Samuel wore a brown-colored heart-shaped neckline sweater, a white shirt inside, a pair of pants, and
white-colored shoes. He stood upright, red lips and white teeth, delicate cheeks, high nose bridge, and
curly black hair.
He patted his sister’s head, "Simona, have you been listening to mommy?"
Simona nodded vigorously, adoring his brother. They were both a few minutes’ difference, but Samuel
was way more mature and understanding.
Simona still looked like a little girl next door, naive and cute.
Dolores had already brought dinner to the table, "Alright, wash your hands and eat."
Sampson came over, reaching out for Simona but was stopped by Dolores, "Sampson, you go eat. I’ll
wash their hands."
"Let me help you." Sampson did not distance himself with Dolores despite having that discussion just
now.
"Dr. Herbert, let Lola do it. You should sit down." Jessica said politely.
Sampson had no choice but to settle down at the table, whereas Jessica took a bottle of wine and sat
down at the table.
She took a glance on the toilet to make sure Dolores wasn’t eavesdropping and said to Sampson,
"After all these years, thank you."
She poured a glass for Sampson and for herself. Foreign wine wasn’t that spicy compared to white
wine, so she finished her whole glass of wine in on gulp. "I do hope she can be with you, but you know
Lola. She’s as stubborn as a mule, plus, she has to take care of her two kids now. You’re not young
anymore, Sampson. If you met the perfect one, just go."
"Auntie, if you can, please help me persuade her." Sampson was staring at his glass of wine, not
touching it yet.
How would Jessica have not persuaded yet?
She was always grateful for Sampson, always helping Dolores at the most difficult time, taking care of
her.
It was fair to say, without Sampson, there will be no Dolores.
Jessica was grateful and satisfied with Sampson.
But Dolores refused, what can she do anyway?
Jessica smiled bitterly, "I’ve already persuaded her, but she won’t listen."
She understood her daughter’s intention anyway. She had given birth to two kids, after all. Sampson
had a good family and a lovely face, but he didn’t mind her at all.
But her daughter minded.
She knew how important one’s innocence was to a husband.
Sampson took the glass of wine, and finished it in one gulp, then putting down the glass heavily, "I
won’t give up."
He was going to wait until she accepted him.
"Why are you doing this, she’s not worth your time——"
Dolores came out with Simona hugging her hand, while Samuel in another.
Jessica changed the topic, reached out her hand for Simona, "Come let granny hug."
"I want mommy." Simona wrapped around Dolores’s neck tightly, she was closer with her mother.
Dolores was always busy; she had not much time to take care of her daughter. How would she let go of
this opportunity having dinner while hugging her mother?
Jessica pretended to be unhappy and said, "Look at your brother."
Samuel climbed up the chair himself to eat. Hearing that Jessica talked about him, he looked up to his
sister and said, "She’s still young."
"…"
Jessica thought, ‘You’re just a few minutes older, though."
His man-child alike appearance made everyone laughed.
Dolores hugged Simona and sat.
After dinner, Sampson had to leave. Jessica took over Simona who was still at Dolores’s arm, and said,
"Go see Dr. Herbert off, will you."
Dolores graciously stood up and said, "Sampson, I’ll walk you out."
Even if she didn’t accept his feelings, she was still grateful for Sampson.
Over the years, he really helped a lot.
"Okay." Sampson smiled.
Two of them walked out of the house one after the other; Dolores was behind to close the door.
"Have you ever thought of going back?" Sampson asked tentatively.
Dolores shook her head, "Nope."
What came out of her was genuine; she felt that her life was miles better.
Sampson lowered his head, "I won’t be able to visit for these few days."
He had work to take care of, plus, he had to go back to the country later, having not enough time.
"You do you, we’re fine here." She could go to work while Jessica took care of the kids at home.
"Alright." He reached out to Dolores’s shoulder and rested his hands there, and licked his lips, "Just
now your mom told me something."
Dolores glanced at his hands that were on her shoulder, "What did my mom say?"
"She told me to give you up, probably thinks that I’m too old, fearing that I’ll be lonely for the rest of my
life," Sampson said gleefully.
Dolores laughed, "Yea, you’re old. Get married soon, will you."
Sampson stared at her, "Can’t we really have a chance?"
Dolores’s smile froze; she knew Sampson was good.
Not that she had forgotten about it, but it was her promise for Mrs. Herbert.
"You deserve better…"
"But in my eyes, you’re the best." Sampson stopped walking, holding her shoulder tighter together,
facing her, "I like you, not just as siblings, but as man and woman."
Dolores didn’t know what to reply.
"I…"
"Shush." His body came closer, feeling his warm breath at this distance, she froze entirely.
Dolores was also an adult; she knew what Sampson was doing.
Just when lips were about to meet each other, Dolores turned over his face, planting a kiss on her
cheeks. He wasn’t mad, though, "Alright, let’s try if you’re allergic to this first, next time we’ll try lips."
Dolores, "…"
"Sampson——" She wanted to explain they really weren’t possible.
"We’re not related." Sampson interrupted, he wasn’t young, and he really didn’t want to wait.
Dolores lowered his head, "I have work tomorrow, I’m going back."
"Okay."
She went back to her house and saw Jessica busy cleaning the kitchen. Jessica knew it was Dolores
and said, "The kids aren’t letting me bathe them, you got time?"
"Yea, I’ll do it." She went into the bathroom to prepare hot water for the kids.
Simona pointed at the pink bottle of body wash, "Mommy, I want to shower."
She stood in the bathtub naked, splashing the water around.
Dolores pointed at her, "Stop moving or you’ll get no shampoo."
Simona pouted, looking unhappy.
Samuel was fine; she needed not much attention for him. Compared to Simona, Dolores’s clothes were
all soaked, no thanks to bathing her.
She held her with a towel to the bed, gave her a pair of pink-colored elephant pajamas, and put them
on her.
Simona started jumping on the bed.
Samuel couldn’t stand it and said lowly, "Quiet, please."
His words were more compelling than his mother’s, as Simona crawled towards him, with her soft
voice, "Brother."
Dolores could only sigh lightly, looking at them, Simona only listens to her brother.
"Samuel, take care of your sister, I’m gonna go bath."
"Okay, don’t worry, mommy." Samuel patted his chest, assuring her, "I’ll take care of my sister."
Dolores scratched her hair, took her clothes, and went to bath.
After bathing, she told them bedtime stories to put them to bed.
During the morning, Dolores was about to go to work after breakfast, Samuel came and said, "Mommy,
can I follow you to work?"
"Huh?"
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