"Luke... we need to talk." Charmaine told the boy after helping him changed into his pyjamas. She figured she should discuss the matter with Luke before putting him to bed. "What you said about Nicole when we were at the restaurant, why did you say that?"
Luke frowned and lowered his head. "But it was true. She was annoying." Luke insisted.
Charmaine sighed. The more stubborn and cold Luke acted, the more he resembled Leo. How can he not be his son? "Even if you're vexed by something she said, you can't just throw demeaning comments like that. You said girls are annoying. I and aunt Hannah are girls too. Are you meaning to say you find me pesky too?" she asked. She was kneeling in front of Luke who was sitting on the edge of the bed and as soon as she said that, the boy quickly raised his head.
"No, I don't! Mommy is very nice and gentle!" his voice laced with panic.
From outside the room, Leo was silently watching through the slightly open door. Looking at his wife's helpless expression, he couldn't help but laugh inwardly. He pushed the door wider and entered the child's room.
"Do you find his temperament similar to someone you know?" Leo joked from behind Charmaine. Startled, the woman looked back and then stood up when she saw him. She didn't notice someone was listening to them.
"You're home!" she blurted before looking away. "I was just explaining things to Luke. Are you hungry? I'll prepare dinner for you." she offered.
Leo shook his head. "No need. I've already had dinner. Just continue." he replied. He then sat on an armchair in the middle of the room facing the bed.
Charmaine raised her brows. Continue with what? With the lecture? With him around? That will be awkward.
"Forget it." she mumbled shaking her head. She then turned to Luke again and touched his head. "Just remember to think twice before saying something. You can eat whatever you want but you can't just say whatever comes to mind. You have to watch what you say even if you're still young." she told him.
Luke nodded. "I'm sorry." he whispered.
Charmaine smiled and ruffled his hair. "Alright! You need to listen to mommy or you won't be popular among the right type of girls when you grow up!" she joked.
Leo's calm expression changed to that of amusement. Why was he having this weird feeling that Charmaine was saying that to him? Was he only popular among the wrong types of women? He's desired by all types of women, alright?
Charmaine put Luke in bed. Just when she was done tucking him in, Luke suddenly grabbed her sleeves. "Are you really going to work again?" he mumbled next her ears. He was a bit worried that he will be left alone again if his mom decides to go back to work. He used to stay with the nanny most of the times when Jienna was still alive. Adults are always busy with work and he only sees them at night! However, since Jienna died, Charmaine chose to take care of him personally. He thought it will always be that way.
Charmaine caressed his hair. "Yes. What about it?" she asked. Luke just shook his head. Although worried, he didn't want to spoil Charmaine's plans. She already gave up a lot for him. In his mind, she only married Leo because she didn't want to give him up.
"Alright." Leo said as he stood up from his seat. "It's time to sleep now. I'm taking away your mommy so I can tuck her in bed, too." Leo joked.
Charmaine just rolled her eyes and switched of the light in Luke's bedroom. She wondered if him joking meant he's not in a bad mood anymore. With this person, she had been walking on eggshells all the years before her death but until now, she still couldn't understand how his mind works. Maybe it was because he never opened his heart to her before.
Charmaine pulled the door shut and turned her back on Leo. She hastened her steps and entered the room across. It was an instinctive action she acquired during her sleep in her coma. Whenever she felt like Leo was displeased, she would walk out of his way as if trying to flee.
"Are you upset?" Leo asked as he followed her in the room. "I'm sorry I came home late. There were so much things that needs to be attended." he explained.
Charmaine halted her steps. She asked herself if she was hearing it correctly. Did Leo just apologize about something so trivial? She turned around and glance at him with awe. "I wasn't upset. Weren't you the one who left enraged this morning?" she asked in bafflement.
Leo looked into her doe eyes. She thought he was angry that's why she was trying to avoid him? What kind of logic was that? Shouldn't she try to appease him if she thinks he's mad about something? That's weird. He walked towards her and pulled her to a warm embrace. "I wasn't angry. Even if I was really annoyed, it's not because of you so don't distance yourself from me." he mumbled.
Charmaine's arms which were hanging at her sides slowly lifted up and wrapped around Leo's waist. "I thought you didn't want to see me." she said. It didn't make sense but whenever she sees that certain expression in him, she cower.
"Silly. Why wouldn't I want to see you? And about what you said this morning, you don't have to trouble yourself thinking about insignificant matters. Luke is my son as well as yours. He's ours." he reassured her.
Charmaine looked up to see his face. " I was just worried. What if Jun Ji tries to take him away?" she asked with a worried expression. Leo touched her hair and combed it with his fingers.
"Then he's going to jail. I told you Luke is my son. If his odd temperament wasn't enough to convince you then I also have a paternity test report to back up my claim." he said with a smile.
"Really?" Charmaine was thrilled. Leo really did a paternity test? So that's why he was so confident about the child's identity! Then she really don't have anything to worry about anymore. With Leo as Luke's biological father and her status as Leo's wife, there's no one who would dare take away Luke from her anymore. She knew Jienna was telling the truth regarding Luke's father!
"I also have another good news." he said as he let Charmaine go and led her to a settee. "I have gathered enough evidence to clear my name. I'm just waiting for the right time to reveal Jun Ji's transgressions."
Leo was about to say more but his phone suddenly rung. Checking it, he saw it was his grandfather calling him. He stood up and walked towards the window before taking up the call.
Charmaine watched as Leo conversed with Ji Chen over the phone. He said he was very close to clearing his name? She really needs to re establish her identity so she could stand proudly by her husband's side.
After a while, Leo ended the call. He went back to his previous seat dazed and he looked at Charmaine with a strange expression. He looked floored.
"What is it?" she asked. What did his grandpa told him?
Leo took a deep breath as he tried to recover his calm. He looked straight into her eyes as he tried to be as clear as possible. "Grandpa.... he said there's a dinner party I have to attend..... on Sunday."
"What about it?" what's so surprising about that? Attend such events is the norms in business world!
Leo shook his head. "Chanel Aikens was the one who sent the invitation." he replied. "Tell me it's just a coincidence." he said with furrowed brows.
Charmaine just shrugged her shoulders. Things are still happening as fate scheduled. But since it's already known to her, she won't just sit back and watch as the woman try to destroy her husband.