Chapter 116 Mommy's Going to Be Stolen Away
Max was jealous, as well as Liam.
Both little guys puffed out their cheeks, looking even rounder with their baby fat. With pursed lips and indignant expressions, they resembled two angry chipmunks.
Suddenly, Max bent his knee and gave Liam's bottom a firm push. Liam lost his balance and stumbled toward Henry.
Henry reacted quickly, steadying Liam while being forced to release Grace from their embrace.
Only then did Max's furrowed brow relax slightly. Seeing the man finally let go of his mommy, his mood improved considerably.
Liam had no idea he'd been cleverly manipulated by the scheming Max and nearly ended up falling to the floor.
Looking up, Liam studied Henry curiously, taking this opportunity to size up the man before him.
Not as handsome as Daddy.
Didn't seem as tall as Daddy either.
His aura was rather cold and brooding, too.
But judging from Grace's reaction, they seemed to know each other as good friends.
Grace said, "Liam, you should be more careful." She hadn't noticed earlier and thought Liam had simply tripped over something.
Max crossed his arms, joining Grace in her scolding: "Liam's such a klutz, he can trip just walking."
Liam shot Max an aggrieved look. He distinctly remembered Max pushing his bottom with his knee just now. Had Max just sold him out?
Henry studied Liam, helping him stand steady before asking, "And this child is?"
Grace smiled. "His name is Liam. He's Max's best friend."
Max...
He was Max.
Henry had personally filled out Max's enrollment records years ago, with his own name still listed in the father field.
Naturally, he remembered that name vividly.
Back then, Grace had been carrying twins, but unexpectedly one was lost, leaving only Max.
After Max was born, he'd faced many hardships—weak and sickly—but Henry knew none of these details.
Grace had been seven months pregnant when she went abroad to study. He'd lost contact with her for a long time, and when he returned home, Grace had vanished completely. He'd been investigating her whereabouts ever since, but there had been no trace.
"Max is adorable," Henry praised sincerely. "He looks just like you." He gazed at Max's face, sometimes lost in thought.
If only this child were his and Grace's...
Grace's cheeks reddened slightly as she smiled. "Sons usually resemble their mothers."
Henry gently released his hands, looking at Grace. "How have you been all these years?" He'd had no news of her.
Grace replied, "Everything's been fine." She spoke calmly, as if describing someone else's life.
In truth, whether these years had been good or bad—that was something only she knew. She didn't want to share her hardships with outsiders, so "everything's been fine" summed it all up.
Max squinted, glancing between Henry and Grace before finally speaking: "Mommy, who is this man?"
Grace looked at Max, introducing him awkwardly: "Max, I haven't introduced you yet. This is Mr. Phillips."
Max blinked perceptively. "Henry Phillips?"
Henry seemed surprised. "How do you know my name?"
Max pressed his lips together, refusing to answer. After all, he had no particular fondness for this man, especially after witnessing him embrace his mommy so intimately. It triggered his suspicion and wariness that this man was trying to steal his mommy away!
Henry caught the distance and alertness in Max's eyes, commenting to Grace, "This child is very intelligent."
He could sense immediately that Max's eyes held wisdom and maturity far beyond his years.
Grace didn't know how to respond.
She suddenly felt awkward. In the past, though she and Henry might not have shared everything, at least there wouldn't have been such uncomfortable silences. Perhaps too much time had passed—she'd almost forgotten how deeply she'd once admired him.
Liam returned to Max's side, lowering his voice: "They seem like friends." He felt this man and mommy must be old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time.
Max smacked the back of his head directly. "What do you know?"
Friends?
Max squinted, muttering: "Would friends hug like that?"
Liam rubbed his head pitifully. "But... we... hug too." He really enjoyed hugging Max.
He and Max were best friends, after all.
Max glared at him. Apparently, aside from friends and family, Liam knew absolutely nothing about romantic relationships.
Never mind.
The kid was only seven—what could he be expected to understand about love and romance?
While Liam didn't understand, Max did.
He hadn't watched all those soap operas for nothing. He could see Henry had romantic feelings for mommy.
He clearly saw in Henry's eyes the tenderness and affection that only appeared when a man truly cared for a woman.
As Liam puzzled over this, Max sighed: "What do we do if mommy gets stolen away?"
Liam's ears perked up, his eyes widening like copper coins.
Grace was going to be stolen away?
By whom?
By this man?
Liam's gaze snapped to Henry, suddenly shooting him an inexplicably childish yet unmistakable look of hostility.
Grace didn't notice the boys' constantly changing expressions. She glanced around the hospital room, saying to Henry, "Would you... like to come in and sit for a while?" Standing in the doorway felt rather awkward.
Henry replied, "No, I still have work to attend to." He raised his hand to check the time, saying to Grace, "I'll come see you again tomorrow."
Grace nodded.
Henry looked down at her, then said softly, "Grace, please don't avoid me anymore." He raised his hand, originally intending to stroke her soft hair like he used to, but halfway through the gesture, he felt a piercing stare.
Glancing sideways, Henry noticed Max's cold gaze hiding an intense scrutiny. He smiled wryly and withdrew his hand. "I should go."
"Alright."
Grace said politely, "Goodbye, Mr. Phillips."
"Mr. Phillips"...
Henry's expression froze momentarily, but he didn't dwell on it. Nodding farewell, he turned and left.
Max immediately stepped forward to help Grace into the hospital room, while Liam remained vigilant, positioning himself like a little sentinel by the door until he'd watched Henry disappear completely before entering the room.
The aide commented, "Ms. Foster, I didn't know you and Mr. Phillips were acquainted."
"Yes, we were college classmates."
The aide said, "Mr. Phillips is really handsome." She was fishing for information about their past relationship.
Grace maintained her neutral tone: "Yes, he was very popular during college." She didn't elaborate further.
The aide didn't press for more details.
Max peeled an apple while keeping his ears perked, listening carefully. Noticing Grace's deliberate evasiveness, his suspicions only deepened.