Chapter 258
Kingsley had been quietly listening to the two children chatter when his phone suddenly buzzed. He glanced at the caller ID and swiped his finger across the screen, rejecting the call instantly. But the phone rang again almost immediately, the persistence deeply irritating.
Kingsley stood up and walked away. He pressed the answer button but remained silent.
A familiar female voice quickly came through the receiver.
“Kingsley, are you busy p>
“What is it?” Kingsley’s tone was entirely devoid of emotion, offering only a flat, chilling indifference.
Susan Talmadge slowed her pace, speaking hesitantly. “I heard Sherwood Group has a project up for bidding? I’d like to introduce someone to you. Their team is exceptionally capable. Do you think you could p>
“Are you focusing on your career now that you’re divorced p>
Kingsley let out a low chuckle, though the smile never reached his eyes. His voice dripped with sarcasm. “Ms. Talmadge, you’re becoming quite the powerhouse p>
“That’s not it,” Susan hurriedly explained, her tone filled with cautious flattery.
“I just know a friend whose company happens to be participating in your bidding process. I was hoping you could… pull some strings for them p>
“Sherwood Group isn’t a dictatorship run by me. Telling me is useless,” Kingsley cut her off, rejecting her decisively.
“Kingsley!” Susan, provoked by his coldness, suddenly raised her voice to a shrill pitch. “You’re the boss! How could you not have a say in this? Do you have to be so cold and heartless? Even if I divorced his father, I’m still the mother who gave birth to you. I gave you life p>
“I’ve always been heartless. Are you only just realizing that now?” Kingsley’s eyes were utterly dead. He parted his lips, his tone as flat as if he were discussing the weather.
“As for that life you gave me, if you want it back, you can come and take it whenever you’d like.” With that, he ruthlessly hung up the phone. Kingsley stood completely still for a moment le letting the residual ice fade
from his eyes before turning back to the seating area.
Only this time, Thurston was the one sitting with the children. Lucy was nowhere to be found. Seven was clutching a cheese stick Molly had handed him, turning it over and over in his little hands.
He tried a few times but couldn’t manage to tear the wrapper open. He was just about to turn and ask Thurston for help when Kingsley’s voice broke through. “I’ll help you p>
Seven looked up at him and obediently handed it over. Kingsley flicked the wrapper open effortlessly and handed the cheese stick back. “Thank you,” Seven murmured as he took it.
His attention immediately drifted to the storybook Thurston had found for Molly. He slid off his chair, ran over to Molly, and tilted his little face up.
“Molly, read it with me.” At his sweet demand, Thurston’s gaze hardened with a protective edge. He said coolly, “You can hear Molly read just fine from your own seat p>
Seven whispered a soft “Oh” and was about to trot back to his spot when Kingsley grabbed his chair and planted it right next to Molly.
“You can sit next to Molly. It’s totally fine,” he said gently. As he spoke, he scooped Seven’s tiny body up and placed him securely on the chair.
Once his son was settled, Kingsley leveled a razor-sharp glare at Thurston, silently issuing a warning: *Act defensive around my son again, and see what happens.* Thurston met his gaze head-on and offered a terse, two-word response, “I wasn’t p>
Internally, however, he was thanking his lucky stars: *Thank god Seven lives in Switzerland. Otherwise, when this kid grows up, he really might end up stealing my Molly away p>
Seven sat back obediently against the chair, his little body perfectly straight. He listened with rapt attention, occasionally parroting a few fragmented words, matching Molly’s cadence. When Molly closed the book he immediately tilted his head up, his eyes wide with admiration.
“Molly, you’re amazing! Do you know
all those words?” Molly’s lips curved
into a smile; her voice sweet and
clear. “My aunt taught me. When you
get a little bigger, I’ll have her teach you too.” Seven blinked, somewhat contused
We what already
have a teacher p>
“Teach you how to read the alphabet,” Molly set the storybook aside and patiently explained. “Once you learn the alphabet, you can read the stories all by yourself.” Seven nodded, only half-understanding, and replied brightly, “Oh, then my mommy can teach me p>