Charles’s POV:
“James, go play with your mother.” After my mother left, i put James down. James ran toward Scarlett.
“Have you had dinner?” I turned around and headed to the kitchen.
“Charles, don’t...” Scarlett suddenly stopped me. Confused, i turned around and saw her striding
toward me. She walked in a hurry. When I abruptly turned around to face her, she took a step back.
Noticing that James was following his mother closely, I grabbed Scarlett and pulled her into my arms. I
looked down and saw Scarlett glaring at me.
“Let go of me, Charles!”
“James is behind you. I was just worried that you would knock him down because you didn’t see him,” I
explained earnestly The expression on Scarlett‘s face told me that she couldn‘t wait to break free from
my grip, and it broke my heart.
Scarlett turned around and saw James standing behind her. She cooled down at once. Seeing that we
were hugging each other, James naughtily stuck out his tongue at me. Scarlett shook off my hand. It
wasn’t easy for me anymore to hold my own wife, and when I did, she wouldn‘t allow me much time to
enjoy the feeling. I reluctantly let her go.
“Daddy, you hugged Mommy!” James pointed out happily while covering his mouth and snickering. I
put on a weak smile, turned around, and proceeded to the kitchen.
“I don‘t need you to cook for us, Charles,” Scarlett said flatly.
“I want to cook for my children,” I snapped. I could understand why Scarlett was keeping her guard up
around me, but she didn’t need to be hostile. It was starting to annoy me. I just wanted to be a good
father to my sons. Why was she trying to stop me? Scarlett was rendered speechless. I entered the
kitchen and started preparing dinner for my kids.
Scarlett’s POV:
At dinner time, I sat at the table with James in my arms and asked Janet to go upstairs to invite Alice to
dinner.
“Mrs. Moore has left,” Janet reported. I just nodded and said nothing.
At this time, Charles came out of the kitchen with a dish and was about to sit opposite me.
“You can leave now. There’s no need for us to have dinner together,” I said and frowned.
“Can’t I have dinner with my children? Seriously, Scarlett. Just let me spend some more time with them.
They‘re my kids, too,” Charles replied, pulled out a chair, and sat down. His tone was full of impatience.
“Charles, we have an agreement. You‘re only allowed to visit the kids once a week. You’ve already
come to see them twice in three days,” I retorted and glared at Charles, dissatisfied that he didn’t keep
his end of the bargain.
“Yes, I’ve come here twice in three days, but those three days are right in the middle of two separate
weeks, so I’m not violating anything.” Charles reasoned and put on a smug smile. He was obviously
pretty pleased with himself that he found a technicality that he could milk. I rolled my eyes, mostly
because he was right. I found myself out of ways to drive him away. them Seeing that I didn‘t say
anything more, Charles grinned. “James, how‘s the food Daddy made for you? Is it good?”
James held his bowl happily and replied, “it‘s so yummy, Daddy!” Smiling, Charles stroked James‘s
head and filled his bowl with more soup. Seeing that James was enjoying spending time with his father,
I kept silent. I just hoped that Charles would leave as soon as dinner was over. However, Charles didn‘t
leave at once after dinner. Instead, he held James in his arms and refused to go.
“Scarlett, I want to sleep beside James tonight.” James chimed in, “I want to sleep with Mommy and
Daddy!” Hearing James‘s request, I didn‘t know what to say. Allowing Charles to stay overnight here?
No way!
“James, you have to ask for Mommy‘s permission first. Only when Mommy agrees can Daddy stay with
you,” Charles said and rubbed James‘s little head.
"Mommy, can I sleep with you and Daddy tonight?” James asked expectantly. James‘s question made
me feel backed in a corner. I swallowed, and I felt my palms tingle. I felt like weeping, but no tears
came out
“Scarlett, can James sleep with his Mommy and Daddy tonight?” Charles rephrased James‘s question
and looked at me with a smile. I kept my mouth shut, fearing that I would start screaming at Charles if I
tried speaking. Reading my silence correctly, Charles finally quit pestering me. “You know what, buddy,
we can bunk together tonight since we‘re gentlemen. Mommy is a lady. She’ll sleep in her own bed,”
Charles told James while staring at me with affectionate eyes. He seemed to tell me with his eyes that
we could all have a family sleepover party next time.
I felt relieved. Charles took James upstairs to get him ready for bed. I went upstairs after cleaning up in
the dining room and in the kitchen. As I walked to the babies‘ room, I overheard Charles telling stories
to James.
Charles spoke in a low, gentle, and patient voice. Standing at the door, I thought of the past and
suddenly felt a little sad. Charles and I couldn‘t get back together anymore. Then, Charles suddenly
came out. Seeing me standing outside the door, he smiled and asked, “Scarlett? What are you doing?
Are you waiting for me?” His voice snapped me back to my senses. I glared at him and said crossly,
“I‘m waiting for you to leave.”
Charles seemed to have expected that. He nodded and closed the door gently.
“Well...” I pressed when Charles didn’t make a move to leave. “I also want to see the twins. I haven’t
seen them today. Are they in the master bedroom? I‘ll get going after I see them.”
Seeing that I didn’t say anything, Charles turned around and was about to go to the master bedroom.
“Charles!” I hurriedly stopped him. I didn’t want him to enter my room. “Scarlett, just canceled an
important appointment and rushed here to stop my mother from taking the kids away. Can’t I just see
them? I’m their father after all,” Charles scowled.
“You promised me that you wouldn’t come here without my permission!” Charles stopped and kept
silent for a long time. Just when I thought he was going to make a run for the master bedroom, he
suddenly turned around and went downstairs. Seeing him finally leaving, I felt like a weight had been
lifted off my chest. I followed him downstairs because I was afraid that he would suddenly come up with
a new set of excuses to stay.
“Can I spend more time with the kids next week?” Charles asked when we arrived at the door.
“Whatever,” I groaned. I just wanted him to leave as soon as possible, so I agreed without hesitation.
“You have to keep your word,” Charles pressed, looked at me, and beamed.
“Just go already, Charles. It‘s late,” I whined and started practically shoving him out the door.
“Okay, okay,” Charles muttered but still didn‘t move.
“Why are you still here?” I glared at him impatiently.
“I want to watch you close the door.” I cursed him in my heart and quickly shut the door. . But Charles
suddenly put his hand against it. Through the narrow crack, I saw his eyes that said more than all the
words we had said to each other tonight.
“Good night, Scarlett,” Charles said in a tender voice. I shut the door in his face without saying
anything. Sitting at the same table as Charles tonight, I didn‘t eat much. Now that he finally left, I could
go find something to eat.
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