If the line was longer, he could spend more time with her.
He really wanted to kidnap her and make her spend the night with him in his villa.
After paying the bill, Alan Hoyle sent her back to the neighborhood. Mrs. Wen had been urging her to come home. They could stay together any longer. They hugged each other and said goodbye.
At home, Mrs. Wen saw her carrying a large bag.
âWhy do you buy so much stuff?â
âSo that I can spend more time outside and come back now.â
Mrs. Wen didnât smell something suspicious about her explanation. Annie who was playing chess with her grandfather rushed over to the pile of snacks. Her little hand kept fiddling inside the bag, âWhoa, there is my favorite Dove chocolate.â
Olive Steele taught her to read the word âDoveâ. She liked to use the stuff around to educate Annie.
âDonât forget to share with your grandparents. Youâre not allowed to eat too much or else, your teeth will decay from the sugar.â
Annie was an obedient child. She shared her chocolate with Mr. and Mrs. Wen. Then, she grabbed another bar of chocolate from the bag and said, âMommy, I will brush my teeth later so that they wonât decay. Can I take this to school tomorrow? I will share it with Lan Lan and Zhang Xiaoli. They are my best friends. Last time, Zhang Xiaoli gave me her beef jerky and Lan Lan gave me plum.â
âOf course.â Olive Steele smiled.
She tried not to spoil Annie since she was a child. Now, there were just too many spoiled children out there. Annie was her little princess, but Olive Steele wouldnât let Annie develop a princess syndrome.
After done easting her chocolate, Annie brushed her teeth and Olive Steele gave her a bath. After that, she put Annie to sleep.
âMommy, are you going to sleep now? I want you to sleep with me.â
Olive Steele took a pajama from the closet and said, âAnnie, you can sleep first. Mommy will go to bed after taking a bath.â
âOkay.â The little girl drilled into the sheet. Her eyes glistened.
However, by the time Olive Steele came out of the bathroom, Annie had fallen asleep. There was a little smile on her face as if she had a good dream.
After drying her hair, Olive Steele sat on the bedside. She took her phone and sent a message to Alan Hoyle, âHave you arrived yet?â
âI have. Iâve just opened the door. Itâs a beautiful coincidence, isnât it?â he laughed. The happiness just hit different when someone cared about you caused it. Originally, he felt that the villa was empty and lifeless, but it became vivid because of the traces she left.
If there was a child to roam around the room, the atmosphere would be warm and perfect.
He was not a person who liked to send messages. It felt that it was as direct as phone calls, but now since he loved spending his time with her, he ate his dumplings in the kitchen while listening to the beep sound of his phone.
She picked the dumplings for him. She knew that he hadnât ate his dinner.
She said, âThe dumplings made by my mother are really delicious. The skin is thin, but the stuffing is full. She also wraps the skin beautifully.â
Alan Hoyle drooled. He wondered when he could taste the dumpling made by his mother-in-law.
Olive Steele didnât know when she fell asleep. The next time she woke up, Annieâs hands were cupping her. The little girl was very playful in the morning.
âAnnie, what time is it?â
There was an alarm clock beside the bed. Annie had learned how to read a clock.
But, she didnât answer her. She continued cupping Olive Steele playfully.
She opened her eyes and asked, âAnnie, what are you doing? Let Mommy sleep again.â
âIâm just taking a close look on your nose. I wonder if it gets longer.â the little girl said curiously.
âGet longer? Why is my nose getting longer?â Olive Steele stretched her hand to the bedside and took the alarm clock. It was only six oâclock. Annie was so full of vigor that she managed to disturbed her early in the morning.
âMommy said when someone lied, their nose would get longer. I want to see if your nose has grown.â
âWhen did Mommy lie?â
Annie put her hands away and she said seriously, âYou lied to my grandparents and Auntie Chloe that the uncle who invited me to McDonaldâs was your friend. In fact, he is my father, right?â
Olive Steele was really shocked that she was fully awoke, âHow do you know that he is your father?â
Except herself, only Chloe Malan and Ivy Paddington who knew about this matter. Did they tell Annie?
But, she thought that they were discreet.
Annie sat up and pointed at the small drawer under the wardrobe, âYou forgot to unlock that. I saw a lot of things about him inside.â
The drawer was filled with newspaper clipping and photos of Alan Hoyle. It was her secret gardens.
Unexpectedly, her five year old saw it. Although she didnât fully understand, but the little girl got the clue.
âWhen did it happen?â she asked.