Chapter 10

After a moment of awkward silence, Stella hurried over to hug Miles and attempted to convince him, saying, "Miles, think about it: If Mommy marries into a wealthy family, you'll be a high-born! Not only can you stay in a big house, but you'll have a lot of toys, too."

"I'm not a three-year-old anymore. I don't need a big house nor a lot of toys." Miles wiggled his way out of Stella's arms before moving the chair across Catelyn, gesturing her to come with a flattering expression on his soft, round face. "Sit here, Big Kitty, I want a hug."

"Tsk! This little troublemaker is so hard to impress. Don't forget that I'm the one who kept you company when it was thundering a few days ago when your mom was away on a business trip!" Stella pretended to be offended.

Catelyn bent down to hold Miles and rubbed her cheek against his. Miles had always been afraid of thunder and would always need someone with him to calm down when the sky rumbled.

"Were you scared that night during the thunderstorm?"

An awkward yet slightly frustrated expression appeared on his face. He would not fear any longer once he grew up, so he replied smugly, "Soon, I'll be a man!"

Catelyn rubbed his hair. "Of course, it's only a matter of time. Come eat, and once you're done, Mommy will bathe you."

"Remember to send me off to school tomorrow, or I'm going to be mad."

Miles wanted to be with his mother every hour of the day, but with him going to school and her working, they shared less and less time together.

"Don't worry, I'll try my best to fulfill my promise. Let's go shopping for some clothes tomorrow as well. Since you've started school, you ought to dress better."

Miles lifted his chin smugly. "My presence is what makes the clothes better."

Catelyn could not help but laugh.

"This kid really is nothing like his dad."

The sudden remarks jogged Catelyn's memories about Jamie. Despite not seeing him for four years, Jamie's playboy mannerism had caused him to appear in entertainment magazines every once in a while, with gossip between him and different actresses.

Recently, Catelyn even heard that he was getting close with a certain lady from the Atherton family.

Catelyn chuckled but did not say anything in response.

When Stella saw Catelyn's expression, she realized she had misspoken. "Buy me something when the two of you go shopping for clothes tomorrow. I need to go play poker, and those friends of mine said that I look too old-school. They don't know that I used to be Missus Clark who can get whatever she wants, and they should consider it an honor that I'm even playing with them!"

Stella was not Catelyn's mother; she was, in fact, the second wife Ezekiel had married. She could not get used to the change after the Clark family declared bankruptcy, so she helped Catelyn take care of the child and go out shopping, or even play poker when she had the time.

Catelyn could empathize. After all, Stella had enjoyed her life for so many years. It would have been unreasonable to ask that she start over again.

…

The next day, Catelyn informed Anne ahead of time and got off work to take Miles shopping, and the two went straight to a shopping mall with a grand interior. The lights were blinding with countless things for the eyes to feast upon.

When a set of racing car models caught Miles's attention, Catelyn bought it without hesitation. She had not been able to give her son a complete family, so she could only make up for it with all her love.

The saleswoman in the mall was enslaved by how adorable Miles was and gave him a pair of free sunglasses.

Miles was wearing his denim jacket, and under the light, the denim and sunglasses created a brilliant contrast. With his chubby cheeks and silky, white skin, he appeared even more adorable.

The mother-and-son pair walked hand in hand and were instantly the center of attention inside the mall.