“Audrey likes him, so what can I do?” asked Emma. “You’re just a pot calling the kettle black. Based on how you spoil children, if it were you, wouldn’t the result be just the same?”
John did not get the response that he was hoping for. He pursed his lips and helplessly said, “We were talking about the children. Why did you start criticizing me instead? Oh, woe is me…”
Emma glared at him with narrowed eyes and didn’t bother to respond to him.
These two were destined to be a bickering couple.
Drew went along with Gregory. Of course, Emma and John followed closely behind.
Ashton and I trailed behind some distance away from the rest of them.
Side by side, we walked through the corridor together. It was a rare moment for the two of us. Looking at the lanky young boy shuffling along at the back, I felt a flurry of mixed emotions in my heart.
I was not against Ashton doing charity, but how he did it did not sit well with me. Even though he did so out of consideration for Audrey, we couldn’t foresee what would happen in the future. Maybe one day, the boy would grow up and think that he was humiliated and started to harbor evil thoughts.
“Besides,” I paused before continuing in a serious tone, “I don’t like the look in this boy’s eyes. He may look young, but he doesn’t have the youthful exuberance of a young lad. His eyes are like a pool of dead water…”
Just like that person.
I was lost in my own thoughts when I felt a familiar warmth on my shoulder. I turned my head. Ashton had slid his arm around me and enveloped me in a comforting side hug.
“Audrey is pure-hearted by nature. We must handle the situation carefully to keep it that way,” replied Ashton. Each step he took was calm and steady. The way he spoke, as if he had it all under control, somehow managed to put me at ease. “My daughter will grow up safely and peacefully. No one can disrupt that. A few days later, I will look for a chance to send the boy away. By that time, I’ll need you, my dear wife, to help cover me.”
He was two steps ahead of me the whole time. My worry was all for nothing.
I smiled and agreed to his plan. “If necessary, I can be the bad guy. Audrey is already not that close with you. I do not want anything else to drive a wedge between your relationship with her.”
In order to maintain a happy family life, husband and wife need to work together as a team.
Ashton lightly squeezed my upper arm and smiled to himself. I wasn’t sure if he took what I said to heart.
It soon became apparent that our concern was not unfounded. Audrey was very fascinated with this boy who followed us back from the orphanage. She even paid more attention to him than to Gregory!
The moment we stepped into our home, Ashton ordered our maid to see to the boy’s cleaning up. Every few minutes, Audrey would approach them and secretly stare from the side.
This made me rather uneasy.
Excessive fascination is often the start of sinking into a bottomless pit. Even with familiar people, we could never know what covert schemes were simmering in their hearts. Not to mention this time around, we have an orphan with unknown origins.
After some careful contemplation, I called over Gregory to have a little chat.
“Greg,” I said with a smile while tenderly stroking his wet hair that was sticking to his head after a wash, “can you do Mommy a favor?”
Gregory, being the good-natured boy that he was, nodded and agreed at the drop of a hat. “Sure, Mommy. What do you need me to do?”
I thought for a while. Then, I moved to his side and whispered into his ear. “Audrey spent too much time playing today. Can you think of a way to get her to go back to her room and sleep?”
“Sure,” answered Gregory. With that, he went over to Audrey, who was pretending to play with some toys by the pillar. She was actually peeking at the boy the whole time.
Soon, the siblings were engaged in a discussion.
I looked from afar, feeling satisfied and confident. I guess having more children around really did have its perks!
In Audrey’s eyes, Gregory was far more appealing than Ashton and me. Asking him to persuade her was more effective.
I had full confidence that Gregory would succeed, but I didn’t expect it to be that quick.
In less than a minute, Audrey threw her Barbie doll to one side and happily scampered upstairs.
Feeling surprised, I hurriedly stopped Gregory and asked him what he had done. “Greg, what did you say to your sister? Why did she agree to go sleep so quickly?”
