Chapter 241: Evaded

Chapter 241: Evaded

Charlotte thought for a moment.

She looked at Miranda in George's arms, eyes full of hope, then at George's careful expression.

She sighed inwardly.

"Fine."

George's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"

"Yes." Charlotte nodded. "But only for half a day. I have work this afternoon."

"Take the whole day off, Charlotte!" George pleaded. "Work never ends!"

Miranda stared at Charlotte with puppy eyes too.

Father and daughter, same face, same pleading look.

Charlotte couldn't hold out.

"Alright then."

Miranda clapped her little hands with joy.

"Yay! Mommy's coming too! The whole family going to the amusement park!"

Watching Miranda's happy face, Charlotte felt the corners of her mouth curl up without thinking.

Before they left, Miranda sat on the little bench by the entrance putting on her shoes.

She suddenly looked up at Charlotte.

"Mommy."

"What?" Charlotte crouched down to tie her laces.

"Should we invite Mr. Kingsley to come with us?"

Miranda tilted her little head and asked, all innocence.

Charlotte's hands paused on the laces.

She looked up instinctively at George standing nearby.

Sure enough.

George froze up immediately.

The smile on his face stiffened.

He stood there completely still, like he'd turned to stone.

Ears perked up, waiting for Charlotte's answer.

Looking at him like that, Charlotte couldn't help letting out a small laugh.

She patted Miranda's head and said, "We won't invite Mr. Kingsley today."

"Why not?" Miranda looked puzzled.

"Because today is just our family outing," Charlotte said with a smile. "We'll invite Mr. Kingsley next time, okay?"

"Okay!" Miranda nodded hard.

Only then did George slowly let out a breath.

He quietly patted his own chest.

That scared him half to death.

He thought there'd be one more person joining them today.

Thank goodness. Thank goodness.

Charlotte glanced at him and caught every bit of it.

She felt both annoyed and amused.

George was such a child sometimes.

Half an hour later, the three of them arrived at the amusement park entrance.

It was the weekend, and the park was packed.

Laughter and noise filled the air everywhere.

Miranda rested on George's shoulder, looking around with wide curious eyes.

Her little face was bursting with excitement.

"Daddy! Look at that! The Ferris wheel is huge!"

"And that! A roller coaster!"

George smiled. "Whatever Miranda wants to ride, I'll go with you."

"I want to ride the merry-go-round!" Miranda pointed at the carousel nearby, eyes sparkling.

"Alright, let's start with the merry-go-round."

George held Miranda and was about to head over.

Just then, a familiar voice came from nearby.

"Charlotte?"

Charlotte stopped and turned around.

Jerald was standing not far away, looking at her with surprise.

Beside him was a pretty girl in a white dress, hair down, looking gentle and poised.

Jerald hadn't expected to run into Charlotte here.

He paused, then looked a little awkward.

Last time at Charlotte's office, he'd bolted out of there. Even thinking about it now made him cringe.

He opened his mouth, wanting to explain himself.

"Charlotte, I..."

Before he could finish, George cut in.

"Hey, isn't that Jerald?" George held Miranda and looked at Jerald with a half-smile. "What a coincidence."

His eyes moved to the pretty girl beside Jerald, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Is this your girlfriend?"

"What a coincidence, running into you while we're out as a family."

George put extra weight on the words as a family.

His tone made it pretty clear he was staking his claim.

Then, as if to drive the point home, he shifted closer to Charlotte.

Jerald's mouth twitched. He felt a little helpless.

The pretty girl beside him was perfectly relaxed though. She smiled and said, "Not his girlfriend. We met through a blind date, just out having fun. Nothing official yet."

She glanced at Jerald as she said it, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

Jerald rubbed his nose, looking a bit uncomfortable.

George felt even more smug hearing that.

A blind date?

Good.

That meant this guy had no business going after Charlotte.

Miranda lay in George's arms, looking at the pretty lady with curiosity.

She leaned close to Charlotte's ear and said in what she thought was a very quiet voice, "Mommy, that lady is really pretty."

She figured she was being quiet enough that no one would hear.

But even with the crowd at the entrance, they were standing close together.

Jerald's date still caught it.

She smiled and walked over to Miranda.

"What's your name?"

Miranda got a little shy and tucked herself toward Charlotte.

"My name is Miranda."

"Miranda is so cute." Jerald's date smiled and held out a pink bunny stuffed animal she'd been holding. "This is for you."

Miranda's eyes lit up the moment she saw the cute bunny.

She looked up at Charlotte, as if asking whether she could take it.

Charlotte smiled. "Say thank you."

Only then did Miranda reach out and take it.

"Thank you!"

She hugged the stuffed animal, absolutely thrilled.

George stood to the side watching.

He was thinking about whether he should stake his claim in front of Jerald one more time.

Like, maybe kiss Charlotte?

George was deep in thought when someone lightly tapped the back of his head.

He turned around to find Charlotte glaring at him.

That look said it all: Could you be any more childish?

George rubbed the back of his head, feeling a little guilty.

Charlotte ignored him, held Miranda, and gave Jerald and the girl a nod.

"We're heading in."

Then she turned and walked away.

George quickly followed.

A few steps in, he couldn't help looking back and giving Jerald a smug lift of his chin.

Jerald shook his head helplessly.

The girl beside him watched George walk away and smiled. "Your friend there is quite something."

Jerald smiled wryly. "He's not my friend."

"He's Charlotte's husband."

The girl raised an eyebrow and said nothing more.

The three of them went into the park.

Miranda was like a bird let out of a cage, bursting with excitement.

George stayed by her side the whole time, happy to do whatever she wanted.

Charlotte walked alongside them, watching the father and daughter having fun, a quiet smile on her face.

They rode the merry-go-round, then the bumper cars.

Miranda was brave and wanted to try the roller coaster too.

Charlotte thought she was too young and wouldn't let her.

In the end, George talked her out of it, promising he'd ride it with her when she was a little older.

Miranda agreed, though not without some reluctance.

At noon, the three of them rode the Ferris wheel.

When they reached the top, Miranda pressed herself against the glass, looking down with excitement.

"Mommy, Daddy! Look! It's so high!"

"You can see the whole city!"

George stood beside Charlotte, looking out at the view.

He quietly reached out, trying to take her hand.

His fingertips had barely grazed the back of her hand when Charlotte pulled away.