Chapter252
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Chapter252
Having acknowledged Gareth as his father, Jacob felt too awkward to interact with him at the table, keeping his head down while cating quickly.
Maureen remembered to serve carrots to him and Geoffrey: “Eat up.”
Jacob’s face changed when he saw the carrots.
“Mommy…”
“Eat.”
“Uh huh.‘
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Jacob slowed his eating, burying the carrots in his rice.
Geoffrey beside him did the same.
Gareth noticed their identical actions, feeling particularly sour knowing they were biological father and son.
Maureen remained oblivious: “Have some more.”
Gareth spoke up: “Mr. Sutton, don’t you like carrots?
Why are you burying them all in
your rice?”
Geoffrey instantly felt Maureen’s gaze from across turn icy, and a chill immediately crept up his spine.
Geoffrey hastily shoved the carrot into his mouth with some rice.
Jacob shuddered beside him–how could Dad stomach something so awful?
Geoffrey swallowed. “I love everything my wife cooks.”
Maureen slowly averted her gaze.
Gareth’s mood turned abysmal hearing him call her “wife” repeatedly.
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He grabbed the serving spoon and piled carrots onto Geoffrey’s plate. “I stir–fried these, right, Reenie?”
“Yeah, true.”
Maureen felt awkward, yet watching Geoffrey’s discomfort gave her smug satisfaction.
She’d never seen him like this before.
She added more carrots to his plate. “Eat up since you love them.”
Jacob gaped at the mountain of carrots in Geoffrey’s bowl, equal parts shock and pity flashing in his eyes.
“Uncle Geoffrey, you can have mine too if you like them.”
Feigning innocence, Jacob’s inner imp grinned wickedly: Serves you right, Dad. All’s fair in love and war.
As Jacob moved to dump his carrots onto Geoffrey’s plate, Geoffrey locked eyes with him. “Jacob, what’d you learn in kindergarten today?”
Jacob’s hovering chopsticks froze mid–air.
Alex didn’t hold back, continuing: “Do you like carrots too, kiddo? Uncle will give you all of his, okay?”
Jacob wanted to refuse.
Alex added: “Maureen, did you know Jacob today-”
“Okay, Uncle. Give me all your carrots. I love them.”
Jacob immediately scraped all carrots from Alex’s bowl into his own.
Across the table, Maureen and Zoe stared in disbelief.
Jacob had hated carrots since infancy. At six months old, he’d vomit whenever carrots were mixed into his complementary foods.
Maureen also wondered when Alex had realized this was Jacob, not Ethan.
Gareth had expected Jacob to side with him, never imagining the boy cared more about Alex.
Blood is thicker than water, after all.
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The food in his bowl lost all flavor.
After dinner, Gareth prepared to leave. Maureen walked him out.
“Goodbye.”
“Mm.”
Gareth gazed at her intently before finally turning away.
His car hadn’t gone far when a truck suddenly blocked its path. Over a dozen thugs emerged.
Gareth’s eyes narrowed.
Not far away, Wayne sat in an unassuming black sedan, phone to his ear as he commanded the leader:
“Teach that reckless fool a proper lesson.”
After Gareth and Maureen returned together, Geoffrey immediately got a call and sent people to block Gareth’s usual route.
Meanwhile.
Zoe praised Gareth in front of Geoffrey: “Gareth’s had it rough since childhood. Not only does he run a big company, but he cooks, doesn’t smoke, and doesn’t drink. I wonder which lucky girl will end up with him someday.”
Geoffrey knew the old woman’s words were meant for him but paid no mind.
After all, whether Gareth would even make it back alive tonight remained uncertain.
Maureen didn’t dwell on Zoe’s remarks, having accepted that Gareth saw her only as a friend.
Noticing Jacob still devouring carrots at the dining table, she asked curiously: “Jacob, I thought you hated carrots?”
Jacob forced a smile: “They’re actually pretty good today.”
“Perfect! I’ll make them for you often from now on, okay?”
Geoffrey’s guard shot up at those words.
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That night, two figures–one tall, one small–busied themselves in the kitchen for hours.
Early the next morning, Maureen wanted to make porridge but found not a single carrot left from the ones she’d bought.
She searched everywhere to no avail and had to use other ingredients instead.
Geoffrey had disappeared since daybreak, saying he went to the hospital.
In the dimly lit basement,
Gareth slowly opened his eyes to find himself tied to a stool, blood streaming down his forehead. Every wound on his body burned as if soaked in salt water, the pain excruciating.
A voice spoke directly across from him.
“Boss, this guy’s got some skills.”
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“I called fifteen men, and all fifteen got hurt.”
“We barely managed to tie him up.”
Wayne reported to Geoffrey.
Following the sound, Gareth realized Geoffrey was lazily leaning back in a chair facing him.
Seeing movement, Wayne immediately alerted Geoffrey: “He’s awake.”
Gareth knew Geoffrey’s men were behind this ambush.
No one else knew he was looking for Maureen–overseas forces couldn’t reach here.
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