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Chapter 202
Noah r
ubbed his forehead, pressing hard. Meeting Chloe’s deep ocean–like blue eyes made his heart skip a beat. After a long pause, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
Noah asked, “What… what are we having for dinner tonight?”
Chloe let out a soft sigh and lowered her eyes. Before she could respond, Wyatt in the shopping cart spoke up first, “sauced
beef steak”
“Exactly. We should buy some ribs,” Noah said, pushing the shopping cart in the wrong direction. He said, “Wyatt, you are
smart.”
“Uncle Noah, you’re going the wrong way. It’s over there,” Wyatt said as he pointed out
Noah adjusted the cart and backed it up.
Wyatt glanced at Chloe standing motionless. He thought, “What’s with these two acting so weird? He asked, “Mommy, why are you standing there like that?”
Chloe frowned. She snapped out of it and clenched her fists. She thought, I must be losing it, seeing odd expressions in the eyes of someone with a mixed–up mind”
She took a deep breath and quickly caught up with Noah before he bought randomly. She picked out a few good ribs. When she put the ribs in the shopping cart, she noticed there were toys inside.
She asked, “Why are you guys buying so many toys?”
“Because Uncle Noah has never played with them,” Wyatt explained, thinking it was childish but figuring if Noah wanted to play, let him play.
Chloe glanced up at Noah. Noah naturally looked away and scanned the area. He suggested, “Let’s get some snacks too!” Seeing Noah’s awkward way of walking, Chloe frowned, wondering if something was wrong with him.
By the time they left the supermarket, it was already dark.
Noah let Chloe drive the car while he hopped into the back seat and started playing with the new toys they just bought. He thought, ‘Why don’t they seem as fun as before they were bought?”
Noah said to Wyatt, “You can have all these; consider them gifts from me.”
Wyatt looked dismissive and said, “They are so childish. I don’t want to play with them. My mom bought me way cooler
stuff.”
Noah asked, “Cooler stuff?” He thought, Maybe with cooler stuff, I won’t overthink. It must be these low–level toys aren’t tempting enough‘
They arrived at the apartment.
It was Noah’s first time seeing such a small place; amusingly, he didn’t feel like leaving once he stepped in. He was curious about everything.
The house was spotless, and foam pads covered every sharp corner, ensuring nothing was pointy.
Noah said, “Wow! You’re amazing. How do you manage to juggle work and take such great care of Wyatt at the same time?”
“If Wyatt was really well taken care of, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt, Chloe said. She still felt a bit guilty,
Chapter 202
NOV 22
“How can you say that? Kids are bound to have little accidents. You’re doing great, Noah said, then eagerly went to check out Wyatt’s toys.
Chloe stopped in her tracks when she heard his words, a warmth blossoming in her heart.
It was getting late, and Chloe carried her things to the kitchen. While prepping dinner, she’d occasionally look up and see Noah and Wyatt playing with toys on the living room carpet. Noah was playing more enthusiastically than Wyatt.
She forced herself not to look, telling herself that this warmth wasn’t meant for her; she didn’t deserve it.
She thought, ‘Noah doesn’t know anything now, so it doesn’t matter. But once he remembers everything, he definitely won’t forgive me.
By the time the lavish dinner was ready, it was already nearly ten o’clock.
Drawn by the aroma, Noah and Wyatt came over.
“Wash your hands, Chloe reminded Wyatt, and Noah immediately carried Wyatt to the bathroom.
Wyatt stood on a stool, and Noah stood behind him, his large hands full of white suds as he scrubbed Wyatt’s chubby little hands.
The scene made Chloe’s eyes misty. She thought, Is it what they call family bonds? I have never seen Wyatt so happy before. Her heart felt like it was pricked by a needle, deepening her guilt-
“What’s wrong? Time to eat. Did the kitchen fumes get in your eyes?” Noah asked as he leaned in closer. He curiously observed Chloe.
“Yeah, a little,” Chloe casually made up an excuse to brush it off
Noah said, “Next time, you teach me, and I’ll do it.”
Faced with the sincerity in Noah’s eyes, Chloe’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Next time? Are you coming again?” she asked as she raised her eyebrows.
Noah didn’t reply and just sat down at the dining table, ready to dig in
With a guy around, food definitely wouldn’t go to waste.
When Noah took a bite of the first piece of pork ribs, it was like a nerve in him came alive. He kept eating, one after another.
you eaten all
Wyatt said, “Delicious, right? My mom’s cooking is the best. But Uncle Noah, you can’t eat that much. Haven’t you day?”
“How did you know? I’ve been starving all day. If it weren’t for those two cake samples and three sausages at the supermarket, I wouldn’t have made it till now,” Noah said while still stuffing food into his mouth.
Wyatt had just put a piece of rib in his mouth and immediately spat it back into the bowl. He thought, “That is embarrassing. He asked, “Mommy, why is it so salty today?”
Chloe said, “Sorry, I guess I added too much salt. Try eating something else.”
After the meal, Noah was very full.
After cleaning up, Chloe was ready to see Noah out,
Wyatt said, “Mommy, how about letting Uncle Noah stay here tonight? He gave me so much blood, he’s feeling dizzy. Wyatt Stevens tugged on Noah’s hair again. He asked, “Am I right, Uncle Noah?”
Chapter 202
Noah said. “Yes, I’m dizzy
Chloe said, “No way. Besides, we’re not really close. It’s not convenient.” She frowned, thinking. When did Noah become so shameless?
Noah pressed his lips together and said, “I’m dizzy and very tired. I can’t drive. What if something happens? I don’t want you to feel guilty for the rest of your life.”
Chloe felt a twinge in her heart, the color draining from her face. She shouted, “Are you crazy? Who wants something to happen to themselves? Do what you want, just don’t die here! She turned and went into the bedroom.
Wyatt had never seen Chloe like this before. He said, “Uncle Noh, maybe you should leave. My mommy’s angry”
Noah mumbled, “Alright.”
Chloe leaned against the door. Tears she had held back all day fill heavily onto the floor.
Soon, there was the faint sound of someone getting dressed outside the door. Noah said, “Well, I’m leaving. Today’s ribs were the tastiest I’ve ever had. Thanks for the meal. I’m heading off now, Wyatt.”
Chloe wiped her tears and walked out of the room without looking up at them. She said, “You, you sleep on the couch.”
She wasn’t sure what she was doing: she didn’t want to feel guilty anymore. More importantly, she didn’t want Wyatt to be let down.
“Hurry up and get to sleep,” Chloe said before turning back to her room. She could still hear the sound of Noah and Wyatt giving each other a high–five in celebration.
The phone on the bedside table chimed twice.
Chloe picked it up and saw that Ophelia had called her several times today. She quickly answered, adjusting her voice.
She said, ‘Elia, what’s going on? I took Wyatt to the doctor today and forgot my phone.”
Ophelia asked, “What happened to Wyatt?” She knew Chloe well; Chloe wouldn’t forget her phone unless something were
wrong.
Chloe replied. “It’s nothing serious, don’t worry. By the way, are you okay? Did Jonathan bother you at all?”
Ophelia said, “I’m fine, too. Sorry for bothering you again, Chloe. It’s so nice to have you around.”
Chloe asked, “Since when did you start saying such sappy thing
Ophelia said, “By the way, Chloe, earlier you…” She hadn’t finished speaking wheri suddenly a man’s voice was heard on the other end. And she found the voice familiar.
SEND GIFT
