Chapter 170 He Is Ready to Be Amber's Stepfather?
"Let me do it."
Cordelia spoke softly, getting up from the sofa and walking over.
Alaric didn't move away. He stayed in his seat, watching carefully as Cordelia combed Amber's hair.
"What time did you guys come over last night?"
Alaric had drunk a bit too much yesterday afternoon. He only remembered Robert driving him to Crown Hill Estates, and vaguely dreaming that Cordelia was taking care of him last night.
"Yesterday afternoon."
Cordelia's voice was cold. After answering, she looked at Alaric with a serious expression.
"Mr. Hughes, your grandmother is still in the hospital. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"
Alaric fell silent at her words.
When he was drinking yesterday, he really hadn't tried to control himself.
He deliberately wanted to get drunk so he could briefly forget some troubling matters.
"Mr. Hughes, your body has only just started to recover a bit, and you're already drinking so heavily. Even the best doctor probably can't fix your stomach."
Seeing the serious expression on Cordelia's face, Amber sat quietly beside her, her round bright eyes staring straight at Alaric.
"Mr. Hughes can't drink alcohol. Drinking makes you stinky. Amber doesn't like it."
Amber waved her hands seriously as she spoke.
Alaric was stunned for a moment, then smiled and promised, "I promise I absolutely won't drink next time. Amber, please don't dislike me, okay?"
Amber tilted her little head, examining Alaric with her eyes, as if trying to figure out if he was telling the truth. After a while, she held out her pinky finger.
"Pinky promise."
Seeing this, Alaric also held out his little finger and hooked it with Amber's.
Cordelia watched Alaric's actions, her eyes darkening slightly, her tone still indifferent.
"Amber had a high fever last night but insisted on staying here to keep you company all night. If you can't even keep your promise to Amber, then Alaric, you're truly beyond help."
Alaric's expression changed slightly. He glanced at the children's fever medicine on the table, a flash of guilt in his eyes.
If Amber hadn't insisted on staying here last night, Cordelia probably wouldn't have stayed to take care of him.
"Mommy, Mr. Hughes won't lie."
Before Alaric could answer Cordelia, Amber spoke up first.
"Mr. Hughes, tell Mommy you won't lie."
Her gem-like eyes stared straight at Alaric, that determined look making her seem like a miniature version of Cordelia.
Alaric's emotions were complicated. He looked at Amber with gentle, affectionate eyes.
"I won't lie."
Amber smiled happily.
Seeing how much Amber trusted Alaric, Cordelia was speechless. She looked away from them and said flatly.
"Go wash up first."
Amber nodded obediently, got down from the sofa, and put on her shoes.
Alaric also stood up. As he did, Amber reached up to hold his hand on her own.
Her little hand was so small and soft that she could only grab two of Alaric's fingers.
"This is Mr. Hughes's home. It's Amber's first time here."
Amber probably meant for Alaric to show her around his home.
Alaric picked Amber up, truly understanding what she meant.
He only had his personal toiletries here, no children's supplies, so while showing Amber around, he had Robert bring over some children's toiletries.
When Clifford arrived at Crown Hill Estates, Cordelia was checking some messages in her work group chat.
She had the day off and didn't need to go to the hospital.
But it was her professional habit to check the work group first thing every morning to see if there were any important notices.
Robert brought in the toiletries he'd bought for Cordelia and Amber. When he looked at Cordelia, he felt a bit guilty.
He had caused trouble for Cordelia once again.
"Ms. Stone, these are the toiletries Mr. Hughes just asked me to buy for you and Amber."
Cordelia nodded slightly and reached out to take the toiletries from Robert.
"Thank you for the trouble."
Her tone was as polite as always.
Robert felt even more ashamed. "I should be the one thanking you for the trouble."
"I'm really sorry. There really was an urgent matter at the company last night, so I had to rush back to handle it and left Mr. Hughes in your care."
Cordelia took the toothbrush and towel out of the shopping bag, her tone calm and natural.
"I'm his family doctor. If something happened to him, I would also be responsible, so you can't say you troubled me."
After speaking, she walked toward the bathroom.
After taking two steps, Cordelia stopped, turned to look at Robert, and said seriously.
"Mr. Hughes just promised Amber that he'll never touch alcohol again. Robert, you've been by Mr. Hughes's side for many years, so you must care about his health too."
"I think Robert is also a fair and reasonable gentleman, so I'm leaving the job of monitoring Mr. Hughes to you. If Mr. Hughes breaks his promise, please remind him and notify me."
Robert looked a bit awkward, not sure whether he should agree or not.
Alaric came out of the study carrying Amber and heard what Cordelia said to Robert. He raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Then let Robert monitor me."
Hearing Alaric say this, Robert finally felt a bit more at ease.
Since Alaric had said so himself, he probably wouldn't touch alcohol anymore.
Cordelia took Amber to wash up in the bathroom.
Amber had already learned to brush her teeth by herself.
As she stood on a stool brushing her teeth, her movements were magically in sync with Cordelia's.
Alaric watched this scene with interest, thinking to himself that if he and Cordelia hadn't gotten divorced back then, perhaps they would have had a child together by now.
At this thought, his heart ached slightly, and an indescribable emotion welled up inside him.
After all, Amber couldn't brush her teeth completely clean by herself.
After Cordelia finished brushing her own teeth, she took the toothbrush from Amber's hand, cupped her little face, and helped her brush.
She showed her teeth, looking very cute as she let Cordelia work on them.
To get a better look at her obedient appearance, Alaric walked to the bathroom door and leaned slightly against the doorframe, watching with interest as Cordelia brushed Amber's teeth.
"Be gentle, children's gums are delicate."
Seeing how carefully Cordelia was brushing Amber's teeth, Alaric couldn't help but worry she might hurt Amber's gums.
Cordelia glanced at him sideways. She wasn't Amber's evil stepmother - of course she knew how much pressure to use.
Robert also heard what Alaric had just said and looked at Alaric's back with some surprise.
After all, Cordelia was Amber's mother, and Amber had been raised by Cordelia. For something as simple as brushing teeth, as her real mother, she would definitely know how to control the pressure.
Alaric's unnecessary concern, along with that caring and worried look in his eyes, made it seem as if Cordelia was abusing his daughter.
Robert couldn't help but form a bold guess.
Could it be that Alaric was already preparing to become Amber's stepfather?