Raina''s POV:
"I''ll have to think about it. I''ll call you back in a few days," I said, checked the time, and stood up in a hurry.
Susan''s promise was tempting, but I didn''tmit anything to her right away.
I knew better than anyone else that there was no free lunch in this world.
"Very well. I''m living a miserable life now, and I desperately need your help," Susan groaned and wiped her tears.
I ignored her crying while keeping my face expressionless.
"Here''s my phone number. Call me when you make up your mind," Susan said seriously.
When I got home, I saw Dad sitting on the sofa with a long face.
"Are you justing home? It''ste. Where have you been?" he asked, his face darkening.
"I went to ask some of my friends to help us deal with the news about the wedding," I lied.
Looking at my father''s serious face, I felt a little guilty.
Fortunately, he didn''t ask further.
He took out a bunch of papers and handed them to me. Then, he said coldly, "Sign this."
"What''s this?" I asked curiously.
"It''s a movie contract."
"Why are you suddenly asking me to sign a movie contract?"
"I have raised you for so many years, Raina. Since you''ve lost your chance to marry Charles Moore, it''s time for you to get out there and make your own money," he said tly.
I felt like I''d just been struck by lightning. I exined hurriedly, "No, I haven''t lost my chance to marry Charles. I can still make the wedding happen. I just..."
"Raina, I have given you more than enough time and countless opportunities, and you''ve exhausted everyst ounce of my patience," Dad rudely interrupted me. Then, he added, "You should be thankful I''m still helping you get a job. Sign the contract."
Staring at my father''s cold eyes, I gritted my teeth, picked up the pen, and signed the movie contract.
Charles''s POV:
After breakfast, I drove James to the kindergarten.
On the way, I asked him, "James, would you like to apany me somewhere? I will talk to your teacherter so that you''ll be excused from your sses."
"Where are we going?" James asked, looking at me curiously.
"To see Mommy," I answered with a smile.
"Really?"
James''s eyes lit up and an excited smile brightened up his face.
He agreed without hesitation and looked absolutely thrilled the entire trip.
When I pulled over at the tennis courts, James jumped out of the car.
I quickly stopped him.
"Why are you stopping me, Daddy? I want to see Mommy," James pouted.
"I have something to tell you first."
"What is it?"
James sat back in the seat, his eyes full of inquisitiveness.
"Daddy''s hand is injured. I can''t y tennis today. Can you act with meter and tell Mommy how badly I''m hurt so that she''ll worry about me?" I asked in a low voice. James thought for a while and then nodded.
"Sure. But I have one condition."
"What is it?"
I shook my head, amused by my little boy''s words.
Since when did he learn to bargain with adults?
"From now on, you must take me with you whenever you go see Mommy," James replied firmly.
"Well, that condition should have conditions of my own. You can''te with me all the time. There are some asions that I can''t take you to."
"That''s okay. Just take me when you can."
James put on a big smile, gave me a high five, and ran to the tennis courts in a sh.
Watching him race away, I couldn''t help smiling.
James was as lively and witty as Scarlett when she was a child.
"Hello, Uncle Spencer and Uncle David," James greeted David and Spencer politely.
"Really, Charles? You''re going to pursue your wife using your kid? You''re really hell-bent on this, aren''t you?" Spencer teased.
"Yes, because if I am not, I won''t stand a chance," I backfired.
David patted me on the shoulder tofort me.
"Where is Mommy, Daddy?" James looked around for Caroline.
"She''s not here yet, buddy. Why don''t I teach you how to y tennis in the meantime?"
"Okay!"
It was the first time that James tried to y tennis, so his movements were a little reluctant and awkward.
Before long, I caught a glimpse of Caroline walking toward the tennis courts.
Even through the iron wire, I still recognized her slender figure.
She was wearing casual clothes today, making her look vigorous.
I gestured to James to get ready.
He nodded and beamed, letting me know that he got my hint.
I managed to pick up the tennis racket with my left hand. Then, I began to teach James the basics of ying tennis.
James listened carefully and then
shouted excitedly, "You''re so
awesome, Daddy! Even though your right hand is injured, you can still y tennis so well with your deft hand and teach me!"
David and Spencer exchanged nces. David pinched the bridge of his nose while Spencer swallowed his lips.
"Dude, you are some," Spencer said bluntly.
"I don''t care as long as I get her attention. You two look too stiff. Loosen up!" I whined and red at the two of them.
David and Spencer simply nodded and then stepped aside.
With a satisfied smile, I continued to teach James how to y tennis while ncing at Caroline out of the corner of my eye.
As soon as she entered the courts, she saw James.
After whispering a few words to Corey, Caroline hurried over.
"Mommy!"
James immediately dropped the ball in his hand and ran toward Caroline.
I wasn''t able to stop him, so I just pped my forehead in frustration.
"Mommy, Mommy, I''ve missed you so much!" James eximed, hugged Caroline tightly, and clung to her like a baby ko.
"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked in surprise.
"Daddy is teaching me how to y
vel
tennis. Daddy is so amazing. His right hand is hurt, but he can still y with his left hand," James replied enthusiastically, held Caroline''s hand, and towed her toward me.
"Are you here to y tennis, too, Caroline?" I said by way of greeting.
"Yes, I am," Caroline responded indifferently.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.
Looking at her cold gaze, I lowered my eyes, afraid that she would see the disappointment in them.
"Mommy, Daddy''s hand hurts. Can you blow away his pain? Please?" James pleaded, raising my injured hand and showing it to his mother.
I looked at him with appreciation.
It seemed that I had made the right choice to take James here with me today.
He truly was my son.
"Your daddy can take care of his own pain, sweetie," Caroline smiled and stroked James''s hair.
"No, I can''t."
I got close to Caroline and gave her my injured hand.
"Go to the hospital and see a doctor if your hand hurts. Making me blow on it won''t fix it," Caroline snarled, her face darkening and her eyes narrowing.
"So, are you admitting now that you really are my mommy?" James asked with eyes brimming with fear and expectation.
Caroline shed him a weak smile but didn''t answer.
It broke my heart to see the disappointment in James''s face.
When Caroline was about to turn around and leave, I frowned in pain.
"I''m really hurt, Caroline. I need help."
Then, my whole body quivered, and I fell toward Caroline.
She instinctively reached out to support me.
"Your hand is injured, yet you still came here to y tennis and even tried to teach your son how to y. Are you trying to get yourself disabled?" Caroline red at me.
"Do you still care about me?" I asked and leaned on her on purpose.
A faint fragrance wafted from her body, and I greedily sniffed it.
Her scent made me think about all the wonderful memories we shared together, those I could still remember of course-the sweet hugs, the soft kisses, and all the times we made love. S
In my mind, she didn''t look icy and distant like this.
Remembering that the warm, loving woman I once had was no longer the one that was in front of me now, I felt my chest constrict.
"Mommy, don''t me Daddy. It''s my fault. I wanted to learn how to y tennis, so I pestered him to teach me," James exined.
Caroline pushed me away and told James, It''s not weekend. You''re supposed to be in school. Why are you here now? Is it just a coincidence? James and I looked at each other and were rendered speechless.
Caroline shed me an usatory stare, and all I could do was look away and try to bite down my guilt.