Bella blinked a few times before slowly gazing at Tristan beside her, puzzled.
As if she wanted to convey through her gaze, "What the hell are you doing, Tristan Sinclair?"
When Bella saw no reaction from him, only a calm look directed at her, she was speechless. She tried to pull her hand away; however, Tristan Shameless Sinclair’s grip tightened.
’Damn you, Tristan!’ She couldn’t help but curse him.
Her eyes were shaking. She felt annoyed. But she couldn’t get angry at that moment; Dax and their elder were at the table. She endured his grip while scolding him through her gaze.
But once more, Bella felt nervous when she saw him lean closer to her.
"Please, don’t ask anything..." He whispered near her ear, causing Bella to feel goosebumps as his warm breath brushed her neck.
Their faces were so close that Lewis and the others sitting opposite them could see them intimately as if they were kissing.
Bella tilted her head slightly so she could look directly into his eyes. Her teeth clenched before she said in a low voice, "Please let go of my hand, Tristan!"
She couldn’t believe it; this man was holding her hand at a time like this when their two grandfathers were with them. What would they say if they saw it?
However, the shameless Tristan didn’t heed her request at all. Instead, he was seen putting on a miserable face, making Bella’s forehead furrow, confused by his expression.
’Why did he suddenly turn gloomy again? What is his plan again?’
Before Bella could say anything, Tristan said, "Did you know? Outside, your grandfather almost beat me. He warned me he would break my leg if I hurt you again, and he also said, for the sake of Dax, he will allow me to meet you—"
Bella was utterly shocked hearing that.
Is it true that her Grandpa did that to Tristan? She felt touched. But also worried because her Grandpa had given hope to this shameless Tristan.
"Please, Bella..." His eyes flashed sincerity and begged, causing Bella to waver once more. "Don’t ask anything of him. Just stay still. I’m worried our son will be sad if he sees our family fighting..."
Bella opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but not a single word managed to escape her throat. She knew what Tristan said was true.
She could only take a deep breath, trying to hold her frustration towards this man while making a mental note that she would talk to him later to draw a line between them.
"Alright, I will not ask him. But release your grip!" Bella insisted. Looking at her determination, Tristan smiled while slowly releasing her hand.
...
"Well... Well... Tristan, Bella..." Suddenly, Lewis Sinclair’s baritone voice echoed in the room, surprising Tristan and Bella.
They immediately sat upright, pretending nothing had happened before. Then, they are looking at Lewis.
When Lewis met with their eyes, he continued calmly, "—if you two want to make out. Do it somewhere else; there is a minor here. Please behave..."
Bella couldn’t help but scold Tristan in her mind while trying to calm her embarrassment.
"Grandpa, please don’t mind us..." Tristan calmly replied, smiling proudly. He felt in a good mood now. "—continue eating, Grandpa, you too, Grandpa Isaac." He said politely.
Bella remained silent.
’Why does this shameless Tristan sound so happy?’ She glanced at him, rendered speechless by how cheerful he was. His smile grew wider.
"Dax, do you want more cake or ice cream? I will ask someone to bring some cake for you," Tristan looked at Dax, who was still enjoying his cake.
"No, Dad. I’m full now..." Dax said, then glanced at his mother. "Mommy, can I go to my room first? I need to do something—" he didn’t finish his words, but he was sure his mother knew what he meant — he needed to check on his gaming friend.
"Alright, Mommy will accompany you." Bella immediately stood from her seat and excused herself to the two elders, now engaged in earnest conversation.
...
Soon, Bella and Dax climbed to the second floor, but they heard Tristan’s voice calling them before they arrived.
"Wait, let me lead you both... Something I need to show you." He ran to approach them.
Tristan reached out his hand to hold Dax’s hand as they continued walking toward the room he had prepared for him.
Bella didn’t say anything. She followed them from behind, curious about what Tristan wanted to show their son.
"Dax, I have a gift for you. I prepared it for our first meeting. I hope you like it," Tristan said, his eyes beaming with excitement.
"A gift..." Dax became curious about the gift his father would give him.
Tristan nodded, glancing at Bella before he opened the bedroom door.
When Bella and Dax saw the room, they were shocked and unable to utter a single word. They could only gaze in awe at the spacious room dominated by blue and red colors.
What surprised them even more was seeing various action figures of Marvel superheroes in several corners of the room.
A large glass cabinet was attached to the entire wall near the bed, displaying expensive action figures of all the Marvel characters in various sizes.
Bella couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. She couldn’t believe Tristan had decorated their son’s room like this. But even though she appreciated his effort. In just a short time, he could create this bedroom for Dax.
"Dax, do you like this room!?" Tristan asked excitedly. He knew that Dax would like the room; this is what a young boy likes nowadays.
With only twenty-four hours, he had to ask Geoffrey to prepare everything quickly. Luckily, this room was finished this morning before Bella and Dax arrived.
...
Dax didn’t answer his father, who looked beaming joyfully at him.
Instead, he looked at his mother, who was standing behind him, as if he wanted to ask his mother through his gaze, "Mommy, you didn’t tell him that I don’t like unimportant stuff like this!?"