NOVEL NEXT Chapter 543: Many husbands?
«You're not my uncle,» Scarlet said. «My uncle is taller and has black hair.»
«W-what uncle?» David said. «I am your mother's brother!»
Scarlet blinked, tilting her head.
«Are you sure?» she asked.
«Pretty much.»
«But you're not like my mommy,» she murmured. «And my uncle is tall and handsome. You're not him.»
David opened his mouth wide, surprised and hurt by that little thing. How dared she say something like that to her elders? Had they no manners in the Woods family?
«My daddy is also handsome,» she added. «And he works as a CEO.»
«I see... And where is your daddy now?» David asked.
Scarlet turned to Nate, who had silently gotten closer. He moved his arm as if to offer his hand to the little girl.
«Scarlet, come here,» he said.
She strolled to him, raising her arms when he was close enough. However, it wasn't that easy with the ice cream in her hands. Still, Nate managed to pick her up without causing any damage to either.
«You shouldn't talk with strangers,» he said. He had heard the conversation, so he knew well enough who that man was.
It was the same who had asked Lara for money when she needed it the most. And he had disappeared without paying his debt off.
Lara still felt guilty about helping him, for she couldn't afford meat for the pups back then.
Now that man was back, ready to exploit his sister and the children in any way possible. It was a pity they weren't vulnerable anymore.
All three of them had enough love protecting them from his traps. He couldn't use family links as an excuse. And no one would have been moved by those words anymore.
His children knew what it meant to be a family, luckily.
«Daddy, that man says he's an uncle, but I have only one uncle,» Scarlet said. «Uncle Renato will be unhappy to hear there's someone pretending to be him.»
«Definitely,» Nate said.
«Do you think I can have two uncles if aunty Sam decides to have two husbands?»
«Two what?» he repeated, blinking.
«Two husbands, daddy. Husbands,» Scarlet said, stressing every letter of that word.
«Uncle Renato wouldn't be happy to hear about this,» Nate said.
Would it have been too evil if he made his daughter say something like that on the phone while Cannella was listening? Oh, but it could easily backfire if Scarlet started considering whether to have two daddies. That would have broken Nate's heart permanently.
After thorough consideration, he decided to discard the idea and forget about it. It was too dangerous.
«She can't have two husbands,» he said. «She can have only one. Just like I can have one wife.»
«Mommy, too?»
«She also can have one husband,» he clarified, forgetting about the man in front of them. There was something more urgent: his girl was asking questions! It was such a rare occasion, to see her curious about something, that he couldn't think about anything or anyone else.
«And I?»
«You can have as many as you want.»
«Oh, good,» Scarlet sighed.
«Good?» Nate chuckled.
«I was afraid I could have only one.»
«You'll need to talk about this with your mate. Only then, you can build your ha... Ehm, you can choose a reserve husband.»
«That's good, daddy. What about the uncle, by the way? What does he want from my mommy?»
«I don't know,» Nate said, turning his glacial eyes towards David Clayton. «What do you want from Lara?»
«N-nothing,» David stuttered. «She's my sister... And the girl is my niece. It's only natural I want to see them.»
«I didn't think you would want to... Is it to return the money she lent you a couple of years ago? Late is better than never.»
Nate showed him his business smile, and Scarlet frowned at his words. Did that uncle want to give back money to her mommy?
«You can give it to us, and we'll deliver everything to mommy,» she said. «You can trust us!»
Nate patted Scarlet's shoulder, trying to find out whether she was feeling awkward or just being mean like usual. The girl seemed unaware of the situation, so he relaxed and focused on David Clayton for a minute more.
«If I see you near my children or near Lara, I'll call the police,» he said. Stay updated with empire
«You can't forbid me from seeing my niece and nephew!» David rebuked. That man was powerful, sure, but the law must have been stronger than him.
«No? Watch me do it. If you even glance at Scarlet once again, let alone talk, you won't be able to afford that ice cream in a matter of days. I don't care what you want and where you come from. I don't care whether you're regretting your past... Do not approach us anymore.»
«You can't do this! Let me talk with Lara first. She's my sister, I'm sure she'll understand.»
«Hmm? I can't tell Lara what to do and what not to do. If she hasn't replied to your calls or contacted you, it's because she doesn't want to. It's her own will.»
David Clayton closed his mouth, eating his next words. He hated that he was too weak to say anything... But if he could talk with his sister, he was sure she would forgive him. There was nothing Nate Woods could do, then, except accepting the situation.
He turned on his feet, ready to leave when he heard the little girl call for him.
«Hey, wait a moment!» she said.
Oddly enough, Nate didn't say anything. Scarlet was in his arms, yet he did nothing to make her shut up. It must have rung a bell in David's mind, but he overlooked that detail.
He turned to them, again, hope filling his eyes. His niece had called him: did it mean she was accepting and recognising him?
If the kids liked him, then their parents would have lowered their guards at some point, letting him in their lives.
«Yes?» he said, smiling gently at Scarlet.
«You forgot mommy's money!» she said.