Chapter 418

Just when Theo had made up his mind, Byron suddenly said, "I want to give you a hug."

The little guy stared blankly. Before he could react, he was scooped into Byron's arms.

A father's embrace was very different from a mother's. One was gentle, the other firm. One was soft, the other tough. They carried similar yet different kinds of strength. It wasn't the first time Theo had been hugged by Byron, but he'd always been hugged while pretending to be Will, so he hadn't really felt much. But this time…

Two patches of red blush rose on Theo's face; he felt embarrassed.

Maeve's nose tingled with a touch of sourness. She'd envisioned this scene many times but never dared to expect it would come true. Unexpectedly, it had happened.

It seemed she had always underestimated Byron.

"Call me Daddy?" Byron stroked Theo's round little head. His tone unconsciously softened, a distant gentleness in it.

Theo's ears were hot, but his tone was arrogant. "I haven't even admitted you're my Daddy. Mommy didn't agree either."

"Is that so?"

Byron glanced at Maeve with his dark eyes. He said nothing, but she understood. He would settle the score later.

Maeve's heart trembled. She heard him ask, "What's your opinion?"

Maeve laughed dryly under his gaze. "I'll listen to Theo. His thoughts are the most important." The little guy was still angry; she wouldn't help Byron.

Byron looked at Will beside his leg. Will had a helpless expression. "Daddy, you have to work hard for this." Theo had suffered so much; he couldn't help his father bully Theo.

Theo proudly put his hands on his hips. "You haven't even given me the name-changing fee, yet you want me to call you Daddy? There's no such good thing in the world!"

Byron heaved a sigh of relief. He'd been worried the coldness and distance he'd shown Theo would make him unable to accept him as Daddy. He took out his wallet, pulled out a black-gold card, and handed it to him. "This card has no spending limit. Use it as you like."

Theo's eyes immediately lit up like stars. He took the card with his little paws and hugged it tightly to his chest, looking so happy it seemed bubbles were popping out of his head. He'd seen this type of card before. There were only a few in the world, and it was extremely durable when it came to spending!

Will looked at him enviously. It wasn't the card; he was envious that Theo could always manage to make money from Dad. 'Why can't I do it?'

Actually, it was quite simple. Will owned numerous shops and properties. Just the lucky money he received every year amounted to a seven-digit figure. He was already extremely wealthy. Unless he asked for it, Byron wouldn't even think of giving him pocket money. On the contrary, Maeve gave him about one or two dollars daily for him and Theo.

Maeve couldn't help but want to cover her face, because she knew why Theo was so persistent in making money from Byron: to support her. She didn't know how she'd given them the illusion that it would cost a lot of money to support her.

"How is it? Do you want more?" Byron looked at Theo's excited face; the smile in his eyes grew wider. "Call me Daddy." Sure enough, that split-personality Will was actually this money-loving little guy. The posture of holding the card was exactly the same.

Theo's little face turned serious. "Am I the kind of shallow kid who can be bribed with money? What do you take me for? Young man, don't think money can buy everything. There are many things money can't buy! Like my noble and selfless qualities!" After saying that, he righteously stuffed the card into Maeve's hand. "Mommy, please keep it for me. This is solid evidence that he wants to corrupt my precious qualities with sugar-coated bullets. We should take this as a warning and resolutely not bow to money!"

Byron was completely bewildered. 'Why do I feel like I was plotted against by this kid?'

Maeve didn't dare look at Byron's expression. She held back her laughter and helped Theo keep the card. "Okay, Mommy will keep it for you."

In the exchanges between these two, the big one and the small one, it was usually Theo who came out on the losing end. It was rare to see Byron taking a silent loss from him.

Just then, the corner of Maeve's clothes was gently tugged by Will, who whispered, "Mom, I also have money to support the family. I'll give it all to you when we get back." He was the older brother; how could he be outdone by his younger brother? He also wanted to support his mom.

"Alright, alright, alright. Mommy will keep it for you too." Maeve naturally agreed. If the two kids were willing to offer her their money, of course she would accept it.

Byron gazed at Maeve, surrounded by the two little ones, whispering with them and holding her hand. His usually cold and stern eyes were like a field after the first thaw of ice and snow, with warmth spreading to the corners of his eyes and lips.

However, when Maeve looked at him, these traces instantly dissipated and turned cold. When Maeve saw his cold expression, her heart thumped.

"Take them to pack their things and stay at my place." Byron met her gaze. His domineering tone didn't allow for resistance.

Maeve's heart trembled under his meaningful gaze. She quickly shook her head. "No need. It's quite good for us to live here…"

"Maeve, you are my fiancée." Byron's voice was cold. "Who gave you the illusion that I would let you continue to live in another man's house?"

It would have been fine if he hadn't said it, but once he did, Maeve thought about it carefully. 'It was indeed inappropriate. Even though she treated Loren as her younger brother and he didn't care, it was better to pay attention to the differences between men and women.

Maeve could only compromise. "Alright…"

Byron's thin lips curled up.

Loren, who knew they were moving out tonight, wasn't in a good mood. In particular, he was the one who had let the man who wanted to take them away in. He wished he could go back half an hour and put a sack on himself.

"Maeve, come visit me more often when you have time. Don't leave me alone." Loren looked at Maeve pitifully. "There's still Will and Theo. If you don't have time to take care of them, feel free to let me take care of them. I've been especially free recently!"

'As if. There were piles of things waiting for him to handle at the factory every day. However, in front of Maeve and the two little ones, these things had to give way.

Maeve agreed with a smile and left with the two little ones and Byron.

After they left, Loren took out his phone and called the palace. "How's my mother? Has she agreed to receive treatment… Not yet? Alright, then I'll have to trouble you to help me persuade her. I'll visit her tomorrow. Alright, goodbye."

After hanging up the phone, Loren sighed at the quiet house.

To Maeve's surprise, Byron's residence wasn't far from Loren's. This area was originally a wealthy district. Most of the people who could live here were either rich or noble. It wasn't strange for Loren to have property here, but Byron actually had it too. On second thought, the McDaniel Group has subsidiaries all over the world, and its influence on the international stage is quite substantial. A house in this area seems like…