Mysterious Mr.Richard novel Chapter 61

"That's all your order." In a restaurant near Sapphire Elementary School, a waiter served some dishes to a table in a corner. 

"Thanks."

Pearl pushed a bowl of soup to the other end of the table and said, "Dad, have some soup."

Anthony's gaze focused on the children's play area. Bonny was very active. After sitting at the table for a while, she got bored and went to play. So Brandon went with her too. Now, the twins were occupying the slide.

"Dad?" Pearl called Anthony again in hesitate. Then Anthony came back to his senses and withdraw his gaze.

"The food is ready. You should ask the kids to come and eat." Anthony replied.

"It's okay. Bonny probably won't come even if we ask her to. She'll come back when she had enough fun."

"Eat when it's time to eat, and form good habits when they're young." Anthony was solemn as he told Pearl off.      

Noticing that Pearl was indifferent, Anthony frowned and snapped, "Look at you, you can't even take good care of yourself. I really wander that how did you even raise the kids?"  

Pearl looked down at her injured right hand and hid it under the table.

"What happened to your hand?" Anthony askekd directly.

"Just an accident, but it's nothing." Pearl answered.

"Really? It's no big deal to wrap it like this? Do you think that I'm senile?"

Pearl was choked.

She did not know what to say when Anthony slid a bank card to her.

Pearl's face changed, "Dad, what are you doing?" She asked.

"It's for the children, not you."

"Dad, I don't need it. I'm working and I get a high salary, so I can raise them on my own."

"How high can a doctor's salary be? Besides, what qualifications do you have at your age? As I said, it's not for you, but for children. The password is your mother's birthday."

Referring to the password, Pearl's hand froze while she was trying to push teh card back.

Anthony asked casually. "Do you still remember it?" 

Pearl's voice was muffled and said, "Yes."

Of course she remembered? She remembered everyone's birthday in the Yonng family.

"Alright. Go and ask the kids to eat."

Anthony was really stubborn. Pearl knew that he would get angry if she turned him down again. It was very possible that he would slam down his napkin and leave directly. So she had no choice but to keep the bank card.  

Pearl went to call Brandon and Bonny. The three generations of the Yonng family gathered together to have dinner for the first time.

Bonny still wanted to talk even with her mouth full.  "Grandpa, are you here to visit us because Brandon and I are going to school soon?" She stared at Anthony and asked.

Anthony stared at Bonny, who was exactly same with Pearl when she was younger. He smiled lovingly and replied, "Yeah, I'm here just to see you, and I have prepared presents. I'll give them to you later."

"Wow, presents!" Bonny was excited, "Grandpa, summer vacation is not over yet, will you come and visit us more?"

"That's much better." Anthony softened a little, "When is it going to be?"

"Let's take things slowly. Well, I just returned back, and my job is still unstable. Brandon and Bonny need to go to school too."

Anthony noddedhos head thoughtfully and seemingly accepted her explanation. He uttered, "I should at least meet his parents before the wedding, ..."

"Dad," Pearl hurriedly interrupted, trying to calm down. She said, "Dad, things can be complicated in the Zellweger family, so I can't promise you anything now. "I'll let you know, after I handle everything, okay?"  

Anthony immediately mentioned that he wanted to meet Richard's parents. Pearl knew very well that she was unable to arrange for a meetup. Even though she could, Mrs. Zellweger's arrogant attitude would trigger Anthony's heart attack.    

"Okay." Anthony was considerate and did not push Pearl. After all, things could get complicated for wealthy families. It was rare to see simple families, like the Yonng family. After Pearl's mother passed away, Anthony did not remarry and raised his daughters on his own.   

"Dad, try this." Pearl was awkward and wanted to change the topic, "This is delicious."

Richard got her out of trouble at the birthday party. Yet, she felt a headache when she thought that she needed to clean up the mess.   

Anthony peeled some shrimps for Bonny and asked her to eat. "Bonny, is your father busy?" He pretended to ask nonchalantly.

Pearl just released a sigh of relief. However, she stared at Bonny anxiously at once she heard the question.  

Bonny was eating shrimps, and she mumbled with her mouth full, "I think Daddy's quite busy. I went to find him with Brandon the other day, but he was in a meeting the entire afternoon. I fell asleep in his office, and Mommy even quarreled with Daddy."

Anthony asked doubtfully."They quarreled?"

Pearl met Anthony's questioning gaze, and she felt like she was digging her own grave. The lie was not going to hold.

Sure enough, she should never have lied. The consequence was that she would have to come up with more lies to cover up.