âDid you have a fight with Mommy?â
After a moment of contemplation, Evan shook his head and replied, âNope.â
âIf thatâs the case, why did Mommy say that you are her nemesis?â
Evan frowned at what the little boy said.
He reckoned Nicole must have spoken that out of spite because she was pissed with him for using Zane to compel her into giving up Juanâs custody.
However, he decided to make up something to answer Juan because he couldnât let him know the true reason. âYour Mommy must have meant that as a joke.â
âDaddy, itâs not easy for Mommy to raise me up. Sheâs gone through a lot of suffering and she once even sold her blood just to make money. For her effort of nurturing me into such a healthy and adorable kid, could you please treat her nicer?â
There was a trace of imploration in Juanâs clear eyes.
Meanwhile, suspicion flickered in Evanâs pupils.
She sold her bloodâ¦
As a woman who was cruel enough to abandon her own kid, could she have done such a huge sacrifice for Juan?
He wondered why she had not left Juan with him since she had done that to Kyle.
Wouldnât it have been better for her to just leave both kids to him so that she could have total freedom?
Sometimes, he really found it hard to figure her out.
âDaddy, can you promise me that?â
Juan tugged the sleeves of his shirt in a coquettish manner.
Evan, whose mind was pulled back to reality because of him, nodded. âI promise you.â
âHow about you and Mommy take me to the theme park this weekend?â
âThis weekendâ¦â Evanâs voice trailed off with some hesitation.
He recalled the last time he brought the kids on a trip together with Nicole. Thinking about the time she lashed out on him at the dessert place, he was worried he might regret his decision to go on another trip with her this time.
âDaddy, please just say yes because Kyle is dying to go to the theme park too. We were so envious of our friends when they told us about their trips with their parents.â
âLet me think about it first. Now, itâs late and itâs time for you to go to bed.â
âDaddy, just say you will take us to the theme park. Iâm begging you⦠Iâll go to bed right away if you promiseâ¦â
At last, Evan succumbed to his pestering by agreeing to take them to the theme park.
âDaddy, letâs do a pinky swear.â
Looking at Juanâs eyes which were brimming with anticipation, Evan stretched out his pinky finger and twined it around Juanâs.
âWell, you should go to bed now.â
Smiling, Juan crawled to his lap and wrapped his arms around his neck to plant a kiss on his lips. âDaddy is the best dad in the world!â
Staring at Juan in astonishment, Evanâs cold and stern face broke into a faint grin.
Juan was indeed right to point out the fact that Nicole had really given him an incredibly adorable and obedient son.
Therefore, he should give her credit for that.
When Juan scrambled back to his bedroom, he couldnât wait to share the good news with Kyle.
âDaddy has agreed to bring us to the theme park together with Mommy!â
âReally?! That will be a golden opportunity for us to help them patch things up.â
Yet, they failed to come up with any viable plan after racking their brains for some time.
Juan suggested, âLetâs hold a meeting with Nina and Maya tomorrow. Iâm sure we will be able to think of something with more people contributing.â
âSounds good to me.â
The next morning, the kids headed downstairs to enjoy breakfast after waking up.
As usual, Maya was the first one to appear at the dining table. She couldnât help but salivate at the sumptuous spread of food which was served.
When Juan and Kyle took the seats opposite her, she cast a glance in the direction of the staircase before she asked the boys in an undertone, âIs Nina here?â
âI didnât see her on my way here.â
âI donât think so because she seems to be in the bathroom.â
After getting the confirmation from the boys, a flicker of light shone in Mayaâs eyes as she reached her chubby arm over to Ninaâs plate from which she grabbed a prawn and put it down on her own plate.
She paused to think for a second before sneaking the largest slice of pizza off Ninaâs plate and stuffing it into her mouth.
While she was chewing, she picked up Ninaâs glass of milk and poured it into her own glass.
Watching the scene, Kyle and Juan glanced at each other. âShe must be famished,â Juan sighed.
When Kyle heard him, he took a prawn from his own plate and offered it to Maya but to his dismay, she refused to accept it as a person of backbone.
âKyle, I have enough to eat. In fact, I only took Ninaâs food because she bullied me last night.â
Kyle was stunned to hear her response. âAre you sure you donât want the prawn?â