Chapter 142 Daddy Hugs You
Watching her bustle around in the small kitchen of the break room, his headache seemed to vanish, and he forgot all about his fever. He felt a warm glow inside.
Alison stayed in Aidan's office for the time being, cooking up a storm. It turned out he had already had someone prepare all the ingredients, just waiting for her to showcase her culinary skills.
This made her a bit exasperated. He seemed like a big kid, and all that previous maturity and steadiness was just an act. Thinking about how good he was to her, if it weren't for Jack already being in her heart, she might have actually fallen for him.
Being liked by someone felt really nice, much better than her unrequited love for Jack.
The IV drip was going to take a while, with five bottles in total. She couldn't help but smile at the sight, but since he had a fever, she didn't say anything.
When the porridge was ready, she cooled it down and brought it to his bedside, worried he might ask her to feed him again. She pointed to his unbandaged hand and said, "Aidan, this hand is perfectly fine. You should be able to eat the porridge yourself."
Sigh, his little plan had failed. It looked like he would have to feed himself.
He had never done this before, but he was very happy now and didn't regret it at all. Even though he couldn't have her feed him, eating the porridge she made warmed his heart.
Alison started organizing the mountain of files on his desk, picking out the urgent ones and bringing them to the break room to review and sign with him. At this moment, he transformed again, his serious demeanor while reviewing the files making it hard for her to reconcile this with his earlier childishness.
Time flew by, and before they knew it, the day was over.
As the sky darkened, she kept checking her phone, thinking Jack might call her, but he didn't. Maybe he was busy with Aimée, preparing for their wedding.
Thinking about this made her feel a bit down, like something was clouding her mind.
"Stop thinking about it, stop thinking about it," she told herself repeatedly, then turned her thoughts to the kids, starting to miss them.
"Aidan, I want to go home now. You should get some rest too."
"No way, there are still a few urgent files to handle. I need to work overtime," Aidan said without looking up. He didn't want to miss this chance to spend time with her. Even though there were files to handle, he could only use this opportunity.
"Finish those urgent ones and then go home," she urged, feeling a bit anxious to get home, her mind elsewhere.
"Alright."
After helping Aidan finish the urgent files, she saw him to his car, and the driver took him home.
Aidan, reluctant as he was, couldn't do anything about it. Alison had made up her mind to leave, and he couldn't stop her. After all, they had no official relationship.
Back home, she kept thinking about her phone.
"Mommy, are you waiting for Daddy's call?" Even the kids could tell she couldn't take her eyes off her phone.
Alison blushed and quickly said, "Who said that? Mommy isn't waiting for anyone." Saying this, she turned off her phone, knowing Jack wouldn't call this late anyway.
She suddenly wanted some alone time and to spend more time with the kids.
"Sophi, do you have school tomorrow?" she asked.
"No, Mommy," Sophi replied.
"Do you want to go out and play?" she asked with a smile. She had been so busy lately that she hadn't spent much time with the kids, feeling like she wasn't doing a good job as a mom.
"Mommy, are you taking us to Daddy's house?" Ethan's eyes lit up with excitement.
Alison frowned, "I've told you, he's not your daddy. If you keep saying that, I'll have to spank you."
Ethan stuck out his tongue and blinked, "Mom, are we going to the amusement park?"
"Sophi, what do you think?" Alison didn't answer directly, instead asking Sophi.
"Yes, yes! I want to go to the amusement park! It's been so long. Mom, I want to ride the bumper cars, the train, the slide..." Sophi excitedly listed all the things she wanted to do.
"Sophi, we're almost four years old, and you still want to ride the train? That's for little babies. Do you still think you're a baby?" Ethan teased Sophi, making her chase after him in embarrassment.
"Brother, you're a meanie!" Sophi shouted.
"I don't have 'mean' written on my face, so I'm not a meanie," Ethan argued.
"Meanies don't have 'mean' written on their faces, but they're still meanies! Stinky Ethan, you're a meanie!" Sophi retorted.
The two kids quickly started play-fighting, and Alison watched, feeling very happy. Even though they were always bickering, scenes like this made her feel especially warm inside.
That night, she didn't pick up her phone again. She placed the turned-off phone on a high shelf, ignoring it.
She told herself she couldn't live in Jack's world anymore, couldn't let him affect her. The world would keep turning without anyone, and she could live just fine without anyone. So, she hugged a pillow tightly and finally fell into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, the phone was still there, but she decided not to turn it on, knowing she wouldn't get that call.
As soon as she opened the door, her two little ones were all dressed up, ready to go to the amusement park.
"Mom, are we leaving now?" they asked.
"Let's have breakfast first, or you won't have the energy to play," she said.
"Mom, we've already eaten. Hurry up," Ethan said, pushing Alison towards the dining table. They had gotten up early to go to the amusement park and didn't want to wake her.
Alison, hurried along by the two little ones, quickly finished her breakfast, and the three of them set off for the amusement park.
They played in the tunnels, on the pirate ship, and even went into the maze. Alison sat on the grass outside the maze, watching Sophi and Ethan run in and out, waving at her. They looked so happy.
But she couldn't feel happy. She absentmindedly chewed on a blade of grass, the bitter-sweet taste spreading in her mouth, but she didn't really notice.
Just then, she heard the kids arguing.
"Ethan, you're a bastard!" a little boy shouted.
"You're being mean! You're not a good kid! I'm not a bastard! I have a dad!" Ethan shouted back, hating it when people called him that.
"Where's your dad? I've never seen him pick you up from preschool. And you have your mom's last name, Fairchild. You don't have a dad!" the sturdy little boy said smugly.
Ethan's little fists clenched tighter and tighter. Alison quickly stood up. She had seen similar scenes before, but hearing other kids say such hurtful things to Sophi and Ethan made her really angry. But anger aside, the boy was right. Sophi and Ethan didn't have a dad.
"Ethan, come to Mom. Let's go boating," Alison tried to soothe him.
"No!" Ethan stood his ground, staring at the boy who was half a head taller than him. He wanted to fight, to prove he wasn't a bastard. He had a dad.
"Ethan, listen to me. Come here," Alison called out, walking quickly towards him.
"Pow!" Ethan threw a punch. "I have a dad. I'm not a bastard! Tomorrow, I'll have my dad pick me up from preschool. My dad is really good to me!" He shouted as he punched, his little face red with anger.
The other boy, caught off guard, got hit and immediately glared at Ethan, covering his face. "Bastards only know how to fight!" he shouted, then turned to the other boys. "Let's get him. He has no one to teach him!"