The next day, Karen wanted to accompany Samantha to send Charlotte and Noah to kindergarten.
Noah sternly refused.
In the end, Samantha alone took them to kindergarten.
As they approached the school, Noah still couldn't help but remind her, "Remember, don't trust others too much, not even your best friends. People have hidden agendas."
Samantha was amused by his appearance, "Okay, I got it! Hurry up and go in! It's a new school for you, and Charlotte might not adapt well. Take good care of her."
Noah knew she hadn't taken it seriously and sighed inwardly. He turned around and went into the school.
After safely sending the children to kindergarten, Samantha drove to Chelsea Creek.
The night before, she received a message from Wendy.
Today at 9 a.m., she would discuss cooperation with Ellena at Chelsea Creek.
At the same time, at Chelsea Creek.
Ethan specifically took a day off to accompany his son at home.
Seeing his son pushing away the dishes made by the chef, his face becoming more and more unsightly.
"The doctor said you have a severe stomach condition. You must eat, even if you don't like it. You have to eat a little."
Alex pouted, his small mouth raised high, full of disdain, "This stuff is not tasty. I don't like it. I want to eat the food Mommy makes."
Before, he always complained that Mommy's food wasn't delicious.
Now he found out that Mommy's dishes were the most delicious in the world.
Just one night without seeing her, he missed Mommy and Charlotte so much.
He wondered how they were doing now.
Have they noticed that Alex around them is fake?
Ethan's brow furrowed with impatience, a trace of annoyance fleeting between his eyes. He said to Jade on the side, "Go find Suzy Miller."
Alexander frowned, impatiently saying, "She's not my mommy. I don't want to eat anything she makes!"
Ethan's patience wore thin, and his deep eyes brimmed with anger.
"Noah Steele, don't push it..."
If it weren't for his illness, he would have enforced family rules long ago and not let him behave recklessly until now.
Alexander looked indifferent, arms crossed, pouting, refusing to compromise.
Ethan's forehead veins bulged, anger lingering in his chest.
The father and son remained silent, a hidden struggle between them.
Even the air seemed to carry sparks.
After a moment of stalemate, Ethan remembered Nick's words. He had to compromise, gritting his teeth, he ordered Jade, "Find another chef within an hour."
Jade complied and left.
Ethan suppressed the anger in his chest and personally served a bowl of dessert in the kitchen.
"Eat some dessert first to soothe your stomach. The new chef will be here soon."
Just an hour had exhausted all his patience.
If the little one didn't start behaving, he couldn't guarantee his own restraint.
Looking at his cold face, the clever Alexander yielded. He took the dessert, gulped it down, and handed the bowl back to Ethan with a sweet smile. "Thanks, Daddy!"
Ethan shivered, looking at Alexander strangely, a creepy and surprised expression.
Daddy?
Noah had always addressed him in a simple and straightforward manner—Father.
‘Daddy’ was an unfamiliar term for both of them.
It seemed that Noah was really quite ill and needed urgent treatment.
Half an hour later, there was a commotion downstairs.
Ethan thought the new chef had arrived, so he went downstairs with Alexander.
Just as they reached the stairs, the butler led Samantha inside.
Seeing Samantha, Alexander was overjoyed. All the yearning surged out, and she excitedly shouted, "Mommy...!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized something was wrong. Unfortunately, it was too late. Samantha had already turned towards the sound.
He felt a chill all over his body, silently thinking, ‘This is not good.’
In the final moment when Samantha looked over, Alexander quickly flashed behind Ethan, then gradually retreated until his back was firmly against the wall.
"What are you doing?" Ethan frowned displeased, not understanding what he was up to.
Alexander, uncertain whether Samantha had actually seen him, casually gave a reason to placate Ethan, "I don't want to go down. Later, you bring the food up for me to taste."
"Noah Steele!" Ethan's eyes narrowed instantly, a hint of hostility vaguely emerging.
This was a precursor to his anger.
If it were Noah, he would definitely immediately lower his head to please. But Alexander wasn't Noah and obviously wasn't buying into his tactics.
"I just won't go down. If you don't bring it up, I'll starve!"
Saying this, he returned to the room and forcefully slammed the door.
A loud 'bang,' the sound was deafening.
Ethan's entire handsome face darkened; his fist creaked as if being squeezed. Seeing the anger about to overflow from his eyes, recalling Nick's words in his mind, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and silently repeated in his heart.
Noah didn't intentionally defy him or disobey his orders; it was all because of this damn depression.
He couldn't argue with a patient.
After repeating this to himself, he barely managed to suppress his anger and walked downstairs with long strides.
....
Downstairs.
Just as Samantha followed the housekeeper into the house, she heard Alex calling her. After searching around and not finding Alex, she unexpectedly saw an enlarged version of Alex.
Images from the day in the hospital parking lot involuntarily flashed in her mind.
Her breath hitched.
Her small face turned bright red.
She wished she could find a hole to hide in.
Ethan also hadn't expected to see the woman who forcibly kissed him here. After a brief surprise, a meaningful smile curved his thin lips.
She actually followed them home?
This woman would go to any lengths to get his attention.
The housekeeper didn't sense the mysterious atmosphere between the two and introduced them.
"Miss Lila, this is our master, also Miss Ellena's elder brother."
***