Oliver Shaw arrived in high spirits, not expecting to encounter his own son in such a modest restaurant. The smile on his face froze, and when he met his son’s gaze, his legs felt as if they were filled with lead, fixing him to the spot, standing in the middle of the restaurant, forgetting to react.
The father and son stared at each other, neither speaking, one narrowing his peach-blossom eyes, the other looking utterly shocked.
"Uncle Shaw," Mia Foster murmured instinctively, then glanced again at the booth next door.
Seraphina Shaw was still murmuring, "Mom, it’s been so long, why isn’t Dad here yet? Soon Seraphina will be full,"
"Well, just rest for a bit, and wait until Dad arrives to eat," Vanessa Armstrong gently advised. Seraphina put down her chopsticks, crossed her arms on the table, "Alright, then I’ll wait for Dad for a while."
Vanessa smiled and, while waiting for someone, glanced towards the restaurant entrance instinctively. Seeing Oliver Shaw standing in the aisle of the dining area, she raised her voice and shouted, "Honey, over here..."
Felix Shaw turned his head sharply, seeing that the person being called was indeed his father, his peach-blossom eyes narrowing as well.
What a melodrama!
Mia Foster propped up her temple, had she known, she wouldn’t have suggested coming to this family restaurant.
Vanessa, still unaware of the situation, continued to wave and shout, "Honey, over here!"
Upon hearing her mom call dad, Seraphina also stood up, tiptoeing, and waved towards Oliver Shaw, "Dad..."
"Ha!" came a cold laugh; Felix turned his gaze back, lounging lazily against the chair back, pulling at his thin lips while watching the man still standing there, wondering whether he should go over and invite this husband and father for those two women.
Seeing that it was impossible to hide any longer, Oliver Shaw stopped avoiding and pursed his lips, slowly walking over.
"Dad, why are you so late?" Seraphina pouted playfully, but Oliver’s gaze stayed locked with his son’s, standing at the booth’s entrance, not even glancing at the two women, "The two of you eat first, I have some matters to attend to."
"Dad, what matter can’t wait until after dining with Seraphina?" Seraphina complained as she was about to run out to drag him over, but Vanessa quickly stopped her. Seraphina was too young to understand, but Vanessa could see that Oliver’s relationship with the man here was not simple.
"Uncle Shaw," Mia Foster tugged at her lips to address him. "Mmm," Oliver replied blandly, still standing at the booth’s entrance, his eyes fixed on his son.
Felix remained lazily leaned back against the chair, one arm resting behind him, his curled lips blatantly mocking, "Director Shaw, didn’t you swear you have no women? Want me to call Mrs. Zachary over?"
Mia Foster hid her face in her hand, even though it was Felix’s family matter, the image-conscious woman felt as if all eyes were on them.
She lowered her voice to remind him, "Felix, this is a public place, can whatever it is wait until we’re home?"
"Shut up!" Felix barked coldly without even sparing a glance at Mia, his peach-blossom eyes turning icy, glaring at his father, clenching his jaw until marks appeared on both sides of his handsome face.
This man had sworn he wasn’t keeping a mistress, and yet here he was, not only with another woman but with an illegitimate daughter so grown, while for so many years, he and his mother had been kept in the dark.
Ha! The most ironic part was this woman even dared to call him her husband! And he seemed happy about it—no wonder his mother said he wouldn’t touch her, turns out... he found a fox spirit outside.