Monique forced a reply. “Daddy… Daddy had to leave because of an emergency. Let’s head home, shall we?”Angel pouted. “How are we going home?”Monique said with a lowered voice, “How about we walk home?”Angel sniffed and stared at Monique with widened eyes. There were still tear droplets on her thick, long lashes. “Mommy, did you and Daddy fight?”Monique was stunned. She was totally being bullied by him and had no chance to fight back at all. She took in a deep breath and shook her head while she wiped away Angel’s tears. “No, we didn’t. Why would we fight? Daddy even bought mommy new clothes today.”Monique pointed at her clothing and felt a sense of guilt creeping in. She had been feeling the same guilt since she agreed to be Henry’s lover.She had to console herself that Angel was very attached to Henry because she had just gotten a father figure in her life. She would grow out of it after some time.Also, she would spend less time with Henry after going to kindergarten.S
Monique dialed the only number she could remember, which was Henry’s. After the call went through, it only rang twice before she got cut off.She called him again and the same thing happened.Monique frowned. ‘Henry Moore, you bastard! Pick up the phone!’He must be doing this deliberately.How could he do this after confiscating her bag and phone? Oh… he did give her a new phone but she left it in the car. Anyway, it was Henry’s fault that she had gotten into such a mess.‘Hmph, this weasel!’‘Bastard!’No matter how much Monique swore internally, she still could not get through to him. In the end, it seemed like he blocked the number as her call went straight into voicemail.Angel was worried when she saw Monique frown. “What is it? Daddy didn’t pick up the phone?” Monique nodded helplessly. “Yeah, he didn’t.”Miss Sophia saw the deep frown on Monique’s face and asked, “Angel’s mom, is there a problem?”“Mommy forgot to bring her purse and phone out. We can’t go home,” Ange
“One… two… three… The big bad wolf is coming after you!” Monique made a funny face. Angel ran out happily when she saw Monique’s expression. “You can’t catch me! I’m the best…”Monique turned around to look at Miss Sophia who had just entered her office. She planned to pay her gratitude one day. Then, she left and ran after Angel.Miss Sophia walked out of her office with the cash on hand, but Monique was nowhere to be found. She walked to the main entrance but there were no signs of both of them. She let out a sigh and walked back.There were still a bunch of kids waiting in the classroom. She could not just leave them alone and chase after them. She wondered how they would find a way to go home.Angel ran for a moment before feeling exhausted and famished. She pouted. “Mommy, I’m hungry.”Monique was not that hungry as she had eaten so much food in the afternoon. However, she had walked all the way from Star River Residence to the kindergarten and ran after Angel for quite a dis
Monique’s retaliation probably triggered Henry’s desire to conquer her.If she stopped being so reserved and turned into a gold-digging whore, he might lose interest in her soon.She would give everything for the sake of her daughter. Her biggest fear was that Angel would not be willing to leave Henry.At that moment, she decided that she would give up fighting and surrender fully.Angel woke up from hunger. She opened her eyes in a daze and saw her mother crying beside her. She called out concernedly, “Mommy, what happened?”Monique quickly wiped her tears away, but her eyes were red and puffy. “Nothing, the dust got into my eyes.”Angel was fully awake and stared at her with eyes wide opened as though she could see through her soul. She used her tiny hands to wipe the tears from Monique’s face. “Did Daddy bully you, Mommy?”Monique’s eyes flickered. “No, he didn’t. Mommy’s just hungry.”Angel knew that her mom rarely cried, probably Monique had never shed any tears in front o
Monique was slightly stunned. She then gently wiped away Angel’s tears with her slender fingers and called out weakly, “Angel…”Mommy did not have a choice in this.Henry just saw her as his lover and debtor. To him, she was disposable and insignificant. She had no power to fight back. Monique’s inferiority complex worsened her anxiety. Henry abandoning her in the afternoon left a tear in her heart.Looking at Angel’s tearful face, Monique’s tears started to fall once more—huge droplets landed on Angel’s hand.“Mommy, don’t cry. Angel will follow Mommy.” Angel wiped off her tears with her tiny hands repeatedly while she stared at Monique, trying to hide away her tears.She did not want to upset her mother. If she was suffering, Angel was willing to leave with her.Monique looked at Angel tenderly and hugged her with one hand, while she wiped her tears away with the other hand. She raised her head to stare at the ceiling and held her tears back.Both Angel and her needed to be st
Anxiety was building in his chest as Henry approached the car. He opened the car door to find Monique’s new phone on the car seat. The old phone and handbag had been stowed away in the storage compartment.Henry went around the car to access the compartment. The old phone and handbag were untouched. Did the woman run away?The memory of Simon Leeds waiting for Monique’s return to the city entered his mind and evoked unpleasant feelings.He made a call to Mrs. Lawson.Mrs. Lawson was downstairs waiting for Monique. She could sense the woman was in a bad mood.In the morning, Monique had left the house with the young master. Why was she back without him? Judging from her exhaustion, the woman must have made the journey back on foot.As Mrs. Lawson was debating whether to bring the food she prepared upstairs, the phone rang.The first question she heard was “Has Monique returned?”There was a note of restraint in the man’s voice.“She has. She brought Angel upstairs for a nap,” M
Mandy explained, “There were some complications at work so he might not be coming back tonight.”“Where’s Miss Xander?” Mandy’s eyes roamed around the house, trying to spot the woman.Mrs. Lawson glanced at the staircase leading upstairs. Monique was likely still resting. “Miss Xander is resting upstairs. I’ll pass it to her tomorrow.”“Alright. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. There’s more to do at the office,” Mandy said with a smile.“Remind the Young Master to rest when he has to! Drive safe!” Mrs. Lawson called out.Chairman Moore was a headstrong man who listened to no one, let alone his secretary. “Bye, Mrs. Lawson!”Mrs. Lawson wondered why Monique left her handbag and phone in the office. Was that why she walked home? She had so many questions, yet so little answers.She placed the items aside. Some moments later, Monique came down with Angel in her arms.“Mrs. Lawson, I’m hungry.” Angel pouted at the older woman, puppy dog eyes at maximum level.Mrs. Laws
Monique did not want Mrs. Lawson to worry. Hence, she brushed off the walk home as if it had not been an arduous journey.This considerate side of her was what attracted people.Mrs. Lawson’s heart ached for the woman but all she said was, “Go on then. Freshen up and go to bed early. Angel has school tomorrow.”“Alright.” The mother and daughter left the dining table and made their way upstairs. After their nightly routine, Monique did some light reading with Angel before putting her to bed.Once Angel was asleep, Monique studied the new phone. She had wanted to text with her old phone but thought twice, knowing it would irritate the man. She was asking something from him after all.Although Henry had promised she could work in the company, he did not mention when she was to report to work, who she was reporting to, and what she would be doing.She had followed him to the office in the morning in hopes to get more details but was dragged out for a shopping trip instead. Then…Mo