Cristelle understood what Linford was trying to say immediately. Someone told those men that she had come back.
But she had only gone to see Diego and Pamela today.
“Did Pamela do that?” Cristelle knew how much Pamela hated her. It was probably her plan.
Linford nodded, but something felt off, “Probably. But we don’t have any evidence. I’ll find out the truth sooner or later. You don’t need to be scared. We’ll go back as soon as Lana gets better.”
“Lana protected me. I wouldn’t even know what to do without her,” Cristelle looked at the girl in bed, feeling guilty.
Linford rolled his eyes, not saying anything.
“By the way, how did you know I’m here? Are you following me?” Cristelle asked calmly.
Linford dropped his gaze, nodding, “I don’t want to put you in danger. So I decided to drop by and take a look.”
“Oh.” Cristelle didn’t enjoy being followed around, but Linford said he wanted to protect her, so she didn’t say anything else.
“You said you just ‘dropped by’? Do you have other businesses here? I know this place quite well. Maybe I can help you.” Cristelle suggested.
Linford smiled, “Sounds great.”
Cristelle nodded, blushing a bit, “I need to call the babies. They still don’t know that we won’t go back tonight.”
Linford took a step forward, “Let’s call them together. I don’t want them to be worried.”
“Sure.”
They thus went to the corridor to call Candace and Cody.
“Mom! Dad! When-when will you guys come back?” Candace’s face was all over the screen. She just had dinner, “Li-lily picked us up today.”
Lily pretended to be sad, “You don’t want me to pick you up, little miss?”
Candace turned around to comfort Lily, “I like you, Lily. I was just worried.”
“We will tell you beforehand the next time, okay? Don’t be mad with us,” Linford cooed.
Candace could only nod, “Okay. Deal.”
Cody didn’t say anything until before Candace was going to hang up the phone, “Mom, take care of yourself, and don’t get yourself in trouble again. You two need to come back as fast as possible, okay? Bye-bye.”
The boy hung up the phone before Cristelle could talk.
“Is Cody mad at me again?” Cristelle murmured, feeling guilty as she held the phone.
Linford was speechless, “I don’t think so. He’s probably just feeling awkward.” Awkward? Cristelle frowned.
“You don’t know, Cody? He’s not some kid who can be happy after you give him a lollipop.”
“Do you even know how to make him happy? Cristelle was puzzled.
Linford wanted to answer the question confidently, but he changed his mind before he could say anything, “Do you want me to?”
Cristelle blushed, “What kind of question is this?”
Linford smiled and pulled her in, whispering against her ear, “Don’t worry, Cristelle. I’ll fix our relationship for your sake.”
Cristelle tried to push him away in panic, “Are you out of your mind? People are watching us.”
Cristelle was not sure how she should deal with this man yet.
The Bradley family would never truly accept her because of her status. And there were still a lot of problems waiting to be solved, the Lim family, the Barnett family, and Claire. Cristelle couldn’t decide to start a romance with this beautiful man suddenly.
The only thing she could feel right now was that her heart was getting close to Linford at a dangerous speed.
She could lie all she wanted, but her heart would never stop flipping whenever she saw Linford Bradley. She had tried so hard to suppress her feelings. The more she suppressed it, however, the stronger the feelings became.
Lana was watching the two lovebirds through the window.
Her eyes were red with jealousy.
Linford.
That was her Linford!
She had only gone for a couple of years, and now he was the father of the twins. The White House tried to hide the fact from her. If Clara hadn’t called her, she would still be blind.
Everyone could tell that she had a crush on Linford. Linford seemed to be the only one who hadn’t noticed it.
It broke her heart.
****
Linford decided to walk around the town with Cristelle the next morning. “Linford, where are you guys going? I also want to go with you.” Linford didn’t expect Lana to catch up with him after he walked out of the hotel.
Linford’s face fell, “Why are you here? You should be staying in the hospital. Could you go back now?”
Lana refused to. She clung onto his side again, “No! You know I hate the hospital the most. That place smells like medicine.”
Linford was so pissed off. Cristelle happened to walk out of the hotel at that moment. She faltered as she saw them from a distance, letting out an awkward smile.
Lana let go of Linford and ran toward her, “Cristelle, I really don’t want to stay in the hospital anymore. Could you guys take me with you? I promise you that I won’t be a gooseberry.”
But you’re a massive gooseberry right now. Linford thought as he pulled a face.
He gave an eye to Cristelle, but he was not sure if Cristelle had received the signal.
“Cristelle, please?” Lana whined.
Cristelle was lost for words, unable to refuse her. She could only sigh. “Of course. Come with us.”
Linford sighed in annoyance. When could this woman learn to read his action?
They got in the car. Linford was driving. Cristelle was sitting in the driver’s co-pilot. Lana was sitting in the backseat, enjoying a bag of snacks.
“Wait! You want to climb the mountain,” Cristelle couldn’t understand.
Linford pulled over the car, smiling, “You will see.”
Linford didn’t want to do anything serious today. Besides, Lana was still sitting in the backseat. Linford didn’t want to be too cautious around her, but she was still a White family member. Linford would never let her know his plan.
“You’re gonna climb the mountain?” Lana’s mouth fell open.
Linford snapped, “I told you that you shouldn’t come, but you just insisted on it.”
“Linford!” Cristelle pulled at his sleeve. “Stop saying those things. That’s rude. By the way, I also don’t want to climb the mountain. They said there’s a small village around here. We can visit that place.”
Linford winked at her, “Okay then. Small village sounds cool.”
Lana was smiling, “Cristelle, how come you know this place so well? You have come to this place before?”