Victor repeated Tim's words to the two kids, but they were dissatisfied with his answer. Van shook his head and refused.
"No. We're not leaving here without Aunt Michelle."
"We are not leaving!" Don stood next to his brother with his hands on his hips.
While Victor wasn't necessarily afraid of the two children, he was definitely scared of their parents. He had no choice but to convey their wishes to his boss.
"Mr. Shen, they said they want to take Michelle back with them."
There was a moment of silence on the phone before Tim reluctantly replied, "Fine. I'll send her down."
Still unwilling to wake Michelle up, Tim found a blanket and draped it around her gently before scooping her into his arms and carrying her downstairs.
When he got out of the elevator, his eyes landed on a black Maybach parked across the road. At a glance, he could tell it was John's car.
A gust of cold wind blew, and the woman in Tim's arms stirred, so he held her tighter and picked up the pace.
As long as he got her inside the car, she'd feel warm in no time.
But at the same time, Tim didn't want to leave her.
He had only gotten to hold her twice, once to carry her upstairs this morning and now.
He didn't even dare to think about touching her before.
Even through the thick blanket, he could still feel how soft and supple her skin was. This petite woman was just so lovely that he didn't want to let go of her.
Before their first hug, Tim longed for just one hug. Just one. Now that he knew what it felt like, he began to be greedy, hoping for more.
But he knew it was only one sided.
If Michelle woke up, she would definitely not let him hold her.
Even now, in his arms, she would murmur the name "Leon" in her sleep.
When Tim heard this, he felt consumed with envy and slowed down his pace.
But after a while, he felt her shiver under the blanket and murmur "so cold" under her breath.
Despite his feelings, he didn't want her to be uncomfortable, so he quickened his pace again.
Nina was sitting inside the car. When Tim appeared with a woman in his arms, she saw him through the tinted window.
She saw how he picked up the pace, then slowed down, then picked up the pace again. He must've been very conflicted about something, but she didn't know what.
Nina opened the door and got out of the car. She was wearing a navy blue puffy-sleeved cheongsam with pink and white flowers in bloom embroidered all over it.
Over this, she wore a white fur shawl.
The bright red lipstick against her pale cheeks made her look like a beauty borne of ice and snow.
She glanced at the sleeping Michelle. It was freezing outside, yet she managed to sleep through it. Eyes flashing, Nina quickly realized something was wrong.
She asked coldly, "What did you do to her?"
After carefully placing Michelle into the back seat of the car and tucking her in the blanket, Tim straightened up and said, "She's been suffering from insomnia so I lit some incense for sleeping."
Sure enough, the dark circles under Michelle's eyes indicated he was telling the truth.
"Incense?" Nina dubiously held out her hand, demanding for a bit of the so-called incense.
Tim was upset. "You don't believe me?"
"Who are you to me? What makes you think I should believe you?" Nina asked, unrelenting. Finally, Tim gave in and handed her the leftover incense.
Seeing Michelle had been reunited with Nina, Victor sent Van and Don out.
When the two kids saw their mother, one rushed over to hug her legs, and the other rushed to hold her hand.
The two looked very loving of their mother. Victor snorted indignantly. Those kids were so mean to him just now.
Was it normal for children nowadays to be so two-faced?
When the Maybach disappeared at the corner of the street, Tim turned around, only to see the confused look on Victor's face.
Tim shot him a questioning look.
They knew this would be cause for concern in their relationship.
Some parents hoped that their daughter would find a rich husband and live a good life, but others worried that their daughter wouldn't fit in with such a wealthy family.
It was obvious that Adams and Elaine belonged to the latter.
Meanwhile, in the North Yard, Michelle's eyes finally fluttered open.
In a daze, she blinked at her somewhat familiar surroundings.
It was weird because she wasn't in her room, but at least, she could tell that it looked like the room Nina decorated for her in the North Yard.
Michelle stretched her arms out and yawned before sitting upright. Now that she was alert, she was almost sure she was in the North Yard.
"North Yard?" Her eyes went wide from shock.
'How did I get here?'
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Michelle lifted the quilt and got out of bed. She ran to open the door barefoot.
But when the door swung open, she was surprised to find that no one was there.
Michelle shuddered in fear.
"Aunt Michelle, I'm here!" A chubby hand suddenly reached up and waved in the air, which made Michelle look down.
It was Van, grinning up at her.
"Hi, Van!"
Michelle beamed at the boy. Uncle asked us to call you 'aunt' from now on." Van waved a phone in front of her face and said, "Aunt, Uncle Leon wants to talk to you." He stood on tiptoe and put the phone in Michelle's hand.
"Remember to come downstairs to eat once you're done talking, Aunt Michelle."
And with that, he bounded off.
Michelle lowered her head and looked at the phone in a daze. Dominating most of the screen was the face of a cold yet handsome man, and to the upper right corner was a small frame showing her surprised face.
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