Chapter 148 No Wall is Impervious to Wind (Part 2)
Alison couldn't take it anymore as she trailed behind. Ethan was ordering the priciest seafood on the menu. "Ethan, that's enough. Let... let..." She couldn't bring herself to say that Jack was their dad. "Let someone else order the rest."
Technically, Jack was the kids' biological father, but there were no legal documents proving that Sophi and Ethan were his children. Officially, they still had the last name Fairchild.
"Alison, are you worried they'll eat me out of house and home?" Jack chuckled, catching on to her concern.
"No... that's not it."
"Then let Ethan keep ordering." He enjoyed seeing Ethan so excited. The boy was exceptional, much smarter and quicker than other kids his age. Jack was very fond of Ethan.
Alison had nothing more to say and could only sigh. He seemed to spoil the kids too much, but maybe it was just because he had just found out about them. She thought that with time, he might not be so patient.
However, Ethan knew when to stop and only ordered two more dishes before saying he was done.
Jack added a few more dishes himself, and then they followed the waiter to their table. Jack had initially wanted to book a private room, but Ethan preferred a window seat where he could enjoy the view outside.
Once they were seated, the food arrived quickly. A large plate of steamed lobster was served, and Jack peeled the shells, dipping the meat in sauce before giving a piece to Sophi, then Ethan, and finally Alison.
"Jack, I can do it myself," Alison said, feeling a bit embarrassed as she noticed he hadn't eaten yet.
"Well, this one's mine then. I'm starving, but you can't get too full on seafood. Tonight, I want to eat your cooking." He popped the lobster meat into his mouth, speaking naturally.
She knew he loved her cooking. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly saw a familiar figure.
Oh my God, it's Aimée!
Alison froze.
She stared in Aimée's direction, unable to say a word.
Her expression made Jack follow her gaze.
He saw Aimée and her mother.
But he quickly pretended not to notice and turned to Alison with a smile. "Don't worry, you stay here with the kids and eat. I'll go say hello." Although he didn't like Aimée, he had to greet her because of his mother and the Rolland family.
Besides, he had already decided to call off the engagement. It was bound to cause a stir, and the Rolland family wouldn't let him off easily. He had already made up his mind. Since they had run into each other, he would tell Aimée directly that he not only had Alison but also two kids, so she would give up.
A loveless marriage was like a grave; neither he nor Aimée would be happy. He didn't want to hurt Aimée, nor did he want to hurt himself.
But just as he stood up, Aimée saw him, Alison, and the two kids.
Ethan and Sophi noticed Aimée's arrival and saw the change in the adults' expressions. As Aimée walked towards them, Sophi said with a smile, "Daddy, isn't that the lady who's supposed to do the wedding photoshoot with you? She's pretty, but not as pretty as Mommy." She whispered the last part into Alison's ear.
Jack shook his head with a smile. Sophi remembered everything he said so clearly. These two little ones were too smart to be fooled.
Aimée smiled sweetly at Sophi. "Hello, little one. Who said I was going to do a wedding photoshoot with your daddy?" She had heard Sophi call Jack "daddy," but she pretended to joke.
Sophi was a bit scared, worried she had said something wrong, but Aimée's kind smile put her at ease. "Daddy did. Daddy said so," Sophi replied.
Aimée's expression changed slightly but quickly returned to normal. She glanced at the silent Alison. Although she didn't fully understand what was happening, she had a pretty good idea. At that moment, she was deeply shocked. She remembered that these two kids had called Aidan "daddy" that day, but she still smiled and asked, "Daddy? Which daddy?"
"Daddy is just daddy," Sophi said directly.
Aimée, as if giving Jack an out, asked, "Is it the daddy who was with your mommy at the villa?"
Sophi shook her head and pointed at Jack. "No, it's this daddy."
Jack remained calm, thinking it was better to get it over with quickly rather than dragging it out.
Aimée turned to Jack with an innocent look but was seething inside. No matter what happened or whether these kids were Jack's, she wouldn't let Jack go. She was determined to marry him.
"Jack, when are we going to do the wedding photoshoot?"
Jack didn't hesitate. "I don't think that's necessary anymore." He never liked to drag things out; it wasn't his style.
"Really? Aren't you afraid the ad company will come after you for compensation?" Aimée raised her face slightly, looking at Jack with a hint of sarcasm. She loved this man deeply, but he had hurt her twice—once because of Emily and now because of Alison.
Why did they all have the same face?
She was really unwilling to accept it.
Jack heard the sarcasm, unwillingness, and hurt in Aimée's words.
"Aimée, I'm sorry." He knew that between the two women, one was bound to be left out, and he chose the one he truly loved, Alison. In fact, he had unknowingly loved Alison for nearly four years.
Looking back, that time seemed so long, almost drowning him in pain.
Aimée let out a light laugh. "Jack, you should apologize to the ad company, not me." With that, she turned gracefully and walked towards her mother with a sense of desolation. "Mom, let's eat somewhere else. This place isn't clean."
Aimée's mother, though not far from Jack, hadn't heard their conversation clearly due to the restaurant's noise. However, when she saw the two kids and the woman at the table, she immediately felt hostility towards them. She was sure her daughter's sadness was related to that mother and her children.
"Aimée, what happened?" Aimée's mother asked.