Brettley and Bethan both froze as they heard Neil’s confession. Even the teacher who stood behind them gaped at the sudden turn of events.
Who would have thought something like that would happen? Bethan rubbed her brows in exasperation, thinking to herself, ‘What kind of scheming children did I give birth to? Haven’t I told them countless times that they shouldn’t eat junk food like this?’
“It’s all my fault, Daddy, ” sulked Nellie. “Class was really boring, and the lunch I had wasn’t yummy at all. I overheard another kid talking about eating fried chicken with his mommy and daddy, so I wanted fried chicken too, but…”
Disappointment clouded Nellie’s gaze. “I knew that you wouldn’t let me have fried chicken because it’s not healthy, so I asked Neil to help…”
The anger on Brettley’s face dissipated. After a moment’s hesitation, he heaved a deep sigh and stared at his daughter. “You’re such a mischievous girl, ” he said in a tender voice.
“This was all just a misunderstanding, Mr. Morrison, ” the teacher shot Brettley a nervous glance. “You’re… not going to close our school down because of this, right?”
This was the first time this kindergarten had enrolled a student as important as the daughter of the famous Brettley Morrison. All of the teachers were afraid that something terrible would happen, so as soon as Nellie injured herself, they immediately panicked and tried to fulfill her every request. It was because of this that the two children were able to distract the nurse and teachers, ordering fried chicken without their knowing.
“He won’t, “
Brettley did not respond to the teacher’s question, so Bethan piped up instead. She heaved a sigh of relief and smiled at the teacher and nurse. “
Thanks for your help. Everything’s fine. You guys can go now.”
The teacher and the nurse both glanced at Brettley apprehensively, but they figured that since Bethan came together with Brettley, she must have meant it when she said everything was fine, so they nodded and quickly left the room.
After the teachers left, Bethan immediately turned around and gave Neil a disapproving glare. “Neil, what were you thinking?”
Neil replied meekly, “Nellie wanted fried chicken… “
He lowered his head dejectedly and added, “I wanted fried chicken, too… “
“You guys can have it, “
Brettley’s low voice rang. He turned around, his gaze skimming across Bethan and landing on Neil. “The reason why you kids aren’t allowed to have junk food, including fried chicken, is because they’ re very high in calories. Secondly, the sanitation of outside foods can be questionable. If you two want to have fried chicken, I ’11 ask the chef to prepare some for you.”
“Okay ! “
Nellie’s face lit up upon hearing her father’s words. “Daddy, I want… I want Neil and Aunty to come home with us and have fried chicken, too. Can they?”
Brettley frowned and gave Bethan a cold stare. A smirk played on the corner of his mouth as he replied, “Of course they can.”
He reached his hand out toward Neil. “Come on.”
He had no intention of talking to or interacting with Bethan at all.
Neil acknowledged Brettley’s outstretched hand with a scowl and raised his head to give him a haughty look. Neil still held a grudge against Brettley for losing the evidence of Cynthal trying to get rid of
Nellie, so he ignored Brettley’s hand and grabbed Bethan’s instead.
“The only reason we’re going is Nellie! ” he said to Bethan.
Bethan’s brow furrowed in response. She had not made up her mind to accept Brettley’s invitation yet, but she recalled what Nigel had told her earlier that afternoon. The only way she could see Cynthal in person was through Brettley.
Bethan let out a sigh and grabbed Neil’s hand. She had no choice but to go along with it.
By the time Brettley, Bethan, Neil, and Nellie came out o f the kindergarten, the crowd of parents waiting outside had dispersed.
Lucas, obediently waiting outside, froze momentarily in shock when he saw the two adults and two children emerging out of the building.
‘Why are Brettley and Bethan together again? They had just parted ways last night and even fought this morning.’ Lucas thought to himself, flummoxed at the sight. He could still picture the solemn look on Brettley’s face when he returned to the ward this morning. Did they somehow manage to make up in just a few hours?
Brettley hoisted Nellie into his arms and slid into the backseat.
Neil, seemingly trying to avoid Brettley, opened the passenger side door in a swift motion and sat in the front passenger seat.
Bethan paused. After a moment’s hesitation, however, she opened the car door and got into the backseat. Brettley was on the left while Bethan was on the right, with Nellie wedged in between them.
“Thank you, Daddy! “
Nellie gazed at her father with an awestruck look in her eyes. “I wouldn’t have lied if I had known you’d let me have fried chicken! “
Brettley squinted at her and cupped her tiny hand with his large one. “In the future, you should be honest with me about anything you want. Don’t lie to me.”
Nellie lowered her head in shame and muttered, “
Okay…”
“Most importantly, you shouldn’t lie about getting hurt, understand?”
“Then…what if I do get hurt?”
Brettley stared at her little finger painted in bright red nail polish. “Well, in that case, Daddy will be very sad.”
After a pause, he added, “I’ll make sure whoever hurt you gets taught a lesson.”
There was a hint of tenderness in his low voice.
Nellie pursed her lips in approval. She snuck a glance at Bethan and said, “See, Aunty, my Daddy is the best.”
Bethan narrowed her eyes upon hearing this but said nothing else.
Brettley acted like he was the best father in the world. Who was he kidding? If he truly cared about Nellie, if he would handle those who hurt his daughter, then what about Cynthal?
Ever since Nellie was born, Cynthal had been the first and only person who seemingly wanted Nellie’s life at all costs, yet this man–who kept trying to act like a good father–did nothing apart from imprisoning her.
At the thought of Cynthal, Bethan could not help but let out a sigh. She lifted her head to sneak a surreptitious glance at Brettley. She still could not figure out what this man planned to do to Cynthal.
The car soon arrived at Blue Bay Villa.
“Sir, little princess! “
Lily came forward to greet them with a smile as soon as the car stopped. “How was school today?”
The car door opened, and Bethan stepped out.
Lily’s smile froze on her face upon seeing her. “Ms. Bethan, what are you doing here?”
“Daddy wants to treat Neil and Aunty to some fried chicken! “
Nellie exclaimed, grinning as she hopped off the car. “Lily, do you know how to make fried chicken?”
Lily picked her up and answered, “Of course I do! “
She turned to look at Brettley and Bethan and asked tentatively, “Sir, are you sure…that you want to have fried chicken with guests over?”
Brettley had alighted the car gracefully and unbuttoned his cuff sleeves when he heard that. “
What do you mean?”
Lily took a deep breath and replied, “You have a guest; it’s your father. He’s been waiting in the living room for about an hour now. He said… “
She gave Bethan a sideways glance before she continued, “
He said he wants to talk to you about Ms. Bethan.”
Bethan was astonished to hear Lily’s words. Why would Adrian Morrison want to talk to Brettley about her? Was she not just a resigned maid to the Morrison family? What was there to talk about?
Brettley was just as surprised. He shot Bethan a disapproving frown and turned back to look at Lily. “
Ask the chefs to prepare fried chicken, ” he ordered.
Lily nodded after a moment’s hesitation. She linked hands with the two children, and the trio entered the house together. Lucas also left to park the car in the garage.
Brettley and Bethan were the only two people left standing in front of Blue Bay Villa, though Brettley did not seem to be in a rush. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and proceeded to light one. Then, he leaned casually against the pillar and took a drag on his cigarette. The smoke made his unsmiling face look even colder and unapproachable.
Brettley fixated his steely gaze on Bethan and sneered, “
I guess you decided to target my father instead since you couldn’t get any confidential information out of me, huh? What did Malcolm Quinn offer you in return for doing his dirty work, so much so that you’re willing to be a pawn?”
Bethan initially frowned at his words, but she smirked a split second later. Brettley must have thought she was the one who led Adrian here over the pretense of having a conversation about her. He even thought that Bethan kept trying to get close to him so she could extract confidential information for Malcolm.
‘He thinks too highly of himself and too lowly of Malcolm,’ Bethan mused to herself. ‘Although Malcolm is his biggest competitor and had never managed to outsmart him, that doesn’t mean Malcolm would resort to dirty measures like this. Malcolm isn’t a despicable rogue like Brettley thinks.
The fact that Brettley’s mind immediately jumped to this conclusion, proves how much more despicable he truly is.’
Bethan snickered as a cold glint flashed in her eyes. “
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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