Chapter 95 A Child’s Innocent Words
Little Eleanor rested in her arms, her big clear eyes curving into two little crescent moons. Her crisp voice made Emily pause.
He... Emily closed her eyes, her heart pricked like by a thin needle.
She lowered her gaze to her daughter's adorable doll-like face, her heart full of mixed feelings.
Eleanor naturally liked good-looking people.
But it had to be that one person she absolutely couldn't get near.
Emily swallowed the lump in her throat and attempted to maintain a soft tone and steady: "Eleanor, sweetie, you're about to start school. You'll have lots of little friends."
"But Eleanor wants to play with handsome Uncle." Eleanor tilted her little head, looking dead serious.
"Uh..." Emily didn't know how to reply for a moment.
She had no idea how Eleanor got so attached to Alex after just one or two meetings.
Could blood ties really be that powerful?
Matthew looked at her face from the corner of his eye, he saw every tiny reaction. A shadow flashed in his eyes. He paused, then said: "If Eleanor likes it, Uncle will take you to play later, okay? We won't bother others."
His voice was warm, but he smoothly left Alex out.
Emily looked up at him but said nothing.
Some things just got messier with explanations.
Eleanor hung her little head low, her new crystal hair clip looking dull.
Emily stroked her soft hair and whispered: "Let's go check out the school first, okay?"
"Okay!" Eleanor nodded fast, her little face lighting up with excitement. Her earlier sadness vanished.
Half an hour later.
The car pulled smoothly into the international school.
The place had top facilities and tight security.
Just like Matthew said, the teaching was advanced, running from kindergarten right up to elementary.
After checking it out, Emily was pleased: "This is good."
Matthew's lips curved slightly. "Looks like we don't need other campuses. Eleanor likes it too. I've already talked to the school. Give me her file, I'll handle it. If it goes smooth, we can finish today."
Emily didn't turn him down.
These years in Paris, she was used to Matthew helping out. She pulled Eleanor's file from her bag.
Since Eleanor was born abroad, all the records and info needed transferring over.
"Matthew, thanks. Let's grab a big lunch at noon!"
Emily smiled lightly and went to hand it over, but her eyes accidentally looked towards the side.
In the next second, she froze.
At the school gate, a familiar black Maybach was parked by the road.
The door was open.
A man leaned against the car, a cigarette between his fingers.
Smoke swirled around, blurring his face, but it couldn't hide his natural air of nobility and chill.
It was Alex!
His usual deep, cold face looked gentle right now.
Beside him stood a little boy.
He seemed a bit older than Eleanor, maybe almost three?
The boy's features were delicate, vaguely... similar to Alex.
Buzz!
That moment, Emily felt her heart squeezedt by an invisible hand.
So... he already had a son.
Probably with Grace?
Emily's fingers tightened a bit, her nails dug into her palm. The pain helped her stay calm on the surface.
She thought she wouldn't feel a thing anymore, but seeing this, the sadness hit her anyway.
Married three years, he hated her that much.
He'd even said flat-out there'd be no kids with her!
Turns out, he just didn't want kids from her.
Right then.
By the Maybach.
The boy clutched his little backpack and looked up with a sweet smile: "Uncle Alex, I'm off to school!"
Alex looked at him.
The kid had some of Grace's looks, but the real dad... didn't matter.
He wasn't interested in digging anyway.
"Go on, stay safe. Driver will pick you up after school."
"Okay!" The boy's eyes shone with admiration and trust as he bounced into the school.
On the other side.
Emily watched the man and boy interact, then lowered her eyes.
She took a deep breath, hiding all the emotions swirling in her eyes. Her voice came out flat, no waves: "Matthew, let's get Eleanor's enrollment done first."
Matthew sensed something was off. He followed her gaze and saw the man.
He didn't ask. He just nodded lightly: "Yeah, leave it to me."
"Okay." Emily nodded and turned to head back to the car.
But then—
"Emily."
A low, magnetic voice came from behind.
Emily stopped but didn't turn.
The man wouldn't let it go.
Alex stubbed out the cigarette and walked towards her with long legs.
Eleanor's eyes lit up: "Uncle!"
The man's deep gaze landed on her, his voice flat: "This school isn't right for your daughter."
Emily finally turned: "Mr. Baker, what do you mean? Do I need Mr. Baker to pick schools for my daughter?"
Alex didn't get the edge in her tone. "Tuition's sky-high, kids from all kinds of backgrounds. Mostly rich business kids, lots of showing off. Not good for growing up."
He was just thinking of her... daughter's best interest.
For some reason, looking at the little girl pulled at him.
But to Emily, it sounded like pure mockery: "Ha, Mr. Baker's so kind. Your own son's already that big, and you got time for my daughter?"
She paused, then gave a light laugh: "Don't worry about my daughter."
With that, she didn't look at him again. She walked off holding Eleanor.
Alex stood there, brows knotted tight.
Son?
What son?
This woman was all barbs—did she get the wrong idea?
Emily walked too fast, no chance for him to explain.
Alex's cold face got even tighter.
He started to leave, but a warm, steady voice came from behind: "Mr. Baker's got time on his hands, personally dropping the kid off at school."
Matthew walked up slowly.
The man looked at the file bag in his hand and smirked: "What, you done?"
Matthew smiled: "School drop-offs, dads have to handle it. Just curious,how old's Mr. Baker's kid?"
Alex narrowed his eyes: "Matthew, too much free time lately, huh?"
Matthew just smiled, polite as ever: "Nah, but busy or not, gotta look after Emmie and Eleanor. Otherwise... what's the point of all that money if you lose your wife and kid?"
In a flash, the man's whole vibe turned ice-cold!