“It’s okay if you still wanna stay at home, sweetie. Just call Pop, and that will make him really happy,” Linford saw through what the girl was thinking instantly.
Cristelle, however, suddenly cut in, “But she needs to go to classes. I don’t want my baby to give up things so easily.”
Candace gripped the fork in her hand and dropped her gaze.
Linford touched her hair, “It’s okay if she wants to take a couple of days’ break. It doesn’t matter.”
Cristelle wanted to say more, but Candace didn’t even want to eat anymore. She could tell how upset the girl was. So she said, “Fine. Let’s take a break. You can go back when you get completely well.”
Candace nodded heavily, promising that she would go back when she was ready.
After dinner, Candace shut herself in the bathroom again. Opening her mouth wide, she practiced again and again. But she still couldn’t make any sound as normal people do.
In the end, she sighed and walked out of the bathroom, throwing herself into her Dad’s arms defeatedly.
Cristelle saw this when she got out of the bathroom.
She coughed, “Candace, it’s time to sleep.”
Candace hooked her arms around her Dad’s neck. She wanted to sleep with her Dad tonight.
“Fine.” Cristelle sighed and went to prepare her bedding in another room.
Candace shook her head. She wanted to sleep with her Mom and Dad tonight, just like other kids.
Cristelle couldn’t stand the idea of sharing the same bed with Linford Bradley again. She sighed and asked the girl patiently, “Could you go with Daddy and sleep with him in his bedroom tonight, honey?”
Candace shook her head stubbornly.
Linford grunted and stood up from the couch, carrying Candace in his arms. Before Cristelle could say anything, he had already invited himself into Cristelle’s bedroom, slumping onto the soft mattress, “Couldn’t you make the girl happy?”
Cristelle gritted her teeth. But Candace was begging her with those wide eyes. Cristelle couldn’t say no to that.
****
Linford told Candace a story, and Candace went to sleep instantly. However, Cristelle couldn’t even shut her eyes because she could hear Linford’s breath this close.
“Feeling uncomfortable?” Linford suddenly rasped, “You know I can always go back to my apartment if you think it’s inconvenient.”
Cristelle gripped the sheet under her fingers, “It’s okay. Candace’s gonna cry again if she doesn’t see you in the morning.”
Linford didn’t say anything. But Cristelle suddenly heard his body shifting a bit.
It took her a while to finally clear her throat and open her mouth, her voice gentle, “I’m actually planning to quit my job.”
Linford’s eyebrow raised, opening his eyes, “Why?”
“I want to open a studio,” Cristelle tried to steady her voice.
“With whom?” Linford had a sarcastic smile on his lips.
He knew it.
“Jasper,” Cristelle somehow felt weak when she said the name.
The silence lasted for a couple of seconds.
“This is his suggestion, isn’t it?” Linford suddenly said coldly.
“It is. But I’ve thought it through. I do need a career,” Cristelle sounded pretty serious, “I just can’t spend my life and work for someone else’s dream.”
Linford tried to contain the bitterness in his tone but failed, “So you decided to establish a new dream for you two. How romantic.”
“Can you stop being so bitter? I’m doing this only for myself and the babies,” Cristelle frowned.
Linford took in a shuddering breath. He knew he must contain himself. Candace was still sleeping in his arms right now.
“My company is your best choice, Cristelle. Jasper has been cut off from his family, and he doesn’t have pennies. The couture business requires investment. He has nothing to offer. Even if you sell this house and put in all your money, the studio still won’t last one quarter. It’s a dead end. Are you really gonna throw away your future and waste your time and money on some business-virgin-daydreamer?”
Linford didn’t mean to get jealous. But the way he said these things made him sound extremely arrogant.
Cristelle thought he was belittling her dream, “Why should you care? This is my life, and I’ll make my own decision.”
“I’m not approving it, Cristelle,” Linford snapped at her.
Cristelle exploded, “Why do you think your opinion matters?”
“Jasper Johnson is not trustworthy.”
“What makes you more trustworthy than him?”
Linford sat up and jumped off the bed, “I hope you can still ask that question after you fail with him, Cristelle.”
With that, he walked out of the door. Cristelle threw a pillow at him.
Why was this man so arrogant?
Did he really think she could accomplish nothing without him?
Cristelle decided to show him what she was capable of.
****
Candace had almost recovered, and she didn’t have a fever anymore. But she still refused to go to those classes.
Linford spoiled her, saying Candace could stay at home as long as she wanted to. There was nothing Cristelle could do.
After the previous night, they didn’t even have any conversations with each other. Linford didn’t even show up during breakfast.
Cristelle couldn’t care less.
She got a call from Jasper before lunch.
“Hello? Cristelle? I’ve come back, and I’m at the airport right now. See you later.”
Cristelle didn’t expect him to come back so soon, “Okay… Actually, let’s have lunch together later. I bet you must be hungry.”
“Sounds cool,” After hanging up the call, Jasper pegged his location using the GPS of his phone.
****
Cristelle went into the room she had pre ordered with Candace. But Jasper was already there, holding a giant plushie in his arms. It was a gift from Candace, “Do you like it?”
Candace nodded enthusiastically. She loved it. Jasper had ordered Cristelle’s favorite.
“Candace, sweetie, what do you want to eat?” Jasper asked, smiling at the girl.
At this moment, however, the door of the room was pushed open.
Linford walked in, followed by Alfred. He stood there, and his tall figure and toned body made him look like a supermodel.
Cristelle’s hand faltered.
Why was he here?
Jasper looked scared. But it didn’t look like genuine fear. It looked like he faked that scared look on purpose.
“Candace, come over here,” Linford extended a hand toward his daughter, ignoring Cristelle and Jasper.