Ethan followed behind and took the glasses from Lillian’s hands. “Thank you, you’ve been great with the kids.”
Conrad’s eyelid twitched. Damn, he beat him to it.
Lillian smiled slightly. “I was just with them. They were very well-behaved, so it wasn’t too tiring.”
Jasmine leaned close to Conrad. “Dad, it’s time for Plan A.”
This wasn’t going to work. Mr. Ethan was a real competitor.
“Alright.”
“Oh no, Mom, Jasmine needs to go to the bathroom~”
Lillian was about to grab the sunscreen jacket to put on the kids. When she heard, she looked around. She had been here when she was younger, but the park had been remodeled since. She really wasn’t sure where the bathroom was.
“Follow me, I know the way,” Conrad said, holding his daughter in one arm and helping Lillian push the stroller with the other.
“Quincy, do you need to use the bathroom too?” Lillian asked.
Quincy nodded. “Jasmine’s going, so I need to go too.”
Jasmine turned sharply and gave him a death stare!
She’d been hoping to use this chance to slip away from Mr. Ethan so her dad and mom could have some alone time.
This little tag-along…
“Then Mr. Ethan, could you help us watch the stuff?” Conrad asked.
“You two are already having trouble managing the kids and all this stuff. Let’s just go together,” Ethan replied, pushing the stroller and following them.
The father-daughter duo’s plan had failed.
Ethan watched Conrad, who was walking with a gloomy face while pushing the stroller. He smiled. “Mr. Conrad, you seem unhappy. Didn’t you break the record and get first place?”
“Oh, it feels like there’s a rock in the road, smelly and hard. It’s annoying.”
“Mr. Conrad, you’re not talking about me, are you? I’m just concerned about Lillian. You haven’t seen each other in five years. And right away, you show up with a kid, acting like a clingy person. You need to be tested. You’re not giving up just because of something so small, are you?”
Conrad turned to look at him. “Mr. Ethan, you’re overthinking. Don’t even worry about a smelly little rock in front of me. Even if it’s a mountain, I’ll move it. What’s mine is mine. No one can take it from me.”
“Mr. Conrad, have you always been this confident? Be careful not to mess up. Not that I’d mind if you failed – I’m just worried Jasmine would be upset.”
“Mr. Ethan, if you knew what was good for you, Jasmine wouldn’t have to be upset, would she?”
“Jasmine’s feelings are important, no doubt, but I believe Lillian’s choice matters just as much.”
Hearing that, Conrad raised an eyebrow slightly. “She’s already willing to come out with me – she’s just hesitating a little. I’ve already got one foot in the door. Mr. Ethan, you’d better think it through. Wouldn’t want Quincy to end up with not just a godfather, but a stepdad too.”
“Emergency alert! The boss is sticking like glue – no intention of leaving at all! How are we supposed to create an opportunity like this? How’s he supposed to show off his fatherly charm?” Melissa frowned, deep in thought.
Hogan said, “Want me to find someone to drag him away?”
Everyone stared at him. “Dude, do you even hear yourself?”
Kidnapping Ethan outright – was he out of his mind?
Not only would that tank Conrad’s reputation, but he could also kiss any chance of winning Lillian back goodbye.
Lionel exchanged a look with Gordon. “What if we lure him away?”
“With what excuse?”
Unless his company was about to collapse, what else could possibly make him leave his kid, his fiancee, and a persistent father-daughter duo behind?
Just then, George put down his phone. “Ford just sent good news – Ethan’s ex-wife had a car accident in A City. Hurt her foot.”
Morally questionable as it was, everyone’s eyes lit up.
“Are you serious? You guys didn’t…?” Melissa shot a suspicious glance at the group.
“Hey, Professor Melissa, sure, we’re not exactly saints, but that’s a pretty criminal assumption right there,” Hogan muttered.
Melissa was speechless for a moment. “At least you know you’re not saints.”
George added, “It was an accident – seems like she was on her way to a gallery when she got her foot run over. She’s all alone in A City, so someone’s gotta take care of her.”
“If there’s any explanation for this,” Gordon shrugged, “it’s just Conrad’s dumb luck. Whatever he wants, he gets.”
Now it was just a matter of whether Ethan would take the bait and leave.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Go tell him,” Melissa urged.
George grabbed his phone and dialed Ethan’s number.
Melissa instantly pulled out her binoculars.
They saw Ethan answer the call. “Hello? Who’s this?”
“Is this Mr. Ethan? This is A City’s Hospital. Are you Phyllis’s husband?”
Ethan frowned and stopped walking. “I’m her ex-husband. What’s happened to her?”
“Phyllis was in a car accident. She’s alone at the hospital, and I-”
“I’ll be there right away. Please tell her not to worry.”
After hanging up, Quincy immediately looked up. “Dad, was that Mom? What happened to her?”
Ethan forced a smile. “Mom’s fine.”
“Oh.” Quincy didn’t think much of it.
Ethan turned to Lillian. “Lillian, I need to talk to you.”
Lillian turned and walked over to him. The two of them stepped a few paces away.
All Conrad could do was watch. He couldn’t interfere or say a word.
That feeling of frustration – no one but him could understand it.
“What’s wrong? You look really tense,” Lillian asked.
“Phyllis had a car accident. I have to go right away. She’s got no family or close friends there, and her coworkers can’t take care of her forever. I’ll need you to watch Quincy for me,” Ethan explained quickly.
“Alright, then go quickly,” Lillian urged. “At this hour, who knows if you’ll even get a ticket. Book it on your way back.”
“I know all that,” Ethan replied. “Quincy’s got a wild imagination, so don’t tell him about this yet. Once I’m sure Phyllis’s okay, I’ll either pick him up or just come straight back.”
“You don’t have to explain that to me – I get it.”
Ethan nodded. “I’ll go talk to Quincy.”
He knelt down and said, “Quincy, Dad has to go on a business trip for a few days – maybe three or four, or up to a week. Be good and listen to Mom. If everything’s fine, I’ll be back soon.”
Quincy pouted. “Can’t you take me with you?”
“Dad’s going to be really busy and won’t have time to take care of you, okay? Be good.”
“Alright…”
Ethan ruffled his hair, stood up, and said, “Mr. Conrad, I’ll have to trouble you to look after Lillian and the kids.”
Conrad was baffled. Was this guy really leaving so easily? Just moments ago, he’d been clinging like a stubborn piece of tape.
“Sure thing,” Conrad replied.
After all, Quincy was bound to end up back at his place anyway – today just happened to be the perfect opportunity.
Ethan hurried off. Lillian watched him go, then turned back to find herself alone with Conrad and the kids.
Conrad pushed one of the strollers with one hand and gave her a smile – one that reminded her a lot of that day years ago, when she’d walked toward him… only to be yanked into his car.