Mom, I'm sorry.

Chrisette looked at her Son when she remembered something. "Right! When I first saw Kaylee, why did you say she's your assistant? You lied to me."

Christopher looked at Kaylee and then to his Mom. "We weren't together at that time."

Kaylee bit her lower lip. Of course, they can't let them know about their first contract. It's a private matter after all.

Chrisette raised her eyebrow. "Yet you buy her clothes and defend her to Sofia?"

Christopher sighed. "It's natural for me to defend my person."

"No, It's not. You wouldn't do that if it were Anna."

"Anna can handle Sofia and she can defend herself."

"And Kaylee can't. Is that what you mean?"

"Mom."

Chrisette cleared her throat. "Okay, I won't ask."

At that time, there was a man standing not too far away, leaning behind the wall and hiding himself. "Ohya, what a loving mother!" he said with a low voice. His face darkened. "Is that how you seduce Dad?"

Ethan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He displayed his usual gentle and innocent facial expression as he ran his fingers into his hair before showing himself to them.

Kaylee, Charlotte, Chrisette, and Christopher looked at him simultaneously.

Ethan smiled at them and looked at Kaylee and Christopher. Chrisette sneered as she saw Ethan.

Charlotte blinked, stood up, and walked toward Ethan. "Ethan-nii, okaeri.[1]"

Ethan placed his right hand on Charlotte's head and looked at her sister. "Tadaima![2]" He then looked at Christopher and Chrisette. "I'm home."

Chrisette sneered once again. Christopher just wrapped his arm around Kaylee's shoulder as if he were saying, she's mine.

Ethan gritted his teeth but forced himself to smile. He looked once again at Charlotte and patted her head. "I'll be in my room." He paused and looked at Chrisette. "I'll take my leave, Mother."

Hearing Ethan call her mother again, Chrisette gritted her teeth. Ethan knew that she didn't want him to call her mother but he always did to make her pissed.

'Pissing off this old woman is a piece of cake' Ethan thought to himself while leaving the living room. He smirked as he walked upstairs.

Christopher looked at his wristwatch and at the three women in front of him. "It's late, let's sleep. I have to take Kaylee somewhere tomorrow."

Chrisette sighed. "Alright"

Christopher walked toward her and hugged her. "That's why I told you to move out."

Chrisette shook her head. "Never! That's what he wanted."

Christopher sighed.

Charlotte rolled her eyes and looked at her mother and her brother. "Why did you guys hate Ethan so much?"

Chrisette glared at her daughter. "It's not that we hate him, he made us hate him. Why? It seems like you don't hold a grudge against that half-brother of yours, where, in fact, he's the reason why you were sent abroad."

Charlotte gritted her teeth. "I know that. I hate him because of that, but he's treating me well since then. I hate him sometimes. Especially when he's doing badly against you and Topher, but that doesn't mean I need to treat him the same way you did. He's still my brother."

Chrisette gritted her teeth. "And I am your mother."

Charlotte sighed. "Yes, you are. I know that and I love you, just don't interfere with how I treat anyone around me. It is me — "

Christopher stopped her before she could finish her sentence. He patted her shoulder and smiled at her. "Enough." He leaned over to Charlotte's ear. "At least try to understand Mom in this matter. If you don't stop now, you and Mom will end up fighting."

Charlotte bit her lower lip and looked at her mom. "Mom. I'm sorry."