Cunning Woman 1

"I can't believe you invited Laura to live with us." Leo uttered as they stopped in front of the house. It was a joke, but with how cold Leo looked, anyone would think he's serious. He was carrying Luke in his arms and two women stood before him. Charmaine took out the house key and opened the door to welcome Laura in.

"Don't forget the reason why I broke up with Ivan." Laura reminded him with a glare before entering the house. It's already dark outside when they reached home but they haven't eaten dinner yet. "I hope there's food." Laura mumbled.

Leo chuckled. "See? She loves eating. She'll finish all our food in one seating." Leo jested.

"So what? Will you go bankrupt if I eat all your food? You just have to go shopping more often." she refuted.

"Yes, dad. Please don't bully my Auntie!" Luke joined in. He loves aunties. They are great and loving. Charmaine was once his aunt too and she was the best aunt in the world!

Leo turned quiet. Even Luke is on Laura's side now? What a charmer!

"Miss, you're home!" from the kitchen, Lucia appeared and greeted them. "The guests are already having dinner at the dining room. Would you like to accompany them?", the girl asked.

Charmaine raised her brows. Yes. Her mother in law is now staying with them. She almost forgot about that. She turned to Leo and looked at him meaningfully. "You can join them. I'll carry Luke upstairs to his room first." she told him.

Leo glanced at the boy in his arms and then back to his wife. "He's heavy. I'll just carry him for you." he replied before turning to Laura. "You're hungry, right? You can eat with mom and Adele." he teased her.

Laura frowned and cursed in her heart. "Who's hungry? I'm not!" she exclaimed before grabbing Lucia's wrist. "Come! Show me where my room is. I need a warm shower!" she said before dragging Lucia away.

Leo watched as his sister went upstairs with the maid. She wondered if she's really alright. She's still lively... well, she's livelier than before so it's a bit suspicious. "Isn't she the new maid in your parent's house?" Leo asked Charmaine when they started ascending the staircase. "Why did you choose her? Isn't she a bit too young?", he asked.

Charmaine just shrugged her shoulders. "I like her." she replied. Lucia was a big part of her past self, she owed her a lot and she plans on returning the many favors she gave her ten folds in this lifetime!

When they reached upstairs, Leo put the four year old child on his bed and tuck him in. Well, he's turning five in three weeks. He wondered if he should start preparing for his birthday.

"Luke, are you hungry? Do you want to eat anything?", Charmaine asked.

Luke just shook his head. He just ate some porridge before leaving the hospital. "I'm sleepy." he mumbled.

Charmaine smiled at him and kissed his forehead. "Alright. You may rest. I'll go shower first." she told him before leaving the room.

After Charmaine closes the door of Luke's room, she suddenly felt Leo grabbing her wrist. She turned to him with perplexed eyes and saw him having a strange expression. She's not used to seeing him having various emotions such as he was displaying these past few days. Was he worried about something?

"I need to apologize. I gave your room to Laura." he said in a soft voice.

That's it? "It's alright. I can sleep anywhere." she jested before laughing at his sour reaction.

"Anywhere? You're sleeping with me in the masters bedroom of course! I've already had your stuffs moved a few days ago!" he blurted as he pulled her to show her their bedroom.

Leo wasn't lying. The masters bedroom was indeed redecorated and it was styled to her liking! Every corner reflects her ideals, so different to the black and white room she saw when she first arrived. "Is it a coincidence that all the books in that bookshelf were all written by my favorite Authors?" she asked while pointing to the shelves across the bed. The bookshelves contain various books but there's one shelf in the middle which contains Charmaine's all time favorites.

"How can you believe in coincidences?" Leo uttered. "Those are yours. Even the other shelf above it, those were written by the same authors. There's only a few copies remaining so I gathered you haven't read them yet. I had my assistant search for them all over the world for you."

All over the world. That was a big word. He really made that effort? So surreal! She was unable to comment about it, and even a simple thank you didn't escape her lips and she felt him hugging her from the back. He held her tight and kissed her shoulder. "Does having my mom stay with us bother you?",he suddenly asked. "I have to apologize for that, too. It's my fault that she didn't like you." Tomorrow, he'll be going out to work, and Charmaine will be left alone with his mother. He has only thought of it now and it worried him.

Charmaine smiled a bit. "Knowing you care about it is good enough for me. Elise is your mother so she's not a bother at all. If I can change her impression of me, wouldn't it be great?" she answered.

Her very positive response stunned Leo. He was reminded of the young Xiaomin who never let any hardship bring her down. No matter how cold he treated her in the past, she always smile at him in return. He now wonders why he was able to hate such a pure woman all those years. He used to have this irritated feeling whenever he sees her. Where did that come from anyway?

"How about Adele?" he asked next.

Charmaine saw that coming. Even her name brings a bitter taste to her mouth, but she can't disclose it. "She's your mom's favorite daughter. I can't just kick her out or your mother will hate me to the core!" she joked. Laura would hate to hear that but it's the truth. Elise liked Adele more than her own biological daughter. From what she knew, it's because she loved Adele's father so much and Laura.... she looked like Joel Ji and reminded her of him. Even her sarcastic and playful personality was inherited from Joel Ji. So unlike her sweet and caring step daughter!

Charmaine's special memories thought her of one thing. If she show Adele hostility and regard her with distaste, it will only backfire to her. The woman was surprisingly cunning and only by being calm can she defeat her.

"I'm really sorry. I promise I'll look over you." Leo muttered as she turned her around to give her a kiss.

***

Luke was about to sleep when he heard a knock on his bedroom door. He was yet to respond when the door slowly swung open and a couple of women came in. Catching a glimpse of the women's face, Luke quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

"The kid is sleeping now, mom." he heard Adele said in a soft voice.

"Yeah. We shouldn't interrupt his sleep. Let's just see him again tomorrow." Elise replied. But Luke could hear footsteps closing in on him.

"Wasn't I right, mom? I told you something bad happened to Leo and I was right." Adele mumbled as she stood in front of the child.

Elise furrowed her brows. How dare she bring that up? Yes, she told her something bad happened to Leo and so she rushed from Bonn to Chelsea with her. She was so worried when she heard Leo was in the hospital, but it turned out that Leo was just there for his son!

"What bad things are you talking about? Leo having a child is a good thing!" Elise refuted.

Adele turned to her step mother with a cunning smile. "Yes. But he's not Leo's child. Leo thought the kid was his and I'm sure that's the reason why he married her! That Charmaine Song was only using the child to have Leo!"

Elise was shocked. She glanced at the child and stared at him. How could that be? The child looked exactly like Leo! "Who told you all these?" she asked with suspicion.

Adele remembered the woman she met in Bonn. She told her someone was trying to blackmail Leo Ji into marrying her. But when she arrived, she found out that they were already married! She's still furious about that! "I can't tell you who she was... but I can tell you who the child's father is." she uttered. "Leo's elder brother." she added.

Luke was furious when he heard the exchange. He's Leo's son! How dare those women spread gossips about his identity! Yet he endured it all. He remained 'sleeping' in front of them to eavesdrop.