Linford went to pick Candace up and put his daughter in the car. Cristelle smiled at Fritzi, “Thanks for taking care of Candace for me, hon. Come to my house this weekend for dinner!”
“Sounds great,” Fritzi beamed.
Linford and Cristelle went to school to pick up their son.
The ring buzzed as the students of the school rushed out. Cody was leading the way. Thomas and Amy followed him. Betty ran off as soon as she saw Cody’s face, burying her face in her dad’s arms. Marcos didn’t dare to approach Linford. He only nodded at Linford from a distance.
Cristelle didn’t know these people. Linford just pretended he didn’t see Marcos.
Candace climbed off the car and shared her jar of cookies with Amy and Thomas, giving her brother a little hug afterward.
Amy was happy to receive cookies from her best friend. She pulled out a butterfly-shaped candy from her bag and gave it to Candace, “Here, Candace. I will save one for you today.”
Candace’s mouth fell open, and her eyes lit up.
“Amy! Thomas!” A plump lady ran over. She looked like she was in her middle age and wearing a plain dress. She should be one of those nannies from the Watson House, “Finally! You guys didn’t come back yesterday. I missed you two so much!” Saying that, she hugged Amy and Thomas and kissed them.
“Lee, these are our best friends, Cody and Candace,” Thomas introduced them officially.
The middle-aged woman smiled down at Cody and Candace, “Hello, guys. Come to our house to visit Thomas and Amy when you guys are free, okay?”
Candace nodded.
Cody smiled, “Of course, ma’am.”
Lee turned to Linford and Cristelle, “Thanks for taking care of Thomas and Amy yesterday.”
Cristelle smiled back, “Thomas and Amy are such good kids. They helped our kids yesterday. I should say thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Watson for bringing such wonderful children.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Watson will be home today,” Lee smiled as she uttered, “They both said they wanted to visit you and your husband when they’re back.”
“That will be really nice of them,” Cristelle felt genuinely happy.
The little friends said goodbye to each other and went back in separate cars.
“Cody,” Cristelle held the boy on her lap. She had too many things to say. But when she looked the boy in his eyes, she suddenly hesitated to blurt out her thoughts.
The boy hid things from her because he didn’t want her to be worried. It broke Cristelle’s heart to know that her son was so considerate at such a young age.
“Forget about it,” She sighed, leaving a kiss on the boy’s cheek.
Cristelle laid dishes all over the table when they went back home. Cody couldn’t even be distracted by his favorite gun anymore.
Cody put Cristelle’s favorite food on her plate before she sat down in her seat. Cristelle left a kiss on top of his head as she noticed that. Candace had already gotten used to that.
Linford, however, was a bit jealous. And he didn’t even know who he was jealous of the most. He wished Cody could smile at him as he smiled at his mother. He also wanted to get as much attention as Cristelle, but he was a mature man to act like his son. He hid his emotions well.
“Mom, I’ll protect you for the rest of my life,” Cody swore.
“Good boy,” Cristelle squeezed the boy in her arms, “Mommy will protect you two as well.”
Linford almost choked on his food. How could they show off such sweet gestures before him? Cristelle even seldom talked to him.
****
Meanwhile, at Darwin’s house.
Darwin went back to the military base in rage. He didn’t even come back in the evening.
Tanya was even happier, knowing that Linford and Cristelle had pissed off Darwin. Cristelle would never be accepted as Linford’s wife. The babies would become hers sooner or later.
Clara was answering a call. It was from Zoe.
“Clara, what should I do? They have withdrawn all the investment from our company. Our house will go bankrupt if Linford stops the investment longer.” Zoe was crying on the other end. She didn’t expect her big mouth would cause a lot of trouble for her family, and worse, it might drag them to shame.
She could only ask her best friend for help.
Clara didn’t want to get into Zoe’s business anymore, even though she knew the reason for Zoe’s bad luck was because of her.
Clara stopped caring about Zoe’s situation the moment she knew Linford had brought Zoe’s family huge wrath, but she couldn’t expose herself to avoid Zoe’s hatred that might drag her name too, “Honey, you know it would have worked if your aunt didn’t say such nasty words against Cristelle’s children. Now, I also don’t know what to do. I know it’s just a fight between kids; even my grandmother was involved. But, remember, my grandma still held a grudge against Linford after my cousin Lia and Linford’s relationship ended badly. I’m afraid there’s nothing else I can do.”
Zoe was sobbing, “It’s all my stupid aunt’s fault. She would have been kicked out if uncle Tim didn’t insist on making her stay. Tylor will be sent abroad tomorrow. Our house is a mess right now.”
“It’s okay, hon. I’ll talk to my grandma. She probably can help,” Clara promised, even though she knew she would never bother her grandma again.
Zoe, however, was taking her promise seriously, “Thank you! Thank you so much! I know you would always help me, Clara.”
Clara comforted the crying girl a bit and hung up the phone.
Clara was still so irritated as she remembered how Linford acted today. Was he really falling for that woman?
Impossible! No way that she will allow Cristelle to be Linford’s wife.
He was only with Cristelle Friesley because of the two little bastards she gave him.
Clara swore to get rid of that woman so Linford could finally be hers.
Meanwhile, Diego hadn’t come back to the Barnett mansion for weeks. Pamela was sitting in the drawing room alone.