Chapter 36
Ashley searched through a drawer and found a prepaid card, a gift from the hospital she had forgotten about. Casually placing it on the desk, she remarked, “There’s 600 dollars loaded on this card, with an overdraft limit of 400 dollars. This should cover your snack expenses, Mr. Anderson.*
Indicating her intention to change and depart, she raised an eyebrow at Eric, silently signaling for him to leave.
Eric was incensed—it was a rejection he was unaccustomed to. While many women had expressed their desire to have dinner with him, he rarely extended invitations himself. Eyeing the card on the desk, he abruptly left. He didn’t need it at all.
The secretary, positioned by the door, was shocked to witness his boss storm off in a fit of anger, a reaction usually provoked by Alice.
“Hold on, Sir.”
As the secretary was about to follow, he heard a boy’s voice behind him. Turning back, he smiled and inquired what was a
was amiss.
“Mr. Anderson left something behind, Ryan said, offering the prepaid card to the
secretary.
The secretary was taken aback. It was unexpected for Eric to possess such an item. In his view, even if it was a gift for Alice, it shouldn’t have been a card. Evidently. Eric’s ire stemmed from Alice returning the card after rejecting it.
“Sir?” Ryan prompted.
Coming back to reality, the bewildered secretary gazed at Eric’s departing figure and reluctantly accepted the card.
In the doctor’s office, Chloe sat on the sofa, shaking her legs merrily, her checks flushed with cuteness. She held a fondness for Eric. It was endearing how he knew about her liking for pink bunny toys and favorite snacks. Despite her mother’s disapproval of Eric’s dinner invitation, Chloe remained steadfast in supporting her mother’s decisions.
“What’s on your mind?” Ashley inquired as she changed her clothes.
“Mr. Anderson Chloe blurted out, then quickly covered her mouth, her eyes widening as if she had revealed a secret.
Pausing in her dressing, Ashley glanced toward the mirror. Although Chloe and Ryan were aware of their father, they hadn’t lived with an adult man before. Doubt crept in as Ashley wondered if she was making the right decision. Could she offer all the love they needed, or did they crave a
presence as well!
father’s
Chloe was
was taken aback by her unintentional disclosure. Watching her mother’s abrupt halt, she felt a pang won’t talk about him anymore”
OF
Fregret. “Mom, are you
feeling upset? I
Turning around,
- Ashley smiled reassuringly. “I’m not upset,
curious why you
like Mr. Anderson so much. Don’t you like Mr. Jordan?”
Attempting to steer the conversation, Ashley wanted to delve into Chloe’s emotions. If Chloe truly desired a father, perhaps it was worth considering. After all, all she wanted was for her children to be happy
“I just feel drawn to him. It’s different from my liking for Mr. Jordan, but I like them both, Chloe stated firmly
