Fated Marriage Spoiled by My Ice Billionaire novel Chapter 782

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Chapter 782 Sleeping Together

Chapter 782 Sleeping Together

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“Daddy knows how to put this together–Mommy doesn’t.” Zander pointed toward the scattered train tracks.

Claudia glanced over at him. The faint stubble along his jaw made him look even more rugged than usual.

He hadn’t slept all night. That thing he mentioned earlier–about not being able to come home–probab had to do with Zander, didn’t it?

How could someone as careful as him lose a kid up on that mountain?

Harold patted Zander’s head lightly. “This is boy stuff. Girls don’t really need to know it. Next time, you’ve gotta learn it yourself.”

Zander didn’t fully understand what that meant, but he nodded anyway. “Okay.”

/

Claudia watched as Harold picked up the instruction sheet. “You connected this part wrong,” she said quietly.

He took the tracks apart and started reassembling them.

“Your mom buy this for you?” Harold glanced sideways at Zander.

Zander was pushing a little toy car along the floor. “Nope. Darren got it for me.”

Harold’s expression darkened. “Oh. Zander’s sure making new friends fast.”

Claudia caught a whiff of something sour in his tone–or maybe it was just plain annoyance. She explained softly, “Darren picked it out. He came to the mall with me today. We grabbed a few things, including some clothes.”

The bag with Harold’s new clothes was still sitting in his guest room. She hoped he’d see them and forget all that awkwardness she’d stirred up with Darrell earlier.

“Uh–huh.” Harold’s reply was flat, whether about the clothes or the fact they were men’s clothes.

After that, the track went together pretty quickly.

Zander wanted to play right away, but Harold insisted he eat his oatmeal first. So the little boy obediently headed to the table.

Harold fed Zander himself. He moved like he’d done it a/thousand times–the way he held the bowl, the gentle nudges with the spoon, even how he wiped Zander’s mouth looked natural and practiced.

Claudia watched him for a moment and felt a small, unexpected pang.

She wondered why Harold and Zander’s mother had split up. He didn’t seem like the type to be weird about cleanliness or uptight about things.

He’d always been decent to her. So why did the mom leave? Or was it really because he was too rough

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Chapter 782 Sleeping Together

around the edges?

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Harold kept feeding Zander but noticed Claudia watching him. He tested the waters. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”

Claudia’s expression froze for a second before she looked away.

She was happy with her life right now. Harold treated her well. She didn’t have anything to complain about, really.

“I messed up last night,” Harold said, his stomach tightening. “Shouldn’t have lost track of him.” He remembered what Spencer had said–that the hotel security camera going out wasn’t an/accident–and fel a flash of anger.

His gaze softened as he looked at Claudia. “Good thing he ran into you.”

Claudia took a sip from her own oatmeal. “Zander’s a smart kid. I took your car out today, and he recognized it. He just waited right there beside it. But it was cold up on that mountain… he ended up with a fever.”

It had scared her half to death, too.

Zander was eating slowly, so Claudia headed back to her room first to freshen up.

Harold watched her go, listening to the sound of running water from down the hall.

He lowered his voice and said to Zander, “Dad wants to sleep in Zander’s room tonight.”

“I’m sleeping with Mommy,” Zander mumbled, his little mouth full.

“But Daddy wants to sleep with Zander, too,” Harold pressed gently.

“I’m gonna be a big strong man and take care of Mommy. Can you take care of her?”

“Course I can.”

“Then you can sleep with us.”

Harold gave him another spoonful of oatmeal. “Mommy might not be okay with it.”

When Claudia came out of her room, she saw the two of them whispering together.

“I’ll take over. You go shower,” she said, walking toward them. They stopped talking immediately.

Harold handed Zander over to Claudia, then gave the boy’s cheek a light pinch. “Mind your mom.”

Zander wrapped his arms around Claudia’s neck. “Mommy, can Daddy sleep with us too?”

Claudia’s heart skipped a beat. Harold was watching her.

Zander went on, “Daddy gets lonely sleeping by himself. Zander wants both Mommy and Daddy.”

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Chapter 782 Sleeping Together

Claudia didn’t dare look at Harold directly. “Of course he can.”

+5 Free Cos

It never crossed her mind that Harold might have put Zander up to it. She figured it was just the kid’s own idea.

Zander really missed having a mother. The first time they met, he’d thrown himself right into her arms.

He’d called her “Mom” from the start, and sometimes, even half–asleep, he’d force his eyes open every now and then just to make sure she was still there.

Plus, Harold had already told her everything about his son. It wasn’t such an unreasonable request.

Harold allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. “You two go ahead.”

Claudia said “okay” and was about to carry Zander back to the room when she glanced over her shoulder and added, “I left you something in your room.”

Harold started to ask what it was, but Claudia had already turned and disappeared into the room with Zander.

He swallowed lightly and made his way to the guest room.

On the bed lay two neatly placed shopping bags.

He walked over and recognized the logo–it was from the same men’s boutique Lowell had shown him in that photo, the one she’d visited with Darren.

A faint smirk touched his lips as he pulled out the clothes.

Two short–sleeve casual sets.

Harold smirked again, almost to himself. She wasn’t so nervous anymore, huh?

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