Chapter 256 The Naughty Child
Had it not been for Cecilia, Nathaniel never would have suspected that his mother's supposed savior was an imposter. He hadn't bothered to verify the claim; Stella's personal life had never concerned him. When Stella was taken away, he felt a gut-wrenching pain, a sense of profound loss.
From his second-floor vantage point, Mason witnessed a previously unseen side of the usually gentle Stella. Meanwhile, at Seabay Villa, Jonathan lounged idly in his room. He knew his mother and brother had left Tudela, but Zachary's refusal to release him was frustrating. He reasoned that since Zachary enjoyed playing the role of father figure to others, he deserved a taste of the experience himself.
Bang! A loud noise echoed from upstairs. Downstairs, Zachary and Darren, chatting in the living room, looked up in surprise. Before either could react, more bangs followed in rapid succession. Bang! Bang! Bang! Darren smiled faintly. "Having a child certainly changes one's life," he observed.
Zachary set down his wine glass. "Since Nathaniel's not coming, you're on your own." He was determined to teach the little rascal a lesson. Upstairs, Jonathan had found a volleyball and was having a boisterous time, shattering every window in his room and destroying the porcelain dรฉcor.
"What are you doing?" Zachary demanded. The next moment, the ball struck him in the face. Jonathan feigned surprise, then calmly explained, "I'm sorry. Children this age are usually very active, you might not be aware."
Zachary retrieved the volleyball and tossed it out the window. "I wasn't aware, but if you do it again, you'll get a beating." He rubbed his aching face, reflecting on his good fortune at only being four or five years old. Older, and he might have been disfigured.
Zachary initially believed this was the extent of Jonathan's naughtiness. At mealtime, however, Jonathan splashed tomato sauce all over him. Before Zachary could react, Jonathan calmly stated, "I know you want to hit me. Go ahead, even though you claim to be my father and we've only just reunited." The housekeeper's sympathetic gaze was unmistakable.
Zachary retreated upstairs to change, only to discover his clothes filled with melting snow. Jonathan stood at the doorway. "I put a snowman in there, did you see it? A surprise!" Before Zachary could react, Jonathan vanished into his room, closing the door behind him. He calmly picked up a book and began to read.
An hour later: "Mr. Zachary?" "What is it?" "I can't sleep." "Then don't." Another hour passed. "Mr. Zachary!" "What is it again?" "Are you asleep?"
Another fulfilling day, Jonathan mused, smiling as he listened to the commotion next door. He knew his actions were wrong, but saw no need for guilt when dealing with Zachary.
Meanwhile, Stella's scandal dominated the news, implicating Nathaniel, who lacked the time to address it. "Keep a close eye on Vivian," he instructed. "Understood." She was the only person connected to Cecilia at the time. Had Nathaniel questioned her, she likely wouldn't have revealed anything.
That evening, alone, Nathaniel gazed at his silent house, a heavy feeling settling in his heart. Then, a phone call interrupted his contemplation.