Ch. 1281..1285

Chapter 1281

Sylvia stayed at home as she had done the past few days, accompanying Madam Carter with Flint and listening to her reminisce about the old days.

Odell also came back early and sat nearby with a book. No one knew if he was reading or eavesdropping on their chat. When the sky turned dark, Madam Carter said she was tired and went straight to sleep.

Sylvia tucked the energetic Flint into her arms and pushed Madam Carter into her room. After putting the old woman to bed with the help of the maid, Sylvia came out.

It was when she passed by the window that she saw John walking in through the gate. A bodyguard held an umbrella beside him. John was dressed in casual clothes and held Caprice in his arms. He looked very different from his usual business — like attire of a white shirt and black pants.

At first glance, he looked like a gentle father. Sylvia was startled, then quickly stepped to the living room door. “What are you doing here again?” As she spoke, her eyes also looked toward Caprice in

John’s arms. The little girl's face was still pink and cute, and she stared at Sylvia with wide, defined eyes. With her blur expression and her good behavior, she was absolutely adorable.

John walked in with Caprice in his arms and said with a smile, “It's been a week, and I've missed Master and Mrs. Carter, so I've brought my little Caprice Stockton here for a visit.”

His Caprice Stockton? Sylvia‘s lips twitched downward. Enduring her anger, she reached her hands toward him. “I miss Caprice after not seeing her for a week too. Could you let me hold her, Master Stockton?”

John smiled and handed Caprice to her.

Unexpectedly, the moment Sylvia's hand touched Caprice, the baby’s lips trembled, and she burst into tears with a loud wail. Sylvia quickly retracted her hand, and John took Caprice

back.

The little girl immediately stopped crying when she was in her father's arms.

John smiled at Sylvia. “Sorry. My girl is shy with strangers.”

Struck speechless, Sylvia glared at him and went into the living room.

Flint most likely heard Caprice‘s cry. When Sylvia came in, he was trying hard to get down from Odell's arms. However, he was no match for Odell who held his little foot in an iron grip, so he could only hang upside down on the sofa. He could not get down at all.

When Sylvia came in, he opened his mouth and cried,” Mommy, help me...” Sylvia looked at him hanging upside down and instantly shot Odell a look. As Odell's eyes flickered, he held Flint upright and let go of him.

Flint immediately clambered down from the sofa and waddled over to John with his short legs. He raised his head to look at Caprice in John‘s arms and called sweetly, “Uncle John...”

John's lips curled down in disapproval when he saw how excitedly Flint was looking at Caprice, and he kicked Flint's little butt with his foot. Immediately, Flint fell to the side and lay sprawled on the ground.

Sylvia was instantly enraged. However, before she could explode at him, Flint climbed up and eagerly ran over to John again, hugging the latter‘s leg. “Uncle John...”

His voice sounded even sweeter than before.

Sylvia was speechless.

What a little kiss*ss!

Odell also stood up and walked up to him in a few steps. His long arm reached out and picked Flint up.

Flint whirled his head around to look at Caprice in John‘s arms. His eyes were bright and round, filled with a fondness for Caprice. Then, he reached out his chubby hands.

John's expression changed, and he moved to the side with a big step. Flint grasped the empty air and looked at John pitifully.

In the past, John would definitely have fallen for that expression. However, things were different this time. He smiled at Flint and said, “Be a good boy, Flint. Caprice is still young. I'll let you play with her when she's bigger.

Chapter 1282 Flint pouted.

Odell took him back into his arms and looked at John indifferently. “Flint isn‘t that big either. They can play together even now.” John said with a smile, “Flint can already walk, but my Caprice can't even babble yet.”

However, when he remembered his purpose of coming over today, he held Caprice and walked over to Odell. “I'll let Flint look at her, but | won't let him touch her. My Caprice doesn't like anyone else other than me touching her. Otherwise, she will cry.” Odell‘s expression softened slightly as he hummed. With that, he held down both of Flint's hands.

The little boy could only stretch his neck to look at Caprice . He stared at her while giggling, and it was not long before saliva dribbled out from the corners of his mouth.

John immediately held Caprice and went to the sofa to sit down.

With pursed lips, Odell raised his hand to wipe Flint's drool and sat down too. He held Flint with one arm and asked directly, “What are you doing here?”

John said with a smile, “It's nothing important. | just wanted to bring Caprice over for a little stroll with you guys.” After listening to this, Odell looked at Sylvia. Sylvia was not stupid. She could vaguely guess the purpose of his visit. When he left a week ago, he had asked her to convey to Sherry that she should go to Glanchester within a week, or else, she would never see her daughter again in the future.

Aweek had passed, but there was still no news from Sherry. He was probably still trying to find out some good news about her. Although threats left his lips, unexpectedly, his body language seemed to convey honesty.

Sylvia did not want to beat around the bush and said bluntly, “I sent a message to Sherry last week after you left, but her phone was switched off. She hasn‘t contacted me until now, so | don't know where she is either.”

She was speaking the truth. Recently, in addition to staying at home with Madam Carter, she had been trying to find Sherry. However, she had no idea where her friend was hiding. There was no news of her at all. John‘s brows wrinkled . The smile that had been on his face just a moment ago completely darkened. The atmosphere in the living room also grew gloomy.

Suddenly, Sylvia's phone rang. The first thing she saw when she took it out was the caller ID: Sherry Fowler. She was startled and subconsciously looked at John. John noticed her gaze and instantly stared at her, ignoring Flint who had just crawled to his side.

Sylvia brought the phone to her ear.

Sherry‘s voice came from the phone. “Syl, I'm so sorry. | didn't mean to disappear. I'm fine now, so don't worry about me.” “Where are you now?” Sylvia asked directly.

Sherry lowered her voice, perhaps out of guilt. “I left Westchester. I'm somewhere else now.”

Sylvia‘s eyes flickered, and she pressed the speaker option and said, “I didn’t catch that. Could you say that again?” Sherry repeated, “I'm somewhere else now. Don’t worry about me. I'm fine.”

Her voice was amplified by the speaker, so everyone in the living room could hear her. John, who was holding his daughter , frowned. His eyes were still fixed on Sylvia's phone.

Sylvia asked, “Did you see the message | sent you?”

“Yeah, | saw it four days ago, and then | left Westchester that night.” Sherry‘s tone was calm and even contained hints of disappointment and frustration. “Syl, thank you for taking care of me for so long. I'll come back to look for you when | become successful in the future. | have something to do now, so | have to go now. Bye.” Whoosh!

John stood up and rushed to Sylvia in an instant.

Sylvia knew that he wanted to snatch the phone, so she rushed to ask Sherry, “What about Caprice ? Aren't you coming back to see her?”

Sherry was silent for a few seconds before replying, “I can't win against John now, so I'll leave Caprice with him for now. Let's talk about this next time when we have the chance.”

Then, she hung up before Sylvia could say anything.

The entire living room plunged into silence.

Sylvia‘s eyes flickered. She looked at John and said in a low voice, “You heard that, didn't you? She‘s not in Westchester now.", John pursed his lips coldly. His usually gentle and elegant face was terribly gloomy.

No one knew if Caprice was scared by his expression or felt abandoned by her mother, but she suddenly burst

into a piercing wail in John’s arms.

Chapter 1283 John‘s soul seemed to have left his body. He did not react even when the little girl cried for a long time. Sylvia quickly walked over. “John, is Caprice hungry? Check on her.”

Only then did he gaze down at Caprice. His expression changed. In a short while , he smiled at Caprice. “Don't cry, sweetheart. Daddy is here.”

Then, he took out a pacifier and a milk bottle from the bag he was carrying. The little girl stopped crying after sucking on the pacifier and cooed as she gurgled on the milk in his arms.

Sylvia pursed her lips.

Odell dragged Flint back into his arms and silently straightened his lips into a thin line.

Meanwhile , in Coastrock City, thousands of miles from Westchester, it was raining cats and dogs. The raindrops pelted the ground mercilessly.

Sherry crouched by the roadside alone, her hands covering her face as she trembled all over. After a while, a passerby kindly patted her shoulder.”

Miss, are you okay?”

Sherry immediately sniffled and raised her face. Her red and swollen eyes looked at the passerby, and she gave him a crooked smile that looked even worse than if she was crying. She choked while saying, “I'm fine. T-Thank you.”

The passerby sighed. “It's raining heavily. You should find shelter from the rain and go home when it subsides. Don't catch a cold.”

“Y-yeah.” The passerby did not stay and walked away with his umbrella.

Sherry could not hold on and covered her face, crying again. She told herself not to cry anymore yesterday, but she just could not control her tears!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, and the more she tried to hold back her tears. However, her mind could not help but conjure up Caprice'‘s little face.

When thunder suddenly boomed in the sky, she finally broke down and sobbed loudly.

It was only when the rain abated and her tears dried up that she stood up. Her legs had gone numb long ago, and her body was icy cold. She swayed unsteadily as she walked forward, but the light in her eyes was more determined than ever. She

could not go on like this. She had to live well. No, she had to become even better, and then she would go back and take Caprice back!

In the old Carters‘ residence, after Sylvia finished the call with Sherry, John fed Caprice and then carried her outside.

Looking at the darkening sky, Sylvia frowned and said,” Master Stockton, it's very late now. Why don't you go back tomorrow?”

John looked at her with a smile. “Thank you for the consideration, Mrs. Carter, but other than being afraid of strangers, Caprice also doesn't like unfamiliar environments. She'll keep fussing if she remains here, so it's better if | bring her back.”

Sylvia pursed her lips and said nothing. Not long after that, John left in his car with Caprice. Sylvia sighed as she looked at his departing car. “Since he cares about Sherry so much, why did he hurt her like that?

Odell held her in his arms. “Some people only learn to cherish something after they lose it.” Sylvia could not help but look at him and ask with a smile, “Where did you learn that from?”

Odell looked at her fair face and grinned. “I realized it

myself.” Sylvia's eyes flickered , and she leaned against him and pursed her lips. She hoped that Sherry could take care of herself outside while John looked after Caprice. She also hoped that Odell and her could stay like this forever.

Chapter 1284 Time flew, and two years passed in the blink of an eye. It was in the middle of autumn in Westchester. In the city center, the lanes of cars drove unimpeded after the morning rush. An MPV stopped outside Carter Corporation.

Jacob unbuckled his seatbelt in the passenger seat, but before he could open the door and go down, he heard the sound of the rear door being opened. Then, he saw that Flint's chubby figure had already gotten out of the car and was running into the building with his short little legs. Jacob was instantly exasperated. That little young master was such a handful! He pushed open the car door to get out and chased after the boy. Meanwhile , with his superb skills of evasion , Flint had slipped past the security guards and scampered into the Carter Corporation lobby. His large obsidian—like eyes flickered in their sockets as he continued to walk forward.

At that moment, a receptionist at the front desk suddenly shouted, “A child has sneaked in!”

Shermaine , who was standing at the front desk as well, heard the shout and immediately looked at Flint. She was startled, but then she said with a smile, “It's Master Carter's youngest son. I'll go take a look.”

After saying that, she walked out from behind the front desk and trotted over.

Flint was walking forward with his hands in his pockets when he was suddenly blocked by a figure. He raised his chubby face and looked at Shermaine with his large eyes.

It was Shermaine'’s first time seeing him up close. When she caught sight of his big and round eyes, she immediately showed a kind smile. “Young Master, why are you here? Are you looking for your daddy?”

Flint curled his lips up and replied sweetly, “Yes, Miss. Is my daddy here?”

“He is, but he’s in a meeting right now and may not be able to see you. Why don't you come with me first? I'll take you somewhere else to play and take you to your daddy when he's done, okay?” she coaxed him patiently.

Flint's eyes flickered, and he replied crisply, “Okay.” Shermaine held out her hand to him.

However, Flint wrinkled his little brows. His hands were still in his pockets, and his mouth puckered seriously as he said, “No, Mommy said that | can‘t casually hold a girl's hands.”

Stunned for a moment, Shermaine laughed. “Okay, then just follow me.” “Uh-huh.” Flint trailed after her.

Seeing that they were about to reach the VIP lounge, he pursed his lips and asked, “Miss, | want to have ice cream. Is there any ice cream here?”

“There isn't. Do you really want some ice cream?” Shermaine asked softly.

Flint's eyes were pitiful as he rubbed his tummy while saying, “I'm fine, but my belly really wants some.”

Shermaine could not help but chuckle. “Then, you go inside and wait for me. I'll go buy some ice cream for you now, okay?” Flint's eyes instantly lit up, and he said happily, “Okay! Thank you, Miss.”

Then, he obediently went into the VIP lounge. When Shermaine saw him enter, she immediately walked out of the building.

After five or six minutes, she brought back an ice cream cone from the dessert parlor next to the building and came back. She pushed open the door to the VIP lounge and walked in.

However, the chubby little boy was nowhere to be seen in the room. She frowned and called out, “Young Master?”

What answered her was the silence of the VIP lounge. After walking around the room, she still could not find Flint's little figure.