Okay.” As Yvette emerged from the apartment, she thought of the telephone call she received in the morning; Ms. Moore was complaining and expressing her dissatisfaction with her and Ronald. When Ms. Moore suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage and underwent treatment in Athana, Ronald had never visited her. It was undeniably unbecoming of him as a son-in-law. Now that Ms. Moore was back from Athana, Ronald had to go to Norwood, no matter what. She took out her mobile phone, dialed the number, and pressed the call button. There was no answer. Anger boiled inside Yvette. Since he did not pick up her call, she would keep calling until he answered. T
Mark had gone to the office. There were only the three of them, including Maria. So Summer felt at ease. She spent the entire day with Charlotte until evening. She looked at the time. It was 8:00 pm. She thought about cooking some porridge for Charlotte before leaving. While she was busy in the kitchen, Mark returned and inadvertently saw the white high heels in the hallway. His eyes moved and the corners of his lips turned upward. Summer emerged from the kitchen with a bowl of porridge. “Come take some porridge,” she said in a soft voice. “Mommy, didn’t you prepare some for Mark?” Charlotte looked at the only bowl of porridge on the table. “No, Mark is not hungry. He must have eaten. You may have it all. I will have to leave soon to catch the last bus.” Charlotte frowned in puzzlement. “Why do you have to catch the last bus, Mommy? Can Mommy sleep here, Mark?” Mark narrowed his eyes and locked them unto the slender figure of the woman from behind. “Of course.” His voice
It was not proper for her to stay overnight here, considering their current relationship. And she did not know what he felt and thought when he said that. She also did not understand what he meant when he said those awkward words. With their current relationship, it was not suitable for her to stay here, let alone stay overnight and sleep here. “That won’t be necessary. The hotel is not very far from here.” She looked away and declined his offer. Mark was not surprised by the answer. A dim light flashed in his eyes, and he narrowed his eyes. She was just as stubborn as she was four years ago. But since he proposed the peace agreement that day, their relationship had eased. They were no longer hostile toward each other. He was happy with this change. “Are you afraid that I will do something to you? You seem to be timider now.” His words sounded a little provocative. Summer frowned, ignoring him as she walked away. Mark reacted at once, stepping out with his left
She could not trust Mark to take care of the child. “Yeah!” Charlotte jumped up from the settee and danced happily. Summer watched her hop up and down the settee, skipping and jumping, nearly slipping a few times, but stopped short of falling down to the floor. Summer broke out in a cold sweat, putting her hand to her forehead and looking at Charlotte. “Can you behave in a more graceful manner, Charlotte?” Charlotte’s eyes moved in her eye sockets as she felt puzzled. “What is graceful, Mommy?” “It means to be quiet and behave. Haven’t you seen those little princesses, wearing pettiskirts, sitting there obediently on TV?” Charlotte looked at her clothes for a few moments. “But Mommy, I am not wearing a pettiskirt but pants. Look!” Summer felt her forehead pulsating. “Charlotte, the point is not about whether you are wearing a skirt or pants, but to sit there quietly and not jump up and down.” But Charlotte still did not get it. “Mommy, why can’t I jump up and down?” C
“Mark, have you ever watched Shaun the Sheep?” Charlotte asked, as expected. Mark raised his brows in puzzlement as Charlotte started to explain. “It's Shaun the Sheep that I saw on the street. The kids can sit on it and rock it up and down.” He could vaguely remember something like that. So he nodded. “What about it then?” “You will be Shaun the Sheep, lying on the ground. I ride on your back, and you will rock up and down.” Mark’s expression stiffened. He had no words. “You have got to keep your word. Otherwise, you will be a liar, and I will never play games with you again.” Her callow voice sounded serious. Could he still retract his words when things had come to such a pass? His face darkened as he got down on all fours. Charlotte ran up to Summer with excitement. “Mommy! Coins! I want to insert coins!” The corners of her mouth turned upward as Summer found a one-dollar coin and gave it to Charlotte. Charlotte climbed onto Mark’s back and was ready to insert that
But Charlotte insisted and dragged Summer by her hand to force her to come over. Mark was still the loser in this round. The mother and daughter were on the same side. No matter which of the two won, it was considered a win for the both of them. Charlotte tugged at her and asked her to sit on Mark. Summer just stood there, refusing to follow the child in playing the fool. She would definitely not want to sit on Mark’s back. Charlotte felt aggrieved, big tears welling up in her eyes. “I hate Mommy! You are a liar! I hate Mommy!” There was no such thing as embarrassment in her world. She did not know what the adults were thinking. All she thought was that her mom was not following the rules of the game. Mark first looked at the tearful Charlotte, and then at Summer. “A promise is a promise. You’ve got to make good on it. Otherwise, you shouldn’t have gotten involved.” Summer said not a word, as she knew she was in the wrong. She should not have given in when Charlotte peste