“Bad guy! Let my mommy go!” Cody waved his fist as he charged toward Linford, but Linford pressed his hand over the boy’s head, keeping him at arm’s length.
Cody couldn’t move as he kept struggling, “Let me go! You massive bad guy!” Cody was so pissed off that he yelled at his sister, “Candace, this guy’s trying to take us from Mom! Kick him!”
Linford grabbed Cody by the scruff of his neck. Cody started to scream, kicking.
Candace’s eyes fell on Linford and then stared at Cristelle, not moving as if she had been stunned.
“Let go of my son!” Cristelle tried to pry his fingers, “No one can touch him!”
Linford bellowed, “He’s also my son!”
“No, I’m not!” Cody screamed.
“Let. Him. Go!” Cristelle gritted her teeth after finding out she couldn’t pry them open.
Linford stared at her face deeply, “I know it’s hard for you to accept. But this is just a fact. They’re my children. I won’t let them go.”
Linford sounded both cold and determined. Cristelle’s eyes went red. She tried so hard to bring her babies up, but now this man was trying to take them away from her.
And he had so much power and money.
“I’d rather die than leave my babies behind! No one can set us apart!”
Cristelle had prepared to fight.
Linford’s eyes went dark for a second, but he soon became normal. It seemed like Cristelle had taken things wrong.
Drew was so anxious as he watched the fight, “You guys! Stop fighting! The kids are still here. Do you want to cause traumas to the babies? Candace is getting scared!”
Drew just said that, but Candace suddenly went to hug Linford’s leg. Linford went soft the moment Candace got close, putting the boy down.
Cody was free again. He ran away as he screamed at Candace, “Candace, stay away! He’s the bad guy!”
Candace, however, did something no one ever expected. She extended her little arms toward Linford, demanding a hug. Linford’s heart melted as he lowered his body and picked the little girl up.
“Candace, I’m your dad. Do you like me?”
Linford said with his deep voice. He swallowed the lump in his throat that started to cause pain. The look in his eyes was gentle. Candace looked at him with her wide eyes, nodding silently.
Linford pressed a kiss against her cheek, walked toward the sofa, and sat down, feeding her a box of juice. But Candace shook her head as she jumped off Linford’s lap, pulling Cristelle toward the sofa and making her sit down.
Cristelle wanted to cry as she sat down on the couch.
She felt her heart was gonna be broken seeing her sweet daughter doing that. She couldn’t talk, but her action conveyed a clear meaning that she wanted them to talk rather than quarrel.
Cody could only sigh. He walked toward Candace, hands on his hip, “Candace, I’m disappointed in you.”
Drew snorted when hearing the little boy’s remark. Indeed he was Linford’s son!
Linford cast him a stern look. Drew managed to stifle the laugh instantly, “Cristelle, you’ve seen that, haven’t you? Candace’s scared of everyone in the beginning except Linford. She likes him. It’s in her blood. Do you really want your babies to grow up without a father?”
“No! Don’t listen to him, Mom! I don’t like him,” Cody hurried, “Candace is only fooled by him for now. We can take her away. She’ll be fine if she can’t see him.”
Linford raised an eyebrow. Cody shuddered as he closed his mouth. “The babies can’t grow up well without an intact family. Besides, you can’t provide the best education for them if you insist on bringing them up by yourself. They should go to school instead of spending every day at home. You will get them isolated in the end,” Linford analyzed almost cruelly, “I’ll give them the best education and environment if they live with me. Besides, growing up without a father is tough. Do you really want to do that to your children?”
Cristelle looked up as she held her daughter tightly in her arms, “I know rich people. Who knows if you’re gonna have other children in the future? I don’t want my babies to be neglected.”
Cody hugged Cristelle’s side, “Mom! I don’t want anything! I just wanna be with you!”
“Drew, bring the babies upstairs. I want to talk to Cristelle alone,” Linford said calmly.
Drew hurried to take the babies away, “Come on, guys. Let’s play games upstairs.”
“No! You can go with Candace,” Cody folded his little arms before his chest.
Cristelle left a kiss on his furry little head, “Go upstairs with Doc. Or Candace will be scared. Don’t worry. Mommy’s bringing you guys home soon.”
Cody sighed, “Well then. Mom, don’t give up.”
Linford’s brows raised. He had the heart to smack this little brat’s ass.
Cody followed Drew reluctantly, leaving Linford and Cristelle alone in the hall.
“So, do you understand what I just said?” Linford asked.
Cristelle looked the man directly in the eyes, “They’re my life. I won’t leave them behind, no matter what. You don’t need to waste your breath. I won’t give my babies to you, no matter what you say. I know you’re the father, but you’ve never done anything for them before. Mr. Bradley, please let us go. We won’t see you again. Just pretend that we’ve never met each other before.”
Linford looked sad as he whispered, “No, it’s not gonna happen. I won’t allow you to slip away again.” He paused before saying softly, “I’ve never wanted to take the babies away from you, Cristelle. I want to raise them together with you.”
Cristelle’s eyes lit up shortly, “What is your plan then?”
Linford took a sip from his coffee, “Kids are deeply affected by their families. Candace needs a dad. We’re their parents, and we need to take our responsibility. So, let’s get married.”
Get married?!
Cristelle was shocked.
Did he want to marry her?
The most powerful man in this city wanted to marry her.
“No! I WON’T marry you!” Cristelle could never forget that night. She couldn’t stop shuddering every time she thought about it.