Chapter 8
Ethan’s heart sank the moment he saw the message.
A wave of panic and unease spread through him. He immediately called Faith back, but her phone was turned off. When he sent her a message, it failed to
be delivered.
Did she block his number? Was she throwing a tantrum because he snubbed Callie’s birthday party?
Frustrated, Ethan tugged at his tie.
“Mr. Hale, Mr. Lamont from Prestige Group has arrived downstairs.” Mathias knocked on the door to remind him.
Ethan took a deep breath and walked out of the room after pulling himself together.
He personally went down to the lobby to welcome Lenny Lamont due to the importance of their partnership.
As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he was met with a commotion.
Ethan turned his head and saw Daniel sitting on the floor, staring up at someone defiantly.
“My dad owns this place! You broke my ball, so you’d better apologize!”
“You want me to apologize when it was you who made a mistake?”
“I’m just a kid! Why are you picking on me? Apologize now, or I’ll tell my dad to kick you all out!”
Ethan walked over. The moment Daniel saw him, he scrambled to his feet and ran to his side.
“Dad, they bullied me! He broke my ball!” Daniel pointed rudely at the man.
When Ethan saw the man in question, a headache immediately set in.
“Mr. Lamont, is there some kind of misunderstanding?” He kept his tone polite as he pulled Daniel off the floor.
“Mr. Hale, is this your son?” Lenny asked with a cold sneer.
“He’s the son of a friend,” Ethan replied, feeling slightly awkward.
Lenny let out a sarcastic chuckle. “There’s no misunderstanding at all. He kept throwing his ball at me. My secretary couldn’t stand it anymore and took
it away. Then, the little rascal demanded an apology and even threatened to have you kick me out.” His expression darkened.
“Mr. Hale, I’ll have to reconsider our partnership. Goodbye.”
“Mr. Lamont, wait-”
Ethan tried to go after him, but Daniel clung to his leg. “Dad, don’t bother with him. He’s a bad guy.‘
Ethan could only watch as Lenny walked away.
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“Daniel!” His face darkened as he pulled the boy off his leg. “Get up! You’re coming with me to apologize!”
Daniel froze for a moment before bursting into tears. “Dad, you don’t love me anymore! You’re mean! Mom–I want my mom!” Ethan’s patience wore thin as he stared at the wailing child. He stared at Daniel angrily.
“Get up!”
“I’m not getting up!” Daniel huffed and turned his head away. “You’re bullying me too! I’m telling Mom!”
For a split second, Ethan thought of Callie, who never threw tantrums or acted out.
She was always so careful, always watching him quietly, waiting for him to approach her.
But he had never approached her.
Daniel’s cries grew louder and louder. The lobby was bustling with people, and some had started whispering among themselves. Ethan’s expression turned even darker as he glared at Daniel. “Get up!”
Daniel wailed even louder.
Ethan bent down to pry Daniel’s hands off when Nicole came running out of the elevator.
Daniel! Ethan! What’s going on?”
The moment Daniel saw her, he became even more unruly. “Dad doesn’t love me anymore! He’s going to hit me!”
Seeing her son in tears, Nicole quickly pulled him into her arms. “Ethan, he’s just a child. If he’s done something wrong, you can blame me or punish ime. But don’t be too harsh on him. Okay?”
Daniel buried himself in Nicole’s embrace, sobbing uncontrollably, as if Ethan had actually laid a hand on him.
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The cries gave Ethan a pounding headache, He was beyond frustrated.
He turned and left.
Chapter 8
2/2
For the first time, he felt that Nicole and Daniel could never compare to Faith and Callie.
Ethan stopped in his tracks.
Why was he thinking about them?
What did Faith’s message mean?
Pushing aside the strange feeling, he rushed back to his office and called Lenny, offering to give up 10 percent of the profits in exchange for the deal.
Lenny sneered. “Mr. Hale, you really go all out for someone else’s kids, huh? Giving up 10 percent of the profits is quite a sacrifice. But let me offer you some advice—the child of another man will never be your own. Let’s get along well.”
“Mr. Lamont, thanks for your advice. All the best for our collaboration.”
Ethan’s face darkened. Callie’s image surfaced in his mind again, and his heart suddenly sank.
Had he ever truly loved his daughter?
All of a sudden, he wanted to head home and take a look at Callie.
