Candace jumped into Linford’s arm the moment she saw him. Cristelle tried to carry her, but the girl shook her head. She wanted her Daddy to carry her.
Cristelle was so sad. It seemed like Candace couldn’t live without this annoying man anymore.
Cody was also frowning when he saw that. Candace was such a little traitor. How could Bradley’s charm conquer her so easily?
However, his point of view about this man has changed a little today. That flattering Tiffany had been nowhere to find when he went to school today. They said she had been fired. The new teacher was a plump old lady who resembled a bunny plush. Cody liked her.
When Clara mentioned Candace’s condition at the Bradley house, Cody guessed that it must be Tiffany who ran around and collected the information for her.
Cody didn’t even need to think hard to know that Linford was the one who fired Tiffany.
Cody admired him for that.
He had always wanted to find his mommy a husband anyway. That husband didn’t even need to be rich or powerful. He just wished him to be loyal and protective over his Mom.
“What are you thinking, boy?” Linford narrowed his eyes, knocking on Cody’s forehead with a knuckle, knowing the boy was secretly brewing something again.
“Ouch!” Cody covered his forehead dramatically, “Mom! Did you see that? He hit me!”
Cristelle was still sulking because Candace wouldn’t let her hold her. She lifted Cody on her lap instantly, snapping at Linford, “Don’t you ever hit him!”
“He’s a boy. He can’t even handle a little pain?” Linford snorted, “Soon, he will grow into a coward.”
“You’re a coward!” Cody snapped back at his Dad.
“Cody Bradley, if you’re determined to be a real man, why do you keep letting Mommy hold you?” Linford said with a contemptuous look on his face.
Cody was deeply offended, trying to jump off Cristelle’s lap, “I. Am. Not. A. Coward!”
Cristelle held on to the boy even tighter, refusing to let him go, “Hush, baby. Could you not listen to him? You can be a real man and Mommy’s baby at the same time. He’s trying to divide us.”
Candace giggled, chewing on her nail as she watched the little war.
Candace had betrayed her. And now Cody also refused to let her hold him. Did this man design all this on purpose?
He was so cunning!
When they got home, Linford sent out an invitation, “Candace, do you wanna go to my apartment so we can play?”
“No!” Cody objected, “She’s still got homework to do.”
“I will make sure she finishes her homework, though. I just bought a lot of toy guns for her. She will like it,” Linford shrugged, internally mentioning his little trick.
Cody frowned, “She doesn’t even like toy guns. Why do you keep buying things like that for her?”
Linford didn’t seem to care, “Do you expect me to throw them away? I’ve already spent the money. Do you wanna come to my apartment to check them out?”
Cody folded his arms across his chest, sighing as if he was reluctant, “Well… Since you asked me, I’ll go with you and take a look. I just want to make sure that Candace likes them.”
Cristelle listened to the conversation speechlessly. This man was too cunning. She had a feeling that he was gonna win over Cody very soon.
Cristelle made a whole table of dishes, including all Candace and Cody’s favorites.
She called Linford after serving the last bowl of salad, “Tell Candace and Cody that the dinner is ready.”
Linford arched an eyebrow. Only Candace and Cody? Didn’t she invite him?
So he said coldly, “The kids are having fun right now. They don’t want to move. Come here and check them out if you don’t believe me.”
Cristelle wanted to say something harsh, but Linford just hung up the phone.
This jerk!
Cristelle peeled the apron off her and went to knock on his door immediately.
“Come in,” Linford’s voice sounded deep from inside. The door was unlocked.
This was Cristelle’s first time visiting Linford’s place. She had to admit that this man was filthy rich. It was just a random apartment, but he made the interior look like a mansion.
Linford was wearing a white t-shirt and cozy trousers, reclining on the sofa. Sports games were living on his huge-screen television. He looked more relaxed and equally handsome when he was not in the company. “Where’re the kids?” Cristelle cleared her throat.
Linford pointed at a random room, “Still playing.”
He stood up from the couch and held the door open for Cristelle.
Cody was sitting among a scatter of toy guns. Candace watched as he assembled and dismantled those guns at an astonishing speed. Each time her brother succeeded, she would clap.
“Mom, look at me!” Cody shouted excitedly, holding a gun with both hands and pretending to be aiming at something. “Do I look like a soldier?”
Cristelle smiled, “Yeah.”
She didn’t expect her son to like fancy things like this, “Mommy will buy you the same sets at home.”
Cody noticed the small change in her tone, shaking his head, “You don’t have to. I don’t want to play all day and lose my dream and ambition. These are just toys.”
The mature answer got Cristelle to laugh.
On purpose, Cody stretched out his arms toward Cristelle, asking her to hold him.
Cristelle picked him up. Cody rested his head on her shoulder constantly.
Linford wanted to throw up because of the intense sourness he felt right now.
He picked up the girl, asking coldly, “Are we having dinner or not?”
Cody stuck his tongue out.
They sat beside the table. Cristelle suddenly remembered something that had happened a long time ago.
Cristelle looked close to Linford. She had also been the same as her Dad when she was little. But her Dad had cheated on her Mom and had another kid. Her Mom had been so desperate that she passed away after hearing the news. Claire had also disappeared after their family fell apart. She would never like this man, but if having him in their life meant happiness for her babies, she would be glad. She would try to accept him too.