Chapter 320 A Change Of Heart
Lucas clenched his fists. Disgruntlement was written all over his delicate face.
Christina would not stand to see her son endure such a grievance. Picking her children up, she was all ready to head upstairs.
Then came Nathaniel’s grim gaze. “I said, apologize.”
Seeing the man’s sharp, menacing glare. Madison felt a shiver run down her spine. “Nathaniel! You’re asking me to say sorry?” she snapped back in disbelief.
“Don’t make me repeat it for a third time,” uttered Nathaniel through gritted teeth.
His words pierced Madison like a sword. No matter how hard she gnashed her teeth in resistance, she eventually caved in and apologized.
That was when a sense of warmth rose in Lucas’ heart. Maybe this big gray wolf’s not that loathsome after all. The boy turned around and made a face at Madison. “I won’t forgive you, you witch!”
On that note, Madison glared daggers at the boy, which frightened the latter and compelled him to cower in his mother’s embrace.
“Nathaniel, hear me out-
“You should go back first.”
Nathaniel trod on Christina’s heels to the second floor upon dropping the statement.
The only thing Madison could do was watch the family of four head upstairs together. Jealousy flooded
her heart.
Christina has already been gone for a good four years, so why didn’t she stay away for good? Why must she come back? I’ll never let her set foot in here! I’ll need to think of something to drive that woman out once more!
Christina took a moment to comfort Lucas and Camila. Luckily, the children had not been affected.
Otherwise, a tight slap would never have been enough for her to let the matter slide.
“Mommy, I want to draw.” Camila had a gentle personality and had always enjoyed spending some quiet time on her own. Drawing was her favorite hobby.
She seemed to have inherited the pa*sion for doodling from her mother.
Nathaniel heard the exchange when he stepped inside the room. “I’ll get someone to make the arrangements right away.”
In less than ten minutes, the vacant room next door was decorated as an art room, fully equipped with all sorts of paints.
A glance over the newly designed art room immediately calmed Camila’s nerves, and her bubbly eyes lit up. “Wow! There are so many different paints!”
“Do you like it?” Nathaniel inched closer to the little girl.
Instead of shying away from him that time, Camila simply bobbed her head in response. Her flushed. checks made her look all the more endearing. “I love it!”
Moreover, her mellow voice was music to Nathaniel’s ears, melting his heart altogether.
“I’ll get someone to send a set of Montblanc paintbrushes over to you first thing tomorrow.”
Camila’s crystalline eyes widened like saucers the second she heard that. She, for one, was aware that those paintbrushes of the said brand were worth a fortune. Thank you…”
With a faint grin playing about his lips, Nathaniel raised his hand to caress Camila’s head. Surprisingly, the little girl did not dodge the man’s reach that time around.
On the sidelines, Christina was baffled at that sight. Since when did Nathaniel learn how to win over a child?
“Camila’s tricked by the big gray wolf. A few paintbrushes are all it takes for him to lay his hands all over her head,” said Lucas, pouting the entire while.
“Oh? So, you wouldn’t?” A chuckle accompanied Christina’s question.
“Definitely not,” answered Lucas with resolution as he crossed his arms.
Seeing Nathaniel fast approaching, he forced himself to turn his head and looked away. “I’m going back to my room to study.” He went on his way as soon as he said his piece.
Christina, in turn, nodded in approval of her son’s character. That’s my son! I’m glad he showed some backbone. Right then, her phone that was left in the study rang. She spun on her heel to answer the phone.
It was a call from the real estate agent.
Alas, Nathaniel was one step ahead of her. He grabbed the phone and hit the answer key.
“Hello, Ms. Christina. I’ve come across two condominiums that are quite in line with your requirements, When will you be free to go check them out with me?” asked the agent enthusiastically.
Nathaniel’s countenance was as grim as death. “She doesn’t need any of it. Don’t ever call this number again.”
He hung up the phone right after finishing the sentence.
“What have you just promised me last night?” He looked up at Christina, his tone frosty.
The woman wavered at his stare. “Random people are in and out of here all day long. There’s no way I’ll be staying in a place like this.”
That property was not under her name, after all. She figured that Nathaniel could go back on his word any day and take back whatever he had offered at any time.
Besides, she had been fending for herself and the kids for the past four years. Even she would deem herself worthless should she have to resort to living off a man.
“From now on, you’ll have all the rights in the world to kick any outsiders out.”
“That includes you, correct?” Christina arched a brow.
In fact, he was the person she wanted out the door the most at that juncture.
Nathaniel’s eyes darkened. “No, not really. At most. I won’t spend the night here.”
Christina then snatched her phone back from Nathaniel’s grip. Nevertheless, the man locked her by the waist, and just like that, their bodies drew so close to each other. Their warm breaths quickly permeated 1 the air in the already cramped space between them.
“Remember what you said.”
Christina broke free from the man’s arms like prey escaping from its predator.
Looking at the retreating figure, Nathaniel heaved a soft sigh.
At least I get to keep her by my side for now. As long as she doesn’t run away from me, I’m sure she’ll have a change of
heart sooner or later.
The next day, Nathaniel engaged an interior designer to transform those two rooms beside the master bedroom into independent kid’s rooms.
One of them was decorated in pink, giving off a princess-like vibe any girl would adore. Not only did it house a Barbie-designed bed made out of crystals, but it also came with a pinkish wardrobe filled with myriads of cute dresses.
Simply put, every nook and cranny of the room was a nod to Barbie’s style.
“Do you like it, Camila?” Nathaniel might have crouched down to speak to his daughter, but he was still way taller than her.
“Are these all for me? But Mommy said I shouldn’t accept things or candies from strangers!” Camila sounded serious.
She had already made an exception the day before and accepted quite a few paints.
A tinge of pain a*sailed Nathaniel deep down. He held Camila’s hand and proclaimed, “I’m not a stranger. I’m your daddy.
Camila shook her head and retracted her hand. “Mommy told me Daddy’s already six feet under, so how could you be my daddy?”
Nathaniel’s visage clouded over at that. I’m still very much alive, okay?
He was bent on building a good rapport with the children and winning them over. Once both of the kids. took his side, they could help him convince Christina.
As a matter of fact, Camila was all sweet and lovely. If anything, her adorable appearance could easily melt anyone’s heart like cotton candy.
At first, he thought that he could get Camila to befriend him with ease. Never in his wildest dreams did he anticipate himself being stumped by such an a*sertion coming from a little girl like her.
The next thing he did was fish out a strawberry lollipop from his pocket. “So, would you like to have a daddy to be by your side?”
What he said struck a chord with Camila’s heart. She nodded in bewilderment.
It went without saying that she had longed to have a father, for she had always seen ouer their fathers beside them except for her and Lucas.
Nathaniel was elated to see that reaction. “Then, is it okay for me to be your daddy?”
Camila eyeballed the man without even blinking once. Not a word escaped her.
“There’s no need to rush things. We’ll take it one step at a time. You can call me ‘Daddy’ whenever you’re ready. But before that, could we just be friends first?” exhorted Nathaniel gently as he stretched out his hand.
Camila said nothing. Can I really be friends with this big gray wolf?
“You won’t hurt Mommy, will you?” the little girl questioned timidl
“I won’t, for sure. I’ll only dote on all of you with all my heart.” Nathaniel curled his lips slightly upward as he spoke.
It was as though Camila saw a glimmer of hope emanating from the man. She accepted the lollipop in Nathaniel’s hand and said. “Okay.”
“Should we do some drawing together?
“Sure!”
With that, the father-and-daughter duo made their way to the art room hand in hand.
Meanwhile, Christina finally finished her work in the study. She checked the time, only to find that it was time for Camila to have an afternoon nap.
Camila won’t stop drawing once she picks up the paintbrush. I wonder when she’ll shake off that bad habit of hers. She entered the art room and prompted softly, “Camila, it’s nap
time…”
