Bella was shocked by his response. She slightly tightened her grip on their linked hands.
"But Mommy, that’s was just my opinion. I will never force you to follow my choice to reunite with Dad. It’s your happiness that matters more to me. So please, don’t decide anything just because of me. Just follow your heart. I’m just a kid.
Kids are tough and easily adaptable human beings, Mommy."
She was speechless when she heard her four-year-old son speak like Aunty Noora. He sounded mature, and she felt embarrassed because his words were correct.
"You are such a wise and genius kid, Dax. Thank you, baby... for sharing with mom what’s in your heart and mind," said Bella. She smiled as she slowly placed her hand on his chubby cheek. "I am very grateful to have a wise, intelligent, mature son like you... I feel like I don’t want or need anyone else in the world but you.
Only you, my son..."
"Mom, I’ll always be by your side and protect you. Whatever you choose, I promise I won’t go mad or go anywhere far," Dax said in a sincere and meaningful tone. But Bella, who had heard it, was amused.
She held her laugh, looking at how adorable her son’s expression now was.
"Really? Oh, thank you, baby…I will keep and remember your promise, darling."
Dax smiles at her and says, "My mother is the best woman...I will protect Mom forever."
Bella’s eyes became blurry when she heard his sentence. Blissfully, she pulled him into her arms.
A few moments later, after they hugged silently, Bella finally let go of her hug. Her smile was still there, framing her beautiful face. Unfortunately, her smile slowly faded when she heard Dax’s following words.
"Mom, so who do you choose? Dad or Uncle Sean?"
Bella, "...."
She couldn’t answer her son’s questions. She could only hug him tightly until he asked to let go.
After dinner, the family day is finally over. Bella excused herself to return to her house.
Tristan’s expression slowly turned sad when he realized they were finally going home. A day with Bella and Dax was not enough for him, and he wished they would be reunited soon.
"I hope you and Dax sleep over here..." He said while walking to Bella’s house and carrying Dax in his arms — he slept again.
Bella quickly glanced at him and sighed deeply upon hearing his words.
She tried to avoid Tristan’s words, concerned that he might bring up a topic she was not ready to discuss. She had more important things to think about than discussing his desire for them to reunite as a married couple.
***
The next day.
After news of S Jewelry’s lawsuit against Laura Kiels spread across online media and television, Laura could no longer go out in public places without disguising herself.
Just like today, Laura Kiels left her house wearing a wig and oversized sunglasses to hide her face.
She even used her manager’s personal car to leave her apartment because journalists and paparazzi had been camping in front of her apartment building since yesterday.
Laura received a stern warning from the apartment management due to the disturbance caused by the paparazzi and journalists. The presence of these intruders made it difficult for the guards to maintain security and disrupted the comfort of other residents.
Several journalists even attempted to enter the restricted area by pretending to be residents, further aggravating the situation.
After being pressured by the apartment management, she was forced to either give a statement to the media or temporarily leave her house until the journalists were no longer camped outside.
Laura had no other choice but to leave her apartment temporarily until everything calmed down—she couldn’t meet with the media now.
She decides to go somewhere unknown to avoid journalists. However, she got Jessica Sinclair to agree to meet her in a private restaurant before that.
It was difficult for Laura to ask Jessica Sinclair to spare time to meet her. The socialite woman seemed to have drastically changed her attitude lately. She didn’t know why Jessica had become unusually distant, but she would find out later.
Laura arrived ten minutes early at the restaurant and waited anxiously in the reserved VIP room. She kept her sunglasses, even though the waiter who took her order had left and she was alone in the room.
She was busy observing the room, concerned that a hidden camera or CCTV might be in the room that would record her meeting with Jessica. After convincing herself that nothing was suspicious in the room, she felt relieved and sat calmly. But still too uncomfortable to take off her sunglasses.
Her eyes kept staring at the door. A few minutes later, she heard a knock on the door.
"Yes, come in, please…" Laura said, trying to use her low tone to hide her actual voice.
When the door opened, she saw the waiter return with her order, a cup of warm camomile tea, to calm her nerves.
Several minutes passed, and her anxiety continued to increase. But Jessica still hadn’t shown up.
Laura checked her watch several times to confirm the time of their meeting. She started to worry when she saw that Jessica was five minutes late.
This was strange because the old socialite woman was never late every time they met.
Countless unpleasant question now fills her mind.
’Did she abandon me here? Why hasn’t she come yet?’ Laura felt nervous. She was afraid Jessica would still avoid meeting her.
Now, she was confused about whether to call Jessica again or wait as she glanced at her cell phone on the table.
When Laura decided to call Jessica’s cell phone, the door opened, and Jessica finally appeared. With a happy smile, she stood up and approached Jessica.
"Auntie Jessica, you finally—" Laura’s voice suddenly stopped when a powerful slap landed on her cheek. She was shocked, looking at Jessica, who was looking mad at her. "W-Why are you..."
"How dare you!" Jessica hissed at Laura, who stared back teary-eyed.
"Why did you slap me, Aunty...?"
Plak!
Another powerful slap silent, Laura.