Raina’s hand paused mid-air.
Claire watched the desolate expression on Raina’s face, feeling instantly satisfied, yet she still acted as if she were consoling her: "The child just isn’t familiar with you. Once he’s familiar, and realizes you genuinely care for him, it’ll be better. Don’t take it personally with a child."
Raina raised her eyebrows involuntarily. Did she say anything? How did she end up being portrayed as a spiteful woman arguing with a child when she hadn’t even made a sound?
Bobby Lawrence hugged Claire even tighter, his eyes reddened: "Aunt Claire, I’m so scared, I want to go back with you, I want you to be my mommy."
"Don’t be afraid." Claire gently patted Bobby Lawrence’s head, the epitome of tender affection. She looked up at Raina: "You see, Bobby’s very attached to me. Why not let me take him back for now, and once you’ve sorted these things out, you can come pick him up. How does that sound?"
Raina squinted, watching Claire holding Bobby Lawrence there, suddenly chuckling: "What’s your problem, that you enjoy threatening people so much?"
Ignoring Raina’s sarcasm, Claire smiled lightly: "Do you agree or not?"
Raina shifted her gaze from Claire’s face to Bobby Lawrence.
Seeing him cling to Claire’s leg, that little face somewhat resembling hers showed the guardedness and rejection of a wounded little animal.
Raina suddenly felt both exhausted and distressed.
This was her eldest son whom she hadn’t seen since his birth; she owed this child a great deal.
She was willing to dedicate her life to make up for him, but leaving him with Claire was absolutely not an option.
Raina’s eyes became resolute, and just as she was about to speak, a youthful voice broke the silence.
Everyone turned to see Casper North, wearing sunglasses, striding in like a boss with Baby Hawthorne and Shea.
He stopped beside Raina, pushed the sunglasses up to his forehead, and examined Bobby Lawrence from top to bottom: "Are you my big brother?"
Frightened, Bobby Lawrence shrank back, desperately hiding behind Claire.
Casper North looked extremely disappointed. He skeptically turned to Raina: "Mommy, just this guy?"
He’d barely said a word, and already shrank like a quail? Surely his own big brother wouldn’t be so useless; how come the cunning ones seemed more like they belonged to the North Family?
Raina glared at Casper North: "Don’t talk nonsense."
"Won’t say it if you don’t want." Casper grumbled, his look reluctantly accepting but clearly not buying it. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novel~fire~net
Most indignant of all was Baby Hawthorne, his gaze sweeping over Bobby Lawrence like an X-ray.
He felt utterly broken inside and refused to accept it.
He couldn’t accept his status being replaced by this kid.
But seeing Raina’s eyes filled with guilt, he tried hard to suppress his dissatisfaction.
Baby Hawthorne’s eyes darted around, and he poked Casper North in the lower back.
Casper remembered the live stream, aided by Baby Hawthorne, with a string of zeros, immediately gestured an OK to Baby Hawthorne.
Casper North lifted his chin and asked Bobby Lawrence: "You want to go back with Aunt Claire?"
Claire said: "Bobby’s been staying with the North Family these past few days; it’s better for him to stay in a familiar environment considering he’s new here."
Casper North nodded: "Aunt Claire is thoughtful as ever. I’ll agree on behalf of my mommy."
Claire was overjoyed but tried to maintain her composure: "Casper, are you sure you can speak for what your mommy means?"
Casper North looked proud: "Of course I can; I’m the head of the house."
With those words, Casper North suddenly felt a chill down his spine, but he kept his small back straight.
Absolutely must not chicken out!