Chapter 823

“Impossible, hon. I was just lost in thought for a second! Look, hand in hand now.” Dorothy moved

closer to Everett as if to reassure her son.

Everett also wrapped his arm around her with a charming grin, “Langston, haven’t I told you before?

There will never be a stepmom in your life. Let’s drop that word, okay?”

Dorothy glanced at Everett. He didn’t meet her eyes, but he could feel those astonished beams

boring into him.

Soon, it was time to board the plane.

Dorothy expected Jeffrey to seat the kids next to herself and Everett, but instead—Abigail and

Langston, along with Karen and Jeffrey, ended up in one row!

She and Everett were assigned seats together in the row behind.

“Karen, you’re pregnant. Take care of yourself and don’t let the kids bump into your belly!”

“Relax! I’m totally fine. Go on and take your seat.” Karen waved her off, “Consider this early mom-

training for me. If you and Everett stick around, I won’t get my practice in, so go ahead.”

Jeffrey too shooed them away before Dorothy could say a word, “Karen and I can totally handle the

little rascals! I chose these seats with care, you know.”

With no other choice, Dorothy made her way back to her seat.

Everett seemed to be still struggling with jet lag, his eyes closed, trying to catch some rest.

She could tell he was exhausted, the faint shadows beneath his closed lids a dead giveaway.

Probably because he had pushed himself to return stateside early and left a pile of unfinished

business that likely meant working nights and overtime.

Recalling how Everett had been under the weather, Dorothy reached out tentatively to check his

forehead for fever.

But the moment her hand grazed his skin, Everett’s grip snapped around her wrist. His eyes flew

open, and after a few seconds, he let go.

“Sorry, I thought it was…” someone else.

“No worries.” Dorothy gave an awkward chuckle, “Go back to sleep. I won’t disturb you.”

She expected him to resume his nap, but Everett’s voice came low and steady.

“I got you the lawyer from West Legal Services.”

Dorothy paused. She was not so much surprised that he'd helped. She had actually thought about

this possibility. She was just stunned by his out-of-the-blue statement.

“You owe me one, right?”

She nodded, “Yes, I do.”

Without that lawyer, her mother’s case wouldn't have progressed so quickly.

“So, can I make a request?”

“You put it that way so you knew I’d agree.”

He’d already brought up about the lawyer’s thing after all. This wasn’t like Everett, who preferred to

help without seeking recognition.

He chuckled, his gaze fixed on her face, “How about we treat these seven days in Everglow City

like Karen and Jeffrey, to have ourselves a little romance?”

A romance?

Dorothy looked at him.

“Since running into you again, all I’ve been thinking about is how to get you to marry me. Didn’t

leave much room in the plan for you to consider, so…”

“So?”

“Dorothy, I’ve never really been dating someone in my whole life. I wanted to date you in middle

school but I didn't succeed; when I grew up, I tried to chase you and realized you had too many

eyes on you, and I had to hurry to get you. So I haven't been in a real relationship yet."

She stared at him for a few seconds, then burst into laughter. “Everett, begging for love really

doesn’t suit your style.”

When those forlorn words came from such a handsome man, they couldn’t be less convincing.