Chapter 73 Trying to Steal Mommy Away
Max finally figured it out. "You're trying to set up my mommy with your daddy, aren't you? You want my mommy to become your stepmother!"
Liam planted his hands on his hips defiantly, looking completely unashamed.
Max narrowed his eyes. "I can see you've been planning this for ages. You two are working together to get my mommy."
Liam giggled mischievously and poked his cute little fingers together.
"No way!" Max declared. "I won't let you have my mommy!"
He jumped up to rush toward Alexander.
But Liam grabbed him and held on tight.
The two little boys tumbled onto the sofa, wrestling with each other.
Liam somehow found the strength to flip over and pin Max down beneath him.
Max protested angrily, "Liam! Get off me!"
Liam clung to him like a koala bear, shamelessly sprawled on top of him with a look that was almost asking for a beating.
"Get off me right now!"
Liam shook his head.
There was no way he was going to let Max ruin Daddy and Grace's dance!
Max squinted. "Are you getting off or not?"
Liam shook his head again.
Max was so angry that he grabbed Liam's arm and bit down on it.
But despite his anger, he was soft-hearted and didn't really bite hard. When Liam realized the bite wasn't painful, he wrapped his arms around Max's neck and planted a kiss on his cheek.
Max immediately turned bright red and grabbed Liam's cheeks, pulling them apart.
"Mmm-ahh..." Liam's mouth was stretched wide, but he wasn't about to give up. He reached out and grabbed Max's cheeks, pulling them too.
"Ahh... ahh..."
Grace finally heard the commotion from the two little ones. She turned around to see them tangled up on the sofa and thought they were having a real fight. She immediately walked over. "Liam, Max?"
Alexander followed, asking, "What are you two doing?"
Max pushed Liam away and sat up on the sofa. He jumped down and grabbed Grace's hand. "Mommy, let's go to our room!"
Grace was completely bewildered as Max dragged her into their room.
Max closed the door and said to Grace, "I've figured out Liam's scheme."
Grace looked blank. "What scheme?"
Max huffed indignantly. "He wants you to be his stepmother!"
Grace burst out laughing. "Kids say the darndest things."
Max insisted, "He's serious!"
Grace thought for a moment. "Maybe since he's never had a mother, he wants one."
Max protested, "He can want a mother, but he can't steal you away. You're my mommy."
Grace chuckled. "Max is jealous!"
Max's face reddened, but he remained defiant. "Mommy belongs to me alone!"
In the living room.
Alexander frowned as he looked at Liam, who was still rolling around on the sofa.
Alexander stared at him for a full thirty seconds. Liam struggled to do a somersault before finally sitting up on the sofa. He looked up and, seeing only Alexander standing in the living room, glanced around searching for Grace.
Alexander said, "She went back to her room."
Understanding immediately, Liam crossed his arms and huffed! It must have been Max who dragged her back to their room!
He had ruined Daddy's romantic moment.
Liam glared at Alexander with a look of disappointment, as if blaming him for not trying hard enough.
Alexander asked, "Liam, what exactly are you thinking?"
He had a feeling Liam's motives weren't so simple.
He crouched down and asked, "What do you want?"
Liam thought seriously for a moment, then said, "I want Grace..."
"What?" Alexander didn't catch that.
"...to be my mommy!" Liam finished.
Alexander's expression darkened.
Liam blinked his eyes innocently. "I want... her... to be my mommy!"
Since Liam rarely spoke, his words weren't very smooth when he did talk, but his meaning was crystal clear.
He wanted Alexander and Grace to be together.
Alexander said firmly, "Stop being unreasonable."
Liam pressed his lips together, all the smile fading from his face as disappointment filled his eyes.
But Alexander remained unmoved.
He had always indulged Liam. If Liam wanted the stars from the sky, he would spare no effort to pluck them down for him.
But this was different.
After pondering for a moment, Liam suddenly said seriously, "Then when I grow up, I'll marry Grace."
Without hesitation, Alexander immediately shot down that idea: "Absolutely not!"
"Wuu..." Liam hung his head sadly again. "You marry her..."
Alexander frowned. "No."
Liam poked his fingers together. "Then I'll marry her..."
Alexander's expression grew increasingly impatient. "I told you, no!"
The housekeeper suddenly approached with a phone. "Mr. Hayes, you have several missed calls on your phone."
She had noticed it buzzing while tidying the study.
Alexander took the phone. Some calls were from Emily, others from Jeremy.
He called Jeremy back. Jeremy quickly answered, "Mr. Hayes, the Thomas family showed up, more than a dozen of them, and they're all at the company."
Alexander asked, "What are they doing at my company?"
Jeremy replied, "I asked, but they wouldn't say. They insist on seeing you."
Alexander said, "Let them wait."
"Understood."
Alexander hung up and dialed Emily's number.
The call connected quickly.
Emily's voice came through, "Alexander?"
As soon as Liam heard Emily's voice, he immediately got up and stomped back to his room with a dark expression.
Alexander sat down on the sofa and asked, "What's going on?"
"I heard that Liam had an accident. Why didn't you tell me?" Emily said. "I care about Liam too. You should have let me know."
Alexander replied, "The Thomas family's youngest son pushed Liam into the water. Liam wasn't seriously hurt. I didn't even mention this to Grandmother."
Emily asked, "Alexander, does Liam dislike me? Does he hate me? Did I do something wrong?"
Alexander said, "No, you haven't done anything wrong."
Emily probed tentatively, "Are Grace and her son living with you?"
Alexander replied, "Yes." He didn't dodge the question.
Emily suddenly fell silent for a long time, her breathing slightly irregular.
She said nervously, "Alexander, you shouldn't keep that woman around Liam. Her intentions toward you are obvious. She was willing to marry you back then because she was after your inheritance. She was certain you wouldn't wake up, and if anything happened to you, she could inherit your estate. I looked into that child's father—he's a man named Henry Phillips, and he has some family background and connections."