Maya sighed. She didn’t miss her teacher at all because the latter had called her parents over after Maya gave her a nickname.
It’s been a while since I went to school. I wonder if she has forgotten all about the nickname? Will she demand to see Mommy and Daddy again?
John sent everyone to the airport in time, but Nicole suddenly complained about having an upset stomach.
“John, I don’t think I can hold it in or take this flight. Take the kids back without me. I’ll take the next flight home.”
“I…” said John in a troubled tone.
“Go on. I will call Mr. Seet and tell him about it.”
The quadruplets looked suspiciously at Nicole. They were certain that their mommy was only faking the stomachache because she didn’t want to leave their daddy alone. Why else would she suddenly have stomach pain when she was all healthy and lively a second ago?
It must be fake.
My gosh, can you at least act a little better? All you are doing is putting your hand on your tummy and delivering the dialogue in such an amateur manner. Your eyes are practically smirking!
You’re insulting our intelligence!
Maya held Nicole’s hand and reminded the latter to go to the doctor’s and drink more warm water.
Maya’s sweet gesture touched Nicole’s heart, making the latter reluctant to let go of her daughter’s chubby little hand.
That fake act, despite the genuine feelings, got Nina impatient. The girl pouted and pointed out, “Alright, come on now. Mommy’s stomachache will magically disappear when she sees Daddy anyway, so stop worrying for no reason. Let’s go.”
Nicole was speechless.
Must Nina be so forthright? Can’t she at least pretend and say a few words of consolation like Maya did?
After the kids got onto the plane with John, Nicole happily got a cab and returned to the hotel.
She strategized and concluded that she could not let Evan see her there. If he did, he would lose his temper and yell at her; he might even take her to the airport again.
It’s definitely better to follow him in the dark. I’ll only show myself when the time is right.
Having made the decision, Nicole asked the hotel receptionist to give her the room opposite Evan’s. This way she could observe his actions through the peephole.
Evan and Stephen finally finished discussing the matter. The two of them were bonding well; they both thought that they could be friends.
“Youngsters nowadays are really getting better at this. I’m too old,” commented Stephen with a sigh.
“You’re too kind. Your unique ideas and invaluable experience are something that people my age cannot compete against.”
“You’re very humble, Mr. Seet. I am happy that Nicole found a man like you. I pray that you will continue giving her a happy life.”
“Don’t worry. I will.”
Stephen nodded satisfactorily.
Levant would not have done what he did if he were just as humble and honorable as Evan.
One would wonder how Levant, as the boy Stephen had adopted and raised for twenty years, would react to seeing Stephen again.
“I’ll have Jeremy set everything up. We have to strike as soon as possible.”
“Okay, let’s ambush Levant before his hold on the dukedom becomes tighter.”
Jeremy rushed to prepare everything as instructed by Evan.
That night.
Evan and Stephen left the hotel in the middle of the night while everyone was asleep.
Curious, Nicole tailed the two.
At the estate.
Portia was furious when she learned about Stephen being kicked out of the estate.
“How could he? How could he?”
“Calm down, Ma’am. You can’t get too emotional. Your body is still recovering and you have to be careful with your health.”
Portia coughed and swept the medication on the table onto the floor.
“Go get Levant over. I want to talk to him. Did a demon take his conscience away? How could he do something so vile? Get him over right away!”
The maids didn’t dare to defy Portia upon seeing how angry she was. They quickly went to call Levant over.
Levant leisurely put down his document, stood up, and followed the maids to Portia’s room.
“Mom, how are you feeling?”
The second Levant walked in, he put a faint smile on his face.
As far as Levant was concerned, Portia was nothing like Stephen. Stephen wanted to pass his title to Nicole, but Portia had always wanted Levant to be the next duke.
Daphne once posed a threat to Levant’s claim to the title, but even then, Portia never did or said anything about stopping Levant from inheriting the dukedom.
Additionally, Portia was the one who brought Levant to the estate in the first place, so he respected her as his biological mother.
