“Daddy! Daddy, pick me up! I can’t see!” Jasmine’s tiny voice rang out.
Conrad, still holding Lillian’s hand, knelt down on one knee and bent over. “Climb up yourself.”
Jasmine scrambled out of her stroller and expertly climbed onto Conrad’s shoulders. Lillian watched, practically scared out of her mind.
Meanwhile, Conrad hoisted Jasmine with one arm and turned to Quincy, who was watching enviously. “Wanna sit on my arm?”
Quincy hesitated. “Can I?”
“Don’t underestimate me,” Conrad grinned. “Come on.”
Quincy dashed over, and Conrad scooped him up effortlessly.
Now, with Conrad towering over the crowd, neither of the kids had their view blocked anymore. He reached out and easily tugged Lillian closer, positioning her right in front of him.
The crowd surged forward.
“Can you see now?” Conrad asked, his low voice brushing her ear.
His hand never let go.
Lillian could feel his presence – warm and solid behind her.
“Mommy, look!” Jasmine called out excitedly.
Lillian couldn’t help smiling at her daughter’s joy. She turned her head to meet Jasmine’s bright eyes – only to find herself locking eyes with Conrad instead.
Her gaze faltered, and she quickly turned back around.
The crowd jostled forward again. Without a word, Conrad’s arm tightened around her waist, steadying her.
And then, just because he could, he rested his chin right on top of her head.
Lillian was speechless. She was just about to ask if he was doing it on purpose.
Conrad winced as Jasmine tugged at his hair. With a helpless sigh, he lowered his head and said, “Let me lean on you for a bit. The moment your daughter sees something exciting, she forgets she’s riding on her dad’s shoulders.”
Lillian muttered under her breath, “Serves you right.”
“Yeah, yeah, I deserve it,” Conrad agreed easily. “Can I ask you something?”
“What?” The noise of the crowd was deafening, so Lillian tilted her head slightly to hear him better.
“Your scoring system… how does it work?”
“I just made it up,” she replied casually.
“Well, that’s not fair. Directors can’t just go back on their word, can they?”
“Questioning me?” Lillian shot back. “Minus 20 points.”
Conrad nearly laughed out of frustration. “May I ask what my current score is?”
Lillian squinted up at the blazing sun and said, “About… minus 100.”
Conrad opened his mouth to speak, then stopped. Paused. Started again. “So… how do I earn points?”
Starting in the negatives – that was harsh. Even Melissa hadn’t been this ruthless.
“How can I earn points?” he tried again. “Doesn’t making breakfast count?”
“That wasn’t for me,” Lillian said flatly. “Earning points depends on my mood.”
By the time they finished talking, the parade had ended. Conrad set the two kids back in the car. “Alright, let’s go eat.”
Lillian frowned. “I wonder if Ethan managed to get a plane ticket by now.”
“He’ll get one for sure,” Conrad said confidently. “If not, I’ll have Lionel pull some strings – or better yet, I’ll just send him back on my own plane.”
“Whatever works,” He added. “He can’t miss seeing his wife.”
For once, Conrad sounded reliable – though he sure seemed to enjoy emphasizing wife.
Lillian ignored him. Just then, Ethan’s message popped up.
“I’m on the plane. Managed to catch a flight just in time. Didn’t have time to go home and pack, but I’ll pick up what I need when I land. Don’t worry.”
Lillian sighed in relief and replied, “No worries, just take care of her first.”
When she looked up from her phone, she realized Conrad was right beside her, his gaze locked on her screen.
“Ever heard of privacy?” she snapped. “Peeking at messages – creepy.”
“I’m tall,” Conrad shot back. “I just glanced down and happened to see it. Don’t frame me for something I didn’t do.”
“I’ll dock…”
“Stop!” Conrad cut in before she could finish. “If you keep deducting points, I won’t have any left.”
“Well,” Lillian shrugged, “you don’t have to earn points. Negative is fine too.”
“No way,” Conrad muttered stubbornly. “I’ll keep working on it.”
He was playing the long game – no way he’d back down now. Especially with Ethan finally out of the picture – thanks to fate, no less. His wife getting hurt? Talk about perfect timing. Conrad had to seize this chance to move up.
Clearing his throat, Conrad said, “So, Ethan’s so concerned about his ex-wife, and you’re not even jealous? Guess you’re not that into him after all.”
Lillian stopped walking. “What else was I supposed to do? His ex-wife’s injured – was I supposed to stop him from going?”
“Yeah, but what if she faked it?” Conrad pressed. “He dropped everything the second he heard from her – left you and the kids here without a second thought. What would you have done without me around? You really think a guy like that’s reliable? If you end up marrying him, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Even Jasmine wouldn’t approve.”
“So what,” Lillian retorted, “I should marry someone who always puts me first, and then you’ll approve?”
Conrad arched a brow. “That’s about right. And since I’m the only one capable of that, maybe you should consider marrying me.”
Lillian’s smile froze. “Wow… you sure know how to flatter yourself.”
Conrad didn’t back down. “You’ll see sooner or later.”
In fact, Ethan was just as puzzled. When he’d checked the travel app earlier, the fastest flight to City A wasn’t until 3 p. m., meaning he’d have to wait several more hours.
But while he was rushing to the airport, his assistant suddenly informed him there was a flight departing in just half an hour. He didn’t even dare go home; he headed straight to the plane.
By midday, City N’s busiest children’s amusement park was packed. School field trips and countless parents with young toddlers filled the place. The restaurant was overflowing, and the wait time was nearly an hour and a half.
At this rate, they were bound to get heatstroke.
Seeing the endless line, Conrad was just about to make a phone call when he overheard a conversation in front of him.
“What’s this ‘Hug Challenge’? If you win, you get to skip the line?”
“Sounds like it. But honestly, I’d rather just wait. The next restaurant could be even more crowded.”
Right then, a staff member stepped out with a microphone to explain. “If you sign up for the ‘Love Hug Challenge’ now, you can skip the line and go straight to the VIP dining room. Any volunteers?”
“How does it work?” someone asked.
“You have to carry someone bridal-style while doing squat jumps. Whoever does the most squats and holds the position the longest wins. As long as you outlast the others in your round, you go straight in!”
Lillian sighed in frustration. “Isn’t this supposed to be a children’s amusement park? Why does getting into a restaurant require some insane physical challenge? Are they trying to torment parents? I’m calling to complain when I get home.”
In the distance, Melissa squinted and smirked. As expected, a children’s amusement park wouldn’t have obstacle courses or high-speed go-kart races. Naturally, she had to create Conrad’s very own Love Runway.
That idiot better not waste all the effort she’d put in.
Meanwhile, Hogan eyed the “family of four” in the distance. “I mean… aren’t we being a bit too obvious? What if Lillian catches on?”
“You don’t get it,” Melissa snorted. “Even if she figures it out, it’s fine. Just like how a guy knows a woman’s trying to get close to him and win him over – but as long as he’s the one benefiting, he won’t mind. Only people of the same gender nitpick and find flaws. The one who gains from it won’t think anything’s wrong.”
“There are still two spots left! Anyone else want to join?” the staff member called out.