Love’s Change of Heart novel Chapter 346

Zoe strolled around in the surrounding woods. She hoped that nature would cheer her up, but unfortunately, it added insult to injury. She tripped and twisted her ankle while on her walk, so she grew even more agitated.

She limped back to the stream and saw the couple perched by the running water with their arms around each other. Exasperation filled her, and she felt as if she had just shot herself through the foot. To think, she had organized this whole camping trip only to make a fool of herself at the end of the day.

Zoe glanced at the child sitting on the little foldable table. He had his head bent as he went through his workbook. Sighing, she couldn't help her guilt and shake the feeling that she was corrupting this little boy who would eventually stand at the forefront of this country.

Ah, screw the pride. Having made up her mind, Zoe walked over to the table, sat down next to the kid, and then asked, "Hey, brat, what grade are you in?"

"Fourth grade," he replied nonchalantly.

She glanced at the textbook. At least he's honest.

She went on to press, "You're too young to know how to pick up... I mean, makeup lies on the Internet."

Hogbunny set his pencil down and countered solemnly, "Miss Enchantress, I didn't make anything up. I was—"

"Hold on just a second," Zoe cut him off hurriedly. "You can just call me Zoe. We did meet by chance, after all, so no honorifics required."

"Oh, okay," he said.

He's rather polite, she decided, then continued, "If you weren't making things up, then why did you send me that... picture?" She didn't think she had it in her to mention the word 'abs' in front of a child.

Hogbunny tipped his head to the side and pointed out blithely, "Weren't you the one who asked for it? The Internet told me that pictures would help build trust, so I found the best-looking picture there was and sent it to you."

She was not expecting this answer or the elaboration that came with it. She reminded herself not to be irked by a child and let out a slow breath.

Zoe turned around then and grabbed a bag of ice from the container where the team stored food. She reached for a piece of cloth, wrapped it around the ice bag, and held it against her ankle.

As soon as Hogbunny saw this, he pulled out a bottle of pain-relief spray explicitly designed for athletes from his backpack and handed it to her.

Zoe gaped at the canister in surprise. "Where did you get that?"

"My mom's a doctor. She wants me to carry this spray and antiseptic around in case of an emergency."

Her eyes glimmered with interest when she heard this. "I see. And what about your dad? What does he do for a living?"

The little boy's eyes darkened as he grew reticent and looked down at his hands.

It was only then that she realized she might have touched on a sensitive topic. She tried to relieve the awkwardness by letting out a dry laugh, then changed the subject swiftly, "By the way, which school do you go to?"

"I don't go to school."

"Why not?"

Hogbunny gave her a wary look, then said hesitantly, "No reason. My mom doesn't want me to go to school because it isn't safe. She says there are a lot of bad guys out there."

Zoe looked at the little boy speechlessly. So, his mother will not let him go to school because there are plenty of bad guys out there, but she will let him hang out with someone he met on the Internet?

The nonsensical aspect of this made her want to snort in disbelief. She was going to have to talk to the kid's parents when she dropped him off later. How can they just let him hang out with strangers? What if I am just a silly woman who got catfished? What will happen to him if I am a predator lurking in cyberspace, preying on children?

Not long after, the sky began to darken, and everyone returned to base.

Leanna was standing next to the barbecue pit after putting in the briquettes. Aidan walked up to her, shrugged off his coat, and shoved it into her arms. "Stand aside."

"Do you know how to do this?" she asked skeptically.

He took off his watch, raised a brow at her, then said arrogantly, "There's nothing I can't do."

The b*stard's getting pleased with himself again, she thought in resignation as she rolled her eyes. Nonetheless, she grabbed the watch he handed her, found a clean spot to set down his things, and then went to help him.

Leanna had only just approached the pit when she picked up a pungent, burning smell.

I knew this was gonna happen. Stumped, she could only sigh and offered, "Come on, let me do it."

What did she expect from Aidan? He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and everything he ever needed was done and provided for without question. Asking him to do culinary work was like inviting an apocalypse to fall upon mankind.

Then, he stepped aside. Now that he had an excuse, he pointed out defensively, "Alright, but for the record, you were the one who refused my help."

Leanna glared at him. She couldn't believe how thick-skinned he was.

Soon, the delicious smell of meat sizzling over a hotbed of briquettes wafted through the woods.

The food was prepared beforehand, and most of them came in ready-to-eat packages. All the campers needed to do was add a dash of seasoning and set the food on the grill; no fancy cooking was required.

As such, it was beyond her understanding how Aidan could manage to burn the food in the short time she turned away from the barbecue pit to set her things down.

A few girls from the workshop planned to help, but when they saw his imposing figure standing behind Leanna with his hands in his pockets, they faltered and walked away.

Just then, Leanna's phone buzzed. Her hands were full, so she said to Aidan, "Would you mind taking the call for me, President Pearson?"

He did as he was told and grabbed the phone. Glancing at the number, he sauntered off to the side where it was quiet, then put the call through.

The caller was quiet for what seemed like a long moment. Then, an odd chuckle filled the other line. "Leanna, I heard through the grapevine that you'll be going for a competition soon. How much is the prize money this time?"

Aidan was indifferent when he heard the man's voice. He replied coolly, "That depends on whether you'll live to take the money."

Jethro probably did not expect Aidan to be the one answering his call. A long pause later, Jethro said congenially, "Aidan, that's no way to speak. You and my lovely daughter don't need the money, do you? What I'm asking for is not even worth a dime of your fortune."

"And how much would a dime be?"

Jethro chuckled hoarsely and sounded even more maniacal as he said, "Three hundred million."

"Oh, that's no bother at all. I'd wire the money to you if hell had a bank."

As though sensing that Aidan would hang up soon, Jethro quickly said, "Aidan, I'm warning you, there are many people who are after me right now. Do you want to guess what they're trying to find out from me? I wouldn't have called Leanna on my own if I didn't care about the good old days we shared. After all, those people who want answers from me will be more than willing to pay me good money."

Aidan was unruffled as he corrected, "They're not quite as virtuous as you think. You'd sooner rot away in the gutter than get money from them."

Jethro panicked. Judging by the slight echo in the older man's voice, Aidan deduced he must be calling from a spacious but empty room. "Aidan," Jethro began. "I know you're only trying to scare me, and I know these are vicious people I'm dealing with, which is why I've been hiding from them all this while. How about if I settle for a hundred million instead? That's all I'm asking for! Once I have the money, I'll go far, far away and leave you both alone for good!"

"You're certainly optimistic," Aidan drawled sarcastically. Pausing, he looked at the number on the screen, then frowned as he bit out grimly, "Don't call Leanna ever again. She doesn't have the kind of money you're asking for, and she finds you repulsive."

"I know that, but... how will I get in touch with you?"

Aidan gave him Jonathan's number, then said, "Given that you're asking for that much money, you should at least have something to show for it."

Jethro knew what Aidan meant and said hastily, "I understand. I'll give you the films, too."

Not wanting to spend another moment speaking to him, Aidan hung up and blocked the number.

When he returned to the barbecue pit, most of the food had already been cooked. Everyone was huddled around the campfire, singing, and clapping.

Leanna spotted Aidan and walked over to him. She stopped by his side and asked in concern, "Took you long enough. Who called?"