Chapter 6 The Precious Parent-child Time

Michael's heart suddenly softened. He withdrew his hand and stepped back, waiting for the bodyguard to return.

Soon, the bodyguard rushed in.

"Mr. Michael, the information in the SIM card has been destroyed by someone remotely. We couldn't retrieve anything."

Hearing the bodyguard's report, Michael turned to glare at Minnie. "You dare say there's nothing wrong with you?"

Ordinary people wouldn't need to use a card that could be easily destroyed by remote operation. Moreover, that Nokia phone must have been specially adapted for remote operation too.

Minnie rubbed her neck and frowned.

Michael grabbed fistfuls of her hair and yanked her head, forcing her to look at him.

"Jessica Lin, I don't care why you are here and what you are up to. But I want you to leave after a month. Don't ever play your tricks here."

He patted her cheeks and smiled. "Do you understand?"

Minnie looked at Michael in the eye and nodded.

Michael snorted and let go of Minnie.

"Keep an eye on her," he ordered the bodyguards at the door before leaving.

Michael had been good at adopting a long-term plan to achieve his goals since five years ago. He would just wait and see what this woman was up to.

That night, he stayed at home to have dinner, which was rare. The maid, Annie Shen, had cooked a scrumptious meal for the three of them. She placed the dishes on the table and ushered Minnie to the dining room. "Miss Jessica, this way, please."

Minnie smiled and pulled the chair beside Michael and sat down.

"Did I ask you to sit at the table and have dinner with us?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Where do I eat then?" Minnie looked at him and pouted. "Please don't send me back to my room and make me eat like an aggrieved wife in the ancient times. We do not live in a feudal society. Michael, don't go too far."

Michael's heart skipped a beat as memories of the past flooded his mind. The words his beloved woman had said were still vivid in his memory. "Michael, the wives in the ancient times lived a miserable life. They had to please the elders. No one respected them; they couldn't have a meal at the table. Women were confined in their rooms and were forced to eat the leftovers. Thinking about it makes me sad."

Michael wondered what he had told her then. He had ruffled her hair and smiled lovingly. "Don't worry when I'm with you. I will never let anyone bully you."

Bruce looked at Michael, who was lost in thought. His father's silence infuriated him. "Annie has allowed you to sit at the table with us only because she feels bad for you. She has only cooked for me and Daddy, not for you. Don't be a shameless woman!" He glared at Minnie.

Minnie gritted her teeth and looked at her son.

"Hmm... There are many dishes on the table. I wonder how you two can finish them if I don't eat."

Bruce's face broke into a devilish grin. "You don't have to worry about that. The dogs will finish the rest of the food. I love my two puppies."

Minnie threw the chopsticks away and stood up. "Okay, you eat! I don't think you can finish all these."

"Wait and watch," he retorted.

Bruce couldn't admit his defeat; therefore, he began stuffing the food as much as his little stomach could endure.

'I can't wait for Mommy to return home. She will teach this woman a lesson.'

The overeating had caused an unbearable stomachache. Bruce couldn't sleep that night.

The relentless cries from Bruce's room woke Minnie up. Her heart broke into a thousand pieces-she couldn't watch her son suffer.

She tiptoed to his room and opened the door.

"Bruce?"

Bruce was tossing and turning on the bed. The excruciating pain was getting unbearable with every passing minute. He heard a faint and tender voice that called him. "Mommy!" he cried instinctively.

Minnie held his arm and sat on the bed beside him. "Bruce, what happened? Why are you crying?"

Bruce couldn't open his eyes. Pain and sleep consumed him; he felt soft hands holding him and wanted to revel in the warmth a little longer.

"Mommy!"

He cried, rubbing his swollen stomach. "My stomach hurts."

Minnie touched his stomach that felt rock solid under her fingers. The boy had eaten more than he could digest.

Michael had a first aid box in his room that hoarded all kinds of medicines and ointments. However, Minnie didn't want to go to his room late at night. She massaged Bruce's stomach and walked out to buy medicine.

Minnie slipped on her coat to leave. But before she could step out, the entire villa lit up. She squeezed her eyes, adjusting to the blinding lights, and opened them again. Michael looked at her from his room upstairs.

"So this is your plan. You were waiting for everyone to fall asleep before sneaking out."

Ignoring his remark, Minnie took her purse and walked out.

However, the bodyguards at the door grabbed her hands and stopped her.

"Miss Jessica, please don't force us to hurt you."

Michael came downstairs, stepped closer to her and grabbed her jaw. "Where do you want to go?" Minnie slapped his hand away. Her face reddened with rage.

She stepped back and stared at the man. "Go to your son's room and see him for yourself.

The poor boy is in pain, but you don't seem to care."

"He is my son!"

Michael barked. He meant to tell her that he didn't want anyone to meddle in his personal life.

"I was going to buy some medicine." Minnie snorted. "Now that you don't want me to leave, I'll go back to my room and sleep. Take care of your son, and don't disturb me."

She pushed Michael away and turned to leave.

But the man grabbed her hand.

"What now?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Bruce is sick. Aren't you here to take care of him?"

Minnie's heart skipped a beat. She wondered if Michael had found her true intention. "Michael Lu, what's wrong with you?" She tried wriggling out of his hold. "Bruce is not my son!"

"You can be his nanny and take care of him."

Michael grabbed her hand and dragged her upstairs. Minnie tried hard but couldn't get rid of the man. She stomped her foot as she staggered behind him.

"Michael Lu, stop pushing me! I was kind enough to buy him medicine, but you reprimanded me for that as well. Why should I take care of him now?"

Although Minnie was angry, she regretted uttering the words. She wanted to spend every moment taking care of her son. However, Michael had crossed his limits this time. She didn't want the man to doubt her intention.

"Have you forgotten that I can still hand you over to the police? Are you going to work as a nanny or not?" he threatened.

Minnie was seething with rage. "Leave my hand first! I'll do it! I'll do it! Okay? Do you have any antacid? I need to give him some medicine."

Michael glanced at her before leaving her hand. Hearing the commotion, Annie rushed in. He asked the maid to bring medicine for Bruce.

"Don't play any tricks with me,"

Michael warned.

"You don't have to keep reminding me." Minnie shoved him away, intending to push him against the wall. But the man didn't budge. She glared at him before taking the medicine from Annie and walking into the child's room.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Bruce's cries grew louder.

Minnie's face softened. She took a glass of warm water and fed him the medicine. Once Bruce swallowed the medicine, she gently massaged his stomach.

Bruce held Minnie's hand firmly and shook his head. "Mommy, don't leave me. Don't abandon me."

Minnie gently wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead and leaned closer to him.

'I won't go anywhere. Even if I leave, I'll make sure to take you with me.

Sleep well, baby. Mommy will always be with you,' she thought, hoping that the little boy could read her mind.

A weight settled on Michael's chest when he saw Minnie's sweet interaction with his son.

Bruce gradually calmed down as the medicine started working and drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

Seeing that Bruce had stopped crying, Michael wanted to drive her away.

"I don't intend to stay here."

Minnie tried withdrawing her hand from Bruce's hold. "Mommy, don't leave. Mommy, don't leave," the boy started crying as soon as he sensed her moving away.

Minnie's heart melted in an instant. "Look, I don't want to stay either. But your son doesn't want me to leave. What do I do?" she deliberately said with a helpless sigh.

Michael saw his son clinging to Minnie for dear life. "Fine. You can stay here.

But I don't want you to use your tricks on him," he warned before storming out of the room.

Minnie rolled her eyes and made a face at him, but quickly turned away when Michael stopped at the door.

She continued massaging Bruce's stomach as if nothing had happened.

Minnie was glad that Bruce's stomach had returned to normal. The stiff parts had loosened up.

As her attention was fully on her son, she didn't notice Michael's curious gaze on her before he finally left.

The lights in the villa went out one after the other. Minnie's heart leaped to her throat as darkness engulfed her. She gently carried Bruce and placed him on the bed.

"Bruce, be a good boy. I will be with you." She hugged and caressed his cheeks.

As if Bruce had heard her, he loosened his grip on Minnie's hand.

"Good boy, my baby."

She leaned forward and kissed his forehead.

Hugging Bruce, Minnie fell asleep easily.

Michael watched everything on the monitor with a grim expression. He couldn't understand the woman anymore.

Minnie woke up the next morning as something hard nudged her back.

"Hey! I didn't allow you to sleep in my bed. Get out of here!" Bruce whined as he struggled in her arms.

Minnie's eyes fluttered open as she stared at the boy in a daze. Her face broke into an ecstatic grin. She held Bruce tighter and kissed the top of his head. "Be a good boy, Bruce."

Bruce's mind went blank.

He touched his head where the warmth of Minnie's kiss lingered.

His jaw dropped in shock, but he soon returned to his senses.

"Ah! You damn woman! How dare you kiss me?"

Minnie was tired of arguing with the little boy. She smiled and ruffled his hair. "Why are you so arrogant, just like your father? If you go on like this, you won't find a girlfriend when you grow up."

Minnie sat up and stretched. "Come on, get up. Don't stay in bed after waking up," she urged.

"I will do what I want. Don't tell me what to do."

Bruce glared at her before dragging the quilt to his body.

Minnie shook her head and smiled. "Okay, if you don't come out..."

She smacked his back and giggled. "... this is what I'll do."

"Hey!"

Bruce sat up and frowned. "What are you doing? How dare you hit me?"

"You are wide awake. Get up now!

"Jeez, all right!" Bruce rubbed his back. "You are a nagging and bad woman." He tried glaring at her but couldn't suppress the smile that was forcing its way out.

Minnie smiled and pinched his cheek.

"You are adorable, Bruce!"

The boy slapped her hand away. "I know that! You don't have to praise me."

Bruce put on his shoes and ran to the bathroom.