Chapter 167
Kindergarten.
"Joseph, your mom and dad haven't come to pick you up yet?" The other kids had left one by one.
"Joseph's dad doesn't want him anymore." A few kids huddled together, saying Joseph's dad didn't want Joseph anymore.
"You're lying!" Joseph, wearing his little overalls, glared at them angrily, "Stop lying. My dad really likes me."
Actually, Joseph was the one lying.
His dad didn't like him at all.
"You're the liar. My mom said Joseph is a kid no adults like. Your dad doesn't like your mom, and he doesn't like you either." The ringleader stuck his tongue out at Joseph.
"You're lying!" Joseph's eyes turned red as he rushed forward to fight with those kids.
But that kid was taller than Joseph. Joseph was no match for him at all.
"Joseph, your dad doesn't want you! Nobody came to pick you up." That kid bullied Joseph for having no one to pick him up.
"My mom is just running late." Joseph got pushed down and sat on the ground crying.
The ringleader picked up a rock from the ground, about to throw it at Joseph.
Joseph was terrified. He curled up, then saw Samuel, who had been sitting quietly in the corner making clay figures, throw a lump of clay that hit the kid right on the forehead.
The kid got clay smashed in his face and started crying.
Joseph was crying with snot running down his face, but seeing how ridiculous the bully looked, he couldn't help but laugh.
Samuel was so cool.
Samuel kept a straight face, looking at the people who bullied Joseph, "You guys are so noisy."
"Samuel, I'm telling on you, you little bastard with no dad." The ringleader ran off crying.
"Samuel is not a bastard. He's my uncle's kid." Joseph stood up and huffed, hands on his hips, looking defiant.
The kids all ran away. Only Joseph and Samuel were left in the classroom.
"Samuel! Samuel!"
Joseph bounced over to Samuel's side, shouting at him.
"You're so noisy." Samuel's little face showed displeasure. He frowned and put down the clay in his hands.
Joseph timidly stood in front of Samuel, "When you're unhappy, you look just like Uncle Michael."
"Of course, that's my dad." Samuel said proudly with his little face.
Joseph sat down nearby, "How did you make that clay figure? Can you teach me?"
Samuel didn't want to deal with Joseph, "You're so noisy."
Ever since Michael told him off that day, Joseph didn't dare bully Samuel anymore. He couldn't beat Samuel anyway.
Today Samuel helped him, so he disliked Samuel even less.
Friendship between kids is just that simple.
"Samuel, your dad is here to pick you up!" The teacher called out from the doorway.
Samuel froze. Dad?
Was it Michael?
Grabbing his clay figures, Samuel ran out excitedly.
He had made Michael, Nora, and himself.
"Slow down."
At the school gate, Michael reached out to Samuel.
Samuel happily rushed into Michael's arms, "Dad."
Michael picked up Samuel, feeling a bit guilty, "Sorry I'm late. There was traffic."
It was already this late, and only Samuel and Joseph's parents hadn't come to pick them up.
Samuel happily rested on Michael's shoulder, not blaming his dad at all, "Dad, are we going home?"
"Yes." Michael said quietly, his eyes somewhat evasive.
He wanted to secretly take Samuel's hair for a paternity test.
Samuel nodded happily, "Okay!"
Looking back at Joseph hiding behind the door, Samuel was silent for a long time, "Dad, Joseph's parents haven't come to pick him up."
Michael stopped and turned to see a timid little head hiding behind the door.
His expression darkened. Michael checked the time.
It was already this late. Even if Veda couldn't pick up the kid, weren't Mason and the family butler there for a reason?
He called Veda, but no one answered.
Michael was a bit annoyed and called the Smith family's butler.
"Mr. Smith, Ms. Smith has had too much to drink."
"And she's not picking up her kid either?" Michael's voice was low.
"Mr. Joseph Miller? Ms. Smith called Mr. Miller. Didn't Mr. Miller go pick him up?"
Michael hung up in anger.
Was Mason dead or something?
Not even picking up his own kid?
Samuel stared at Michael blankly. Hearing the voice on the phone, he instinctively looked back at Joseph.
So his dad really didn't want him anymore.
"Dad, can I bring him home?" Samuel asked quietly.
"I thought you didn't like him?" Michael ruffled Samuel's hair, taking the opportunity to grab a few strands.
Samuel's head hurt a bit, but because it was his dad, he didn't dare make a sound.
It's been weird lately—so many people keep pulling his hair.
"I don't dislike him, he's just bad." Samuel lay on Michael's shoulder and spoke again, "But if he changes, I can forgive him."
Michael glanced at Joseph, "Joseph, let's go. We're going home."
Joseph's eyes lit up. He peeked out and ran out quickly.
"Uncle Michael, are you taking me to your house?" Joseph asked quietly.
"I don't really want to." Michael clearly didn't like Joseph much.
Joseph lowered his head, feeling a bit hurt.
"But Samuel invited you." Michael spoke again.
Joseph's eyes brightened again, staring intently at Samuel.
Samuel handed the clay figures to Joseph, "I'll teach you how to make clay figures."
"Okay!"
The two kids happily got into the car.
Michael informed the school teacher and left with the two kids.
When he brought Samuel home, his friend Marcus Graham was already waiting for him.
"Samuel, you and Joseph go play in the yard."
Samuel held Joseph's hand, and the two kids ran off happily.
"This is Samuel's hair." Michael handed the hair sample to Marcus, "You must keep this confidential and be thorough."
Marcus made an OK gesture, "I get it."
"This is mine." Michael also handed over his own hair sample, repeatedly instructing, "You must keep this confidential."
"Michael, when did you become so naggy? I'll do it myself, go to the lab right now, and give you results in three hours. Is that okay?" Marcus looked helpless.
"Is your lab reliable?" Michael looked suspicious.
"Do you have paranoid delusions or something?" Marcus was shocked, "How much do you like this kid?"
"In any case, it must be confidential." Michael was distracted.
"Michael, this isn't like you at all. What are you afraid of?" Marcus laughed. He and Michael had grown up together, and he'd never seen Michael like this, "Are you serious about this? Which woman is so amazing that she secretly gave you such a big son?"
"My wife." Michael smacked Marcus on the forehead, "Hurry up and go. Get the results first."
"Amazing." Marcus was stunned, barely able to speak.
Wife?
To hear Michael acknowledge a woman in his lifetime—that was really something.
What kind of woman was this amazing?
"It's already this late. You're not in that much of a hurry. Let me stay for dinner. Your wife is coming back soon, right?" Marcus turned around, wanting to stick around Michael's house. He'd never been this curious in his life.
"Get lost. I'm in a hurry." Michael warned Marcus to hurry up and give him the results.
"Fine! Wait for my news."