"Behave yourself, Ella! I forbid you to meet Sum. Do you hear me?" Samuel was angry, as he paced up and down, with the phone placed on his ear. He wished that he wasn't so busy this week, otherwise he would have gone to France to get them.
"Forbid me? You are not my father. I will do whatever I want and you can do nothing to stop me." Ella hung up the phone, fuming. Who did Samuel think he was? Ella thought, her mind racing with thoughts.
But the jet-lag was getting to her, and soon after anger was replaced by exhaustion.
She powered off her phone and threw it on the bedside table. Jerry was already asleep, so she curled herself next to him, and soon they breathed in unison as they slept in peaceful bliss.
Meanwhile, Samuel dialed her number a dozen of times but he couldn't get through.
This made him angrier, and to him he had no other choice but to assign people to watch and follow her. He had to do something to put his mind at ease. "Find some guys in France to keep watch on Ella. I want to know everything; where she goes, who she meets. Understood?"
The phone call was brief, but Samuel knew that results would be delivered. He expected nothing else.
The next day, which was two days before the deadline, Eason met Ella and showed her a photo. This prompted her to buy a ticket back home immediately.
It was a photo of stamped indictment, containing Samuel's accusation towards Sum.
The formal stamp represented to Ella the seriousness of the situation and she knew that Samuel wasn't joking with her.
Therefore, she booked a flight ticket and went back early the next morning.
Meanwhile, lost in thought, Samuel stared at his phone for quite a while.
Ella had just sent him a text that she was on her way back home and landed at 9pm in the evening.
Seconds later, he rose up from his position and called on the internal telephone, "Ask Lawyer Gu to come to my office now."
At nine o'clock in the airport of C Country.
After the flight landed, passengers walked out in twos and threes.
Ella walked out of the exit, amongst the crowd, carrying Jerry in her arms.
Not too many people flew from France to C Country and Samuel quickly spotted her emerging through the exit.
Ella saw Samuel, and noticed that he was smiling. Her heart warmed at the sight, which prompted her to walk faster.
She had feared that he was still angry at her for what occurred when she was at France. But all her fears went away when she saw his smile. Samuel stretched his hands for an embrace. Ella covered the distance between them. But she soon realised that the embrace was not for her, it was for Jerry.
She froze, just a couple of meters away from Samuel, as Jerry jumped into his arms.
Ella sighed. At least he missed his son, she thought.
"Did you have a lovely trip, My Lady?" A young feminine voice cut the tension, yanking Ella from her deep thoughts. "Yes!" Ella replied with gritted teeth as she recognized the woman.
Catherine wasn't too bothered with trying to please Ella. She looked at Samuel playing with Jerry and joined in the fun, stealing a glance here and there to look at Ella's reaction.
Ella looked at Catherine and Samuel, and loathed her decision to return.
She couldn't help but think how much they looked like a real family while Ella felt like a nanny.
Ella resorted to walking towards the baggage claim section to collect their luggage.
She had taken a small bag to France, but came back with a large suitcase, filled with special local products and various clothes made by Eason.
With the suitcase, Ella trotted back to catch up with them.
Ella walked over a step arduously with the suitcase, while Samuel gave no hint as to whether he would help her. Instead, he walked away with her son.
Burning with rage, Ella sat down on a bench and put the suitcase aside.
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