Chapter 3, For the Sake of Repaying a Favor?

"You actually dared to tickle me?" The small figure hid under the blanket, glaring at Charlotte Violet with a cold expression, thinking about how others had tried so hard to please him before; this woman made Gordon MacArthur feel much more comfortable.

Charlotte Violet, however, ignored him and gently pinched his cheek. "Xiao Xi, don't always look so serious. A child should be happy and joyful."

Although this child was highly intelligent, he was only a few years old, and Charlotte Violet did not want him to grow up too fast mentally.

Gordon MacArthur pouted. No one had ever spoken to him in such a tone before, and he felt a bit embarrassed. Pretending to be an adult, he commanded, "You're not allowed to leave. Watch me sleep!"

"Alright, I'll leave after you fall asleep."

Looking at the sleeping child, Charlotte Violet's eyes welled up with tears. She sniffed. After her mother's passing, it had been over a month, and she finally felt like she was living again.

No longer just going through the motions.

It was wonderful. If the future could have you by my side, nothing else mattered.

For the next half-month, life was quite peaceful. At first, Gordon MacArthur was very picky and critical of her, but seeing that she neither got angry nor upset, after a few days, he lost interest.

On the other hand, Charlotte Violet enjoyed every moment with Gordon MacArthur. She explored his temperament and character, sharing in his joys and sorrows. This long-lost sense of happiness made her extremely greedy for it.

Perhaps sensing her sincerity, Gordon MacArthur began to rely on her more and more.

She thought that this might be the bond between mother and son.

As for Ning Shao Chen, although they met every day, she deliberately avoided him, so there wasn't much interaction.

Life was much more mundane than she had imagined, but it was also very happy.

"Dad, are you saying you're taking me to Blood Island?"

Charlotte Violet had just finished tidying up and was about to check if Gordon MacArthur was asleep. As she reached the door, she heard his excited voice from inside.

This child, though only five years old, was exceptionally smart and, like his father, usually very cold. So, except for showing a bit of childishness in front of her and the servant, it was rare to see him so excited.

Ning Shao Chen bent down and patted his shoulder. "Go to sleep early. We'll leave early tomorrow morning."

As he stood up and walked to the door, he saw Charlotte Violet standing by the side. The gentleness on his face instantly disappeared, and he instructed without emotion, "Pack his things."

After taking a few steps, he paused. "You go as well, to take care of him."

"Oh!" Charlotte Violet was thrilled. She didn't care about the purpose of the trip or why she was going. She was just excited about this being their first trip together.

Watching the figure walk away, she couldn't help but jump with joy on the spot.

Then, the figure stiffened.

When he turned around, Charlotte Violet had already entered the room.

"You said it's by the sea, so should I bring a swimsuit for you?"

"And sunscreen, do we need that too?"

"Also, are you allergic to seawater?"

"Can you swim?"

"You..."

"Hey, Auntie, are you done? It's not like you're the one going on a trip. Why are you so excited?"

Gordon MacArthur interrupted Charlotte Violet, who had been talking to herself. He closed his comic book, lay down, and covered his head with the blanket.

Though he seemed annoyed, he secretly smiled under the blanket.

Hearing Gordon MacArthur call her "Auntie" again, Charlotte Violet smiled helplessly. She had asked him to call her "Aunt," but he insisted on calling her "Auntie." After a few attempts to correct him, she let it go.

"Gordon MacArthur, you'll suffocate like that." As she spoke, she pulled the blanket down from his face.

Seeing him glare at her, she pinched his cheek affectionately and said, "Don't always look so serious. Be careful, or your face will freeze like that!"

"How could that happen?"

"Why not? Look at your dad!"

At the door, Ning Shao Chen, who was about to close the door, heard this and his face darkened.

Was this something a nanny should say? And, was he really that expressionless?

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he involuntarily raised his hand to touch his cheek, his long fingers tightening.

"Turn off the light. I want to sleep."

"Will you talk to me for a while?"

"No, I won't!"

"Meanie, fine, I'll sleep then."

As footsteps approached, Ning Shao Chen stepped back, turned, and left.

It wasn't that he was magnanimous, but he knew this kid's personality. If he was willing to argue and talk to you, it meant he still cared about you.

Otherwise, getting even a word out of him would be difficult. For example, with Nicola Duncan, he wouldn't even argue. Thinking of this, he frowned...

The next morning, when Charlotte Violet saw Nicola Duncan sitting in the car, she was taken aback. So, it was a family trip, and she was the third wheel?

Oh well, in their eyes, she probably wasn't even considered a person. Who cares? With this thought, she felt at ease.

Blood Island, though the name sounded a bit eerie, was incredibly beautiful when they arrived.

Blue sea and sky, an abandoned port, and primitive fishing village structures.

After disembarking, not far away, there were remnants of ancient gun emplacements, exuding an old-world charm. Last night, she had done some research on Baidu and found out that this was a newly developed tourist attraction in C City, not yet officially open to the public.

"Are you tired?" Seeing Nicola Duncan rubbing her temples, Ning Shao Chen asked gently.

This man, who was usually cold to everyone, was tender and loving only towards this woman. Was this love? But her father had also been gentle with her mother, and yet...

Meeting her gaze, Ning Shao Chen turned around. Their eyes met.

The tenderness in his eyes was gone. Though he remained calm, his powerful presence still made Charlotte Violet tense up. She averted her gaze.

"I'll take Xiao Xi to the beach below."

With that, she turned and left without hesitation.

"Auntie, are you really not staying for my dad?"

"Gordon MacArthur, I've told you hundreds of times, stop asking, okay? Besides, he's about to get engaged to your Aunt Gao. She's pretty, kind, and good to you. Even if I had feelings for your dad, I wouldn't stand a chance, right?"

Facing the child's persistence, Charlotte Violet was truly impressed.

"White lotus, green tea b*tch... Only someone with low IQ would think she's good." Gordon MacArthur kicked the sand under his feet and muttered.

By now, Charlotte Violet was used to his shocking remarks. She tugged at her lips. "If your dad thinks she's good, that's enough."

"Him? He's not stupid, but he's single-minded about repaying a debt. How can he see who's good and who's bad?"

Repaying a debt? Charlotte Violet furrowed her brows.