When his dad didn't say anything, Boswell continued, "I think you should experience the happiness of sleeping in your kid's room. Alright! I'll let you sleep in my room for tonight! You sleep there, and we will sleep with Mommy!"
Raising his eyebrows, Matthew asked, "And why would I want to do that?"
Boswell looked back at his mother, who was half lying on the bed, listening to their conversation. He replied, "Mom needs to be taken care of during this time of the month, and we do that all the time."
Matthew hung his coat on the hanger, walked up to the kid and patted his head. "You only need to take good care of yourselves from now on. Your mother has me to take care of her. Go back to your room and sleep." He grinned at his sons. These fellows wanted his wife all to themselves and were trying to drive him out.
Boswell was still unconvinced. He tried everything to fight for the opportunity to take care of his mother. He argued, "Mom is completely spoiled by us! She will be super irritable for the next few days and she will need brown sugar water. Dad, you have a bad temper! So, you can't take care of Mom. Let us do it instead!"
Erica almost burst out laughing. She was spoiled by them? She finally spoke. "Boswell, don't make Dad sleep alone. We can all sleep here."
However, to her surprise, Boswell refused decisively. Pouting his lips, he protested, "Dad will cheat! Last time, he secretly slept next to you after moving us to the other side while we were asleep. He held you all night and slept nicely. It's not fair!"
His father was always good to them, except when it came to his wife. He acted like a kid himself and often competed with them for her attention. 'Dad has his own mom! Why won't he go and sleep with her?' the boy thought to himself.
Taking a reproachful glance at his second son, Matthew walked over to him and picked him up. He threatened in a serious tone, "Do you have any evidence to prove that? If you don't, then I will sue you for slander. After that, you will be taken away by the police and will be forced to pay compensation."
Boswell was not frightened. "You know we were all asleep and don't have any evidence! That's why you are so arrogant," he pouted angrily.
'Aren't you a smart one?' Matthew was amused. 'He is my son, after all.' Still, he pretended to be serious and said, "Remember to collect evidence before you question me next time. Without evidence, it's just slandering. 'Slan-der-ing.' Do you understand what that means? Let me tell you how serious an offense that is. Depending on the case, you could be sentenced to less than three years in prison or detention, and could be placed under public surveillance, while being deprived of political rights. Do you understand now? So, think twice before you speak next time. If you end up spouting something at the wrong place and at the wrong time, what kind of consequences will you bring upon yourself?"
Stunned, Erica scolded, "Matthew! You can't be serious! The child is only three years old. What does he know about all these?" 'Is this man really his father? Why is he frightening his own kid?' she pondered.
Matthew thought otherwise. "Do you really think that our kids are as innocent as other three-year-old kids?"
"Well, that..." Erica stammered. As their mother, she knew better than anyone else that her sons were much smarter than peers of their age.
Sometimes, she felt like they were smarter than her.
"We have to teach them all this while they are still young. Habits—good or bad—are developed from childhood," said Matthew. Leaning his head
Leaning his head against his mother's belly, Colman looked at his father excitedly. "Dad, you're so cool!"
Matthew arched his brow in surprise. 'What's so cool about this?' "Don't try to flatter me," he said to his little boy.
Sitting up straight, Colman retorted seriously, "I'm not flattering you; I'm serious! Do you think we'll be as cool and handsome as you when we grow up?"
This time, Matthew couldn't keep his calm. He was thrilled deep inside. After all, he just received a sincere praise from his son. He smiled and sat on the edge of the bed with Boswell in his arms.
Instantly, Boswell slipped out and climbed into Erica's arms. Matthew didn't mind and continued to chat with Colman. "Tell me, why do you want to be like me?"
Unexpectedly, the little guy became shy. He lowered his head and whispered, "Hmm...I can only marry once in my life, and I want a beautiful wife. If I don't look handsome, I won't get the most beautiful girl in the world!"
Matthew was dumbfounded and Erica laughed out loud.
She patted Colman's little butt and said, "You are only three! Why do you want a wife already? You are nothing like your father! I wonder whom you take after!"
His butt didn't hurt at all. After thinking, Colman answered, "Probably Uncle Sheffield!" After all, it was his uncle who had told him this.
Erica rolled her eyes.
"I don't think you take after your uncle Sheffield; you are just influenced by his stupidity," Matthew commented. He was going to have a word with Sheffield when he was free. He couldn't let his idiot brother-in-law instill such thoughts in his son's mind.
Just then, Damian pushed the door open and walked in, followed by Adkins, who had a tray in his hands. Behind him were two anxious maids.
Under Damian's intense gaze, Adkins came to the bedside with the tray. With a gentle smile on his face, he said, "Mom, I brought you the brown sugar water."
Matthew picked up the glass from the tray and looked at the two maids reproachfully.
He didn't say anything, but one of the maids was frightened and immediately explained, "Mr. Huo, we wanted to help Adkins, but he—"
Adkins looked at Matthew and explained unhurriedly, "Dad, don't scold them! I insisted on bringing the water for Mom."
Matthew checked the temperature of the water. It was still a little hot, so he placed it on the bedside table. Then he told Adkins, "You are still young, Adkins. What if you trip and fall? Next time, don't do such dangerous things."
Damian interrupted, "Dad, don't worry! We always make the brown sugar water for Mom. We can do it."
Matthew was slightly stunned upon hearing that. He touched Damian's head and said, "If you burn your little hands, my wife will be very upset." And in turn, he would be sad too— for his wife and his child.
The kids blinked. Normally, Matthew should have answered, "If you burn your little hands, I will be very upset." But instead, he had said, "If you burn your little hands, my wife will be very upset."
Erica was amused by the five of them and laughed. "Well, well, my dear babies. I was okay with you making this brown sugar water for me because my room was close to the kitchen in Tow Village. But it's different now. You need to climb the stairs to the third floor. It's too dangerous. Dad and Mom are worried about you. So, let the maids do it next time, okay?"
The four boys nodded at the same time and answered in one voice, "Okay, Mom!"
Matthew sighed. When he said something, the children would argue with him. However, no one refuted Erica's words. They were so obedient. Was that the difference between being a father and a mother?
That night, since the children insisted, the family of six slept together in the same bed.