Chapter 93 Grace, Let's Remarry
Unfortunately, Liam wasn't much of a talker, making it impossible to understand what had really happened.
"That smells amazing!"
Several children ran toward Grace's tent, where she was decorating it with string lights. The kids curiously circled the tent, exclaiming in amazement, "What a beautiful little castle!"
"That's not a castle," Max corrected. "It's called a tent."
"Max..." A little girl twisted shyly, blushing as she asked, "Can I sit next to you?"
Grace looked up, noticing the girl's red cheeks and the obvious admiration in her eyes for Max. She couldn't help but smile—Max was so young, yet he already had admirers in class.
Before she could feel too amused, Max replied coldly, "No, you can't."
The little girl stood there, awkwardly stunned.
Grace was speechless. She couldn't believe her adorable son could be so blunt, so coldly rejecting a little girl who was just trying to be friendly.
Liam seemed to calm down quickly. He quietly finished his oatmeal, then became intensely interested in the grilled meat Max had prepared.
He had an almost religious faith in Max's cooking skills, as if anything that passed through Max's hands would become incredibly delicious.
Seeing Liam staring intently at the grilled meat, Max handed him the plate. "Here you go, Liam."
Liam cheered silently to himself, took the plate, picked up a piece of meat, opened his mouth wide, and popped it in.
"Careful, Liam, it's hot," Grace warned.
What she didn't know was that Max was far more careful than she was—he'd waited for the meat to cool down before giving it to Liam.
The meat strips were dipped in barbecue sauce, tender and flavorful.
When Liam tasted something delicious, he started his characteristic head-bobbing again. Watching this innocent, adorable little guy, Grace couldn't believe he could be a child with violent tendencies.
Emily must have said something to upset him.
Liam clearly disliked Emily. His resistance to her deliberate attempts to get close was obvious to everyone.
Though Liam was generally resistant and wary of everyone, he was surprisingly affectionate with her specifically.
Why was that?
Grace bit thoughtfully into the sandwich Max had prepared earlier that evening, chewing while pondering this mystery.
"Mommy, let's fly kites later!" Max suggested, handing her a plate of grilled meat. "I brought kites!"
"That sounds wonderful," Grace agreed enthusiastically.
Inside the RV.
Emily watched the harmonious scene of Grace with the two children, finding it increasingly irritating.
Especially seeing Liam, who had been so fierce with her earlier, now docile as a lamb around Grace—it made her feel even more unbalanced.
That little brat had actually dared to throw a rock at her!
Could it be that he'd understood her threats and that's why he'd reacted so strongly?
So he wasn't an idiot after all.
Just as she'd suspected, this child wasn't only not stupid—quite the opposite, he was very intelligent. He could understand her threats and was actively resistant to her.
What a troublesome little creature.
Emily narrowed her eyes.
Unfortunately, she couldn't make a move against him.
Liam was Alexander's treasure. If anything happened to him, Alexander would definitely trace it back to her.
He was Alexander's greatest weakness.
Emily's gaze suddenly shifted to Grace and Max.
That afternoon.
After lunch, the parents took their children for free activities.
Grace gathered up the kites, planning to take Liam and Max to an open area to fly them.
Alexander approached, asking, "Where are you going?"
Grace lifted the kites in her hand. "We're going to fly kites."
An awkward silence followed.
The moment Liam saw Alexander, he hid behind Grace. He seemed to have some grievance against Alexander and was giving him the cold shoulder, acting completely indifferent.
Alexander stood before Grace without speaking either, his gaze seeming to penetrate her slender frame to focus on Liam behind her.
Liam snorted and turned his face away.
Father and son were once again locked in a silent standoff, the atmosphere growing tense.
Grace said awkwardly, "Would you like to come fly kites with us?"
She figured that for someone like him, such a boring activity as kite-flying wouldn't interest him at all.
But unexpectedly—
"I'll come," Alexander said.
Grace looked surprised.
What was going on?
He seemed to be waiting for her to invite him!
She'd only asked casually.
"Well then... let's go together," Grace said.
She took Liam's hand in one of hers and Max's in the other, walking toward the open hillside.
Alexander followed closely behind.
He wanted to understand why Liam had suddenly lost control earlier and thrown that rock at Emily.
But Liam wasn't much of a talker. Perhaps because of his long silence, even though he'd become more cheerful since being with Grace and was willing to speak now, his speech still wasn't very fluent.
Soon, the four of them reached the open grassland.
Max handed the kite to Liam, asking, "Have you ever flown a kite before?"
Liam shook his head.
He'd never flown a kite himself, only watched others do it.
"I'll teach you," Max said. He took the spool of string and walked about thirty feet upwind, then called out loudly to Liam, "Let go!"
Liam immediately released his grip, and Max ran against the wind, pulling the kite string.
The afternoon wind was perfect for kite-flying.
Soon, the kite wobbled and swayed, soaring higher and higher until it was dancing in the sky.
Max stood in place, judging the wind direction while controlling the spool, and the kite flew higher and higher.
Liam watched the kite in the sky, his eyes sparkling, and slowly a smile spread across his face.
He ran toward Max, and the two boys chased each other across the hillside.
Grace stood still, glancing sideways at the man beside her. Alexander stood motionless at her side.
He'd never seen Liam this happy before. Only when he was with Grace and Max did his face show the innocent joy a seven-year-old should have.
How much he wished Liam could be like other children his age—carefree, with a beautiful and happy childhood.
At the very least, he shouldn't have to experience what Alexander had as a child—a broken family, loneliness, and isolation.
Watching Liam playing and laughing with Max on the grass, completely carefree and happy, Alexander suddenly said, "Grace, let's remarry."