Nonetheless, Anthony ignored John’s provocation and put Audrey down from his shoulder. After that, he asked Audrey, Gregory, and Summer to line up in front of him like soldiers before a commander.
“Today, I will teach you how to deal with drowning—”
“Huh?” The glint of excitement on Audrey’s face vanished once she heard Anthony’s command. She asked Anthony helplessly and cautiously, “Daddy, are we not going to play that game again?”
As Audrey was speaking, her voice got increasingly lower. In the end, she noticed Anthony’s cold face and dared not say that she wanted so badly to play the game.
Although Anthony didn’t reply to her, his answer was crystal clear—no way. As the atmosphere became tenser, John gloated over it and didn’t persuade Anthony for Audrey.
It was Anthony’s principle to do everything attentively and wholeheartedly. “Work hard, play hard” was not his motto in learning any skills. Since children’s attention could be easily swayed, I agreed with Anthony’s teaching method. Moreover, it was better to remain cautious because they were dealing with water now.
Summer probably remembered that Anthony would be irritated if they refused to listen. Hence, she took the initiative to comfort Audrey, “Audrey, be a good girl. Practice it first, and Daddy will reward you afterward.”
As Summer was talking to Audrey, both of them stole a glance in sync at Anthony, who always looked expressionless.
Under normal circumstances, Anthony wouldn’t entertain anyone’s demand. Surprisingly, Anthony wasn’t angry and only fell silent. A few seconds later, he gave in and said, “As you wish!”
It turned out that Anthony’s daughters were his soft spot.
“Oh yeah!”
As Audrey lifted her hands in excitement, she slipped through her float and fell into the water. She was caught off-guard and gulped down some water as a result. Fortunately, Gregory and Summer quickly pulled her up so that she could breathe.
“Pffft! Pffft!” While coughing out water, Audrey stole glances at Anthony but didn’t notice any changes in his expression. As such, she dared squint her eyes adorably and make funny faces at him.
After that, Anthony began to teach the children seriously. Since they had learned basic swimming skills before and were intelligent, they acquired the skills soon and spent the rest of the time playing. Meanwhile, Anthony and John continued to compete secretly to please Audrey by showcasing their swimming skills.
Suddenly, Emma showed up and put a halt to their intense competition. “John! Have you abandoned the company and your son already? Let’s get a divorce if you’re tired of me!”
John shriveled once he heard Emma shouting. He heaved a sigh and swam toward the coping of the swimming pool. “Well, my leisure time has just ended.”
Nevertheless, John didn’t forget to coax his wife with a smile. “I’m coming. Anyway, don’t always talk about getting a divorce. You’re like water, and I’m like a fish. How can a fish get out of water?”
With that, he reached out to hug Emma.
Swiftly, Emma turned sideways to dodge John and pressed her index finger against his chest. Then, she narrowed her eyes and warned, “Do you want to sleep in the study again?”
John had no choice but to withdraw his hands and obediently follow Emma to the lobby.
As the sky was about to turn dark soon, Anthony ended the class and family time and brought the kids back to take a shower.
When the kids surrounded Anthony and chatted with him happily, I felt that the blissful moment would go on and on.
Suddenly, a scar near Anthony’s knee happened to catch my attention.
After going through a lot in Venria, I instantly recognized that it was a gunshot scar.
The scar was rather inconspicuous. Perhaps I wouldn’t notice it at all if Anthony didn’t wear swimming trunks and walked in front of me for quite some time.
Usually, Anthony wouldn’t deliberately show me his scars. More often than not, he would have forgotten how he got injured when I noticed his scars.
While I was at a loss, Joseph happened to lead a few maids to clean the swimming pool. As soon as he walked past me, I said, “Excuse me, Mr. Campbell.”
“Mrs. Featherstone.” Joseph came up to me politely and bowed.
“Hmm.” After murmuring a response, I fixed my gaze on Anthony’s scar and asked, “How did Mr. Featherstone get injured near his knee?”
Joseph followed my gaze and saw Anthony’s scar. After falling silent for a while, he frowned and replied, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Featherstone. I have no idea about it.”
“Did you say you have no idea?” I felt both shocked and amused by Joseph’s answer. Joseph has stayed by Anthony’s side and served him for many years than I have. In that case, how is it possible that he doesn’t know about it? Since when does he think I’m so gullible?
After pondering over it, I stopped walking and threatened Joseph coldly, “Mr. Campbell, do you know that your ears will instinctively flinch whenever you lie?”
Joseph was visibly startled upon hearing that. Soon, he put on a calm demeanor and said, “I don’t know, Mrs. Featherstone. I’m telling the truth. After all, Mr. Featherstone won’t tell me everything.”
“Is that so—” My lips curled into a smile.
Although I made it up that Joseph’s ears would flinch, his hesitance had betrayed him entirely.
Inwardly, I knew that Joseph was loyal to Anthony and refused to reveal anything to me because Anthony warned him against it. Well, both the master and the subordinate are stubborn. I don’t think Joseph will say anything even if I torture him.
Besides, since we had let go of the past, I thought I could persuade Anthony to open his heart to me.
“Fine, fine. I’ll let you go this time. Get in.”
After Joseph left, I returned to my room and sat on the couch for a while.
When Anthony came out of the bathroom, I looked up at him and saw that he only covered the lower part of his body with a towel. I reckoned he would then put on some clothes to cover his body.
However, when Anthony saw that I stared at him, he narrowed his eyes and grinned with naughty intentions. “I have reasons to believe that you’re hinting something at me.”
As his wife, I certainly knew what was on his mind when he glanced at me that way.
Just as expected, Anthony walked toward the wardrobe once he finished.
“You wish!” I immediately dismissed his naughty thought.
At that moment, it came to my mind that I had never seen Anthony change his clothes for a long time. Apart from the fact that he always came home late, we rarely spent time with each other in these years. Perhaps that was also why I only noticed his gunshot scar earlier on.
With that, I stood up and followed him to the wardrobe. Then, I leaned against the door frame and scanned him without embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Anthony saw that I came closer when he put on his pants.
When we were young, it was difficult for us to look into each other’s eyes. As we grew older, we got used to it and felt comfortable about it. Pursing my lips, I didn’t show any emotions. At that moment, all I cared about was the scar on Anthony’s left knee.
Meanwhile, Anthony looked into my eyes and realized that I was gazing at his left leg. In no time, he could tell that I had noticed the secret that he had buried deep in his heart for many years.
Inwardly, I had to admit that Anthony didn’t hide it from me purposely. On the contrary, I didn’t notice his scar earlier because I didn’t care enough for him.
I didn’t ask Anthony right away, for I wished to find out if he was serious about our promise—we had to open our hearts to one another.
Although Anthony wouldn’t deliberately keep his secrets from me, he wouldn’t take the initiative to tell me either. After all, he wouldn’t tell me about the unpleasant things that he went through. Despite that, I thought it was time for Anthony to confess his feelings.
As they said, the first step is always the hardest.
“Back then, you were kidnapped when you carried our first kid. I received news from K City that the truth about my parents’ accidental death had come to light. When I rushed to the city, I was ambushed and shot in the leg. Although Zachary’s subordinates successfully rescued me, I still spent two months lying on the bed.”
Anthony sounded relaxed, as though he was talking about someone else. Besides, there was a sense of self-mockery in his tone.
It felt piercingly painful to me when I recalled what happened back then. Apart from the despair over losing my kid, I had not forgotten about the two months when I was unconscious.
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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