Chapter 87 Liam Refuses to Go Home
"You don't need to worry about it," Alexander said curtly, then hung up.
Grace frowned, feeling irritated. This man had absolutely no respect for her whatsoever!
Could he really believe Emily's words? Did he think she was only being nice to Liam to curry favor with him for a potential remarriage?
Fine then.
If he wanted Liam to bond with Emily, she wouldn't stand in their way.
On the way to their classroom, Max seemed distracted the entire time. When they reached the classroom door, Max turned to Liam and asked, "Do you know your daddy's going to marry that woman?"
Liam tilted his little head, not immediately understanding.
"That Emily woman," Max clarified. "You don't like her either, right? Your daddy's going to marry her and make her your stepmother!"
Upon hearing this, Liam vigorously shook his head, his eyes filled with rejection.
"Haven't you noticed my mommy's been much colder toward you?" Max continued. "It's because your daddy told her not to be nice to you anymore. He wants you to bond with that woman instead. He probably thinks my mommy's in the way!"
Liam's expression grew heavy upon hearing this.
He had noticed that Grace had become more distant toward him. He'd thought he'd done something wrong, or perhaps Alexander had made Grace angry and he was getting caught in the crossfire. He never imagined it was because of this!
Liam puffed out his cheeks angrily, clenching his little fists. "I don't want her!" He definitely didn't want Emily as his stepmother!
If Daddy absolutely had to marry someone to be his stepmother, he hoped it would be Grace.
If Emily was going to be his stepmother, he'd rather run away from home!
"Do you like that woman?" Max asked.
Liam shook his head, immediately making his position clear.
"Do you like my mommy then?" Max asked.
Liam nodded firmly, taking a definitive stance.
Max smiled. "If you like my mommy, then we're best friends!"
Liam thought to himself: Grace was so beautiful and gentle—how could anyone in this world not like Grace and prefer another woman instead?
With childish innocence, Liam fantasized: If only Daddy could marry Grace instead.
Then he and Grace would truly be a family!
"Liam, do you know who your real mommy is?" Max asked.
Liam shook his head.
Mary had always told him that his mommy didn't love him, which was why she didn't want him.
But Liam never believed that. He was so adorable—how could his mommy not want him?
"Do you miss your mommy?" Max asked.
Liam shook his head.
He had no concept of his birth mother. He'd never even seen her once—how could he miss someone he'd never met?
"If I were you, I'd definitely want to find my real mommy!" Max declared.
Liam pouted.
If only Grace were his real mommy—that would make life perfect.
Throughout the entire day, both Liam and Max were distracted, each lost in their own thoughts.
When school ended, Grace arrived punctually to pick up Max.
Liam eagerly tried to follow them, but Grace suddenly knelt down and said, "Liam, your daddy will come get you. Wait here for him like a good boy, okay?"
Liam shook his head frantically, gripping Grace's sleeve tightly, wanting to go with her.
Grace steeled herself and carefully pried his hands away, saying gently, "Be good, Liam. I can't take you with me." Otherwise, Alexander would probably suspect her of trying to kidnap Liam again!
Liam's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and Grace's heart ached, but she had no choice. She could only say coldly, "Liam, your daddy will be here soon."
With that, she took Max's hand and walked away without looking back.
Max turned around, unable to bear seeing Liam like this, only to witness Liam suddenly plop down on the ground and burst into tears with a loud "Waaah!"
"Mommy..." Max tugged at Grace's sleeve. "Liam's crying."
Grace's heart clenched as she turned back to see Liam sitting there with his backpack on, his eyes red and puffy, rubbing his eyes as he sobbed loudly.
The teachers surrounded him in a circle, frantically trying to comfort him, offering beautiful candies and cute stuffed animals, but Liam wouldn't even look at them, continuing to cry heartbrokenly.
Grace hardened her heart. "Mommy can't take him with us." She felt guilty inside, worried that Liam might think she didn't want him anymore, that she disliked him.
But there was no other way.
Liam thought that if he cried, Grace would come back and take him along, but when he looked up, Grace had already steeled her heart and walked away with Max. His eyes widened in despair, and he stopped crying.
When Alexander arrived with Emily, most of the children in the class had already left, leaving only Liam standing alone at the school gate with his little backpack.
From a distance, Liam stood with his head down, his small hands fidgeting with the hem of his clothes, his eyes showing traces of tears.
"Why was Liam crying?" Emily asked with concern.
She hurried over first, approaching Liam and kneeling down. "Why were you crying, sweetheart? Were we too late picking you up? I'm sorry, Liam!"
She reached out to pat Liam's head, but he pushed her hand away.
Emily's eyes widened in shock, and she deliberately fell backward onto the ground, looking at Liam with equal hurt.
Alexander walked over, and seeing Liam push Emily to the ground, he scolded, "Liam, you can't be so rude!"
Liam raised his little face, glaring at Emily with unmistakable disgust, then looked at Alexander and stubbornly turned his body away.
Alexander looked around and saw the teachers standing in a row behind Liam, looking equally helpless. He asked, "What happened to him?"
The teachers shook their heads, not understanding the situation.
Alexander extended his hand toward Liam. "Liam, time to go home."
Liam glanced at Alexander's outstretched hand but pretended not to see it, turning his body to face another direction.
"Liam?" Alexander saw the resistance written all over Liam's face and glanced at Emily beside him.
Emily dusted off her clothes and stood up, looking at Alexander uneasily. "What's wrong with Liam? Did someone upset him at school?"
The teachers immediately protested: "No! Mr. Liam Hayes was very happy at school today. No one made him unhappy!" They were terrified that Alexander might blame them.
Alexander reached out and tried to forcibly pull Liam, but Liam struggled and resisted, pushing him away again and sitting down on a small stool nearby, clearly unwilling to go home with him.
"Mr. Liam Hayes, it's time to go home with Mr. Hayes!" the newly appointed homeroom teacher patiently coaxed from the side.
Liam turned his face away, not wanting to listen.
Seeing Emily, he suddenly understood why Grace hadn't taken him home.
It must be this woman—she was the one preventing Grace from taking him home!
The disgust in Liam's eyes deepened. He sat on the small stool, stubbornly refusing to budge.
Emily knew this little guy was defying her, unwilling to go home!