Ch. 1691..1700

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 1691-Sunny frowned. "Didn't Sophia discuss something about collecting Jeremy's 'seed'? If Corinne's with Jeremy, then…"

Xante understood everything as soon as she heard Sophia's conversation with the man in the white coat. Her curiosity dissipated, and she was concerned solely for Corinne's safety. "What should we do now, Mister Lucas?"

The doctor unlocked the special examination room with a key. It was dark inside since the curtains were drawn. A lewd film was playing on the screen, and the actors were making some equally lewd sounds.

Sophia immediately expressed her discomfort after entering and witnessing the scene. She frowned and looked around for Zachary, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"What's going on, Doctor? Where's my husband? Didn't you say there would be a nurse with him? Where is she? Why isn't there anyone here?"

The doctor was puzzled by that scene as well. "I have no idea what's happening either. This room was locked. No one could've come in here."

Sophia grew anxious. "Is this how you do your job, Doctor? I've entrusted my husband to you, and now he's gone! Do you think that nurse of yours might have abducted my husband?" "Of course not," The doctor replied awkwardly.

"What would she gain from kidnapping your husband? She'd only be breaking the law. Please calm down and wait a moment, Sophia. I'll try to give the nurse a call…"

The doctor took his mobile phone to make a call, but the dial prompt informed him that the nurse's phone had been switched off. 'Why is her phone switched off?' he wondered, sensing that something was already amiss.

The doctor's silence led Sophia to ask anxiously, "Why hasn't the nurse answered?"

The flustered doctor replied, "She must've been caught up in something…"

Sophia's face soured when she heard that. "This is ludicrous! Where did you people hide my husband? This is outrageous! I'll call the police right away…"

Her agitation was evident, and she pulled out her cell phone to call the police.

The doctor panicked as he was worried that the situation might spiral out of control and affect his work. "Please don't be hasty, Miss Sophia. Your husband must be around here somewhere…"

Sophia ignored his plea and proceeded to make her call. The operator had just picked up when a cold voice said, "I'm right here."

The voice took Sophia by surprise.

By then, the operator was calling out to her, "Hello, you’ve reached the police hotline…"

Sophia turned around and saw a man seated quietly in a wheelchair. He had been out of view behind the curtains in the corner. Given the dim lighting in the room, it was not surprising that she did not notice him immediately.

The doctor heaved a sigh of relief and urged, "There! Your husband is safe and sound, Miss Sophia! You can end that call now!"

Sophia ended the call and approached Zachary worriedly. ’ Are you all right, Zachary?"

Zachary's expression was ice-cold. He cocked an eyebrow and gazed expressionlessly at her. He then asked sarcastically, "Did you think something would happen to me during a routine examination?" Sophia's expression froze, and she found herself speechless.

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 1692-Zachary was fully dressed and appeared remarkably composed. Many would find it challenging to discern his true intentions.

Sophia asked awkwardly, "Did everything go smoothly?" "It did, thanks to you,"

Zachary said with a chuckle.

For some reason, Sophia's chest tightened as she felt inexplicably uncomfortable. The feeling was almost agonizing, even. Zachary's answer seemed to imply that he and the female nurse had gotten along very well, a thought that enraged Sophia as soon as she connected the dots.

The doctor came over and asked respectfully, "Where did our female nurse go?

Why isn't she around?"

Zachary looked coldly at the doctor and said, "She got what she wanted and left." "But why is her phone switched off?" the doctor asked curiously.

"How should I know?' Zachary retorted. "I'm merely a patient. Though we did share a rather intimate moment today, I'm not the person you should be asking about her phone."

The doctor became a little awkward. "You're right. I apologize for my question.

I'll give her a stern telling-off for moving on to her other duties without first informing me that she was done with you."

Zachary glanced coldly at the doctor before closing his eyes and keeping quiet.

Sophia's expression grew increasingly grim at that moment. Zachary's remarks about the 'intimate moment' with the nurse cut deep into her heart. They never indulged in even the tiniest bit of intimacy despite all the time they spent together, and it was the nurse who experienced it before she could.

Zachary glanced at Sophia and sneered. "Aren't you going to bring me home?

Or are there any other matters that you want me to attend to?"

Sophia snapped back to her senses and shook her head. "No! There's nothing else. Let's go, Zachary. I'll bring you home right now."

Zachary maneuvered himself to the door before Sophia could put her hands on the wheelchair handle. Her expression turned sour after she was left hanging.

Seeing as they were about to leave, the doctor stepped forward and saw them off. "You and your husband may return home for now. Since the nurse has obtained the necessary sample, I'll contact you in a few days to arrange your end of the procedure."

Sophia grumbled annoyedly and caught up with Zachary after leaving the room.

The doctor gazed around the special examination room in confusion as the couple made their exit. His eyes were drawn to the content playing on the screen, and he glanced at it several times before using the remote control to turn it off.

He attempted to call the nurse again, but the nurse's phone was still switched off. He could not understand what had happened. 'Where could she have gone?

And why is her phone still off?' Little did he know, Corinne had dragged the unconscious nurse through the balcony and left her lying on the floor in the next-door utility room. Corinne had also switched off the nurse's phone.

When Sunny, Xante, and Lucas saw the unconscious nurse, they each had different thoughts playing in their mind as they looked at Corinne.

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 1693-Sunny was the first to speak up. "What did you do with Jeremy there? And what happened to the nurse?"

Corinne blushed and struggled to find the words to answer him.

Xante nudged Sunny with her elbow and signaled for him to stop talking.

She then stepped forward and asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"

Corinne nodded, "rm fine. Why are you here, though?"

Xante glanced at Sunny with disgust. "He tricked me into coming here, and I happened to see Sophia once I arrived. She seemed fishy, so I joined and found

out."

Corinne looked at the two of them and narrowed her eyes slightly. "Have you met Sunny’s parents, then?"

Xante's face stiffened, and a blush appeared on her typically calm and composed expression. "It's not what you think it is."

Sunny leaned over to Xante and said, “It's exactly what you think it is! I brought Xante to meet Dad, and he's pretty happy with her! I'm confident he'll agree to our marriage and we can-ah!"

Xante elbowed him-more forcefully the second time-and silenced him abruptly.

Sunny winced in pain and complained, "You don't need to be so rough to me!

Jeez, it's like you want to break my ribcage or something!"

Xante glared at him and said, "Zip it! I'll leave right now if you keep at your nonsense."

Sunny immediately relented and said, "Okay, I’ll stop…" "Ahem!" Lucas could not bear to see his younger brother looking so submissive and cleared his throat. "Go back up and talk to Dad. stop whining here! It's unbecoming."

Sunny straightened up after hearing Lucas's comments, but he still muttered under his breath. "Wait till you get a girlfriend. You'll probably whine even more than me…"

His voice might be low, but Lucas still heard it. His face darkened for a moment, and he furrowed his brow. "What did you just say? Louder, please!"

Sunny trembled. "Nothing! I didn't say anything! By the way, how are you going to deal with this nurse, Corinne?"

He redirected his attention back to Corinne to avoid getting smacked by Lucas.

Corinne glanced with a hint of disgust at the nurse who tried to take advantage of her man. "Leave her be. She'll wake up soon." "Aren't you afraid she might say something to the doctor when she wakes up?" Sunny asked.

Corinne smirked and glanced at Lucas. "She won't say anything, am I right, Mister Lucas?"

Lucas caught on to what Corinne was trying to say and patted her head softly.

"She'll be silent. Not to worry."

Corinne then shrugged her shoulders and said, The coast is clear. Sophia would've left by now."

She then stepped over the unconscious nurse and headed toward the exit.

Lucas followed closely behind her.

Sunny was still scratching his head. "What's going on? Why won’t the nurse report the situation to the doctor after waking up? How are they so sure of this?"

Xante glanced at him with disdain. "Are you coming or not?"

Sunny rushed up to Xante and asked, "Do you know why Lucas and Corinne aren't worried about the nurse? Why do I have a feeling she'll go straight to the doctor and report everything when she wakes up?"

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 1694-Xante frowned and explained, "Because your brother's people won't allow her to spill the beans once she wakes up. Just because you saw him leave doesn't mean he's not going to deal with her." "So that's it!" Sunny said, folding his arms. "Why must all of you talk in circles? I can't even understand a single thing!” "That's because you're dumb!” Xante said.

Sunny protested, "Don't call your husband dumb!” "Let's get moving already!"

Meanwhile…

Zachary had kept quiet ever since he got into an RV. He sat in the wheelchair and gazed out the window at the passing scenery. Sophia, on the other hand,

felt uneasy even though he was just as aloof as always.

"Are you hungry, Zachary? Should we grab something to eat before going back to the hotel?” Sophia cautiously attempted to initiate a conversation.

"Oh? Did you make arrangements at the restaurant that you're going to bring me to?" replied Zachary sardonically. "What else are you plotting this time?

Have you told the chefs to spike the food or something?" "That's not my intention at all! I'm just concerned that you might be hungry, so I thought we could get a meal before returning to the hotel," Sophia said.

Zachary replied coldly, "No thanks, Miss Sophia. I've grown wary of the places you wish to take me to, and I'm not going to eat whatever food you provide for me. The trust between US is now thoroughly broken."

Sophia became anxious. Zachary had always been distant, but he had never spoken that harshly to her before. "I know you're upset about what happened today, but I… I just want to have a child with you! I didn't bear any ill will."

Zachary narrowed her eyes at her and asked, "Why do you need to resort to such tactics to have a child with me? We have a child, don't you? You've always told me that Benjamin is our son, but your attitude is beginning to make me doubt your claims."

His words left Sophia momentarily bewildered, and she struggled to find a response.

"Uh… I…"

Zachary maintained his piercing gaze on her. "Why do I have the feeling that you've been acting guilty lately? Did you lie to me?"

Sophia was guilty, of course, but she could never admit her guilt. Doing so would cause her relationship with Zachary to be irreparably damaged. Zachary, despite losing his memory, had not changed in character. He despised deceit and hated being controlled. He was only vulnerable because of his physical condition which left him confined to a wheelchair. Nevertheless, Zachary still believed the memories-that he was married to her and they had a child named Benjamin-in him.

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 1695-If Zachary were to discover that everything was a lie she told just to keep him by her side, he would rather die than be with her or say another word to her. There would be zero chance to reconcile, and even the coldness he displayed toward her would completely cease to exist.

Sophia took a deep breath and projected confidence. "What are you talking about, Zachary? Why would I lie to you? You're my husband, and we had a child before your car accident. I want to have another child because I don't want Benjamin to be so lonely. Don't you think he's keeping to himself more and more? Besides, I love kids, and I'd like to have a daughter too. Being a family of

four will make things much livelier at home with Benjamin having another playmate. Don't you think that's a good thing, Zachary?"

Sophia was skilled at conjuring up reasonable explanations, and Zachary was used to her ways. He let out a cold huff and said, "And did that necessitate the use of such a disgusting method?"

Sophia's expression revealed a slight hint of guilt. "Zachary, it's… It's not disgusting! It's a legal method with techniques rooted in science. A lot of couples use artificial conception if they're unable to get pregnant through normal means, and-" "Those couples will never undergo the same treatment as I did!" Zachary cut her off. "Do you think other women will lock their partner in a room, force them to watch those obscene videos, and allow a nurse to get their partner off?

I'm sure most men would have been given full disclosure and presented with a choice of whether or not they want to undergo such treatment. I, on the other hand, was kept in the dark and brought here to be subjected to this torture!"

Sophia began to play the pity card. "Do youthink I wanted this? You have no idea how jealous and sad I am! You're my husband, and I wouldn't let another woman touch you if I had the choice! But… You've lost all mobility in your legs, and I was left with no other option but to consult a doctor. He advised me to proceed this way. I gave it a lot of thought before I decided to follow the doctor's recommendation. I know you don't want this, Zachary, but it's just a process. A means to achieve our goal! That's all it is! There won't be a next time, so let's move on from this. It's for the best." 1 Zachary stared at her coldly in a cynical rather than disappointed expression.

"Don't use the word 'our'. It's your goal, not mine."

Sophia was stunned by that response and cried even harder. "Haven't you ever considered having another child with me? Have you never had feelings for me?!

I want to bear your child because I love you. Can't you understand that? There's nothing wrong for a legally married couple to have another child!"

Zachary sneered, "It's not wrong for married couples to have children, but there is a certain degree of respect that the husband and wife must show to each other. Look at me now. Do you think I'm in the mood to have another child?

Having Benjamin is more than enough. How can I hope to raise and protect my children if I can't even stand up? Why would I even think of having another child?"

Sophia felt a pang of sadness when she heard that and consoled him. "It doesn't matter if you can't walk anymore. I'll accept you as you are! I just want you by my side, and Benjamin feels the same way too! Our future children won't mind it at all. Whether or not you can walk, you'll be the greatest and most handsome father in the eyes of our children! You don't need to worry about that.

As for raising and protecting them, you don't need to fret. My father's assets are more than enough for our family to live comfortably for the rest of our lives! Don't stress yourself out over these things. I would've left you long ago if I had been bothered by your disability. But I'm still here by your side, aren't I? I don't mind it at all. I really don't." "But I do care!" Zachary narrowed his eyes. "You seem confident that I won't be able to walk again."

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 1696-Sophia was startled. "No! I… I was anxious because I wanted to comfort you…"

Zachary looked at her coldly. "You've never wanted me to regain the ability to walk, do you?"

Sophia reached out her hand to try and hold him. "Why would I think that way?

You're my husband…"

Zachary waved her hand away coldly and said, "Thanks to you, I'm very exhausted after what happened. Could you please be quiet for a while?"

Sophia opened her mouth as if to say something, but her expression froze instantly. She had to calm herself down for a moment before closing her mouth and sitting quietly to one side.

When Zachary said he was 'very exhausted after what happened’, Sophia's mind immediately recalled what happened between him and the female nurse in that special examination room earlier. She became angrier with every passing thought, but she knew she had no right to lose her temper or be jealous since she arranged everything herself.

The ride remained silent until the car stopped in front of the hotel. Sophia approached to help push Zachary's wheelchair out of the car. He neither refused nor did he thank her as he typically would. He simply remained silent and expressionless.

Sophia knew that everything she did that day had thoroughly angered him, so she did not dare to say anything to him. However, she comforted herself in the fact that he was angry because he did not enjoy his time with the nurse. There was nothing else she could do for the moment other than to let Zachary vent his dissatisfaction before placating him a few days later. After all, the doctor got the sample from him, and all she needed to do was conceive Zachary's child. His attitude toward her would surely change by then.

She wheeled Zachary into the hotel while contemplating her plan. She intended to bring him to her father's place to greet him and pick Benjamin up along the way, but Zachary claimed to feel unwell and did not want to enter Adam's room.

He told her to fetch Benjamin instead. Knowing that Zachary had a 'tough' day, Sophia decided not to insist upon him to greet Adam and proceeded to go into Adam's room without him.

When she entered, she saw Adam sitting on the sofa irritatedly. He had a cigar in his mouth and seemed to be displeased as he spoke on the phone. It was not until he hung up the call that Sophia approached him and asked," What happened? Have you located Aunt Melinda and Lilin?"

After getting slapped by her father on the previous day, Sophia reflected on her approach and decided to temporarily appease him to secure her inheritance rights. Once she had full control over the assets, she could easily deal with Melinda and Lilin as she saw fit. 1 Adam turned around and looked at her without addressing her question.

He asked with a cigar in his mouth, "You're back? Where's that cripple?"

Sophia did not appreciate her father referring to her beloved man that way, "Please don't call Zachary that! He is your son-in-law!"

Adam snorted and asked sarcastically, "How’s the hospital visit? Can my1 precious' son-in-law still get hard?"

Sophia frowned. "The hospital is highly professional, and everything went smoothly. Please show some more respect to Zachary, Dad."

Adam's eyes widened. "You want me to respect him, but does he respect me? If he doesn't even bother to come in and greet his father-in-law, I have no reason to show him any respect."

Upon realizing that she could no longer persuade Adam, Sophia sighed and said, "Forget it, Dad. I won't argue with you when you're in a bad mood. Where is Benjamin, by the way? I'll bring him to keep Zachary company. He's not in a good mood right now."

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 1697-Adam pointed toward a room in disgust. "Hurry up and get that little brat out of there! He's been mum all morning, and he didn't respond when I asked him if he wanted to eat. He just stared at me and kept crying for his1 Daddy. I couldn't stand it anymore and locked him in that room!"

Sophia could not help but get angry at him. "How could you lock up a child like that?"

Adam retorted, "What else can I do with him? He doesn't respond when I ask if he wants to eat or drink. He just cries and cries! He should be glad I didn't give him a good beating! He's not even my biological grandson!"

Worried that Zachary might overhear her father's comments, Sophia approached him and signaled for him to avoid saying such things. She implored him, "Do you want Zachary to get mad at me? I'll give you a grandson soon, okay? Please just don't make things any more difficult for me!"

The last thing that Adam wanted was to create unnecessary trouble, especially since he was so preoccupied with his issues. He waved her off and said, "Fine, fine! I'll keep my mouth shut. Just bring the child away!"

Sophia felt somewhat relieved and went over to unlock the room door with a key. Benjamin had cried so much inside that his eyes were swollen. He sat dejectedly on the ground in exhaustion and wiped his tears furiously.

When Benjamin heard the doorknob turning, he looked up and saw that the door was swinging open. In a flash, he got up and dashed out like a rocket.

Sophia reached out to stop him, but Benjamin bolted past her and avoided her immediately.

Thankfully, Zachary was at the door to stop Benjamin from running away.

Sophia turned around helplessly and said goodbye to Adam. "Have some rest, Dad. Zachary and I will bring Benjamin to our room. Give me a call if you need anything."

Adam still had a sullen expression as he grumbled, "Go!"

Sophia knew that her father was in a bad mood, but she lacked the energy to stay with him and console him. She had to return and be with Zachary and Benjamin. It was important for her to explain to Zachary why Benjamin was crying, lest Zachary’s resentment toward her and her father continue to increase.

When Sophia exited Adam's suite, she saw that Zachary and Benjamin were already on their way without waiting for her. Though she felt disheartened, she could only follow behind them in silence.

"Benjamin cried his eyes out at my dad's place and kept asking for US," she explained.

Zachary responded indifferently, “I'm so thankful that your father was able to take some time out of his busy schedule to help US look after the child."

Sophia had sensed a slight sarcasm in Zachary’s tone. She did not know how best to respond.

Upon their return to the suite, Zachary took his son back to their room and shut the door.

His gesture meant that he did not want to talk to her.

Sophia understood that well, but she nevertheless approached him and knocked on the door. "I know you're upset, Zachary, but you still need to eat. What would you like for lunch? I can prepare it for you." "No thanks," Zachary said coldly.

Sophia tried to coax him, 'But Benjamin still needs to eat even if you're not hungry. He didn't have much for breakfast and was crying the whole day.

We can't have him starve."

The room was silent for a good half-minute before Zachary finally replied," Just cook whatever."

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 1698-Sophia then said, "I'll make something that you and Benjamin both like to eat. I'll let you know once I'm done."

Zachary did not respond. Sophia waited for a while before heading to the kitchen.

Inside the room, Zachary waited until Sophia left. His cold gaze then turned warm as he looked at Benjamin's swollen eyes.

"Why did you cry so much? Didn't I tell you I'd be back soon?" Zachary's voice was firm, but his hand movements were gentle as he gently rubbed Benjamin's swollen eyes.

Benjamin pouted and replied dejectedly, "Daddy, I… I don't like it here. I want to go back to Mommy Corinne… I…"

Before the child could say anything further, Zachary placed a finger to his lips and urged him to be quiet. They needed to be cautious about discussing 'Mommy Corinne' here.

Benjamin understood his father's gesture and sniffled before falling silent.

Zachary lifted him in his arms and whispered, "I know you miss her very much, and so do I. But it won't be long until our family is reunited."

Benjamin looked at him with surprise and whispered back, "Is that true, Dad?

Can we live with Mommy Corinne, Joey, and Christine, too?"

Zachary nodded with certainty. "Yes. We'll never be separated again after that."

Benjamin felt reassured and hopeful after believing his father. He wiped his eyes and said, "I'll listen to you and wait until we can see Mommy next." He avoided mentioning the name 'Corinne' since his father had just warned him not to bring it up there.

Zachary patted Benjamin's head and said, "Could you help me close the curtains? I'm a little tired, and I'd like to rest for a while." "Okay," Benjamin replied and rushed toward the floor-to-ceiling window. However, he slipped because he ran too fast and ended up falling forward. There was a glass electrical stand just before him, and he would be seriously injured if he were to knock his head on the sharp edge.

Benjamin was already certain that he was going to hurt, but someone picked him up swiftly by the waist and lifted him into the air. Benjamin was relieved that he had been saved, but following his initial shock, he soon realized that there were only himself and Zachary inside the room. He wondered who could have caught him so swiftly like that, and he turned around to see that it was none other than Zachary!

"Daddy?" Benjamin looked at him in surprise and gazed down at his father's legs to make sure that everything was real.

Zachary stood up!

Benjamin was about to get excited when Zachary placed a finger over his mouth to keep him quiet. He whispered in a solemn tone, "Shh! We must keep this a secret from them."

Benjamin understood that 'them' referred to Sophia and Adam, so he nodded vigorously to show that he understood.

Zachary then bent down and placed Benjamin securely on the ground before returning to the wheelchair.

Zachary had yet to fully process the fact that he could stand. Back when Corinne was flirting with him at the hospital, he discovered all of a sudden that his legs had unexpectedly gained some strength. He could not pinpoint the reason for his being able to move them, but it might have been due to the doctor's medication counteracting the effects of the medication Sophia had been giving him for years. Though he was able to stand, his legs needed some time to regain their strength after such a lengthy period of inactivity.

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 1699-Corinne sat in the car as Lucas brought her back to the Holdens. She seemed to be lost in thought as she leaned against the window.

Lucas turned to her and asked, is Jeremy all right?" "He’s fine," Corinne replied wearily, "nothing serious happened."

Lucas then asked, "When do you plan to set the plan in motion?" "Soon."

Corinne narrowed her eyes.

Sunny escorted Xante back to his father's ward. Xante intended to leave the hospital with Corinne, but Sunny had been teasing her so much in the hospital

hallway that she had no choice but to go back with him. It was nothing short of embarrassing.

Maxwell was already resting on his hospital bed. Upon seeing the two of them return, he sat up and immediately greeted his future daughter-in-law.

Xante had never been one to take advantage of other people, but since she returned with Sunny, she had no choice but to use Corinne as her subject of conversation. "I've heard that you're quite concerned about Corinne's wellbeing. Sunny mentioned that you've been feeling down today and that you'd like to hear more about her. Corinne and I grew up together, so feel free to ask whatever questions you want. I'll do my best to answer them." 'Sorry for dragging you into this, boss. It'll be too awkward here if I don't talk about you,' Xante thought to herself.

Maxwell's face lit up, and he seemed to have gained a bit of color on his face.

"Oh? You were childhood friends with her?" "You could say that." Xante nodded.

Maxwell then turned to Sunny and said, "Don't just stand there! Get a chair for your girlfriend!"

Sunny had been searching for a chair in the room because he could not bear to see his darling standing, but there were none available inside the ward. He then decided to bring over a sofa from the adjacent ward and said, "Here. Let's sit together, hehe!"

Xante glanced at the sofa Sunny had moved and reluctantly took a seat. As she sat down, Sunny seized the opportunity to hug her waist. Though she did not consider herself a prude in any way, she still had some measure of reservedness in front of those who were older than her. She reached out and pushed away Sunny's advances with a stern expression.

Undeterred by her rebuff, Sunny groaned playfully and reached out for her waist again. "Don’t be shy, Xante! My dad is an easy-going and open- minded person!

He used to be even wilder than us!"

Maxwell and Xante were speechless.

'What kind of son makes such comments about his father?' Maxwell thought.

'He must think that he's praising his father with that comment!' Xante mused.

Neither Maxwell nor Xante paid any further attention to Sunny. Instead, Maxwell turned to Xante and asked softly, "Could you share how you and Corinne first met? Did she endure a lot of hardships in her childhood?"

Xante could not help herself from frowning as she recalled the challenges Corinne faced in her early years. There was a hint of displeasure in her expression as she looked at the irresponsible biological father in front of her.

"Yes. She endured a lot as a child, and the suffering she went through was more terrible than anything you can ever imagine."

The Day I Kissed An Older Chapter 1700-Corinne sneezed a few times during the journey home, and she had the feeling that someone was talking about her. She assumed that it might be her three kids, or perhaps it was Francine wondering why she had yet to return home.

She did not dwell on it much and continued on her way as she entered the Holdens' compound.

Francine was busy entertaining the kids with a robot kite she had purchased earlier. When she saw that Corinne had returned, she said to the little children, "Your mom's back! Go tell her to play with you! I'm exhausted!

Francine's complaint prompted the children to turn around. They immediately lost interest in their kite when they spotted Corinne walking in from the door. The three of them then ran up to her while calling out ’ Mommy'.

Corinne was instantly swarmed by her three children. To ensure that she could embrace them all evenly, she knelt and spread her arms before bringing them into her warm embrace. "I'm back!"

Christine pouted. "Where were you, Mommy? You left US with Aunt Francine again. She has a date tonight, and she's been asking about you for the entire day!" 'Francine was the one who had been talking about me, then.' Corinne looked up. A servant was holding an umbrella up for Francine as she walked over to Corinne.

Corinne raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why didn't you tell me that you had plans?"

Francine shrugged and replied, "I called you several times, but you didn't pick up!"

Corinne's mind went blank for a moment. A blush appeared when she recalled why she had put her phone on silent.

"Sorry, I didn't hear your call. Well, I'm back now, so you can go ahead and get ready for your date."

Francine was in a rush to meet up with Chester because he had been waiting a long time for her. Nevertheless, she still felt the need to complain to the little rascals. "Hmph! You forgot all about me the instant you saw your Mommy. And you even told on me to her!"

Bryan chimed in innocently, "Joey and I didn't say anything. Christine was the one who told Mom about it! She has a big mouth!"

Christine flared up upon hearing her brother's accusation. She placed her hands on her hips and retorted, "Who are you accusing of having a big mouth? We're twins, so your mouth is the same size as mine!"

Bryan scowled disapprovingly at Christine. "I wasn't talking about the size of our mouths. I'm saying that you can never keep things to yourself!"

Christine grew even more angry. "You're the one who can't keep things to yourself! I can do that if I want to, and no one can force it out of me if I don't want to tell them!"

Bryan raised his chin defiantly. "Why don't you give an example of that?" "I liked the other Bryan more than you! And I've kept that to myself all this time!"

Christine said in anger. "You bully me all the time!"

Bryan appeared displeased. "Go play with him, then! I don't like your noisy chattering either. I enjoyed the peace at Daddy's place so much that I didn't even want to return! I would've stayed if I didn't miss Mommy so much!"

Christine’s anger intensified. "You… You're so annoying! I won't talk to you anymore!"