Chapter 51
Athena glanced over at her own kiddo and then In a flash, her eyes were back on the test paper in her hand.
Kevin’s teacher didn’t catch a whiff of something off, but as a mom, she could tell in a heartbeat. The handwriting on the test paper looked like Kevin’s, but it was a heck of a lot neater than his usual scrawl.
How in the world did a kid’s handwriting change so abruptly overnight? Athena squatted down and asked, “Kevin, you used to be stumped by these questions. How come you’ve suddenly got them all figured out?”
Before stepping in as a stand–in for the test, Payne had already cooked up a story with Kevin, “Mr. Payne Bradshaw tutored me, so now I’ve got these questions down pat!”
Looking at her son, Athena didn’t say a word, and Payne, feeling a twinge of guilt, hung his head low.
He had fibbed to Belle Athena, he wasn’t being a good kid. If Athena found out he and Kevin had swapped identity, fooling a whole bunch of folks, would she be super bummed with him?
The snowball of lies kept getting bigger and heavier, and Payne, with his head drooping and his chubby little lips pouting, had eyes brimming with regret.
Athena’s gentle voice landed softly on Payne’s head, “Kevin, after Mr. Payne Bradshaw tutored you, your grades have skyrocketed. You’ll have to learn a lot more from him.”
Athena scooped up Payne and plopped him on the back of the motorbike.
“Mommy’s whipped up a whole lot of yummy treats to spoil you. We gotta pick up something to thank Mr. Payne Bradshaw for the tutoring. What do you reckon he likes?”
Athena couldn’t fathom how her son turned into an academic whiz overnight. Hearing her son mention the young heir from the Bradshaw family, she figured she might as well get the lowdown from him.
Payne lifted his head, his face as innocent as a snowball, a mix of shock and delight washing over him.
“I want a bunny!”
“Eh?”
His little hand clutched Athena’s windbreaker, mustering courage, full of hope and pleading, he. said, “Mr. Payne Bradshaw wants a bunny made by Mommy’s own hands!”
Athena blinked her lashes, “I don’t think he’d really like a handmade bunny.”
Payne’s little noggin shook like a bobblehead, “No way!”
He said earnestly and with certainty, “He’s so jealous of Kevin, having a bunny made by
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Mommy. Can you make another bunny plush for him? He’d treasure it for sure!”
The words of a child, pure and innocent, made Athena unconsciously overlook the odd bits in Payne’s story. She lifted her hand and gently ruffled the kid’s soft, delicate hair.
“Alright, I’ll stitch up a fluffy bunny plush and gift it to him.”
“Okay!”
Joy sparkled in Payne’s eyes, even happier than if he had aced all his subjects. In his heart, he whispered a silent thanks to Mommy!
Two days later, at Mystic Ridge Cozy Retreat.
“Mr. Bradshaw, Ms. Dempsey’s here to see you,” Kent stood at the door of the study, and Newman was a bit taken aback.
Ever since Athena was locked in his car and, well, after that whole episode, she hadn’t let him drive her again.
That Cayenne had been cleaned spotless and was parked in the garage. Word was Athena wanted to junk it.
Athena’s sudden visit to Cozy Retreat – what was she up to? Newman rose from behind his desk and stepped out.
Athena was sitting elegantly, legs crossed, in the living room on the first floor of the mansion. The Bradshaw family’s servant brought in tea and a fruit platter. Athena took the teacup with a gracious “Thank you“.
It was Athena’s first time at the mansion, and the old servant couldn’t help but take a few extra glances at her.
“Ms. Dempsey’s a real looker!” Despite being used to the high–society gals of Everglade City, the old servant couldn’t help but sigh in admiration when face–to–face with Athena.
Athena gave a slight smile, “Is Mr. Payne Bradshaw at home?”
The servant informed her, “He went to enjoy the hot springs.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed Athena’s clear, bright eyes, “Actually, I’m here today to see him.”
The servant, holding the tray, apologized, “Even if he was here, Ms. Dempsey, you wouldn’t be able to see him. Mr. Payne Bradshaw’s not well; he usually doesn’t receive guests.”
Athena couldn’t help but say, “A child with a delicate constitution should get more exercise, boost his immune system.‘
“How to raise a child, Ms. Dempsey, isn’t something you need to worry about.”
A cool, detached voice rose behind Athena. She turned her head to see the tall, handsome man looking divine.
Chapter 51
The sight of this unprecedented player made Athena want to give him the cold shoulder. She lowered her lashes, not deigning to give Newman a glance, “I came here today to thank Mr. Payne Bradshaw for tutoring my son recently. This is a token of appreciation. My son said, Payne would like this gift.”
Newman’s eyes darkened with emotion.
She continued, “So, please pass this thank–you gift to Payne on my behalf.”
With that, Athena handed over the paper bag she was holding. Seeing that the man didn’t reach out to take it, Athena pursed her lips, placed the paper bag on the coffee table, and stood up to leave, no longer wanting to share the same space with Newman.
The man turned to watch Athena’s retreating figure. She came all the way here just to drop off a gift?
And so, Newman’s cold, indifferent voice rang out, instructing the servant, “Check the stuff she brought. If there’s nothing wrong with it, toss it in the storage room.”
Normally, when people sent gifts to Payne, he’d have someone check them out before keeping them. Even if it was something Athena brought, it was no exception.
Everything Payne used, Newman made sure he got nothing but the best. His son didn’t need hand–me–downs from anyone else.
The servant picked up the paper bag, took a peek inside, and couldn’t help but gush, “This bunny toy is just adorable!”
Newman glanced over nonchalantly, catching sight of the servant pulling out the stuffed rabbit from the bag. He froze in his tracks!
The next second, the servant felt a chill in the air. Newman snatched the bunny toy from the servant’s hands, his pupils contracting instantly as a flood of emotions overwhelmed him.
He examined every stitch on the bunny toy closely, his fingers curling inwards until his knuckles turned a ghostly white.
Each handmade toy was unique. There was once a silly girl who, while pregnant, started making comfort toys for her unborn child.
She was so clumsy, a slow learner, and her creations were far from pretty. It took her months to sew a bunny toy that didn’t lose its stuffing. And just when she was about to start on a second one, she was gone.
This bunny toy was the spitting image of the lop–eared bunny she had designed herself! Clutching the bunny toy, Newman spun around and dashed off in pursuit!
