At the sight of me hesitating, Gregory lowered his voice. “Mommy, I’ll just try a bite. I won’t eat more than that, okay?”
I understood now. Gregory was the same as his father; information had to be repeated to them multiple times!
“I don’t mind treating you, but you mustn’t call me Mommy anymore. Deal?”
“No problem.” Gregory flashed a wide smile and pulled me by the arm into the shop. “Let’s go, Ms. Stovall!”
Gregory ordered a set meal for children on top of one of each of the best-selling items on the menu. A table for two was soon filled up.
The child was true to his word; he literally tried a bite of everything. The only thing he was particularly fond of was the sundae.
“I thought only girls like sweet things, Gregory?” I teased him.
As soon as I said that, he put down his spoon and wiped his lips in a dignified manner, refusing to touch another spoonful.
“Hey, I’m just messing with you. Carry on,” I said as I pushed the chocolate sundae back in front of him.
“That will be enough,” Gregory said with a solemn shake of his head.
“Really?” I probed him. Children are greedy.
Gregory nodded again determinedly. “Statistics show that an excessive consumption of deep-fried and sweet food is harmful to the body,” he said in a serious manner.
I couldn’t decide whether the child before me was a six-year-old or a genius who was familiar with the workings of the world. After a stunned silence, I said, “If that’s the case, shouldn’t you abstain from them completely?”
“They wouldn’t do you any harm in small portions. The more Daddy forbids me, the more I want to try. I’m a child; it’s normal for me to not be able to restrain my urges!”
His arrogant expression was bizarre. If it was normal for a child to not being able to reason, doesn’t it make accommodating him a grievous sin?
At the thought of this, I felt a pang of guilt, like a bright spotlight following me around. I looked up instinctively and jumped as I caught sight of a pair of cold eyes outside of the glass.
Ashton stood outside the restaurant with a straight face, but the coldness that he was exuding permeated invasively through the glass and lowered the ambient temperature in the restaurant by several degrees.
The guilty feeling solidified instantly upon looking into his eyes.
When I had regained my senses, Ashton was already walking in.
“Ashy!” Gregory called cheekily and stood up as he caught sight of Ashton.
“What are you supposed to call me?” Ashton asked coldly with a frown.
Gregory chuckled to himself as he hugged Ashton’s thigh. “Daddy!”
Ashton’s eyes flashed with helplessness but did not lose his temper. I stood up slowly.
As I was about to say something, Gregory came to my rescue. “Daddy, have you seen Ms. Ziegler? She said she would pick me up in a while but it’s been a long time and she hasn’t shown up yet. The adults here at the mall were ignoring me. Only Ms. Stovall was willing to lend me her phone. I remembered that I shouldn’t call you unnecessarily. Aren’t I clever?”
What?
Thora left him here? Why didn’t he say so?
Besides, with Gregory’s ability to be coy, what kind of a normal adult would bear to leave him behind?
After he intentionally emphasized my role again, it looked as if I taught the child to say some good words to claim the credit on my behalf.
“Hmm,” Ashton grunted indifferently before looking up at me. The depths of his dark eyes made guessing his thoughts impossible.
Businessmen thought very deeply. Furthermore, we have had an interaction before. It wasn’t an experience I wished to repeat in a hurry.
“You have your child now. I won’t bother you anymore. I’ve got to go.”
I retrieved my purse. “Goodbye Gregory, listen to your Dad, will you?”
The indifferent and conceited man before me suddenly spoke up. “Thank you for caring for Gregory today. How can I return this favor?” I was stunned as I did not expect him to be so courteous. “There’s no need.” I shook my head with a smile. “Gregory is adorable. Anybody who runs into him wouldn’t ignore him. I know it’s not my place to say this, but though it’s important to earn money, please do not forget the safety of your family. If possible, you should assign a couple of bodyguards for Gregory.”
