Chapter 174
After speaking, Jayden shot a sly glance at Eliana, making it clear he wasn
for Lainey’s reply
He’d joined handwriting classes because Eliana once said, “Handwriting says a lot about a person.” “Now that I’ve improved, even if she praise me openly, she ought to give me a lobster as a reward, right?‘ he thought.
He’d even held his plate out expectantly
“Jayden?” Lainny saw him clutching his plate like a beggar and touched his forehead. “Lasked how much allowance you wanted. What’s with the theatrics?
“Ugh, it doesn’t matter,” Jayden huffed. Money wasn’t his goal.
Lainey could only chalk it up to him being odd.
Noticing Anthony stealing multiple looks at Eliana, Alice sneered silently, thinking, “Pathetic. Even if he wants to mimic Theodore and Jayden, he can’t pull it oft
“Burp.” Isaac flopped back in his chair, patting his bulging belly. “Ellie, I’m stuffed.”
Worried he’d overeaten, Eliana said, “I’ll make you lemon water later to help digest before bed.”
Theodore and Jayden shared a silent, sour look–jealousy stinging like citrus.
Alice piped up. “You baby your brother so much. Do you bathe him too?”
Hearing the mockery, Eliana snapped, “Isaac isn’t incapable. He can manage on his own.”
Alice sized up Isaac. “He seems simple to me. I thought he’d fall apart without you.”
Isaac suddenly stared at Alice.
Just as she thought this dimwit might be crushing on her, he blurted, “Ellie, is she that bad woman who had a scandal with Theodore?”
Alice’s face darkened. “Who are you calling a bad woman?”
Isaac said guilelessly. “Not you, the one Theodore carried out of the engagement party.”
yone thought, “But that was her
Everyone
Alice couldn’t tell if Isaac was truly simple–minded or playing coy. He’d just insulted her in a roundabout way, and she couldn’t admit the truth without confirming she was the “bad woman” he meant.
Eliana smiled at Isaac. “Come on, let’s head up.”
“Okay.” Issac immediately trailed after her like a puppy, following her upstairs.
Theodore thought, ‘Did she forget exist?”
Jayden hopped off his chair and dashed to his room.
In the guest room, Eliana said, “Isaac, you’ll stay here tonight, all right?”
As always, Isaac agreed without hesitation,
“Watch some TV while I make your lemorywater.”
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Chapter 174
Eliana frowned. “Kaac, why are you so quiet all of a sudden?”
He dropped his para. “Ellie, des everyone here dislike me?”
She paused, forcing smile. “What makes you say that?”
“The way they look at me, like I’m a fool. Maybe you should take me back. i don’t want them looking down on your ber innocent, his tone was dead serious
“Don’t be ridiculous, it make your lemon water first
“How could I send him back her he defended me so bravely? I’ll just have to cheer him up later, she thought.
In the kitchenette, Eliana was slicing lemons when a figure brushed past her from behind
In the guest room, baac hugged his knees, lost in thought, when a pile of toys tumbled down from above.
Jayden shock out his arm. “Wanna play with Transformers?”
Seeing the boy who’d sat beside him at dinner–staring at him with the same strange look–Isaac lowered his head again
Getting no response, Jayden tried again. “Not into that? How about a remote–controlled plane? Robots? Aveo game?”
Hearing Eliana’s footsteps nearing the guest re
He needed an excuse to stay.
room, Jayden blurted in a panic, “Hey, I brought all these toys. You have to like something
But it was too late. Eliana walked in. “Jayden, what are you doing here?”
He turned, improvising quickly. “Nothing much. Thought might be bored, so I came to share my toys”
Puffing out his chest, he added, “If Isaac wants, I can stay and teach him how to play”
Isaac deadpanned. “Don’t want to.”
‘Senously, Isaac, throw me a bone here!” Jayden thought
“Is that so? Well, thanks for offering” Eliana surprisingly agreed.
If Isaac thinks everyone dislikes him, maybe Jayden can change his mindset,’ she thought
When Theodore returned from a lonely garden walk, he found Eliana and Isaac hunched over a video game.
To make matters worse, Jayden was wedged between them, shouting “Attack! Attack!” and “Go for the kill! Go!” to them.
Theodore narrowed his eyes and slipped inside.
Mid–coaching, Jayden yelped as his butt tung/“Ouch! Why’d you kick me?”
“Sorry, you’re so short, I didn’t see you,” Theodore smiled tightly, pointing to the couch. “Sit over there”
“Sorry, but they need me right now,” Jayden inched closer to Eliana, milking his kid status.
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Chapter 174
“Is this brat using his age to cozy up to my wife? Theodose thought.
His expression hardened. He wanted to toys, Jayden out on his ent
But Jayden grabbed Eliana’s alm, yelling. “Eliana, your husband’s trying to hit me!”
Eliana looked up. “Theodore?”
Gritting his teeth to keep from prying Jayden’s hands off her, Theodore asked, “Why is he here?”
“asked him to stay and play with isaac.”
- Eliana beamed, extending an invitation. “Want to join us?”
Theodore fell silent
After a long silence, Jayden snickered. “Old fogey probably hasn’t touched a game console in his life.”
Theodore drawled, “Unlike some people, I don’t slack off all day”
Jayden shot back, “Some people can’teinbrace new things. Total dinosaurs.”
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