Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire novel Chapter 820

Everett let out a soft chuckle.

He slipped on the jacket that had been draped over his arm and crouched down in front of his son. "Why are you still up, buddy?"

A quick look at his watch told him it was already past one in the morning.

Mateo didn't answer right away. He just looked at his dad with those big, serious eyes and said in his little voice, "Dad, I want to have a man-to-man chat."

Everett was momentarily caught off guard.

Here was this little guy, not even as tall as Everett's leg, wanting to have a grown-up conversation. It was almost as if he might've had too much to drink and was imagining things.

Then again, Mateo had always been wise beyond his years, a testament to Everett's parenting, so maybe it wasn't so outlandish.

"Alright then, what's on your mind?"

Before long, the two of them were sitting side by side on the stairs.

Everett's long legs stretched across nearly three steps, as he leaned back against the banister. He instinctively reached for his pack of cigarettes but, seeing his son, put it back and just loosened his tie instead.

Mateo broke the silence first, revisiting his earlier question, "Dad, you still haven't told me—do you not like Mom anymore?"

Everett was taken aback, then managed a wry smile. "It's not that, kiddo. It's more like your mom doesn't like me."

He wondered if a child so young could really grasp what it meant to 'like' someone. Always talking about who likes who.

Mateo shook his head, determined. "I don't buy it. Hannah said you have another woman."

Everett almost choked on his own spit.

That Hannah, always filling the kid's head with nonsense!

Mateo's maturity probably had a lot to do with her influence.

He couldn't let this misunderstanding fester, especially since it would affect how Mateo saw him.

Everett quickly corrected, "There's no one else but your mom."

It was like he was under some kind of spell.

His heart only reacted to her.

Even though he wasn’t looking for more kids, he still wanted Selena to be the mother of his child.

Everett felt more and more uneasy.

After a pause, Mateo added, "If you don’t like Mom, maybe you should let her be with someone else."

Everett raised an eyebrow, "What?!"

He laughed incredulously, "You cheeky little thing, what are you saying? Are you really my kid?"

Trying to set his dad up like that, huh?

Mateo turned his little head, doodling invisible circles on the floor with his finger.

Mumbling softly, he said, "Maybe one day I'll be someone else's son."

He was relentless, hitting Everett right where it hurt with every word.

Everett thought that if this conversation went on any longer, he might just want to start all over with him.

"Alright, it's late. Head back to bed and clear those wild thoughts out of your head, okay?"