Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Watching Jake being led by Theodore to say those strange things, Eliana felt extremely annoyed. Jake might take it seriously and keep chasing her to meet Theodore. That wouldn’t be good. She quickly held out her hand and said, “Give Jake back to me now!”
Theodore deliberately leaned to one side, avoiding her hand. “Can’t you see? He likes me.”
Eliana stomped her foot in anger. Precisely because Jake liked Theodore so much, this was a problem.
The children here were all somewhat different from ordinary kids, and every teacher had to put in great effort to communicate with them. If Theodore didn’t have the awareness to often come and accompany Jake, he’d better not provoke him.
Yet Jake stared at Theodore with the focus of a little fool, as if he wanted to engrave the face of “his father” before him deep in his heart.
When Theodore didn’t smile, he looked extremely fierce. Eliana really couldn’t understand why Jake liked him.
While Eliana was wondering, she saw Theodore slightly twitch the corner of his mouth, forcing a smile that could barely be called one.
Jake immediately shouted “Daddy” happily and rested his chubby little face on Theodore’s shoulder.
When Jake’s soft baby hair brushed against Theodore’s neck, Theodore suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction, and even the pent–up frustration from the whole day dissipated a lot. He even had the thought that having a child with Eliana might not be a bad idea.
Just then, Daria walked over and said, “Ellie, why don’t you two stay for lunch?”
“Sure,” Eliana replied. Bringing Theodore here today was like introducing him to her family, so she naturally wouldn’t refuse. “I will help cook.”
Daria asked, “What about Mr. Russell?”
Eliana looked back at Theodore and said to them with a hint of helplessness, “He can’t cook, so don’t expect him to be of any help.”
Theodore felt slightly unhappy.
Daria whispered, “But he’s really popular with kids. Don’t you think a man who can take care of children is charming?”
Another female teacher chimed in, “Yeah, I bet if Mr. Russell walked down the street holding a child, a bunch of women would fantasize about being the
mother of his child.”
“Don’t be absurd,” Eliana said. Perhaps because she had seen him at his most downcast, even though she knew he was handsome and popular, she still
felt a bit unimpressed.
Everyone said in unison, “You two should have a child quickly–don’t waste such good genes. The child better has his nose and your eyes…”
By the time they walked into the kitchen, the female teachers had already pieced together the facial features of their future child like a jigsaw puzzle. Eliana smiled helplessly.
But they were tirelessly engaged, either vying to be the child’s godmother or wanting to arrange a marriage between their own children and this hypothetical child.
Finally, one teacher said, “How could our child possibly marry into the famous Russell family?” Hearing this, all the teachers felt a bit downcast.
Just then, Bernice’s voice came from the kitchen door. “Are you pressuring Ellie to have a child?”
Everyone looked over and saw Bernice’s face was slightly cold. Although they didn’t understand why, they tactfully said, “No, we were just giving
suggestions.”
Bernice nodded, walked over to Eliana, and said, “Ellie, listen to me–t there’s no need to rush this.”
1/3
Chapter 99.
Bernice nearly fainted. “Your father is as unreliable as ever.”
“Bernie, listen to me,” Eliana said softly, kneeling beside her. “I’m doing fine now. See, I’ve gained weight, right? The Russell family eats well Arn the are so many servants, I don’t have to do any chores. I’ve never been this relaxed in my life.”
Seeing Eliana still hiding her pain, Bernice wanted to scold her but finally stroked her thin face. “Were you angry with me for how I acted yesterday
Eliana quickly shook her head. “I know you were too upset to face me. I could never be angry at you no matter what.”
After calming Bernice down, Eliana exited the office and looked around but didn’t see Theodore. She asked a nearby teacher, “Where is he?”
“He’s in your old room,” the teachers said.
Eliana rushed nervously toward her old room.
The door was open, so she immediately saw Theodore. “What are you doing here?”
Theodore squinted. He thought, ‘Can’t I visit her room?‘
The teachers were afraid that she’d misunderstand, so they said, “Ellie, don’t worry, we brought him here to look around.”
Eliana blurted out, “Don’t tell me you rummaged through my closet.”
Though she asked, her eyes stayed fixed on Theodore, making it clear who she was wary of.
One teacher said, “It’s locked, and you always keep the key to yourself.”
“Right, I have the key.” Eliana was too flustered to remember.
“Alright, that’s enough,” Theodore said gravely, striding past Eliana and out the door.
He looked angry, but after upsetting Bernice and entering her room without permission, Eliana didn’t think he had the right.
Sensing the awkward tension, the teachers gathered around. “Ellie, did we upset you by bringing him here?”
“It’s fine.” They didn’t know the truth and had naturally treated him as family.
Eliana was angry because this room hid a secret even she didn’t want to uncover.
Just then, Theodore, walking quickly out, accidentally collided with a boy who had his head down. He caught the boy swiftly and asked, “Are you okay?”
Eliana, exiting the room at the same moment, saw this and rushed over. “Jake, are you all right?”
The boy, Jake Dennis, looked up from Theodore’s arms. His bright eyes lit up at the sight of Eliana. Then he said slowly, “M–mommy.”
Theodore turned in surprise to Eliana, waiting for an explanation.
Jake was a mute boy abandoned here.
Eliana used to visit often and try to teach him to speak. Over the years, he’d learned simple words, and the best he said were “daddy” and “mommy.”
Children always showed their truest desires, Jake simply wanted parents who would love him.
After hearing Eliana’s explanation from the corner, Theodore turned back, picked up Jake, and said, “Call me daddy.”
3.40 པས་་
Chapter 99
Eliana’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?“
Chapter 100
Watching Jake being led by Theodore to say those strange things, Eliana felt extremely annoyed. Jake might take it seriously and keep chasing har to meet Theodore. That wouldn’t be good. She quickly held out her hand and said, “Give Jake back to me now!”
Theodore deliberately leaned to one side, avoiding her hand. “Can’t you
see? He likes me.”
Eliana stomped her foot in anger. Precisely because Jake liked Theodore
50
much, this was a problem.
The children here were all somewhat different from ordinary kids, and every teacher had to put in great effort to communicate with them. If Theodore didn’t have the awareness to often come and accompany Jake, he’d better not provoke him.
Yet Jake stared at Theodore with the focus of a little fool, as if he wanted
the face of “his father” before him deep in his heart.
When Theodore didn’t smile, he looked extremely fierce. Eliana really couldn’t understand why Jake liked him.
While Eliana was wondering, she saw Theodore slightly twitch the corner of his
Jake immediately shouted “Daddy” happily and rested his chubby little face on
forcing a smile that could barely be called one.
shoulder.
When Jake’s soft baby hair brushed against Theodore’s neck, Theodore suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction, and even the pent–up frustration from the whole day dissipated a lot. He even had the thought that having a child with Eliana might not be a bad idea.
Just then, Daria walked over and said, “Ellie, why don’t you two stay for lunch?”
“Sure,” Eliana replied. Bringing Theodore here today was like introducing him to her family, so she naturally wouldn’t refuse. “I will help cook.”
Daria asked, “What about Mr. Russell?”
Eliana looked back at Theodore and said to them with a hint of helplessness, “He can’t cook, so don’t expect him to be of any help.”
Theodore felt slightly unhappy.
Daria whispered, “But he’s really popular with kids. Don’t you think a man who can take care of children is charming?”
Another female teacher chimed in, “Yeah, I bet if Mr. Russell walked down the street holding a child, a bunch of women would fantasize about being the mother of his child.”
“Don’t be absurd,” Eliana said. Perhaps because she had seen him at his most downcast, even though she knew he was handsome and popular, she still felt a bit unimpressed.
Everyone said in unison, “You two should have a child quickly–don’t waste such good genes. The child better has his nose and your eyes…”
By the time they walked into the kitchen, the female teachers had already pieced together the facial features of their future child like a jigsaw puzzle. Eliana smiled helplessly.
But they were tirelessly engaged, either vying to be the child’s godmother or wanting to arrange a marriage between their own children and this hypothetical child.
Finally, one teacher said, “How could our child possibly marry into the famous Russell family?” Hearing this, all the teachers felt a bit downcast.
Just then, Bernice’s voice came from the kitchen door. “Are you pressuring Ellie to have a child?”
Everyone looked over and saw Bernice’s face was slightly cold. Although they didn’t understand why, they tactfully said, “No, we were just giving suggestions.”
Bernice nodded, walked over to Eliana, and said, “Ellie, listen to me—there’s no need to rush this.”
Chapter 100
If Eliana had a child, it would be even harder for her to leave him.:
Eliana nodded while washing vegetables.
After the meal was prepared, Eliana walked out of the kitchen to call Theodore and the children for lunch, only to see an unexpected scene.
Several children had surrounded Theodore. Jake was in his arms, one child was lying on his back, and two more were hugging his calves and climbing
- up.
At that moment, Theodore looked like a great lion covered in small animals, afraid to move his paws for fear of accidentally swatting them. And on his usually composed face, there was a trace of awkwardness.
Eliana couldn’t help but snicker.
Suddenly, a little girl sneezed, spraying snot onto Theodore’s expensive suit pants. He just rubbed her little head and didn’t say anything.
He didn’t seem to hate children. So the only explanation for him asking her to take birth control pills before was that he just didn’t want to have children with her.
This thought made Eliana’s smile gradually fade. She said, “Lunch is ready.”
Theodore looked at her and said urgently, “Give me a hand.”
Eliana walked over, picked up the little boy who was almost asleep on his back, and took the hand of the little girl who was rubbing her nose. “Didn’t you say they like you?” she said. “What’s wrong–can’t refuse their enthusiasm?”
Seeing how skillful she was, Theodore couldn’t help but ask, “Do you often come here to help?”
Eliana nodded and said, “Charity work is never easy. Is this your first time experiencing this?”
Theodore nodded. In the past, he had always sent his secretary to handle charity events, and the secretary would at most write a check and attend a ribbon–cutting ceremony, nothing more.
In the semi–large dining hall, there were two tables of food–one for adults and one for children.
When adults gathered, the older children would take care of the younger ones, creating a harmonious and loving atmosphere.
Theodore had thought that since Eliana had lived here for three years as a child, she must have endured a lot of hardship. But after seeing how this place operated, he felt she was happy here.
At least she could show her true emotions in front of these people, unlike when facing her biological mother, where she was constantly suppressed.
On the way back to Russell Manor, Theodore suddenly heard her softly say thank you.
He was just starting to feel happy when he turned his head and saw her take off her wedding ring and hold it out to him. “Now t said, “I’ll return this to its owner.”
e act is over,” she
Theodore stared fixedly at the wedding ring she was holding out, then suddenly rolled down her car window and said coldly, “If you don’t want this ring, just throw it out.”
The howling north wind mixed with snow and ice messed up Eliana’s hair. She felt slightly uncomfortable and said, “Mr. Russell, we agreed before–today was just an act.”
བ་
Chapter 100
Theodore’s voice was a bit hoarse. “Yes, so I’m giving you the right to dispose of it as wish.”
you
“Can you not be unreasonable?” She thought it was completely irrational for him to want to throw away such a valuable thing.
Theodore said, “The one being unreasonable has always been you.”
After a moment of silence, he gritted his teeth and said, “Eliana, you’ve been spoiled by me.”
She had been spoiled by him, which was why she could recklessly trample on his feelings like this.
Seeing the frown on his face, Eliana felt they couldn’t continue this conversation.
AD
But it was too late. Encouraged by Theodore’s gaze, Jake happily said, “D–Daddy.”
