If the line was longer, he could spend more time with her.
He really wanted to kidnap her and make her spend the night with him in his villa.
After paying the bill, Alan Hoyle sent her back to the neighborhood. Mrs. Wen had been urging her to
come home. They could stay together any longer. They hugged each other and said goodbye.
At home, Mrs. Wen saw her carrying a large bag.
“Why do you buy so much stuff?”
“So that I can spend more time outside and come back now.”
Mrs. Wen didn’t smell something suspicious about her explanation. Annie who was playing chess with
her grandfather rushed over to the pile of snacks. Her little hand kept fiddling inside the bag, “Whoa,
there is my favorite Dove chocolate.”
Olive Steele taught her to read the word ‘Dove’. She liked to use the stuff around to educate Annie.
“Don’t forget to share with your grandparents. You’re not allowed to eat too much or else, your teeth will
decay from the sugar.”
Annie was an obedient child. She shared her chocolate with Mr. and Mrs. Wen. Then, she grabbed
another bar of chocolate from the bag and said, “Mommy, I will brush my teeth later so that they won’t
decay. Can I take this to school tomorrow? I will share it with Lan Lan and Zhang Xiaoli. They are my
best friends. Last time, Zhang Xiaoli gave me her beef jerky and Lan Lan gave me plum.”
“Of course.” Olive Steele smiled.
She tried not to spoil Annie since she was a child. Now, there were just too many spoiled children out
there. Annie was her little princess, but Olive Steele wouldn’t let Annie develop a princess syndrome.
After done easting her chocolate, Annie brushed her teeth and Olive Steele gave her a bath. After that,
she put Annie to sleep.
“Mommy, are you going to sleep now? I want you to sleep with me.”
Olive Steele took a pajama from the closet and said, “Annie, you can sleep first. Mommy will go to bed
after taking a bath.”
“Okay.” The little girl drilled into the sheet. Her eyes glistened.
However, by the time Olive Steele came out of the bathroom, Annie had fallen asleep. There was a
little smile on her face as if she had a good dream.
After drying her hair, Olive Steele sat on the bedside. She took her phone and sent a message to Alan
Hoyle, “Have you arrived yet?”
“I have. I’ve just opened the door. It’s a beautiful coincidence, isn’t it?” he laughed. The happiness just
hit different when someone cared about you caused it. Originally, he felt that the villa was empty and
lifeless, but it became vivid because of the traces she left.
If there was a child to roam around the room, the atmosphere would be warm and perfect.
He was not a person who liked to send messages. It felt that it was as direct as phone calls, but now
since he loved spending his time with her, he ate his dumplings in the kitchen while listening to the
beep sound of his phone.
She picked the dumplings for him. She knew that he hadn’t ate his dinner.
She said, “The dumplings made by my mother are really delicious. The skin is thin, but the stuffing is
full. She also wraps the skin beautifully.”
Alan Hoyle drooled. He wondered when he could taste the dumpling made by his mother-in-law.
Olive Steele didn’t know when she fell asleep. The next time she woke up, Annie’s hands were cupping
her. The little girl was very playful in the morning.
“Annie, what time is it?”
There was an alarm clock beside the bed. Annie had learned how to read a clock.
But, she didn’t answer her. She continued cupping Olive Steele playfully.
She opened her eyes and asked, “Annie, what are you doing? Let Mommy sleep again.”
“I’m just taking a close look on your nose. I wonder if it gets longer.” the little girl said curiously.
“Get longer? Why is my nose getting longer?” Olive Steele stretched her hand to the bedside and took
the alarm clock. It was only six o’clock. Annie was so full of vigor that she managed to disturbed her
early in the morning.
“Mommy said when someone lied, their nose would get longer. I want to see if your nose has grown.”
“When did Mommy lie?”
Annie put her hands away and she said seriously, “You lied to my grandparents and Auntie Chloe that
the uncle who invited me to McDonald’s was your friend. In fact, he is my father, right?”
Olive Steele was really shocked that she was fully awoke, “How do you know that he is your father?”
Except herself, only Chloe Malan and Ivy Paddington who knew about this matter. Did they tell Annie?
But, she thought that they were discreet.
Annie sat up and pointed at the small drawer under the wardrobe, “You forgot to unlock that. I saw a lot
of things about him inside.”
The drawer was filled with newspaper clipping and photos of Alan Hoyle. It was her secret gardens.
Unexpectedly, her five year old saw it. Although she didn’t fully understand, but the little girl got the
clue.
“When did it happen?” she asked.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda