“Noah, what did you hear just now?” Viola’s voice was very soft and was eerie like a ghost. It was as if
she personified the fears of Noah. His face was pale and he broke out in cold sweat and was close to
fainting.
Finally, he shook his head.
“Good boy.” Viola raised her hand and patted his head.
“Very good. You did not hear anything just now. If I find out that you mention anything to your father, I
will be very angry. When I’m angry, the consequences will be terrible.”
Noah trembled in fear when she touched Noah’s head. He was so gripped with fear that he almost
cried. At that instance, it was as if it reminded him of a distant past. His eyes were wide open and he
opened his mouth several times but didn’t say a word.
Viola seemed to be pleased to see him so terrified. Her eyes looked at him with disdain and scoffed,
“Relax, Noah, I’ll treat you well once I become your mommy. Don’t be scared.”
…
That afternoon, once Joseph had finished with his work, he went to the hospital to settle the discharge
procedures and brought him home. Viola continued to accompany him and eventually also got into the
car as they left the hospital.
“The doctor said that Noah’s gastric is weak and cannot eat at those roadside stalls.” Viola’s voice
echoed in the car.
Noah huddled in Joseph’s embrace and clenched his little fists but didn’t dare to say anything.
Joseph nodded and said politely, “Got it. Thanks for your help today.”
“No worries. I’ve known Noah since he was a baby and naturally I’m worried whenever he isn’t feeling
well.” Viola answered.
Joseph heard Viola but began to be distracted as he looked out the window. Perhaps he was too harsh
on Hayden that morning which resulted in her not returning to the hospital.
It would be Saturday in a couple of days. Joseph stayed at home with Noah as he recuperated. His
vomiting and diarrhea had stopped when he was at the hospital but he still had a fever when he was
home. Thus, Joseph didn’t allow him to go out and wanted him to stay at home to rest.
Noah was very active and pestered Joseph although he was still unwell. He wanted to see Hayden and
Stella. Noah continued to pester Joseph so much that Joseph couldn’t sleep for several days.
Just as Joseph was coaxing Noah to eat his breakfast, the doorbell rang ‘ding dong …’
The maid went to the door and before long, the servant remarked, “Stella?”
“Hi.” Stella greeted politely and entered the house with the maid.
“Young master, little Noah, Stella is here.”
“Good morning, Mr. Beckham.” Stella tilted her head and looked at Noah who was behind Joseph,
“Noah, good morning.”
Joseph nodded and his expression warmed up.
The maid looked for a pair of slippers for Stella but Stella rejected. She held onto a large thermos and
placed it onto the steps and sat down immediately as she exhaled, “It’s so hot outside. I’m exhausted!”
Noah jumped off his chair, rushed to Stella, and started to signal to her with his hands.
Stella blinked and pondered for a while before she understood and explained, “Mommy is at home but
last night and this morning she made a lot of snacks and asked me to bring them over. So I brought
them here.”
After she said, Stella opened the thermos and there were four segments. Each segment contained
different delicious cakes and pastries.
“Okay, I’ve brought them here. I’m going off now.” She dusted off her backside and was about to leave.
Noah quickly stopped her and turned to look at Joseph anxiously.
Joseph walked over and looked down towards Stella and asked, “You came alone?”
Stella felt guilty and lowered her shoulders as she nodded, “Yeah.”
“Then let me send you back. It’s not safe for you to go back by yourself.”
“No need. I can walk home.” Stella stared directly at Joseph and then suddenly became very serious as
she said, “But before leaving, I wish to explain something to Mr. Beckham.”
“Go ahead.”
“I ate a lot while Noah ate very little at the night market. I was fine even though I ate so much of the
same things that Noah ate. You cannot hate my mommy just because of this. If you hate my mommy
because of this, then you are not the Joseph that I like anymore.”
Joseph was stunned. Although what the kid said was simple, he felt empty as soon as he heard it. It
was as if he had lost something dear to him.
Once Stella left, Noah glared angrily at Joseph. He carried the thermos off angrily and didn’t even
share a piece with Joseph.
Outside the villa, Stella pretended to be deep in her thoughts as she walked off. After she ensured that
no one was around her, she quickly ran towards an awaiting car.
Once getting in the car, she high-fived a young man. The crisp clap echoed in the car and she said in
her cute voice, “Mission completed, Benjamin.”
The young man in the car raised his eyebrows, “Well done, Stella!”
“But will this make mommy happy?”
“As long as this Mr. Beckham who you like isn’t a dummy, and has a magnanimous heart, then he
should apologize to your mommy. Once he apologized to your mommy, your mommy wouldn’t be sad
anymore.”
“But what if Mr. Beckham doesn’t apologize?”
“Do you want a man who can’t even lower himself to your mother to become your father?”
With such a question, Stella didn’t hesitate and shook her head, “Don’t want!” If that was the case,
wouldn’t her mother be bullied by him?
“That’s right.” Benjamin patted Stella’s shoulders and continued, “If it wasn’t for Hayden being so
affected by that rascal, I wouldn’t even bother to help push Joseph. There are so many men in this
world.”
“Mommy isn’t concerned about the man. She is only worried about Noah.”
Benjamin was stunned when he heard her correct him and said, “Do you know why your mother is so
concerned with that little kid? He wasn’t even born by her. Even if she had started to like Joseph, there
was no need for your mother to try to make up to that boy.”
“Because Noah is the same age as my brother, not as you mentioned, trying to make up to him.”
Stella slipped and quickly covered her mouth and glared at Benjamin as she said, “I didn’t say
anything!”
Benjamin stared at Stella for a moment and said, “I heard it, you said that you have a brother?”
“No!”
“Okay, then I’ll ask Hayden and I’ll tell her that it was you who told me.”
“No!” Stella covered her mouth and pulled on Benjamin’s sleeves as if she was terrified that he’ll ask
her mother the very next moment. She was exceedingly anxious, “Each time mommy mentioned about
my brother she would cry. You cannot ask her about this.”
“So you really have a brother?”
When facing such a cunning fox, a small innocent rabbit like Stella could only surrender in defeat. The
young eyes revealed a tragic sadness and lamented, “It is complicated.”
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda