“Could you please cut the steak for her?”
The waiter…
I saw Nova take on a ghastly expression with a grievance.
Though weird the request was, the waiter did that with a smile.
But what followed was an embarrassed silence.
Dennis put the cut steak in front of me as if he didn’t know what was happening, “Earth to you, enjoy your meal.”
I nodded.
Clarie had a look at me and Nova, thinking about something.
I picked up my glass and drank.
She suddenly asked, “Mario, you don’t love her, right?”
Shocked at her words, I almost spat out my water.
Nova went white as a sheet, pressing her lips. She squeezed a smile, looking awkward.
Mario felt interested to ask Clarie, “Do you know what is love?”
Clarie nodded, “Leo told me if a boy loves a girl, he will care for her. Just like Dennis, he often cares for mom, cutting steak for her, cooking for her, calling her.”
I…
Leo was a “good” teacher.
Dennis instead felt a little proud, “Leo does have a good perception.”
How interesting!
Clarie nodded, and said seriously, “Of course. Leo told me to learn to observe if my future boyfriend loves me, or I will be unhappy.”
“Clarie, stop talking. Eat your meal.” I interrupted. Nova didn’t look good.
Pregnant women were always sentimental. Though I disliked her, I didn’t expect to irritate her.
Clarie spoke no more and started to eat her steak.
But Mario stared at Clarie thoughtfully. I didn’t know if he was on purpose to say, “Clarie is straightforward as her.”
I frowned. I knew “her” was Diana. But he shouldn’t say that at this moment.
I made an excuse to leave for a while.
People always valued what they had lost. Ridiculous.
Nova followed up. She looked unhappy. “You adopt her, but why do you take her around to interfere in others’ life?”
I was surprised to look back at her, frowning, “Interfere in others’ life?”
I sneered, “First of all, I am the last person who would like Clarie to have any relations with him. As for why he would be with us today, it’s he who begged me for the chance to meet Clarie.”
Her arrogance faded, “I hope we won’t meet again. You take her to City P, away from my life.”
Looking at her, I felt a little sympathetic. I couldn’t believe the existence of a child could make her threatened. I sneered, “Blood relations can’t be changed by anybody. Neither of us knows what will happen in the future. You might as well take good care of your fetus and pay attention to your own life. What I’m going to do is none of your business.”
Mario had no love for her at all. What she could rely on was only her fetus.
Continuing to argue was meaningless. I directly went into the toilet without saying a word.
Jackie Wells gave me a call that I wouldn’t like to answer. With hesitation, I did.
“Busy now? I’m wondering if we can have dinner together tomorrow?” I knew she worked at the George Group, traveling between City P and Newton Town. It’s not common she had time.
I thought for a while and said, “Tomorrow is Sunday, I have intended to take Clarie to the bookstore.”
“Just having dinner together, it won’t take long.” She paused, “I know there are some mistakes between us. But what I want to say is people are selfish. Furthermore, she deserves that.”
I didn’t care about the words Jackie said to accuse Bernice in the studio. But people chose who could be their friends. After all, birds of a feather flocked together.
“OK, see you Sunday!” Without seeing, I couldn’t recognize her emotion and intentions, so I tended to have a suspicion.
She responded, “Alright!”
Hanging up the call, I went back to the table, at which Clarie was not being. I was confused to ask where she was. Mario said, “Nova took her to buy some dessert.”
With worries, I blamed Dennis, “Clarie is naughty. How can you let a pregnant lady take care of her?”
Seeing me anxious, Dennis stood up, holding my hand, “Don’t worry. She will come back soon. She doesn’t get out of this restaurant.”
I got his hand off me and went straight towards the dessert area. Nova was a person who didn’t deserve any trust. To her fetus, Clarie was a threat.
It took me a long while at this big restaurant to find Clarie choosing dessert.
Thank God, she was fine. At this moment, Nova took out her phone, intending to take photos of Clarie. I felt uncomfortable, coming up to seize her phone and delete those pictures.
“Mrs. Bennett, without my permission, my daughter’s photo can not be taken by anyone.”
She didn’t expect I would show up suddenly. Looking at me, she explained with a grievance, “Clara, it’s a storm in a teacup. I only want to record her cute countenance. You don’t need to react that strongly.
“So what!” I replied with no emotion. I came to Clarie to hold her hand. Looking at Nova, I said, “Stay away from my daughter, or you will have trouble.”
She took back her phone, sneering, “I just don’t understand why you are so nervous about a kid who is not your own. Does it mean that the rumor is true that Dennis cannot have a kid?”
Being irritated, I said, “If your mouth is of no use, why not cut down your tongue which speaks gross words.”
She continued provoking me, “So you admit what I said is true.”
She came up close and spoke in a low voice in my ear that couldn’t be heard by people around.
Raising my hand, I slapped hard her face.
She covered her face, glaring at me, “I’m telling the truth!”
“Then tell again,” I said in a cold voice.
The argument had attracted the attention of people around. Dennis and Mario also came up.