Perhaps fearing that Samantha would leave him, Alexander stuck close to her side.
If Samantha went to the kitchen, he followed to the kitchen.
If Samantha went to the bathroom, he waited outside the door.
In contrast to his outward emotions, Noah was relatively reserved. He simply sat on the sofa, and wherever Samantha went, his eyes followed.
After Alexander's true identity was revealed, Samantha cherished every moment they spent together even more.
She personally cooked a table full of delicious dishes for them.
Alexander's appetite soared.
He picked up his spoon and eagerly devoured the food.
In the past four years, he had never felt the way he did now — that his Mommy's cooking was so delicious, surpassing all the delicacies in the world.
Noah, despite being excited to eat Samantha's cooking again, maintained his elegance, leisurely savoring the food on the table.
However, his gaze never strayed from Samantha, as if he couldn't get enough of looking at her.
Ethan and Noah's dining actions were surprisingly similar.
Sipping their lips, chewing delicately, and eating slowly, as if they were noble royalty.
No one knew Ethan's current mood.
The dishes on the table were obviously ordinary.
But he felt that the taste was excellent, instantly reviving his appetite that had been low for days. Unconsciously, he had already finished three plates of foods.
If his stomach could handle it, he would have loved to eat a few more plates.
Seeing that they were done eating, and it was about time, Samantha got up to say goodbye.
Upon hearing she was leaving, Noah's face showed a sense of urgency.
Alexander directly grabbed her arm and refused to let go, "I'll go back with you."
"No..."
"No."
Samantha and Ethan rejected simultaneously.
Ethan expressionlessly said, "You are my son, and this is your home. You can only stay here."
After Alexander's identity was exposed, he had long anticipated this outcome. However, hearing it firsthand, he couldn't accept it and his eyes reddened.
"No, I want to go back with Mommy. I want to be with them."
Ethan's sinister and cold phoenix-like eyes were stained with darkness, and his face turned almost ashen.
Samantha knew this was a sign of his anger. She immediately rubbed Alexander's head and whispered to comfort him, "Now that you've found your biological father, it's only right for you to stay with him. I know you don't want to part with Charlotte and me, but don't worry, I'll still be the chef here. We can see each other every day. If you miss Charlotte, I'll bring her to visit you."
Alexander still wanted to refuse, but seeing Samantha's red eyes, full of reluctance, and not wanting her to worry, he could only lower his head and ask softly, "Can I really see you every day?"
Samantha patted his chest and promised, "I swear to you. Although we're not mother and son, our bond won't change."
With her assurance, Alexander reluctantly nodded in agreement.
After comforting Alexander, Samantha went to Noah, rubbed his head, and said, "You're sensible. Take good care of Alexander, who just came back."
Noah nodded and assured, "I will take good care of him."
With the assurances from both of them, Samantha finally felt at ease to leave.
Ethan watched her walk away, his mouth twitching, his face turning gloomy.
This woman, knowing how to comfort Alexander, knowing to advise Noah, but deliberately ignoring him.
Not even a proper farewell.
As Samantha drove away, tears uncontrollably welled up in her eyes.
Alexander had completely left her.
Although Alexander still called her Mommy, the meaning behind it had completely changed. Even though they were not biological mother and son, their bond surpassed that of many biological relationships.
Alexander's sudden departure left Samantha feeling extremely uncomfortable.
She felt as if a piece of her heart had been deeply cut out, causing unbearable pain and making it difficult to breathe.
Back at home, Samantha looked at the familiar surroundings, recalling every little thing Alexander did here. The heart-wrenching pain seemed to torture her to the brink of death. She sorrowfully curled up on the bed where Alexander had slept, tears streaming down incessantly.
...
Alexander's sudden departure made Samantha extremely uneasy.
She felt restless all day long.
Even when picking up Charlotte after school, she almost mistakenly grabbed the wrong child.
Charlotte noticed her abnormality and couldn't help but ask with concern, "Mommy, what's wrong? Do you have something on your mind?"
Samantha shook her head, unsure of how to explain Alexander's departure.
Charlotte, who was usually slow to react, surprisingly became sensitive and asked, "Mommy, where's brother? I haven't seen him for a long time. I miss him. Even the kids at kindergarten asked if he was sick. I don't know how to answer them."
Mentioning Alexander again, another wave of pain surged through her heart. Tears blurred her vision, and her shoulders trembled as she sobbed.
Charlotte finally realized that something was wrong, tightly gripping Samantha's hand and anxiously asking, "Did something happen to my brother? What happened to him?"
Samantha took a deep breath, wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes, and comforted, "Your brother is fine; he just won't be living with us for a while."
She firmly believed that time could heal all wounds. If she revealed the truth to Charlotte now, she was sure Charlotte wouldn't be able to accept it. Rather than both of them being heartbroken, it was better to let time gradually fade the pain away.
Given Charlotte's personality, Samantha believed it wouldn't take long for her to forget Alexander.
Charlotte blinked her glistening big eyes and asked curiously, "Not living with us? Why? Who is he living with? Is it Daddy?"
Samantha hesitated for a moment and then said, "No, it's a uncle. This uncle has been through some tough times recently and feels very sad. He is staying with him, comforting him."
Charlotte nodded as if she understood, "So, if I miss him, what should I do?"
Samantha's throat tightened, unsure of how to answer. After a moment, she softly said, "Let him stay with that uncle for a while. If you really miss him, I'll see if I can arrange for him to come and visit you."
Hearing her words, Charlotte didn't seem to suspect anything and pouted, muttering discontentedly, "Why does he have to stay with him? He's my brother..."
Although she said that, she didn't object.
Samantha, burdened with heavy thoughts, walked home with Charlotte.
To her surprise, they encountered Justin at the doorstep.
Seeing her, Justin's eyes sparkled, and he spoke gently, "You're back? I figured you might not have the appetite for dinner today, so I brought some food for you."
With Alexander's true identity revealed, he was sure that Alexander would return to his biological father. Samantha suddenly lost one of her sons, and her mood must be gloomy. He took advantage of this opportunity to come and accompany her.
Though it might be a bit despicable to take advantage of someone's vulnerability, as long as he could be with Samantha, he was willing to be a bit despicable.
Samantha originally wanted to refuse, but seeing the smile on his face, she swallowed the words of rejection.
Regardless, he had taken care of Charlotte for a whole night.
If she drove him away, it would be ungrateful and bridge-burning.
***