Mum, what's wrong?

Kon and Osy returned home later than he had earlier deduced. He never intended to get it on with Osy during the meeting.

"What's wrong? Do you want me to carry you in?" Osy arched his brows. He pursed his lips and looked like he was trying to keep himself from smiling when it was what he wanted to do.

"I hate you." Kon gritted his teeth. "Do you have to be a beast all the time?" He narrowed his eyes at him.

"Must you be cute all the time?" Osy folded his arms and arched his brows.

Kon didn't reply. Instead, he got down from the car and headed into the house.

"Mom!" Toto rushed out of the house and embraced a stunned Kon.

"Were you waiting for my return?" He chuckled as he caressed her hair.

"You said you would take me out to get ice cream!" She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at her father. "Do you think I've forgotten?" She pouted.

"No, I dare not think that way." He chuckled. "Don't worry, I will take you out—"

"We are going now. I've written my assignments. And I helped Aunt Melina prepare dinner. I've been a good girl the entire day. Don't you think you need to reward me?" She smiled cutely.

Osy smirked as he watched Kon racking his brain.

"You don't have to take her if you don't want to. Scorpion can do that." He nodded towards Scorpion, who was standing next to the door.

"Dad!" She narrowed her eyes at her father. "I hate you!" She folded her arms.

"It's mutual." Osy shrugged. "You are a grown-up. You don't have to act like a kid all the damned time."

"Dad!"

"Osy!"

Both Kon and Toto gasped at his words.

"She's still a kid." Kon scowled at Osy. "Don't you dare say she's not a kid any more. She's my baby. And I'm taking her out to get her ice cream."

"Suit yourself." Osy walked towards the door. "Drive them there, and keep them safe," he instructed Scorpion before he walked into the house.

"Yes, sir." Scorpion bowed even with Osy halfway across the house. He turned to face Kon and Toto. "Where do you want to go?"

"To her favourite spot." Kon grinned. "It's time to eat some ice cream."

"Yay!" Toto hugged Kon and mistakenly hit his butt.

Kon sucked in a breath.

"What's wrong?" She immediately let him go.

"Nothing." He forced a smile. "Let's go before night falls." He took her hand in his and slowly walked down the few stairs to get to the car.

"Why are you walking slowly?" She furrowed her brows at him. "Are you not feeling well?"

It's your damned father!

Kon wanted to yell. But instead of doing that, he forced a grin.

"I'm okay. It's just that I sat for a long time; that's why my legs are feeling cramped." He lied through his teeth, with a neutral expression on his face.

"Oh." She nodded. "It has happened to me before. There was a time I sat for an hour in class and ended up having leg cramps.

"My teacher asked me to stretch my legs and jump a bit, and it helped! You can try it out. It will help!"

"I will put that into consideration." He nodded. "Thank you, Toto. You are the best." He smiled at her.

"I'm glad to help." Toto jumped, bouncing her ponytail.

Scorpion watched them with a smirk. Unlike an ignorant Toto, he had an inkling of what was wrong with Kon.

He politely opened the car door. And when they entered, he closed the door behind him. He walked over to his side and entered.

"Mom, I'm getting three bowls of different flavours!" Toto bounced on her seat.

"Are you going to finish all of them?" Kon raised a doubting brow.

"Of course!" She sat on his legs, causing him to grimace once more.

"I'm sorry!" She immediately got down from his thighs.

"It's okay." He helped her put on her seatbelt. "By tomorrow, I will be okay."

And that's if Osy doesn't decide he wants to go at it all night.

"Hmm." Toto nodded.

Scorpion watched them with a smile. It was fun watching Kon and Toto interact most of the time.

"Mom, what were you and Dad doing on the day we went to the mall?" Toto perked up as if she just remembered something vital.

"Something." Kon turned his gaze to the window to hide the red blush from Toto.

Without further questioning, he already knew what Toto was asking about.

"Something?" Toto frowned. "Uncle Scorpion said you were doing adult stuff that children shouldn't know."

At her words, Kon whipped his face towards Scorpion, who immediately turned to the road.

"Don't mind him, darling." Kon caressed Toto's hair. "I was only helping your father scratch his itch." Kon grinned.

"Scratch his itch? Is Daddy sick?" she innocently asked, with large eyes.

"You can say that." He tried so much not to blush, but his cheeks gave him away.

"Are you okay? Your cheeks are red, Mummy." She pointed out.

"I think I need to rest." Kon relaxed on the seat.

"Oh." She nodded. "I'm sorry that you had to take me out to get ice cream." She looked a bit guilty.

"It's okay; it's my choice." He caressed her hair. "I'm glad to take you anywhere you want to go."

"That's why I love my Mummy!" Toto grinned. "Aunt Melina is never this kind to me."

Kon nodded but didn't say a word. Unlike Toto, who thought they would be together forever, he knew it wouldn't be long until he got separated from her.

He was only waiting for a full year to pass before he left. By then, all his debts must have been paid off.

All he had to do was leave the country entirely and seek refuge in a country which was far from the devil, where he wouldn't be found.