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
The light in the living room was off, and she did not intend to turn it on since she would return to the room after the phone call. The moonlight shone through the French windows onto the floor. She walked over slowly. When she saw a tall figure in the shade, it scared the daylights out of her, and the cell phone in her hand slipped and fell to the floor. “Do you have to be so scared?” Mark’s voice came as he bent over to pick up the phone from the ground. Grace, who was on the other end of the phone, heard a male voice and got excited. She could not help but speak louder. “Summer? I heard a man’s voice. Tell me who he is. It is late at night, and you are still with a man in your room. Are you two having a sizzling night? I do hope you are. You and Mark have been separated for four years. I am worried about you. But now it looks like you have gotten over it and found a new guy. I hope things will work out well for you.” Mark was delighted and angry at the same time upon hea
Summer furrowed her brows after reading the messages, wondering what happened to Sherman again. She lowered her head slightly, her fair and sleek neck exposed. The slip dress made her already beautiful, sexy shoulders look even sexier, her white shapely legs and wasp waist even more alluring. Mark’s gaze deepened as he saw her seductive beauty in the depths of night. He stretched out a hand and held her chin. “Are you seducing me?” His every word sounded extremely hoarse. Seducing him? Was he mad? She raised her hand and smacked his hand away without batting an eyelid. “Which part of me makes you think I am seducing you, Mark?” “The whole of you.” His voice was gruff, his eyes glancing at her low-neckline white slip dress. She followed his eyes and only then she realized she was wearing a slip dress. So she looked at him with an impassive expression. “What are you looking at, Mark?” He did not answer her question but reached to draw her over, hugging her tightly in hi
Summer pulled her hand back from his grip, walked back to the room and closed the door, then lay on the bed and closed her eyes. The reason they could get along peacefully was because of the peace agreement. She was very busy, very anxious; wanting to take Charlotte’s custody back. So she did not have so much time, or the mood to fight and waste her energy on him all the time. She did not want to end up physically and mentally exhausted while still having to face everything herself. The only thing she wanted most was Charlotte’s custody. It just so happened that she agreed to the peace agreement he proposed at this time. In fact, she had to agree to the peace agreement, as it was the wisest choice. If she did not agree, Mark would definitely not let her see Charlotte, and the change of custody he proposed to the court would definitely go ahead. Then, she would be the ultimate loser—she would not get to see Charlotte while the court proceeding would carry on. The peace agr