Patricia stood up to fetch the cake.
Balfour watched Patriciaâs retreating figure, then turned his gaze to Then sitting across the table. His eyes hardened âTheo, donât you think youâre a bit too icy towards Patricia?â
Theo looked up. âIs this your first time meeting me or what?â
Balfour was left speechless Fair enough, they knew each other since they were kids and they ran in the same circles.
Theo had always been aloof and never showed any warmth to anyone.
However, thinking about his little Patricia, whorn he had always protected, marrying such a man who didnât know how to look after a girl, Balfour couldnât help but sigh. He really couldnât figure out what Patricia saw in this guy.
Deciding not to dwell on Theoâs attitude towards Patricia, Balfour changed the subject.
âTheo. I know about the child you and Patricia adopted abroad.â
Theoâs hand, which was cutting steak, paused slightly.
âAnd Patnciaâs been running around from dawn till dusk these days, all to take care of the kid, right?â
Theoâs expression didnât change. After swallowing his beef, he spoke, âIâm sorry, we shouldâve asked for the Howard familyâs consent before doing thisâ
Balfour glared at him, snorting coldly, âTheo, I didnât call you here to give you a lecture. Since the childâs been brought back, the Howard family will treat him as Patriciaâs own and take good care of him.
But itâs about time you and Patricia cleared things up. She canât just keep following you around cluelessly.â
At this, Theo looked up at him, raising an eyebrow, âBalfour, you seem to have misunderstood. Thereâs never been anything unclear between Patricia and meâ
Balfour frowned, âNothing unclear? Then what do you call adopting a child together?!â
Theo calmly put down his cutlery, wiped his mouth with a napkin, straightened up, and met Balfourâs gaze with a stern look, saying firmly. âTo me, Patricia is my lifesaver. I respect her, help her, repay her, and see her as a friend. Thereâs nothing more between us.â
âA friend? So, youâd adopt a child with a friend?â Balfour scoffed sarcastically Theo picked up his water glass and took a sip. âTo be honest, Iâve always found this arrangement a bit off.
But Patricia kept pleading with me, saying she wanted to experience motherhood and wanted me to accompany her abroad to adopt a child. I thought long and hard before agreeingâ
âFrom the way youâre talking, you sound like an observer. Donât you know why Patricia wants to adopt a child at such a young age? Theo, you mustnât forget! Patricia lost her chance of having her own baby and experiencing motherhood, all because of youââ
Upon hearing this. Theoâs eyebrows furrowed tightly and he fell silent