Chapter Thirty Eight

"Uncle Scott, have you decided yet?" Ariel wouldn't let go. He kept holding Scott's hand. When Stephen heard this, he was struck speechless. This little fellow was basically selling his wife to another man. It seemed the kid had grown ballsy. In the past, Stephen didn't care what other women did, mainly because he didn't care for them. But Brielle was not one of those women. Brielle was someone he wanted to fall in love with.

Wow! There was no point in fighting it anymore. Stephen has already fallen in love. "Um... Hey, Ariel! I've come to a decision. Your mommy and Mr. Chu are in love. We're done talking." Scott thought, 'Little boy! Stop pulling my leg! I already got slapped for just trying to be friendly to your mom. What do you think would happen if I said anything about liking her?'

"Uncle Scott, have you really made up your mind? This is your last chance! My mom is really really beautiful!" Little Ariel gave Scott a look of pity as if Scott had made some terrible decisions. "Ariel CHu! You're itching for a beating, aren't you? Or were the fifty push-ups too easy for you? Wanna make it a hundred?" Brielle said, harshly. Brielle finally realized what was going on. Her own son was trying to persuade another gu for romance. She thought that she looked good enough. Why would her son go around selling her?

stephen's handsome face darkened. When he heard Brielle's words, he finally relaxed a little. When he was a the hospital, he thought that Ariel was joking around, so he didn't really care. Who knew he was serious? Now that he thought about it, it seemed he was really determined to find a guy for Brielle.

"Uhhhh... Mom, are you angry?" Ariel kept blinking, staring at Brielle's upset face and looking all hurt. Every time his mom called out his last name, he knew that she was very angry. But he was only trying to upset Mr. Chu Ariel was angry that Stephen was such a bad a person back then, and that Stephen preferred other women to Ariel's mother. So Ariel was doing everything to make it hard for Stephen now. Competition would certainly motivate him.

Ariel's friend on the internet told him hat his relationship was hard work. he had to test Mr. Chu out, harden his will, in case he would want out down the road. "I'm not angry. you disappointed me, that's all. So mommy is angry at me. It was all because of me that you had the wrong idea." Brielle felt powerless. She didn't want to get on to Ariel too much, but she couldn't let him off without knowing what he did wrong.

"Mommy, I'm sorry. I just want to find someone who likes you. Even though I like you, I want even more people to like my mom, just like there are a lot of people who like me." Tears welled around Ariel's dark eyes but he held them back. Stephen looked at Brielle in surprise. he didn't expect her to be that harsh when she was angry. he was glad he didn't get on her bad side. Yet when he saw his son's sad face, he was hurt as well. For the first time, he found it impossible to take aside.

"Ariel, you really think so? Then why can't daddy be the one who likes mommy?" Stephen bend down and lifted Ariel in his arms. He truly loved his son. Sometimes he was filled with regret for all those years that he had missed.

As Brielle listened to Stephen, she suddenly turned toward him, her heart racing. She never excepted to hear Stephen say that he lives her in front of others. before today, she always believed that the things he said were mere to appease her. She never thought that he would actually act on them.

"Daddy, can I believe you? Will you really like mommy?" Ariel asked Stephen seriously because he was waiting for that answer. This was all part of his plan. "Ariel, daddy can't make any promises, but I'm willing to follow my heart. You should believe in your mom's charm. I'm more into her every single day we're together. Although what I'm saying might sound strange to you, your mom would understand when she hears it." Stephen finished and stared at Brielle intently. he was still unsure to whom the love in her eyes was directed. That was why he said what he said.

Brielle was shocked again. What was he doing? Was he trying to say that it didn't just talk? And was he really willing to stand by her and be the man who belonged to her exclusively? "Yes! Daddy, I believe you. Then mommy can rely on more than just me." Ariel smiled gleefully and gave Stephen a forceful kiss.

Stephen was a little lost because of Ariel's abrupt kiss. This was the first time the kid ever acted so affectionately. Usually, he would either be pulling pranks or simply play it cool, like he didn't care. Brielle was a little uneasy since Scott was still in the room. She scanned the room, but she couldn't find Scott anymore. She gasped, and thought, 'When did he leave? Why didn't I know?'

Stephen knew who she was looking for. But Scott was not dumb. he didn't want to be in the middle of this, so he bailed on them while they were distracted. Ariel wriggled out of Stephen's embrace and ran to Brielle, laughing. he took her hands and put them to his face. "Mommy, you're not angry with me anymore, right?"

"As long as you listen to me, I won't be angry at you. Remember, kids shouldn't get involved in the grown-up business," Brielle said seriously. That was non-negotiable. "Yes! I understand, mommy. I'll listen in the future." 'The cute kid gets the candy,' to paraphrase a well-known saying. Ariel played the role well. That was how he was able to hide his cunning from Brielle for so long.

The spectacular sunset was always followed by the twilight just around the corner. Holding hands with Brielle and Ariel, Stephen walked out of his office. Everyone was just getting off to work, and they stopped and stared. They didn't dare come any closer than that.

Brielle was used to attention, conducting meetings in the military. But with Stephen, it was a different story. Their gaze made her nervous, but she didn't know why. Feeling her hand tense up, Stephen turned to look at her and found her pretty face as calm as usual in spite of her sweating hand. She took pride in her stoicism as a soldier.

Stephen nodded to the employees who greeted him. He walked out of Chu International Group confidently, leaving his co-workers to talk and gossip. "Daddy, can we have Western food tonight?" Ariel looked at his father, waiting for an answer. Out of all the meals they could have chosen, Western food was the most romantic.

But it reminded Stephen of what Claire had ordered at noon. He lost his appetite immediately. Who would eat Western food all day? "Honey, what would you like for dinner?" Stephen used the term 'honey' naturally like he'd called her that millions of times. He hadn't.

Hearing the word, Brielle became uneasy again. Their eyes met. her moist lips moved a little, but nothing came out of her mouth. Looking into his bright eyes, she had forgotten everything but love.

"What is it? Are you OK?" Stephen asked. Noticing that something was wrong, he was worried and put his hand to her forehead to feel it. "Oh, nothing. Just spacing out." When his hand touched her forehead, Brielle lowered her head, unable to meet his deep gaze any more.

Stephen sighed quietly. Brielle looked at him, lost in thought again. 'Do I remind her of somebody else?' A shadow crossed his gaze, then his eyes became bright again. 'Brielle, I don't care who you are thinking of. You will only think of me soon enough.'

"Mommy, can you tell daddy we'll eat Western food tonight?" Ariel was plotting something. Red wine was a must-have with Western food. After his parents got tipsy, an intimate moment would follow. So he was expecting his mom to say yes.

"Ariel, have you ever eaten Western food? Do you know that you have to observe many table manners while having Western food?" Brielle was not fond of Western food, so she tried to make Ariel give up easily. Years of living in the army had changed her a lot, expect her love for Stephen.

'Yes, Daddy has taken me to a Western restaurant lot of times. He even taught me the manners that go with it." Ariel had never eaten Western food before staying with his father. He'd changed a lot; proving the old adage that you are where you live.

Brielle looked at Stephen, perplexed. She had eaten way too much Western food when she had been in military food and didn't want any more of it. Foreigners never ate their steak well done, and anything less reminded her of raw meat. She got sick just thinking about it.

"What's the matter? Do you hate Western food?" This was the first time he had found that she could also be confused apart from being cold. "It's OK, as long as you two like it." Brielle grit her teeth. 'Fine, Western food it is. I have eaten so much of it anyway. I just don't like it.

"Ariel, let's eat something else today. We can have Western food some other day." Stephen had figured out she hated it by her expression. 'How could the daughter of a wealthy family not like Western food?' He was surprised.

"Mommy. do you really hate it? OK. I like whatever mommy likes." Although his plan was important, he didn't want to hurt mommy. He was adaptable, he'd simply change his methods. "Are you serious? I hope you won't regret it." Brielle teased. She smiled slightly, rare, and almost unnoticeable.

This was new to Stephen. Brielle continued to amaze him. She was like a piece of jade bringing him surprises. "Ah, mommy, I hope you are not thinking of that." Ariel was sweating. My God! 'Don't please don't be it. It will kill me. Mom won't do that to me. I'm her son.'

"I'm not thinking of anything." Brielle thought it wise to have an ally in this. He would soon find out he was the odd man out. Oh, my Goddess! "What are you two talking about? Just tell me." Stephen was clueless. He had no idea what they were talking about.

"The hottest Szechuan dishes. Daddy, you don't like them either, do you?" Ariel had placed his last wager on his father. But he lost, as Stephen didn't mind spicy food. he knew his mother loved Stephen very much, and that she would defer to him. But Ariel didn't know the odds always favored the house.