Nicole found it strange that Maya was hesitant to reply. Could it be Evan threatened Maya to follow him? Or did he carry her away while she was asleep? What if Maya became traumatized because of it?
Stroking Maya’s head tenderly, Nicole swore under her breath that she would never let Evan off in that case.
Nicole only took out her phone and saw Evan’s message after bathing the kids and putting them to bed. It was a picture of Maya enjoying the delicious cuisines that she always daydreamed of in a luxurious room at Clare’s Place.
Judging from the time that the message was received a few hours ago, Nicole realized that she must have forgotten to check her phone when she went out to search for Maya.
She approached Maya in her bed and asked gently, “Maya, I know you’re a good girl. Can you tell Mommy exactly what happened today?”
The little girl blinked as she pondered how to begin with the truth.
“Mommy won’t reprimand you as long as you tell me everything truthfully,” Nicole added patiently.
“Mommy, I went to Uncle Evan because I was curious about the delicious food you said he had. He brought me to Clare’s Place because I asked.”
“…”
Nina scolded her for being a loser while Nicole held her hand. “You can tell me if there’s anything you want to eat. Don’t simply ask anyone else for food anymore, okay?”
Maya pouted. “But he’s Daddy! He’s not anyone else.”
Nicole’s heart ached as she realized that Maya longed for Evan’s love and concern. It was normal for every kid to yearn for parental affection.
She touched Maya’s forehead and managed a bitter smile. “I’ll apologize to Uncle Evan so that he’ll play with you the next time. Is that okay, Maya?”
Maya nodded fervently. “Mommy, don’t worry. He won’t sell me to human traffickers.”
“You’re right, Maya. I was too worried just now. I know he treats you well.”
Maya beamed happily in response.
Nicole’s mind was still in a chaotic state after she successfully coaxed the two girls to sleep.
Regretting at her impulsive reaction, she walked towards the main house to offer Evan her sincerest apologies.
Evan’s slender silhouette looked particularly lonely under the shimmering moonlight in the garden.
He seemed to spend a lot of time below the rose trellis. Nicole remembered when he stood at the same spot the day he came back from the cemetery, he looked so sorrowful as if he were reliving his sad memories.
“Mr. Seet.” Nicole approached him.
Evan frowned at the voice which disrupted his thoughts.
“Mr. Seet, I’m here to…”
Not giving her the chance to finish the sentence, Evan turned his back on her and returned to his room.
Nicole’s voice faltered as she watched Evan walking away determinedly.
Can’t I get a chance to apologize?
It was totally up to him to decide whether to forgive her, but she thought that he should at least hear her out.
Dejected, she lowered her head and caught sight of a stack of paper on the stone table beside the trellis. Evan must have left it there accidentally.
Nicole picked up the stack and squinted. She couldn’t see clearly in the dark, but she could make out that they were drawings. Guessing that it might be something important that Evan didn’t want to lose, Nicole brought it to his room in hopes of apologizing to him.
Nicole knocked on the door to his bedroom several times. However, she was dismayed when the door wasn’t opened. On the contrary, the light in the room was turned off.
Does he hate me to such an extent?
