Upon hearing this, Estelle went over to the sofa, where she found Christina had completed her paper cutting and Yvonne had drawn eyes and mouths on the figures. Estelle praised them, “You two did a great job. This looks beautiful.”
Yvonne proudly mentioned, “Dad helped us with the drawing. Our teacher said everyone in the family should participate in the homework. Mom, it’s your turn to help us now.”
Christina added, “Yeah, Yohan helped us with the hair just now.”
Estelle had hoped to avoid Cristofer, even in the living room. She was searching for an excuse to leave when she saw Cristofer looking at her with a smile. Reluctantly, Estelle picked up a crayon and added smiles to all the little figures.
Afterward, she hurried over to Eva to strike up a conversation. Cristofer noticed this and subtly signaled to Eva, who quickly grabbed her purse, saying, “I just remembered I have something to do. I need to go home. See you at the company tomorrow, Estelle. Goodbye!”
Eva left so swiftly that Estelle couldn’t catch up with her. She had no choice but to return to the sofa.
Cristofer then told her, “I have something to discuss with you.” He had been watching Estelle since he left the kitchen, hoping for a chance to express his feelings, but she had been unaware of his gaze. So, he decided to bring up the topic.
Estelle sighed in relief and replied, “Didn’t you already say what you wanted to? What else is there? It’s late, and I need to get home.”
However, Cristofer looked serious, as if he were conducting a meeting. “I want to talk about Wern. As a man, I know what other men are thinking. Even though I didn’t see how he looked at you, I believe he invited you to dinner because he was attracted to you.”
Estelle sighed and raised her eyebrows, “He’s already in a relationship, and I can pretend I don’t notice his feelings as long as he doesn’t confess.”
Cristofer clarified, “I didn’t mean he’ll make a move, but he’s definitely interested in you. He seems like the type who flirts with many women, even when he’s dating someone. Having a girlfriend might not stop him.” He continued, “I’m not trying to upset you, but I wanted to discuss this with you now that I’ve brought it up.”
Estelle, taken aback by his directness, responded, “I have no interest in him, and he knows I have children.”
Cristofer, who could be quite skeptical when assessing romantic competition, admitted, “A player like him won’t give up just because you have kids. I’m concerned he might make a move while you’re working together.”
Folding her arms and showing some frustration, Estelle asked, “What would you like me to do then? Are you suggesting I give up such a significant business opportunity?”
Cristofer realized he might have pushed the conversation too far, so he softened his tone and said gently, “I don’t want to interfere with your work, but I’m genuinely concerned about your well-being.”
Estelle responded firmly, “His girlfriend already had dinner with me today to give me a warning, and now you’re here to warn me, too. But let me be clear, I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Cristofer quickly assured her, “I didn’t mean to blame you…”
Estelle interrupted him, voicing her frustration, “I understand that sexism is pervasive, especially in the business world. Women have to work extra hard to succeed, and on top of that, we have to deal with inappropriate thoughts from men like you. Do you share those views, too?” She sighed and walked around Cristofer, heading back to the living room.
Cristofer wanted to explain himself and reach out to her, but he was too slow, and she walked away before he could do anything. He stood there awkwardly, his hand left hanging in mid-air, and eventually, he clenched it into a fist without having grabbed anything.
Estelle returned to the sofa feeling upset, but her expression softened immediately when she saw her children. Yohan had completed his homework, and Yvonne and Christina had finished their paper cutting. Estelle asked them, “How about going home now?”
Yohan, eager for cake, responded, “Mom, Mrs. Moorsum is baking a cake for us, and it won’t be ready for a while. Can we stay a little longer?”
Pulling at her shirt, Yvonne looked at Estelle with innocent eyes and said quietly, “Mom, can we stay a bit more? Mrs. Moorsum said she would tell us stories later. Nobody has read bedtime stories to Christina and me for a long time.”
Estelle had been busy with work, leaving her exhausted. She could only manage to spare some time to kiss them goodnight when they were already sleepy, and reading bedtime stories was a luxury she couldn’t afford.
Initially content with just being with Estelle, Christina changed her mind after hearing Yvonne’s words. “Mom, why don’t we stay here tonight? We won’t have to go home, and we can listen to stories, eat cake, and you can get some good rest, too.”
‘Not again.’ Estelle couldn’t refuse the children when they begged her. Although she had learned her lesson, this method always worked for her. ‘These naughty children are Cristofer’s panacea. They can change my mind whenever they want.’
Meanwhile, Cristofer secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had wanted to speak with Estelle, but he didn’t know how to start the conversation. Seeing the children resolve the issue on their own, he subtly applauded them by giving them a thumbs-up gesture behind his back.
After a little while, Mrs. Moorsum brought out several delicious chocolate cakes. The children eagerly rushed towards her, excited to taste the cake. Estelle also enjoyed a piece and reminded the kids, “Don’t forget to brush your teeth before bedtime; otherwise, they might hurt.”
With their mouths full of cake, the children nodded in agreement. Luke observed them and commented with a smile, “The children really like Mrs. Moorsum. I think I can finally get some good rest.”
Since Cristofer got injured, Luke, as the Hans family butler, had taken on most of the household responsibilities, as he didn’t trust the other servants. He had been working tirelessly, wishing he had more eyes and hands to manage everything efficiently. Now that Mrs. Moorsum was back, Luke could finally get some good rest.
Estelle recognized how hard Luke had been working recently, so she nodded in appreciation and said, “Uncle Luke, you can take a break today. Mrs. Moorsum and I can look after the children. Thank you for all your hard work.”