Ch. 926..930
Chapter 926
There was an aggrieved expression on the little girl's chubby face and she looked as if she had just been told that she had been abandoned.
Sylvia felt her heart ache upon seeing Isabel in this state. She hurriedly got up and upon approaching Isabel, she quickly gathered her into her arms and apologized, “Isabel, I'm very sorry, it's my fault. | shouldn’t have forgotten my promise.”
Isabel pouted and huffed, “Hmph.”
Her tears welled up inside her eyes and she was still visibly upset.
Sylvia caressed her cheeks and offered, “I'll play with you right now, is that alright?”
Isabel's expression did not change and she did not seem very receptive to the idea.
She wanted to play with her mother but at the same time, she was reluctant to forgive her so easily.
Sylvia suddenly had an idea, so she lowered her head and gently pecked Isabel on the cheek.
This seemed to do the trick, and Isabel muttered, “Hmph, | guess I'll forgive you this time.”
Sylvia smiled, “Thank you.”
She led Isabel into the living room.
There were all sorts of toys laid out in one corner of the living room. They had even laid out the tracks for the toy cars. Liam and Flint were seated side by side on the carpet, Liam held a book in his hand while Flint was chewing on a toy.
When he noticed that Isabel had appeared with their mother, Liam put down the book and turned to look at her with a cool expression on his face.
Sylvia quickly apologized, “Liam, I'm sorry to keep you and your sister waiting.”
Liam pursed his lips and murmured, “It's okay.”
“Wah... Flint dropped the toy and stretched out his little chubby arms towards Sylvia.
Sylvia hurried toward Flint with Isabel. Then, she sat down on the floor with them and took Flint into her arms. The little boy fell into her arms and was very well-behaved.
Sylvia set Flint right next to her and picked up two controllers . She handed them to Isabel and Liam and challenged them,” Come on, let's race!”
It was one of Isabel's favorite games to play, evident by how she enthusiastically took the gamepad while not forgetting to turn to her brother, “Come on, hurry up!”
With that, the trio of mother, son, and daughter began to play at car racing.
Despite being only children, Liam and Isabel were as good as veterans and could more than hold their own. Very soon, Sylvia's car was overtaken by them as soon as the race began. After she finally managed to overtake them again, they revved their engines and passed them yet again, Isabel even rammed into her car several times in the process.
Isabel's exuberant cries echoed in the living room.
Flint was also giggling despite not completely comprehending what was happening.
Even the usually quiet Liam was having a good time, evident by the wide grin on his face.
Sylvia felt happy as well to see that they were having a good time.
The day quickly passed by in the blink of an eye.
When evening came around, Sylvia had them switch to playing another kind of multiplayer game. Each one of them remained holding one controller.
Sylvia was rather uncoordinated when it came to gaming and her avatar was always knocked out as soon as the round began. Even Isabel was beginning to make fun of her by calling her a dummy.
She was getting frustrated , she had already memorized all of the controls and yet her character was still knocked out every round as soon as she spawned.
She frowned in frustration.
Isabel sighed softly.
Liam, “Mommy, you'll get the hang of it after a few more rounds.”
Sylvia wore a tight-knit frown.
It would not help even if she played ten more rounds, she was simply not good at the game.
Just when she was about to give up, a tall figure who had already been standing behind them for some time suddenly approached her.
He gently carried Liam who was sitting on her right and moved him aside. Then he sat down next to her with his legs crossed and said, “Here, let me try.”
His low, magnetic voice seemed to mesmerize her as he took the controller without her even realizing it.
Sylvia was appalled by the suddenness of it all. She silently gazed at his handsome side profile, as she felt her heart skip a beat.
Isabel turned to Odell and challenged him, “Hey Baddie, are you sure you want to play against us? There will be punishments if you lose to us!”
Odell glanced at Sylvia and taunted Isabel playfully, “Bring it on.” Something gleamed in Isabel's eyes, she turned to Liam and said, “I'll even let you take first place after we beat him!” Liam murmured, “Sure.”
With that, the scoreboard was reset to zero and a new round commenced.
Chapter 927 Sylvia held Flint in her arms as she stared intently at the screen.
The moment Isabel said “Start“, Odell’s avatar immediately sprang into action and threw Isabel's avatar off of the platform before she could even react.
Isabel's eyes immediately widened in confusion. She immediately turned to Liam and cried out, “Brother, you have to avenge me!”
Only moments after she said that, Liam‘s avatar was picked up off the ground by Odell's avatar and thrown out of the platform before he could even blink.
The sound of cheering and applause echoed around the arena on the screen. Odell was the victor.
Isabel huffed angrily.
She approached Odell grumpily as she offered up her face to him.
Odell raised his hand and flicked a finger against the bridge of her nose.
Having received her punishment for losing, Isabel sat back down in a huff and angrily insisted, “One more round!” Liam was more reserved than she was, even with his nose turning red after getting flicked by Odell's finger.
The three of them commenced the second round.
It ended the same as the first time, with Liam and Isabel each receiving a flick on their noses.
Then came the third round...
Although she was not the one playing the game, Sylvia was having the time of her life only watching, she was grinning from ear to ear the entire time.
After Odell had flicked their noses yet another time, an image suddenly flashed past Sylvia's mind. She could vaguely recall a very similar scene to what was happening now, one with everyone of them playing games together in the living room where the loser has to be punished.
It was like a flash of images that went by so fast that it barely felt real to her. Had she seen something similar in the past?
“What's on your mind?” She suddenly felt a tap against her forehead. Sylvia looked up and her eyes met Odell's dark ones.
She brushed it off and said, “Nothing.”
He handed her the controller, “Do you want to play?”
Sylvia smiled and refused, “No, I'll just watch you guys play.*.
She was not good at the game.
“Okay.” Odell seized the controller again.*.
Isabel rolled her big round eyes and started to complain, “Hey Baddie, can't you just let us win one round?”
Odell peered at her and offered, “Only if you call me Daddy.”
Isabel put her tongue out, “Hmph!”
Once again, she was the first one to get knocked out.
“Daddy.” Liam said out of nowhere.
Odell was not expecting this, “Hmm?”
“There, | said it. Aren’t you going to let me win now?” Liam said suddenly.
Odell was silent
He immediately took his fingers off the controller.
His in-game character immediately stopped moving on the screen. Moments after, Liams‘ character charged at him and knocked him out of the platform in one swift blow.
Liam won and turned to him, “Thank you, Daddy.”
Odell smirked, “You're welcome.”
Both father and son both darted a playful look at Isabel.
She was so infuriated by this that it seemed like she was going to explode at any given moment. She was furious.
“One more round?” Odell taunted.
Her lips tightened into a thin line as she exerted a great effort to force the words out, “Dad...” Odell narrowed the look in his eyes, “What is it?”
“Daddy!” She suddenly shouted, clearly upset at having to say it.
“Come again? | can barely hear you.” Odell’s expression barely changed.
Isabel's cheeks puffed up like a balloon. Then, she suddenly hopped in front of Odell and began yelling in his ears, “Daddy! Daddy! Daddy...”
The entire living room was filled with her voice chanting daddy over and over.
Chapter 928
It was only after Odell lifted Isabel that she finally stuck her tongue out and snorted grumpily. Although the little girl was irritable, she was also adorable at the same time.
Sylvia chuckled at the sight of her.
The other three suddenly turned to look at her.
She quickly hid the look in her eyes and tightened her lips into a line.
Isabel frowned and complained, “Meanie Mommy, are you laughing at me?”
Sylvia gestured frantically with her hand, “No, no!”
Isabel made a look and asked again, “Then you're making fun of Baddie, aren't you?” Sylvia waved her hand more anxiously now and repeated , “No, no, | wasn't!”
“Then what are you laughing about?”
Sylvia considered her reply carefully, “I just thought that the way you called your daddy was very cute, that's why | was. laughing.”
Isabel seemed to sense something, “Were you laughing because | called Baddie as Daddy?”
“Yes, yes.” Sylvia hurriedly answered.
“Okay.” Isabel turned to Odell again, “Since Mommy likes it, | will start calling you Daddy.”
Sylvia could not help but laugh again when she saw how benevolent Isabel acted as she said this.
Isabel laughed along with her and settled down next to her.
Odell took a quick look at Isabel before casting his deep eyes upon Sylvia and a tender look quickly surfaced within his eyes. Sylvia felt the burning intensity of his stare and quickly averted her gaze.
It was only when the three of them went back to their game that Sylvia sneakily darted a glance at Odell to carefully observe his handsome, perfect jawline.
This time around, Isabel calling Odell Daddy seemed to do the trick at last. The moment the round began, Odell‘s avatar stood in place and let Isabel knock him out of the platform. After that, Isabel struck Liam’s avatar with a sneaky blow and claimed first place. She then flicked both of their noses with pride.
They had dinner after their gaming session. By the time they finished dinner, both Sylvia and Flint were tired.
“Sylvia, I'll take care of Flint. You should go get some rest.” Aunt Tonya had noticed Sylvia yawning and immediately stepped up to offer to take Flint.
Sylvia instinctively wrapped her arms around Flint.
She had been holding Flint all day and was reluctant to be separated from him.
Besides, the boy was very chubby and felt like a pillow in her arms, so she wanted to sleep with him. “It's alright, Aunt Tonya, I'll sleep with him tonight.”
Aunt Tonya‘s eyes lit up as she said, “Okay sure. Call me if you need anything at all.”
“Uh-huh.”
With that, Aunt Tonya left.
Sylvia put Flint on the bed, then she washed up and changed into a fresh set of pajamas before heading back to bed to sleep with the body.
The mood inside the spacious bedroom was wholesome and cozy. After some time passed, the door was slowly nudged open.
Atiny head poked through the gap and peeked inside the room. The tiny figure turned to look behind her and whispered,” Mommy is asleep.”
Two tiny figures sneakily drew closer to the bedside and stared at Sylvia who was sleeping.
They looked at how Sylvia was sleeping with her arms wrapped tightly around - Flint. Isabel muttered, “Why did Mommy sleep with Flint tonight? Do you think she finally remembered us?”
“| don't think so.” “Why didn't Mommy ask us to sleep with her?” Isabel pouted,” Do you think Mommy doesn't love us anymore?” Liam frowned, “She just forgot about us, is all. It doesn't mean that she'll stop loving us.”
“She forgot Flint as well, so how do you explain her sleeping with Flint now?” “Flint still needs to be breastfed.”
Chapter 929 “Okay then.” Isabel decided to not hold it against Flint since he was still a toddler.
After a while, Isabel pouted again and groaned, “Ugh, when will Mommy remember us? What if she never remembers us? She seems so dumb now.”
“| don't know.”
Beneath the glow of the moonlight, a dark, somber look came over their faces. After a while, Isabel suddenly proposed , “Why don't we sleep with mommy too?” “No, we're already six years old, we can't keep sticking to Mom all the time.” Isabel pouted, “Okay.”
After staring at Sylvia for a while longer, they went out.
After that came a tall figure.
He flicked on the bedside lamp that Isabel had just turned off and sat on the edge of the bed. He silently gazed at Sylvia‘s sleeping face with his deep, dark eyes.
He could not resist the urge to reach his hand out and caress Sylvia‘s cheeks.
Sylvia was sleeping soundly and did not feel his touch.
With a gentle look in his eyes, Odell recalled what had happened that afternoon.
He thought about his meeting with Skylar, and the conversation they had concerning Sylvia.
After he had relayed everything he knew, Skylar had told him,” Master Carter, I've heard about this sort of hypnosis but | always thought it was just mere talk and speculation. | never expected this kind of evil act to be an actual thing. Now that we know this strange sort of memory eraser hypnosis exists, I'm sure that there is a way to reverse it as well. Give me some time. | need to do some research and see how we can reverse her condition. I'll come to you the moment | find a cure.”
After the meeting with Skylar, he had gone back to the detention center to speak to Thomas again.
Thomas revealed that he had spent a fortune to learn the hypnosis technique from a mysterious teacher that he had found in Galston. He did not know how to reverse it or whether it was even possible to reverse it in the first place, but he did provide a general idea of where Odell could find this mysterious teacher.
After receiving information about where this mysterious individual could be found, Odell passed on the news to Skylar. Skylar immediately booked a flight to Galston after that. Judging by the timeline, Odell figured that she should have boarded the plane by now.
Sylvia must have felt the heat emanating from the palm of his hand and shifted her head to lay on top of it. It seemed like a very comfortable position for her.
Odell smiled and leaned down to kiss her on the forehead.
He would do everything he could to help her regain her lost memory.
The next morning, Sylvia was awakened by Flint crying.
Immediately after that, Aunt Tonya and Aunt Wanda hurried in from outside.
“Sylvia, Flint must be hungry. Why don't you get some more sleep while | get him some milk?” With that, both of them took Flint and left the room.
Sylvia could not fall asleep after that.
Even though she did not remember ever giving birth to Flint, hearing him cry filled her with sorrow.
She got up and followed them.
Aunt Tonya and Aunt Wanda had taken him to the next room where Aunt Flora prepared a bottle of warm milk and handed it to them.
As soon as the teat from the bottle touched his lips, Flint started drinking. After he finished the bottle of milk, Aunt Flora took a look at his behind and informed, “It's time to change his diaper.” They took him to the bathroom.
The boy did not cry or protest being carried around since he already had his breakfast, so he lay idly and let them have their way with him.
Sylvia silently gazed at his large, round eyes and smiled softly.
Just as she was about to head back to her room to brush her teeth, she turned around to see Liam and Isabel standing by the doorway, both staring at her.
The two of them were looking at each other quite dejectedly.
Sylvia quickly went to them and knelt so she could be at eye level with them and asked, “What happened to you two? Did your baby brother's cries wake you up?”
She was genuinely concerned about them.
Isabel smiled sadly and said, “Nothing, | just wanted Mommy to kiss me.”
Chapter 930 So that's what it was, Sylvia thought. She immediately kissed Isabel and Liam‘s cheeks respectively. Both of the children returned the favor and planted a kiss on her cheeks as well.
Their bodies had a sweet scent that Sylvia could smell when they came in close for the kiss. The texture of their lips were soft to touch.
Sylvia felt an indescribable sense of joy welling inside of her when they kissed her.
She smiled as she had never smiled before, and that was when a tall figure suddenly approached from behind.
The man was wearing a black tailored suit and stood tall like a giant over the children. It was impossible to not notice him. When Sylvia looked at him, she saw his dark eyes sweeping over her with a tender and affectionate look within them. She felt her cheeks glowing red hot as she greeted him shyly,” Good morning.”
With a subtle smile on his face, he said, “Good morning.”
“Do you have any plans for today?” He asked.
She blurted out, “I don't think so. I'm probably just going to stay at home.”
She was still adjusting to her new life.
She had gone through the contacts on her phone and found that she had lost contact with most of the friends she had known from nine years ago. The only close friend she knew on the list was Sherry, but she had not been replying to any of the texts that she had sent over the last two days. It was as if Sherry had vanished off the face of the earth.
“| have something to attend to in the afternoon but | should be free by evening,” Odell informed.
Sylvia was not really what he meant by this so she just softly said, “Oh”.
Odell pursed his lips, “Stay at home and wait for me. I'll take you shopping when | get back.”
“Huh?” Sylvia thought her ears were deceiving her and asked,” Why are you taking me shopping?”
Odell glanced at Liam and Isabel who were still standing between them and instructed them, “You two, go downstairs.” Isabel's round eyes moved back and forth between her parents, before she left with her brother just as she was told to. Odell stepped inside.
In one large step, he stopped in front of Sylvia, his presence was impossible to be denied.
Sylvia subconsciously tried to step back, but Odell managed to grab her just in time.
He caressed the back of her head softly with the large palm of his hand and repeated, “I'm taking you shopping this evening.” Sylvia‘s eyes widened in disbelief.
Even though Odell was different from the version she knew from nine years ago, the one who was hostile and even repulsed by her, it still did not seem like he was the type to want to go shopping.
Besides, he was the leader of an organization as heralded as the Carter Corporation. Surely, he had a mountain of things to deal with day in and day out.
She could not believe it and even felt reluctant to accept his offer.
“It's alright, you don't have to worry about me. I'll just stay at home with the kids.” She remarked with a smile. Odell‘s face darkened gradually.
Sylvia tried to draw away but could not as Odell was still holding onto the back of her neck.
She asked cautiously, “What's wrong? Did | say something wrong?”
“Nothing.” It suddenly occurred to him that she had no recollection of the bond they had formed over the last nine years. Once again, there was a gap between them.
He gently brushed the back of her head and asked, “Don't you like shopping?”
“Hmm.” She muttered without giving it much thought.
“Okay, then just stay with the children at home. Call me if you need anything.”
“Okay.” She muttered again.
She was very well-behaved, just like Isabel and Liam.
The darkness in his eyes seemed to pulse. He slowly drew his arm away, then turned and walked out.
She heaved a sigh of relief.
It was not that she refused to be intimate with him. Aunt Tonya had told her about everything that had happened between the two of them over the last nine years, but everything sounded like something that had happened to another person instead of something she had truly experienced for herself. It was difficult to become immediately intimate with someone who was essentially still a stranger to her.
After breakfast, Odell left the house.
Liam and Isabel's tutors arrived shortly after to give the two of them lessons. Sylvia spent time with Flint in the living room.
After she played with him for a while, he got tired and fell asleep.
Left with nothing else to do, Sylvia turned on the television and watched some of the latest popular shows to while away her time.
The living room was quiet except for the sounds from the TV.