He mainly couldn’t bear thinking back to what happened years ago. Tanya also cast Clara a hard glance.
“I’m sorry,” Clara deflated, lowering her head.
Franco shook his head, “Let’s forget about those unhappy things. Today is the family reunion. We should enjoy our time together.”
Cristelle smiled awkwardly.
This Clara must be the wife of Linford’s second older brother.
Cristelle couldn’t understand why she held so much hostility against her.
After that, Candace only ate a little. She couldn’t eat anymore as she was in a low mood. She was still a bit upset about not being able to call her ‘Grandpa.’
Darwin also didn’t eat much because of Clara. Both Franco and Darwin were a bit disgusted by Clara’s little trick. They didn’t know her purpose in doing that. Even if she didn’t have a purpose, she was just too stupid to be the housewife of a big house.
Everyone could tell Candace had difficulties when it came to speaking. But Clara was the only one who tried to bring it up again and again.
She was such a mood killer.
Cody finally drew the conclusion that Clara was not a good person.
Cody whined about wanting to go back home after dinner on purpose. However, Franco still wanted to keep Linford and his family to stay.
Cristelle could only turn down his invitation politely, “Great Grandpa, I’m sorry, but Cody and Candace still had to go to school. They can only fall asleep on their beds. They’ve been spoiled. I’m afraid they would be a bit noisy staying here. I don’t want to interrupt your good sleep.”
Cody also smiled at the old man, “I’m sorry, Great-grandpa. But I still need to go to school tomorrow. I’ll visit you soon. I promise.”
Franco looked a bit sad, “You promise?”
Cody thought for a while, “I promise. But you also need to promise me that you won’t send your men to my school anymore. I’m brave enough, but other kids were so scared today.”
Franco laughed while Darwin blushed furiously.
****
Cristelle and Linford got in the car in the end. Alfred was in the driving seat. The two babies curled up in their arms, sleeping soundly.
Cristelle and Linford were both separately lost in their own thoughts. They didn’t make any conversation as the silence inside the car prolonged.
Linford suddenly grabbed a box of chocolate from the drawer, handing it to Cristelle. He still remembered Cristelle didn’t have much to eat during dinner.
“Thank you. But I don’t need it,” Cristelle said a bit detachedly, looking out of the window.
Linford noticed the coldness in Cristelle’s tone immediately, but he couldn’t fathom why.
The babies were still sleeping when they got home. Linford helped Cristelle put the babies in their bed. When they walked into the living room, Linford wanted to explain what had happened earlier. But Cristelle only pointed at her apartment door, “Mr. Bradley, do you mind leaving now? I’m very tired. I want to have some rest.”
She sounded dismissive and mad.
Cristelle had been suppressing her anger all day. Right now, she is gonna explode, but she doesn’t want to yell at anyone. So she asked Linford to leave.
What the heck was wrong with his family?
“Listen, Cristelle…” Linford grabbed her hands, looking into her eyes genuinely, “I really didn’t expect my dad to take Cody and Candace away like that.”
“There will be so many things that you’ll fail to expect in the future as long as we’re still together. I’m just an ordinary woman. The only thing I want in this world is to spend my days peacefully with my babies. I know the Bradley family is powerful. But none of you have any right to kidnap my babies like that! Do you know how worried I was when I learned that they’d been taken away? I thought I would never be able to see them again!”
The look on Linford’s face was cold, “Why can’t you see them? My grandfather is a reasonable man. The babies are Bradley’s. They belong to the family. Do you want them to live like this for the rest of their lives? Or do you not trust me at all? Am I still a bad person who will take your children away anytime in your eyes, right?”
“That’s right! You’re goddamn right! I don’t trust you at all! You left us so easily 6 years ago, and now you suddenly come back, tearing our lives apart. Why should I ever trust you? Do you deserve my trust?” Cristelle tried to control herself, but her tears still rolled down. When those people tried to set her up years ago, she had always thought the babies were Diego’s. She had fought with every fiber of her being. But it turned out that she had just been used.
Now she was forced to be a part of Bradley’s game. She didn’t even know what would happen in the future.
Her tears stunned Linford. He knew she was under great pressure today. So he walked forth and pulled her into a hug, “I promise, Cristelle. I won’t let anyone take the babies away from you. I will never allow that to happen.”
Cristelle struggles, “Let me go! Whatever you say, Linford. I will never believe you.” Those people from his family had forcefully taken her babies away. Through the conversation in their house, they had made it very clear that they wouldn’t accept a woman from an inadequate household, not to mention that Cristelle’s father was in jail.
If those people decided to take her babies away, there would be nothing she could do. Cristelle knew from her guts that things like that were inevitable. The fear made her on edge, driving her crazy.
Linford’s arms were tight around her body, his voice deep and reassuring, “Cristelle, listen. Whatever you’re worried about, it won’t happen. Trust me.”
“Let me go,” Cristelle could smell his cologne this close. She was a bit panicked when his deep voice rasped into her ear.
Linford smirked, “I won’t let go unless you tell me you will trust me.”
“Is this a threat?” Cristelle groaned, bending her knee and sending it toward his balls. But Linford acted as if he had predicted her action. He pinned Cristelle down against the couch.