Chapter 8


    Chapter 8 The Witty Young Child


    Oh my gosh. Look at her. Fake as stic. Turning around, Amanda wanted to find her son because


    they were now in a treacherous situation. It would be catastrophic if Elias found out about Aiden.


    However, Grace suddenly stopped her. “Amanda, would you mind joining us for dinner?” “Haven’t you


    eaten already?” Elias frowned. She smiled sweetly. “But you haven’t. You never eat on time, and that


    will cause stomach problems. Since Amanda is here, why don’t we have a meal together? Even though


    you’re divorced, you can still be friends.” Wow… The best of the best among fake b*tches. She’s as


    bold as brass, Amandained inside. Then, she rejected her without hesitation. “I’m sorry, but no.


    I don’t want to have dinner with you guys.” “Amanda, don’t tell me you’re still holding onto the old story?


    You should know that rtionships can’t be forced. What’s the point of forcing a man who doesn’t love


    you to be with you?” Grace reasoned. At that point, Amanda was beyond speechless. She suppressed


    her anger and smiled. “Miss Murphy, what makes you think I’m not over it?” Then, she spotted Aiden’s


    small figure! Seeing his mommy from afar, the kid happily ran toward her and parted his lips, ready to


    shout the forbidden M-word. With disaster dawning upon her, the franticdy immediately hinted at


    Aiden with her eyes, warning him not to say it. No, no, no, no, no! “Mo—” He had only yelled half the


    word when he received his mother’s signal, so he improvised. “Motherf*cker!” After that, he turned


    around and hid somewhere Elias could not see. That cute-sounding curse attracted everyone’s


    attention, but Elias merely heard it without seeing the owner of that adorable ‘motherf*cker’. Whose ill-


    mannered brat was that? How ridiculous. Amanda immediately stood before the man, stopping him


    from searching for Aiden at all costs. “Alright. I’ll have dinner with you!” she suddenly announced. A


    surprised Grace stopped looking for the kid and asked, “For real? Since Amanda agreed to eat with us,


    will you agree too?” “Sure,” Elias replied half-heartedly. He did not have much appetite, but he thought


    it would be nice to steal a few more nces at his ex-wife. … The atmosphere inside the private room


    was awkward. Amanda asionally looked at the time on her phone, wondering if Helean had brought


    the ‘ticking time bomb’ away. She picked up her phone and texted Helean, telling him to send Aiden


    home and that she would be back soon. When Elias noticed her uneasiness, he asked, “Whom are you


    texting?” Has this woman stooped so low that she’s seducing those old men? He had noticed her


    strange tone when talking on the phone earlier, and it sounded like she was doing something unseemly


    in secret. “No one. Why hasn’t the food arrived? Let’s get this over with and go home.” She put away


    her device. In the meantime, Grace smiled as she poured Elias a cup of tea, suggesting, “I think


    Amanda might be seeing someone and is texting him.” His brows furrowed in displeasure as he


    retorted, “And how do you know that?” “It’s because I’m a woman, and a woman’s sixth sense is


    always right. Am I spot on, Amanda?” That’s such a fake smile… Amanda was toozy to argue, so


    she went with it. “Yes, you’re right. I’m texting my boyfriend.” “Don’t tell me it’s the old man from the


    banquet. I warned you to leave those old men alone!” Elias ordered. That made Grace, sitting by the


    side, subconsciously grip the hem of her dress. She reasoned gently, “Elias, don’t be so mean.


    Amanda can like any man she wants, and she’s your ex-wife, so it’s not your ce to order her


    around.” Without saying anything, he felt a rage of fire burning inside him, and he downed his cup of


    water in a huff. “I need to head to the bathroom. Excuse me.” Suddenly, Grace rose to her feet with a


    courteous smile before leaving the room. In actuality, she wanted to know the unfiltered situation


    between Elias and Amanda, so she left her recording phone in the room, knowing that those two would


    not let on anything in her presence. Hence, she excused herself to let them talk it out. As expected,


    Amanda looked at the man before her once the door was closed. “How long have you known her?”


    Pouring himself another cup of water, Elias took a sip before answering, “Many years.” Her bright eyes


    had a trace of surprise. Many years… How many years is that? Did they know each other since they


    were young? Did they grow up together? If that was the case, does it mean he didn’t cheat on me


    because they’d been together for years? While she was lost in thought, her eyes dimmed, feeling a


    sense of bitterness. “Since you love her so much, why did you agree to marry me and not her?”


    “Grandpa forced me to.” That answer was straightforward but hurtful. His tone was filled with


    resignation and void of any emotion. When Amanda recalled how Elias pushed her to agree to the


    divorce, she felt endless hatred filling her heart. He had kept Grace so well protected and pampered


    her like a princess that she did not have to take part in all that fiasco. She suddenly taunted, “Do you


    think she would cry if I tell her you brought me home to Grandpa?” “Don’t you dare make her cry!” He


    mmed his cup onto the table, making a loud bang. God, no. Her cries are annoying. Who knows how


    long she’s gonna whine about it if she finds out? No, I’m not dealing with that. Yet, in Amanda’s eyes,


    his strong reaction froze her heart. He’s so protective over that woman, so kind and gentle. With me,


    though, he was always angry, oppressive, and cold. Perhaps, this is the difference between love and


    tolerating. At first, she thought she would have forgotten about these feelings after four years, but the


    pain caught her by surprise. Drawing a deep breath, she rose and reprimanded, “Please don’t ever


    appear before me again. Seeing the two of you makes me want to puke!” With that, she took her bag


    and left the room. Bang! The door was closed again, leaving Elias alone in utter silence. Finally, Grace


    returned. When she noticed Amanda’s absence, she asked, “Elias, where’s Amanda? Where did she


    go?” “Something came up, so she left. Let’s go, too.” The man stood up and exited the room. “Aren’t


    you going to eat?” “No.” Grace grabbed her bag and nced at her phone before turning off the


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