Chapter 73


    Chapter 73


    Ivan was leading Julie to his room, not giving her any chance to refuse. This was the first time Julie


    realized how assertive this kid could be.


    As the thunder outside roared, Ivan clung tightly to her in bed. Julie was usually terrified of storms but


    felt strangelyforted with the kid in her arms.


    “Mama Julie, do you hate me?” Little Ivan asked, gripping her hand tightly with fear in his eyes


    Julie was taken aback by the question. She looked down at the kid in her arms and shook her head


    firmly, “Of course not”


    “Then you like me?” Ivan said, looking satisfied with her answer.


    Julie ruffled his hair, feeling a strange attachment to the kid. It was a kind of fondness that she could


    not let go.


    Out of the blue, Ivan said, “Then be my mom! My dad is super handsome, rich, kind, and charming.


    You’ll definitely like him”


    Ivan almost blurted out his real name. His dad, Kerry, had warned him earlier that he mustn’t tell Julie


    his name. It’s a good thing he caught himself just in


    time!


    Julie looked at the earnest little boy in front of her. She had seen kids looking for stepmoms for their


    dads but never one who was this proactive about it Ivan was looking up at Julie, eager for her


    response. But from Julie’s expression, he knew she would disagree.


    Suddenly, a p of thunder sounded outside. Ivan pinched himself and started crying. His phone


    vibrated, and a ringtone echoed in the empty room: “And if that mockingbird doesn’t sing, Mama’s


    gonna buy you a diamond ring! The sound was heart–wrenching


    Seeing Julie touched, Ivan cried even harder.


    He picked up the phone and startedining to the person on the other end, “Dad, my mom


    doesn’t want me, and you don’t either. Why doesn’t anyone want me? Is it because I’m not well–


    behaved, not smart enough? Dad, I’m so sad.”


    For the first time, Julie was at a loss. She ignored the thunderstorm outside and just hugged the crying


    child, “Sweetie, stop crying. You’re so good and smart. How could I not like you?”


    “But you don’t, and you won’t even be my mom. My mom doesn’t want me, my dad doesn’t want me,


    dad won’t even stay with me!” Ivan threw the phone aside after saying this.


    Julie knew the call had ended. She had never dealt with kids before and thought they could be easily


    appeased. She never imagined how serious a child could be. So when Ivan cried uncontrobly, all


    Julie could do was try tofort him, “I will, of course I will. You’re so smart and cute. How could I not


    want to?”


    “Really? Will you marry my dad? Will you be my stepmom?” Ivan’s crying suddenly stopped, and he


    looked at her expectantly.


    Just as Julie wondered how quickly his mood had changed, Ivan’s pouty face showed he was upset.


    He looked like he was about to cry any second.


    Julie didn’t want to hear him cry again. So, she said without thinking, “Yes, Ivan, stop crying. It breaks


    my heart to see you cry”Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    As expected, Ivan stopped crying. His face lit up with joy. He picked up the phone and said to Kieran on


    the other end, “Dad, did you hear that? Mama Julie agreed to marry you. You’re going to have a wife


    soon!!”


    Turned out the call was still on! Julie was mortified. She tried to snatch the phone from Ivan while


    shouting to Kieran on the other end, “Mr. Kennedy, it’s not what you think. I was just,


    “Mama Julie, are you lying to me?” Ivan handed her the phone, his eyes welling up with tears. It looked


    like he was about to burst into tears again.


    Julie couldn’t bear to hurt him.


    Ivan looked at her with a wronged expression, waiting for her to exin to Kieran. It seemed like if she


    said “no,” he would cry his heart out.


    After about thirty seconds of silence, Kieran, on the other end of the phone, still hadn’t said anything. In


    the end, Julie was defeated by the kid’s pitiful look and hung up the phone.


    Now Ivan was satisfied. He snuggled into Julie’s arms, a smile of contentment on his face, and fell


    asleep. Only then did Julie take out her phone and texted Kieran, “Mr. Kennedy, there was a


    misunderstanding just now.”


    Julie hurriedly typed out the whole story and sent it to Kieran.


    Kieran was sitting on a ck leather sofa at home, looking at the message on his phone. Julie had


    exined everything clearly, but Kieran didn’t reply. Finally, Julie couldn’t help but ask, ‘Mr. Kennedy,


    are you there?”


    Kieran’s fingers paused on the keyboard, then replied, “Yes.”


    Julie breathed a sigh of relief. There was a misunderstanding just now,” she said.


    Then Kieran replied, “Ms. Abraham, why are you at my house?”


    The change of topic caught Julie off guard. She couldn’t possibly tell him that she came because Ivan


    was afraid of thunder, could she? That would make her seem too forward. From the location and


    decoration of the vi, it was apparent that Mr. Kennedy was a person of power and influence.


    When Ivan called her, she didn’t think too much about it. All she knew was that she had nowhere to


    stay and Ivan neededpany, so she came.


    Now that Mr. Kennedy was suddenly popping the question if she spilled the beans about having no


    ce to live, no one would buy that, right? Maybe Mr. Kennedy would misconstrue her as trying to


    worm her way into Ivan’s life to get close to him. Didn’t all the rich folks have this kind of paranoia?


    After waiting for Julie’s response, Kieran had already guessed she must be mulling it over. So he


    casually asked her, “Is Ivan bugging you again?” His tone was sympathetic.


    1


    Julie quickly replied, this time, “No, Ivan’s been a good boy.”


    ides


    Then, could you do me a favor and look after him a bit?” Kieran responded.


    Her phone lit up, and Julie didn’t expect Mr. Kennedy to respond like that, Her fingers flew over the


    keys, wanting to tell Mr. Kennedy that tonight was just a fluke. But before she could send her drafted


    message, Kieran sent another one, I’m out of the country working on a new project, probably for a


    couple of months. I’ve checked you out. If you don’t mind, could you help me take care of him? As for


    the sry, name your price.”


    So Mr. Kennedy didn’te back to be with Ivan because he was overseas. Julie stayed silent for a


    couple of seconds, then texted back, “I’m sorry Mr. Hernandez, I have a job”


    7van’s in school during the day. He only needs someone to look after him at night and in the morning.


    You can do this part–time after work. Think it over and let me know tomorrow morning.”


    “Oh, okay” Julie sent thest message and then shut off her phone


    She’d originally nned to leave this ce. But this sudden turn of events, and Kieran’s softened


    attitude towards her today, not as intimidating as the past few days, seemed to have changed her mind.


    She looked at Ivan in her arms, who was lying quietly, his beautiful eyshes like little fans. Although


    he was young, his features were quite handsome. His intelligence and liveliness made Julie feel an


    unexpected attachment to him, even though they’d only known each other for a few days. Especially


    when his little hand was clutching her sleeve, it made Julie feel reluctant to leave him.


    At Noblewood Retreat, Kieran was ying back the recorded phone call. On the call, Julie was


    solemnly promising to marry him.


    Meanwhile, at Gilded Gate Residences, Julie naturally had no idea this part of the conversation had


    been recorded. At that moment, she was gently looking at Ivan in her arms. She eventually dozed off,


    not knowing when she fell asleep. When she woke up the following day, Ivan was already up. He


    happily wheeled a wheelchair over to her and said, “Mommy, you’re hurt. Does that mean you don’t


    have to go to work today?”


    Kieran said she should rest for a couple of days when they were at the hospital yesterday. So, Julie


    nodded and asked, “So why did you wheel a


    wheelchair over here?”


    Today is Friday, I have a Parent–teacher conference! You promised to be my stepmomst night, so


    you have to help me with the Parent–teacher conference!” Ivan said seriously.


    Julie hesitated for a moment and said, “About that,”


    ‘Shawna, get two people to help my mom down!” Ivan didn’t let Julie refuse and turned to Shawna,


    “Where’s the car? I want the biggest one, and my mom can’t be ufortable”


    “The car’s ready” Shawna said with a smile, her gazending on Julie’s face.


    Julie quickly grabbed the excited little guy and said, “Ivan, aboutst night.”


    “I finally have a mom. Let’s see who dares tough at me for being a motherless child! Hmph” Ivan’s


    casual remark felt like a cold water poured over Julie’s head. She felt cold from head to toe. The


    exnation she had been about to give was stuck in her throat.