Chapter 217
Kenneth let out a cold chuckle and said, “There are lots of people like me.” He added inside, ‘Do I go to everyone’s birthday parties?”
Ophelia raised an eyebrow and walked around the desk. She leaned against it with her hands on the surface, speaking in a mock interrogation tone, “Oh really? How many? Tell me.”
Kenneth swung his legs down. He used his slender fingers to solve the Rubik’s Cube. Then, he placed it on the desk, stood up, and walked over to Ophelia.
le counted them off as he approached her. He said, “There’s Ophelia Sinclair, Ophelia Spencer, Elia, Ms. Spencer..
When he said the last two words, he was standing right in front of Ophelia. With both hands on the table, he trapped her and leaned in close. His lips brushed against her soft lips. He asked, “Are you jealous of all of them?”
Ophelia said, “There’s one more person you forgot to mention. Her clear eyes stayed fixed on Kenneth without blinking.
Kenneth asked, “Who?”
Ophelia replied, “Mrs. Sinclair. Your wife.”
Ophelia’s words gave Kenneth a sudden jolt, his dark eyes holding a mix of unclear emotions.
Without another word, he grasped her head and captured her lips. He kissed her slowly and passionately. His Adam’s apple bobbed with each kiss, gradually taking all her breath away.
Luckily, Mark had left the room earlier; otherwise, he would have had to witness their romantic moment.
In the evening, Chloe carried a large bundle of groceries from the parking garage into the elevator.
When it reached the first floor, two middle–aged women joined her, also carrying groceries. These two women lived upstairs from Chloe and often ran into her in the elevator.
“Oh my, Chloe! Did you buy all this by yourself?” one of the women remarked, eyeing the two big grocery bags. She thought, Youngsters these days don’t know how to manage their budget, only buying the expensive stuff.
Chloe nudged the groceries closer to her feet. She ordered all groceries from the large supermarket near her office.
As the elevator doors closed, the other woman said, “Raising a child on your own is tough. You work during the day and take care of the child at night. Maybe try to find a suitable man and remarry, and it will make your life easier.
“I have a nephew who’s been married twice but has no kids. I heard it’s because his ex–wife wasn’t a good match. Do you want me to introduce him to you?”
“No thanks,” Chloe replied, her eyes fixed on the numbers rising in the elevator. Her face remained neutral, appearing slightly annoyed.
The woman kept saying, “My nephew is an exec at a big company. He’s more than enough for you; his annual salary is 260.
thousand dollars.
“If you get with him, you can stay at home to take care of the kids and just look after the in–laws on weekends. It’s much easier than your current work.”
Chloe ignored them entirely, acting as if they didn’t exist.
1/3-
Chapter 217
Seeing her silence, the two older women didn’t continue talking.
When the elevator arrived, Chloe stepped out alone, carrying her groceries.
She overheard the ladies behind her murmuring, “Honestly, she has no sense of what’s good for her. Taking care of a kid on her own, who does she think she can find! Even my nephew might not fancy her
“Who does your nephew think he is?” a voice shouted from above Chloe’s head. The voice was directed at the ladies in the
elevator.
Chloe was briefly stunned before Noah took the weight from her hands.
Noah said, “You’ve bought so much stuff. Why didn’t you call me? I could’ve come down to help out.”
The two women in the elevator exchanged glances and fell silent upon seeing the situation.
Noah’s striking looks and powerful presence made it hard for anyone to say a word.
As the elevator doors closed, one woman whispered, “Is that Chloe’s boyfriend? How does your nephew compare?
Another woman argued, “Looks aren’t everything” She rolled her eyes, surprised that a woman like Chloe could find such a good man.
Chloe looked at Noah. He was still wearing that black knitted sweater, with the sleeves rolled up halfway, revealing strong. veiny forearms as he held items in both hands.
Chloe asked, “When exactly do you plan to leave?” Her face remained stern, not softening just because he was helping carry her bags.
Noah said, “Can you not send me away the first moment you see me each day? I have nowhere else to go. I can help clean the house and take care of Wyatt.
“I won’t just stay here for free. Besides, having a man around can be useful for all sorts of needs.”
Chloe frowned deeply. She thought, “All sorts of needs? This conversation is becoming more outrageous. His shamelessness is beyond my comprehension
Noah said, “Didn’t I just help you shut those people up? Isn’t that fulfilling all sorts of needs?”
Chloe was speechless. She commanded, “You have to leave by tomorrow morning.”
Noah acted as if he didn’t hear, holding the items in his hands while using his foot to push the door open.
“Did you hear me? I’m talking to you!” Chloe shouted as she pressed her hand against the door frame.
Noah shouted, “Ouch! My foot is stuck in the door. How am I supposed to walk if it’s injured?”
Feeling a bit resigned, Chloe removed her hand and stepped inside, opening the door wide.
Noah followed her in, a hint of a smile in his eyes.
“Mommy,” Wyatt called and ran over. Every time Chloe came home, he would kiss her on the cheek, erasing all her weariness.
Chloe changed her shoes at the door and glanced around the room–toys were all over the floor, and half–eaten snacks were on the table.
12:06 Sat, 23 Nov
Chapter 217
She thought. ‘Is this what he calls cleaning the house? Wyatt is now eating snacks with him. He never teaches the good things. Only the bad habits seem to stick.”
Noah scratched the back of his head and said, “I’ll clean up in a bit. I promise it’ll be spotless”
82%
“If you don’t leave by tomorrow morning. I’m calling the police, Chloe warned. She grabbed the shopping bag from Noah
and went into the kitchen.
Noah immediately looked to Wyatt for help, mouthing. “What should I do!”
Wyatt patted his chest as if saying. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
Then, Wyatt said to Chloe, “Mommy, tomorrow’s my birthday. Can we let Uncle Noah stay until after my birthday before we send him away?”
Hearing this, Noah’s eyes widened. He lowered his voice and said, “Hey! You little rascal…”
Wyatt put a finger to his lips. He whispered, “You’re so silly. It’s called a delay tactic.
Noah thought, “What? He knows quite a lot, even about delay tactics.
“Mommy, is it okay? Let Uncle Noah stay for my birthday,” Wyatt said as he tugged at Chloe’s shirt in the kitchen.
Chloe said, “Ophelia is coming to celebrate your birthday tomorrow, remember?”
She thought. Isn’t it the same way every year? If Elia sees Noah, I don’t even know how to explain. She is so smart. What if she notices something is off?”
Wyatt said, “Alright. Goodbye, Uncle Noah. I’ve got Ophelia with me.”
Noah was shocked, completely puzzled. He thought, That isn’t what we have agreed earlier.
Chloe was delighted to see Wyatt stand by her side. But seeing Noah quiet gave her a vague sense of disappointment. She turned around and busied herself in the kitchen.
At dinner, there was a dish of sauced beef steak, just like the day Noah arrived.
Chloe thought, ‘Let’s consider it the last supper. After this, we won’t have any more encounters.
