Chapter 20
“Good boy! Once you’re done with your food, you can play for a while longer before we head back, alright? I’m getting really tired now.” Amanda was too worried to stay there any longer, fearing that Elias would run into Aiden by accident.
Despite Aiden’s desire to continue playing, he reluctantly nodded when he noticed the tired look on Amanda’s face. “Alright, then…”
“That’s my boy! I’ll bring you here again next week, okay?”
“Mommy, why does that man keep bullying you?” Aiden suddenly asked while taking a bite of his hamburger, staring at his mother while waiting for her answer.
Amanda was stunned for a second before she realized Aiden was referring to Elias. She then chuckled and said, “Nah, he wasn’t bullying me. We were just having a conversation. Don’t worry. Your mommy is strong, and no one dares to mess with me.”
Aiden grunted coldly and asked, “Mommy, are you trying to make that man your husband? No, I will not have it that way! I want Mr. Nicholson as my daddy.”
What’s this little guy thinking? What makes him think I was trying to make Elias my husband? Amanda speechlessly thought to herself. “You’re reading too much into it. I won’t let that man be your father.”
At that. Aiden let out a sigh of relief and took a bite of his hamburger. “That’s great, Mommy! I want Mr. Nicholson to be my daddy. You guys are a perfect match.”
A perfect match? What is this boy thinking? He’s way more mature than he should be at his age now, isn’t he? Ring! Ring! Amanda took a look at her phone and realized that Howard was calling. However, she lacked the courage to speak to him when she thought about what he had done to her and Elias the night before.
You took it too far, Grandpa. After hesitating for a while, she decided to answer the call.
“Hey there, Grandpa.”
“Amanda, I’ve booked a table at a restaurant. Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight? I’d like to have a word with you.”
Great! I’ve been looking for a chance to tell Grandpa about my stance. Amanda wanted Howard to quit playing matchmaker for them, and she was determined not to remarry Elias. “Alright, send me the address, Grandpa. I’ll be there tonight.”
When evening came, the entire city was lit up with beautiful streetlights, and it presented a spellbinding night view. Upon arrival at the restaurant where Howard had booked a lounge, Amanda opened the door, only to feel a sudden urge to turn around and leave. What is Elias doing here?
“Here you are, Amanda. Finally! Come on in and have a seat.” Howard was seen with a long face until Amanda’s arrival put a smile on his face.
Amanda slowly walked into the lounge, feeling reluctant. “Grandpa,” she called out to Howard and sat beside him.
When Elias saw Amanda, his eyes were slightly filled with surprise, but even so, he was quickly able to fathom what his grandfather was up to.
“So, what’s next for the two of you?” Howard placed a teacup in front of Amanda and asked.
“What’s next?” Amanda and Elias responded simultaneously and looked at the old man at the same time.
“Well, you guys are reacting in sync. It looks like you both must have had a great time last night.” Howard chuckled, amused by the duo’s synchronized movements. “Of course, I’m talking about you both getting remarried. What’s wrong? Don’t you want to be responsible for what you did last night?” The old man spoke threateningly while fixing his piercing gaze on Elias.
“You’re overthinking things, Grandpa. Nothing happened last night.” Elias grabbed a teacup and guzzled the liquid down his throat..
As the air stiffened around the two men, Howard stared at his grandson and questioned, “Come on, are you a real man? How can you not do what you’re supposed to with her even when you’ve been drugged? How useless of you!”
When Amanda heard what Howard called his grandson, she couldn’t believe her ears.
“Come on, Grandpa! Are you seriously proud of what you did to us? You drugged us! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?!” Elias grew furious at the thought of Howard’s cheeky plan the night before.
Howard became even angrier as he smashed the teacup onto the ground. “How dare you talk to me like that?! Whom do you think I did that for?! I did that for both of you! Why must you make me worry all the time? I created such a perfect opportunity for you both, yet you did nothing at all! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!”
Elias was helpless, unable to talk sense into Howard’s head at all.
While the conflict appeared to escalate further and further between the two men, Amanda. coughed and replied, “Can you hear me out, Grandpa?” Only after she started talking did Howard. calm down a bit.
“Alright. I’m listening, Amanda.” Howard gasped for breath and looked at Amanda with a tender
look on his face.
“I appreciate what you’ve done for us, Grandpa. I also know you love me, but Elias and I have divorced. We can never be together again, and I don’t want to remarry him either. He has someone else in his heart, whereas-”
“What about you? Is there someone else in your heart too? Are you in love with another man?* Howard’s heart pounded rapidly.
Is there someone else? Likewise, Elias felt his heart skipping a beat, overwhelmed by an unspeakable sense of disappointment. He then fixed his gaze on Amanda and waited for her answer. Why does it hurt so much to think that Amanda is in love with someone else?
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