Linford pulled a face before the steering wheel. Drew was sitting on the passenger seat, casting him glances occasionally. “Why are you driving my car if you want to go back to the company? You’re not going to the company, are you? You just need me for your problems again.”
Linford took a deep breath and pulled the car over before a pub.
“Drink? In the middle of the day? Are you serious?” Drew grimaced. Linford didn’t say anything as he opened the door and jumped off the car. Drew could only follow.
He didn’t have another choice. This was not the first time his best friend made random decisions.
A couple of minutes later, Drew was sitting on the pub bench, the corner of his lips twitching as he faced liquor bottles before him on the table, “You know I’m a lightweight drinker, Linford. Are you trying to kill me?”
After gulping down a glass of Whisky, Linford seemed sad, “I’m a terrible father.”
Drew couldn’t wrap his head around the situation, “What are you talking about, Dude?”
“Cody hates me,” Cody covered his face with his hands.
“What- You just know?” Drew laughed goofily.
The air suddenly stilled.
“You know, I can kill you, Drew Weston,” Linford said darkly.
Drew cleared his throat and sat straighter, “Did you guys fight? Cristelle also seemed a bit down.”
Linford nodded, sighing. “The boy doesn’t want me to be his father. Clearly, he also doesn’t want me to be with Cristelle. He lost control last night when he walked on Cristelle and me. He even cried harder. You know, he didn’t even cry when those murderers kidnaped him. I went to rescue him, and he didn’t even shed a tear. But last night, he was crying his lungs out.”
Now, that was quite serious.
Drew paused before starting to speak, “Cody and Candace have lived the first five years of their lives without a dad. It’s normal that the boy became alert when a man suddenly jumped out of nowhere and decided to be his father. Candace is embracing you because she never suppresses her feelings. I believe Cody also wants a father. It’s just… the boy is a genius, you know? He’s different from a normal five-year-old. That longingness for fatherly love probably scared him before. That’s why he strongly opposed growing attached to you.”
“He’s suppressing?” Linford frowned, “Not to my defense, but the boy can be awfully straightforward sometimes.”
He remembered how ruthless Cody could be when he tried to mock him.
“That is the problem, Linford,” Drew looked quite serious, “The boy is hiding his feelings, and you tend to jump to the conclusion directly.”
“Drew, things are more complicated than you.” Before Linford could finish the sentence, a drunken girl walking by suddenly lurched in his direction and fell on his lap.
Linford frowned in disgust. He wanted to dodge, but he suddenly faltered as he saw the girl’s face, “Lana?”
The woman propped herself up a big, breathing alcohol to Linford’s handsome face, “Who the heck are you?”
It was typically Lana White.
Linford rolled his eyes and pushed her away. He thought the girl could at least walk. But she just flopped against the floor like a corpse.
“Um… Are we really gonna leave her there like this?” Drew seemed worried.
Linford sighed and stood up, helping the girl to stand up.
The White House was quite strict with the girls. Linford didn’t know how she ended up like this.
He dragged the girl out of the pub. “Hey, Linford, if you don’t know how to treat the lady gently, I can do that for you,” Drew yelled from behind.
“Shut up, Drew,” Linford shouted before he asked Lana, “When did you come back from abroad?”
“Blurgh!”
“Ugh! Don’t you fucking dare vomit on my suit, Lana White!” Linford clenched his teeth.
He would have thrown her on the street if she wasn’t Clyde’s best friend.
****
Meanwhile, Cristelle just made a couple of changes to her drafts. Finally, she lowered her gaze and took a look at her watch. It was time to pick up the babies. However, Linford didn’t come back to pick her up. He didn’t even call.
Cristelle knew Linford would only get awkward when he saw Cody again. So she decided to drive to the school and pick up the babies herself. When she arrived, the other kids were gone. Cody and Candace were the only ones left. They were sitting beside the flower bed, talking and laughing with Peter.
Cristelle didn’t know what the topic was, but Candace seemed to be happy. Cody also had a faint smile on his face.
So Linford Bradley really didn’t come?
Cristelle blinked and pulled the car over. She almost ran toward the babies after she got out of the car, “I’m sorry. I’m late.”
Candace jumped off the flowerbed, “It’s okay, Mom. Peter’s telling us a story. The story is very funny. I’ll tell you when we return home.”
Cristelle had never heard Candace say such a long sentence.
She was thrilled, “Of course, honey. Mommy can’t wait.”
Cody yawned as he pulled at Cristelle’s sleeve, “Mom, let’s go back.”
Cristelle picked Candace up, smiling awkwardly at Peter, “I’m so sorry. Thanks for taking care of the babies for so long.”
Peter knew the family too well. He shook his head, smiling, “It’s okay. I enjoy talking to the babies. You don’t have to feel guilty. Just go and see you guys tomorrow.”
“See you, Peter,” Candace waved.
They went back to the car, and Cristelle drove back to the apartment.
“Mom, you drove here today?” Candace was surprised.
“Cody, put the safety belt on. Put it on for your sister as well.”
Candace shook her head, “I can do it myself.”
Cristelle only started the car after ensuring the babies sat safely and comfortably.
“Mr. Weston heard Cody and Candace got a ranking during the performance. These are the gifts he sent you guys,” Franco had stayed in Mr. Weston’s house for a while, missing out on time to pick the kids up from school.
Candace was so excited after hearing that she had gifts. She put down her bag and opened the box, “It’s a new dress. It’s pretty.”