Chapter 209: Apologize to Mom
Cecilia secretly hid Elliot’s sketches. Spring Forest Manor was so vast that exploring it thoroughly would take at least two days, not accounting for the numerous surveillance cameras. Nathaniel, dressed in casual clothes, stood tall and striking; his dark eyes reflected the image of a mother and child playing on the carpet. Time passed peacefully, yet a bitter undercurrent lingered.
Noticing Nathaniel, Elliot quickly greeted him, “Uncle Nathaniel, would you like to join us?” He’d recently kicked Nathaniel, but it hadn’t been satisfying. Cecilia desperately wanted to stop Elliot, fearing their extended interaction might reveal their identities—the undeniable ties of blood. However, Nathaniel had already approached. “What are you guys up to?”
A thought sparked in Elliot’s mind. “Let’s play house! You can be Dad, and Mommy can be Mom. I’ll be your child, okay?”
Cecilia’s face drained of color. Nathaniel froze. Why is this brat acting like a girl? He enjoys playing house?
“Uncle Nathaniel, you don’t think I’m taking advantage of you, do you? My Daddy is a tycoon. You’re getting a good deal pretending to be him,” Elliot pouted, appearing to do Nathaniel a favor.
“Eli, don’t put Uncle Nathaniel in a difficult position…” Cecilia began, but Nathaniel interrupted. “Fine, I’ll pretend to be your Dad.”
Immediately, Elliot clung to his thigh, wiping his tears and snot on his freshly changed trousers. “Dad, I missed you so much! I thought I was going to die missing you.” Nathaniel instinctively wanted to push him away, but his anger dissipated the moment Elliot called him “Dad.”
Cecilia watched, swallowing hard. She knew that although neither child had openly expressed it, they deeply yearned for a father. If only Elliot knew he was holding his own father. But she dared not reveal the truth. Cecilia surreptitiously clenched her hand, her fingertips digging into her flesh.
After crying for a while, Elliot looked at Nathaniel with large eyes. “Dad, why did you drive Mom and me away? Do you have any idea how hard these years have been for us?” Before Nathaniel could answer, Elliot continued in a pitiful tone, “Was that vixen really worth abandoning your wife and child?”
Had this not been pretend play, Cecilia would have thought Elliot knew the truth. Nathaniel was baffled. Where did he learn such things? From television dramas? He could only placate him. “Silly, how could I abandon you and your mother? It’s all a misunderstanding.”
Nathaniel was exceptionally gentle and patient, fully engaging in the game. Elliot’s mood brightened. “That’s wonderful! I knew you wouldn’t abandon your obedient son and wife, Dad!” He clung to Nathaniel again. “Dad, since Mom and I are both home now, shouldn’t you show some kind of response?”
Nathaniel was bewildered. Cecilia frowned. “Eli, what do you want Uncle Nathaniel to express?”
“Other kids have both Mom and Dad, but I only have Mom. Mom does everything—from changing my diapers to feeding me,” Elliot said, tears welling. “Dad, you need to apologize to Mom first. Tell her you’re sorry.”
Apologize…
Nathaniel looked at Cecilia, unable to utter the words. Elliot lowered his voice, whispering, “Uncle Nathaniel, you’re not backing out, are you? If you back out, no one will want to play with you in the future.”