In just a few minutes, Eason had expressed his affection twice.
In the past, Eason's mother, Joan Houghton, had never taken him out for social events due to her vanity. His famous actress half-sister, Georgia Clarke, despised him even more.
No matter how hard he tried to get close, his sister would never look at him properly.
Kind-hearted Monica didn't know the inside story but felt sympathy for him.
She used to think Tristan was cold, but now she saw that he had a warm side too.
If he were to become a father for the first time, there would be no need for him to learn anything - he was completely capable! As she thought this, Monica couldn't help but smile.
Monica continued to drink her tea and observe Eason. Though he and Tristan shared a father, the little boy was not annoying at all; he was quite endearing.
In that moment, many of Monica's preconceptions changed.
There was a light in the little boy's eyes.
As he soaked his feet, he finally looked up at Monica, and the two strangers had their first, very formal eye contact.
Tristan gently poured the medicinal water onto Eason's calves, trying to let him absorb as much as possible.
Eason was not used to interacting with strangers, often even rejecting them.
However, when it came to Monica, he couldn't help but stare at her, unable to feel any aversion.
When Monica smiled warmly at the little one, the little one responded with a smile too. Tristan happened to glance up and saw the happy smile on his brother's face. Following his gaze, Tristan saw Monica's gentle, beautiful smile, and for a moment, he was lost in the unprecedented warmth of the scene. Seeing this, Zack Clarke was pleased, as it showed that Monica got along well with the Clarke family. This also proved that Miss Swain was a loving and compassionate girl. Such a girl, with a soft and kind heart, would be well-suited for Tristan.
Zack Clarke, who had many years of experience in the business world, had seen all sorts of schemes. After Eason had soaked his feet, Aiden, the housekeeper, handed Tristan a soft, dry towel. Tristan helped Eason dry his feet, put on a pair of clean socks, and then his shoes. "Thank you, brother," Eason said politely, showing his significant progress. Tristan was very pleased; it seemed he needed to see his brother in a new light.
As he patted Eason's head again, Tristan said, "You're welcome." As the little one looked at Monica again, she smiled at him. Then Tristan stood up and approached her, saying, "Could you stay with Eason for a while? I need to chat with my father." He knew his brother didn't mind her company. "Sure, no problem!" Monica was happy to oblige. She sat down in the chair by the bed, took Eason's small hand, and greeted him warmly, just like Tristan had done earlier.
To Aiden's surprise, the young master didn't pull his hand away and showed no sign of discomfort. It seemed the two got along quite well! Tristan and Zack Clarke were also pleased, and they went to another room to chat.
The door was left open, allowing them to see the girl sitting in the chair by the bed. Zack wanted to ask his son about their relationship, but ultimately restrained himself. The fact that Tristan brought her here must mean something, right?
"Father, the company has been running smoothly lately," Tristan began, reporting on their business. "Our collaboration with the Fritz Group on Rose Court was topped off two days ago. I've visited the community, and the landscaping is excellent, with three large swimming pools."
"Mainly focus on fire safety," Zack advised, speaking from experience. "That's the most important thing. So many customers trust us, and we have to take full responsibility for everyone's safety."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep an eye on it," Tristan assured him.
Zack nodded in satisfaction, and the two continued their conversation in the room.
Meanwhile, Monica sat in the chair, blinking her beautiful eyes, and asked, "What's your name? Mine is Monica Swain, and you can call me Monica."
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