Alan had driven his car long and still couldnât see both mother and daughter. It was uncertain whether they had walked very fast or he was searching at the wrong direction. Alan called Olive several times again and still no one picked up. He didnât know if she didnât hear it or didnât answer it on purpose.
But logically, he was still comforting her just now, she was asking him not to be angry at his mother. It was impossible for her to get angry in a blink of an eye. His girl wasnât a kind of person who was moody.
Just when he was planning to drive further, and if he still couldnât see them, he would turn around and search for them at another direction, two figuresâone big, one smallâappeared from his sight. The suspend in his heart finally loosened and he softly breathed out.
Annie was like bird just released from a cage. Without the restraint of the Hoyleâs residence, she was skipping and jumping. Her fluffy princess dress was like a blooming flower. They were holding hands while talking.
Alan actually knew that the rules and regulations in the Hoyleâs residence werenât fit for Annieâs growth.
Annie needed a more free and open space and the Steele family fitted.
When the car abruptly stopped in front of them, Annie called out, âItâs daddyâs car.â
Olive watched her man got out of the car, âWhy did you come out? Are you guys finished?
Alan stared at his wife and daughter and smiled, âIâm afraid youâll abduct my wife and daughter, leaving me alone uncared and pitifully.â
âHey, youâre thinking too far,â Olive scolded him. She was about to walk to the crossroads and turn around. She had already told the servants that they were going out for a walk. The mansion was too boring and she needed to breathe. Plus, Annie wanted to go for a stroll, so they went out.
âWho ask you keep not answering my phone call?â Alan complained.
Olive touched her pocked and it was empty. She suddenly remembered, âI left my phone. Iâm sorry.â
Alan reached his hand to flick her forehead. âOkay. I forgive you this time.â
Annie sighed like an adult, âYou too are so clingy and stick together like a gum. How could mommy leave you?â
Her words made Alan beam with joy. The depressing aura when he left the house faded away. He bent down and picked up his daughter, then aggressively twirled for a few times. âMy baby has a smart mouth.â
But Annie wasnât excited by this compliment. She hugged Alanâs neck and asked, âWhen can we return to Luo City? I miss grandpa and grandma.â
Since she was born, this was the first time for the little thing to leave the Steele for such a long time.
The excitement and novelty when she first came out had long faded away. Now, she just wanted to go home soon. That place was her real free world. She had big friends and small friends in that familiar city.
Alan became sensitively aware of something and asked her, âDoes baby not like Jiangchengâs grandma?â
After thinking for a while, Annie guiltily said, âItâs not that I donât like her. Itâs her who doesnât like me.â
âHow so?â
âThat morning, Jiangchengâs grandma thought I wasnât awake. She sighed and said it would be better if I was a boy. Dad, Jangchengâs grandma keep refusing to recognize me and accept mom. Is it because Iâm a girl? Is boy that important?â
Her grandparents in Luo City wouldnât reject her because she was a girl. They loved her and regarded her as a jewel, saying that she was their little princess and happy vitamin. So, she preferred grandparents in Luo City and be together with them. She was free and happy. She really missed them until she dreamed of them.
Alan couldnât change his motherâs traditional thinking, but he also understood that because of his motherâs words, his daughterâs little heart was hurt.
âBaby, remember dadâs words. No matter what Jiangchengâs grandma think of you, boys and girls are the same in dad and momâs hearts. Girls even are loved more by parents than boys. In this world, it doesnât matter if others discriminate your gender. Just remember that mom and dad love you. In mom and dadâs life, youâre better and your existence is warmer than boys.â
âReally?â
âWhen does dad ever lie to you?â
Annie tilted her head and thought, âSo far, never. I believe you.â
As if determining something, the little thing pursed her lips and smooched hard on his face, wetting his face, then she giggled. She stopped after she giggled enough, pretending to be mysterious, then she said, âTell you a secret.â
âWhat is it?â Alan asked curiously. Sometimes, he really couldnât guess what was in his babyâs little head.
Annie whispered, âYouâre also the most special existence in my life.â
Olive pretended to be jealous at the side, âWhat are you guys talking that I donât get to hear?â
Annie covered Alanâs mouth with one hand. She shook her head and said, âYou canât say it.â
Olive laughed and patted her on the head. "Youâre still wet behind the ears, but still pretending to be mature.â
âIâm called early-maturing,â Annie corrected.
Olive gave the kid a helpless and funny look. In fact, sometimes she thought that compared to children with her same age, the word early-maturing really suited her daughter.
What was she doing when she was just five? Olive couldnât remember, but her child was growing at a strange rate at this age. Was this good or bad?
She didnât need a prodigy child. Most prodigy children were successful when they were young, but they didnât bring themselves a bright future. It was like a flash in the pan.
At first, she only wished that she could grow up peacefully, healthy, and happy like thousands of ordinary children.
But Alan wasnât worried about their daughterâs early wisdom. Of course, he would guide his daughter well and wouldnât waste the ingenuity she had shown since she was a child, but he wouldnât put too much pressure on her. He knew what he had to do.
He smiled and poked his daughterâs nose. âEarly-maturing children canât fall in love early, right? If you can, I would be sad.â
If his daughter in his arms was snatched away by another man so soon, his heart felt really bothered.
Annie giggled and said, âSad? Do you really want your beautiful baby canât get married and become a leftover?â
âDidnât you say that daughters are a fatherâs lover in their previous life? If my lover is snatched this young, of course Iâll be sad.â Alan thought of that boy named Sean Shen who wanted to steal his precious daughter as his wife.
âFine. In order to prevent you from getting white hair a few years earlier, Iâll reluctantly decide to stay with you for a few more years.â The little thingâs tone sounded as if she was reluctant, but she still attracted passersby.
Olive looked at the pair of father and daughter in amused. If she still stayed quiet, she wouldnât know how long they would be talking. âOkay, time to head back.â
At this moment, Annie proposed, âDad, take me to eat Haagen-Dazs.â
Alan naturally wouldnât refuse. âNo problem. After Haagen-Dazs, we take mommy to a restaurant, okay?â
âYes,â Annie agreed and clapped.
Alan felt that the atmosphere wouldnât be harmonious if they had meal at the Hoyleâs residence. It would be better to take his wife and daughter to eat outside in relaxed, so that the elder in the mansion wouldnât cause trouble.
So, he carried his daughter, opened the car door for his wife, and called home.
The call was answered by the butler.
âUncle Dcbo, donât wait for us to eat. Weâll come back later.â
This message was relayed to Mrs. Hoyle. The old lady snorted coldly, âIt must be that woman Olive Steele instigated it. She is upset with me, so she asked my son to defy me.â
Ada couldnât stand it and replied, âIf Olive is that wicked, she would have long asked Alan to deny you this stubborn mother.â
âShe dares to?!â Mrs. Hoyle frowned coldly.
âItâs not that she doesnât dare to, but she doesnât want to. She doesnât have a vicious heart, yet you keep thinking badly of her. Obviously, youâre speculating with your own thought. Youâre really hopeless.
Mrs. Hudson, you donât need to prepare my plates too. Iâm going to meet my friend. Itâs getting late, I have to go.â
Mrs. Hoyleâs face became so ugly. She shouted at Adaâs back, âYou⦠Get out! Everybody gets out and donât come back.â
Were her children trying to kill her? She had just said a few words for Ophelia. If that woman was smart and wanted to enter the Hoyleâs residence, she should take this chance and give her a way out. But that woman kept not getting the situation, not understanding sympathy, and she went against her.
âMom, enough. Your body isnât well, but you have such a big temper.â Alan jumped out to soothe the red face. He reached out his hands to massage the old ladyâs shoulder and back.
Mrs. Hoyle yanked off her childâs hands. âKnock off. I know you have hidden meaning just to confuse your mother. Then, youâll say good words for that Chloe Malan. Aoba, Iâm telling you, Chloe Malan is rude and uneducated, and she doesnât have a serious job. Even if I accept Olive Steele, that doesnât mean Iâll accept her. Donât think I donât know whatâs on your guysâ heads. Each of you is helping your brother to defy your mother, so that when I accept Olive Steele, you guys can take control of your own marriages, marrying anyone you want. Huh!â
Aobaâs eyelids twitched. This old lady wasnât tricked at all as she saw through this. But he still had to fight for his woman.
âMom, although you wonât like what Iâm going to say, I still want to emphasize three points: First, Chloe isnât rude, thatâs called straightforward, not liking beating around the bush, talking behind othersâ back, and not scheming secretly. Unlike a certain personâs honey-sweet words but a hypocrite; second, she isnât not educated. She just has a principleâyou donât offend me, I wonât offend you too; third, Art isnât only those music in elegant palace, she sings for life and thatâs her passion. She plans to make it her business. And your son is a frequent visitor of places like bars. If Chloe isnât respectable, then your son is a jerk for his love affairs for so many years. So, please, when youâre looking down on her, youâre looking down on your son too.â