Ch. 1041..1045

Chapter 1041 The study was filled with Flint's cheerful chuckles. Sylvia instinctively turned to Odell.

He was still seated at his desk, but his posture had changed. He rested his elbow against the table with his chin propped against his palm. He seemed very relaxed and was looking at Sylvia with a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Sylvia did not know how long he had been staring at her. He must have seen what Flint did.

She felt her cheeks flush red and blurted out, “Why are you staring at me? Aren't you supposed to be working?” “| don't know,” Odell said, “I just felt like staring at you.”

Sylvia was silent.

Was he trying to flirt with her?

Her cheeks were seared with red as she gazed into his dashing face.

She took Flint and turned to leave.

“I'll stop pestering you so you can get back to it.”

She paddled toward the door with Flint.

However, Flint did not seem very cooperative and suddenly shouted, “Dad, Daddy... Sylvia ignored his pleas and continued walking out. Flint was very stubborn. “Uhh... Daddy, Daddy...” It sounded like he was on the verge of crying.

It was as if Sylvia was a cruel witch who tried to separate him from his father.

Sylvia quickly stopped.

Odell was still seated in the same casual way and smiling at her.

Sylvia turned to look at him.

Flint was unrelenting. “Daddy, Daddy...”

Sylvia immediately approached Odell and shoved Flint into his arms before turning to leave. Suddenly, she felt a hand grabbing her wrist.

She wanted to draw her wrist back. However, she immediately sensed Odell tightening his grip on her. She was flung backward in an instant and landed on Odell‘s arm.

Meanwhile , Flint was happily crawling on top of Odell‘s desk as he finally got what he wanted.

Sylvia‘s face was red with embarrassment. “What are you doing? Put me down.” Odell would not let her go. He gazed into her eyes alluringly. “Where are you going?” pointedly, “Flint is on the table. Let me go.”

She shot a look at Flint.

He was pretty much sitting on top of the keyboard of Odell‘s laptop and seemed to find it quite amusing. He slammed his hands on the keyboard. Odell had caught him by his calf.

That way, there was no chance of him falling.

Sylvia was very vexed. “You... don't you have to work?” Odell observed her frantic expression. “It's nothing urgent.” “Okay.” Sylvie and looked at Flint to avoid having to look at Odell.

“Just stay with me here for a while, okay?” Odell requested suddenly.

Sylvia was startled by this request and immediately turned to him.

There was a tender and expectant look in his eyes. Something suddenly occurred to Sylvia, “You... Won't | get in the way of your work like this?” “Please do.”

Sylvia was speechless. When did he learn to talk like this?

She avoided his gaze again and blurted out, “Well, | guess I'll keep you company since you want it so much. | don't have anything to do anyway.”

She slowly rose as she said this.

That was when he suddenly grabbed her by her chin and made her turn to him. In an instant, his face was only inches away from hers and was still drawing in closer.

She felt his lips pressing against hers. Her eyes widened in shock.

He kissed her with his eyes closed , gently brushing her cheeks with the tips of his defined eyebrows. After a long kiss, he finally opened his eyes.

Sylvia raised a hand and shoved him away. He smiled and let go of her.

Chapter 1042

“Play with Flint over there. I'll be right with you,” he let go of her as he said this.

Sylvia pulled herself to her feet.

Meanwhile, Flint was sitting on top of the table and facing them, staring at them curiously with those large eyes of his. He just saw them kiss!

Sylvia‘s cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she immediately took Flint into her arms.

Odell had a Satisfied grin on and watched as Sylvia sat on the couch with Flint in her arms. Only then was he finally willing to go back to his work.

There were countless undecipherable words typed out on the computer. It was Flint's handiwork. He patiently erased everything before going back to his original documents. The window of the study was open, allowing a cool breeze of air to pour in from the outside.

The day may be tranquil but the study was not. It was filled with the constant thumping, tapping, and various noises produced by Flint rummaging around.

Sylvia had done all she could to minimize the

trouble the boy caused. Flint even managed to kick an expensive teapot that belonged to Odell off

the table while Sylvia was not looking Sylvia was distraught

by this and quickly pulled Flint into her arms so he would not be cut by shards of ceramic. She nervously turned to Odell.

Odell‘'s eyes were fixed on the computer screen. He was very serious and was intently at work. How was he not bothered by all these noises? She was relieved and turned back to Flint.’

The boy was completely oblivious to the trouble he had caused and was grinning ear to ear. Sylvia was at a loss. She would hav e punished him if not for him being only nine months old and none the wiser.

It was an expensive teapot. If memory served her correctly, Odell had been using this particular teapot since the day she married into the family the first time.

He must have really liked it to not have changed it after all these years. She wondered how he would react when he saw that the

damage could not be salvaged.

She sighed and stood up with Flint in her arms. She had to look for something to clean up the fragments. Before she even lifted her feet off the ground, Odell addressed her from across the room, “Don't touch it. I'll Sylvia was taken aback by this and turned back to him.

He was already on the phone. The call was answered very quickly and he immediately gave the orders, “Sebastian, send someone into my study to clean something up.”

After that, he hung up and approached Sylvia.

Sylvia seemed aggrieved and immediately apologized without needing to be prompted to,

“Odell, it was my fault for breaking the teapot. | should've kept an eye on Flint.”

Odell patted her head. “It's just a teapot, no big deal.”

Sylvia observed his forgiving expression and did not know how to react.

It was hard to believe the stark transformation he had taken six years ago.

She wondered what happened in these six years to prompt such a dramatic turn in his personality. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Odell glanced at the door and said, “Come in.”

A housemaid entered with a broom and dustpan.

Odell took Sylvia‘s hand. “Come here, watch your steps.”

Sylvia followed him to his desk.

He moved another chair and put it next to his desk. “Give me just a moment.”

He sat back behind the desk and wore the same solemn, studious expression he had whenever he was working. Sylvia sat down with Flint in her arms.

Flint had not learned his lesson and tried to clamber onto the table again. Sylvia yanked him back into her lap. Flint still did not get the message and continued his struggle to wriggle himself free while mumbling,“ Mommy, Mommy.” It seemed like he was trying to persuade her to let him climb on top of the table.

Sylvia refused to yield and continued holding onto him tightly.

Eventually, he fell asleep in her arms.

At last, silence.

The only sound emitted within the room was the clicking of Odell's fingers against the keyboard.

Chapter 1043

The fine weather in addition to the hypnotic rhythm of Odell’s typing made Sylvia fall asleep as well. Before she realized it, she h ad drifted off to sleep.

After some time passed , Odell wrapped up his tasks and closed the laptop. He looked at the pair of mother and son who were both sleeping next to him and smiled lovingly. It was a heartwarming sight.

He carefully took Flint from Sylvia's arms and took him to the bedroom. After that, he returned to the study and carried Sylvia in his arms.

“Mommy, Mmmy.” Sylvia was woken up by a toddler's babble. She opened her eyes to see Flint lying next to her and snuggling against her body. Odell

was next to her as well. He was lying on his side with his head resting atop one hand. His gaze seemed to penetrate through her. She quickly sprung up from the bed. It was her bedroom, the same bed that she usually slept

1. in. The only ones in the room were her, Odell, and Flint. The two of them were in pajamas. She could tell that they slept together. She expressed with a frown, “Who let you sleep here?”

He smirked. “You did.” “When did I say you could sleep here?” He said without the slightest twitch of expression, “You fell asleep in my study last night. When | carried you back here

and put you on the bed, you held me and refused to let go. You told me to spend the night with

you.” Sylvia looked at him, utterly baffled. “Why can't | remember any of that?” “Because you fell asleep immediately after that.”

Sylvia was speechless.

Before she could raise another point, Odell touched her head. “It's getting late. Go get something to eat. I'll take Flint downstairs first.

With that, he picked up Flint and got out of bed.

There was not much Sylvia could do other than abide by Odell's instructions and scramble off to the shower.

It was Monday.

Odell went to work after breakfast.

Isabel and Liam went to school.

Sylvia stayed home with Flint as usual.

Sylvia took him to Madam Carter's room and spent the morning there with him. After lunch, Flint began to get sleepy. Sylvia wanted to take a nap with him but found that she could not fall asleep.

After tossing and turning for a long time, she got out of bed and had Aunt Tonya watch over Flint. Then, she went to her studio on the third floor.

The door was closed but not locked. She opened the door and stepped inside.

The room looked the same as she remembered it the last time she came here, only most of her tools were put back into their drawers.

After pacing back and forth across the room a few times, she set up a drawing board and sat in front of it.

The sunlight was ample today. The floor-to-ceiling window stood in front of her, offering a clear view outside.

She looked outside and saw the scorching sun hang in the sky above, rays of warm sunlight basking over her.

She took a deep breath and picked up a brush. With each stroke, she added color to the blank—white drawing board. She painted the pale blue sky, lush green leaves, and the flowers that exuded a fine splash of yellow and orange. The sky above dazzled with hope for the new day.

She completed most of the painting in one sitting as she was very inspired today.

After finishing the painting, she sat back and observed her work with pride. She stretched lazily after that.

That was when she noticed a silhouette from the corner of her eyes.

She turned around hastily and saw Odell standing only two meters away.

He was leaning against the wall with his arms folded in front of him and watching her paint. There was a shiny gleam in his eyes. He was enchanted.

 

Chapter 1044

Sylvia asked without thinking, “Odell, when did you get back?”

Odell stared at her contemplatively.

He flashed a brief smile and told her, “For quite some time.”

He drew close to her as he said this. He brushed a small patch of paint off the tip of her nose and asked her, “Are you finished?” Sylvia nodded. “It's a great painting,” he complimented.

Sylvia smiled with reservation. “It's alright.”

It did turn out better than she was expecting, but it was still missing something she could not quite put her finger on. “No need to be humble, it's wonderful work.” As he spoke, he raised his hand and patted her head again.

It was significantly better than the work she had put out during the event hosted by Master Springsteen the last time. It seemed to him that she was getting back to form.

Sylvia whimpered, “I know that, but I'm not trying to be humble.”

It was a great work of art and she knew it, but it did not change the fact that it lacked something to make it complete. Odell smiled. “Anyway, dinner is ready. The kids are waiting for us downstairs. Let's go down to eat.” “Okay.”

After dinner, Sylvia played with the children for a while before returning to her studio again. She had to find out what the painting was missing.

She stared ponderously at the painting for nearly two hours and yet she failed to identify anything wrong with it. She left after filling in the colors. :

It was very late by this point and most of the people in the house had gone to sleep. It was as quiet as a grave. There was no noise coming out of the children’s room either. When she passed by Liam and Isabel's room, she went inside to take a look.

Both children were sleeping in their beds.

She went inside and gently kissed their cheeks before leaving and heading back to her bedroom.

Upon pushing the door open, she saw two figures on the bed. Odell's figure leaned gracefully against the head of the bed. He wore navy blue pajamas and held a book in his hand. Flint lay beside him and was soundly asleep.

She was surprised by this sight.

Was he not planning to head back to the guest room to sleep? Odell turned to see who had entered. Upon noting that it was Sylvia , a smile greeted the corners of his lips as he informed her, “Flint needed someone to watch over him to fall asleep so | figured I'd watch over him.”

Sylvia swallowed the urge to say whatever she was going to say.

He added, “It's getting late. Go wash up and come to bed.”

With that, he diverted his attention back to his book.

It did not appear that he was going to leave anytime soon.

Sylvia made a dry cough.

Odell looked at her.

,‘I'm here,” she announced.

Odell looked puzzled. “I know, what's wrong?” Sylvia

had trouble putting it out bluntly. How could he not understand what she was trying to say? Did she have to explicitly tell him to g et out?

The only source of light in the room came from the reading lamp

Apart from a quiet suspicion, there was also a tender glow in his eyes. Sylvia could not possibly make him leave. She pursed her lips. “No... It's nothing.”

Then she went to the bathroom.

Before she walked into the bathroom, Odell put down the book in his hand.

The reading lamp beat against one side of his face and cast a shadow over the other side as he smiled deviously. She wanted him to go to the guest room?

Do not even think about it.

Sylvia washed herself briefly and walked out in her pajamas.

Odell had laid down on the left side of the bed with Flint tucked nicely in the middle of the bed.

The room was quiet. He seemed to have fallen asleep.

Sylvia got into the right side of the bed and gently kissed Flint's chubby cheek, then she turned off the light and closed her eyes. After a while, she fell asleep.

Late at night.

Odell suddenly woke up. He gently carried the sleeping Flint to one side effortlessly, then he nudged closer to Sylvia's side.

Chapter 1045

Sylvia was woken up by the sweltering heat. It should have been mid—autumn and yet she was drowned in sweat.

She opened her eyes in a blur and saw the man sleeping in front of her. He looked very handsome even as he slept.

His arms were wrapped around her waist, and she was almost held in his arms by him.

She furrowed her brows and immediately shoved him away.

Odell snapped his eyes open quickly.

After a brief confusion, he quickly registered the situation.

He smiled kindly and greeted her, “Good morning.”

Sylvia peered at him. Odell let go of her waist and brushed his fingers against her cheeks. “Why did you wake up so early?”

Sylvia answered blankly, “I woke up because | felt hot.” Odell paused for a moment, then asked with a coy smile,“ Hot? Are you feeling unwell?”

He pressed his palm against her forehead to check her temperature , then he shifted his arm to her neck to feel her body heat.

He commented, “You're sweating a lot.” Sylvia tried to suppress her voice. “... | know, you can move your hands away now.” As if touching her neck was not enough, he was still moving his hands downward!

Odell flicked an eyebrow and withdrew his hand.

Sylvia sat up immediately.

That was when his arm suddenly wrapped tightly around her waist again and tossed her back into the bed in his arms. Before she could even react, he had pressed her onto the bed and was on top of her.

An alluring smile surfaced in his eyes as he asked in a low voice, “How did you end up here?”

Sylvia did not utter a word.

Her cheeks were flushed red with mixed anger and embarrassment. “Odell, you're the one who—” Before she could finish her sen tence, Odell sealed her lips with his lips.

Sylvia tried to shove him away to no avail.

After a long kiss, he let go of her.

His large figure pressed itself against her as he gazed into her eyes with a wild look in them.

Sylvia‘s cheeks were burning up.

She glared at him and protested, “Odell... Move!” Her face was so hot that it would sizzle if you placed oil on it. It sounded more like she was meekly imploring him to do so rather than ordering him to...

Sylvia was so fluttered that she wanted nothing more than to find a hole in the ground for her to bury herself in. She turned away from Odell.

She found herself staring into another pair of large round eyes.

Flint had woken up at one point. He was lying on his chest with his arms stretched out as he stared at them. He had a look full of innocence and curiosity.

Sylvia‘s eyes widened with horror as she quickly pushed Odell away. “Flint is looking at us. Get off me!”

Odell was startled by this and turned to look at Flint.

He promptly reached over and picked up Flint and spun the boy around in a half—circle so he would face the other

side instead.

With that out of the way, he turned back to Sylvia and pressed his weight against her.

Just as his lips were about to greet Sylvia's, Flint suddenly swung back their way like a spinning top and faced them again. Sylvia tried to shove at Odell and whimpered, “Flint...”

Her lips were sealed before she could get the word out.

Odell barely noticed Flint turning around again.

Sylvia was struck with disbelief.

It was impossible to free herself from him as no amount of struggle would achieve that.

Flint stared at them eagerly from the side. It was hard for her to kiss Odell like this.

Just as she was going to resort to desperate measures and bite Odell, she suddenly heard a snicker. Odell stopped as well.

Sylvia looked over at Flint.

Flint was lying only nearly ten centimeters away from them.

“Hehe...” He smiled so happily that his eyes were formed into two half—crescent moons.

Odell looked at Flint silently. A strange look suddenly appeared on his face. Sylvia took the opportunity to slip out from underneath him.