Chapter 37: Chapter 38: Agreement

After getting out of the car, Ian Shaw took off at a run, his little legs pumping. Naomi Kenway had to jog a few steps to catch him. “Annie, it’s crowded here. You can’t run off like that.”

Ian Shaw obediently stopped and asked curiously, “Mommy, why are you wearing a mask?”

’My reputation is a mess, after all,’ Naomi thought. ’I don’t want to ruin my son’s wonderful day at the amusement park because of me.’

“It’s because Mommy is so beautiful. If I don’t cover my face, people will start throwing flowers and fruit at me.”

It was just a silly joke, but to her surprise, Ian Shaw nodded thoughtfully. “Mommy, you have to protect yourself.”

Her son had gotten some public exposure from joining her on the kids’ reality show, so for Ian Shaw’s safety, Naomi Kenway had put a baseball cap with a long brim on him.

With their disguises, the mother and son were no longer worried about being recognized.

“Let’s hold hands! Let’s hold hands!” Ian Shaw exclaimed, grabbing Naomi Kenway’s hand with one of his and Ethan Shaw’s with the other. He was so happy he could burst, his short legs moving at a rapid pace.

Seeing her son’s bright smile, Naomi Kenway couldn’t help but be affected, and a slow smile spread across her face.

Naomi Kenway took Ian Shaw onto the carousel, while Ethan Shaw stood below, in charge of taking pictures.

As Naomi Kenway got off the ride with Ian Shaw, she found it hard to believe. ’We’re just like any other ordinary family.’

But she knew they weren’t.

Ethan Shaw and Naomi Kenway started arguing over ice cream.

“Ice cream is so cold. What if he gets a stomachache? It’s best if he doesn’t touch junk food like this.”

“It’s so hot out, he won’t get a stomachache. Anything is fine in moderation. If Annie wants some, just let him have it! And this ’junk food’ you’re talking about… Ethan Shaw, did you even have a childhood?”

They couldn’t come to an agreement, so Naomi Kenway, tired of arguing, simply went and bought an ice cream for Ian Shaw.

Ian Shaw took it happily, his eyes sparkling. “Thank you, Mommy.”

Ethan Shaw stared at Ian Shaw for a long while. ’Aside from when he sees me,’ Ethan thought, ’I’ve rarely seen him this happy.’

’He doesn’t react to French or Japanese food, but a single ice cream cone can make him this happy for hours?’

’I always thought I understood Ian perfectly, but now… I’m not so sure.’

For the rest of the day, aside from the more thrilling rides, the three of them went on almost every single attraction. Ian Shaw had never been this happy; his laughter was practically nonstop.

Ethan Shaw carried Ian Shaw in his arms, with Naomi Kenway walking alongside them.

Watching her son happily wrap his arms around Ethan Shaw’s neck, Naomi Kenway was struck by a thought. ’I’ve been so focused on trying my hardest to make up for the love I feel I owe him… but is my love alone really enough? Can my love substitute for the companionship of a complete family?’

’Even though Annie rarely brings it up, I can tell how much he misses Ethan.’

Naomi felt lost. ’But is it really right to force myself to live day in and day out, feigning affection with a man I don’t love, all for our son’s sake?’

’Do I even like Ethan Shaw?’

Children have limited energy, and before they even reached the car, Ian Shaw had fallen asleep. Naomi Kenway carried him, but Annie wasn’t light, and after a little while, her arms began to ache.

“Let me.”

Naomi Kenway glanced at him and handed Annie over, adding, “He’s a light sleeper, so be gentle.”

Ethan Shaw gave her a strange look, but his movements were noticeably gentler.

*

Naomi Kenway watched as Ethan Shaw gently laid Annie on the bed, then she followed him out of the room.

Ethan Shaw descended the stairs and noticed the persistent shadow still trailing him. He turned, a cool, mocking smile playing on his lips. “What’s this? Seeing me out?”

“No.” Naomi Kenway said, walking down the stairs while holding the handrail. “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Ethan Shaw didn’t seem surprised in the slightest. “Go on. What’s your real goal?”

“I want to make an agreement with you.”

Ethan Shaw’s gaze locked onto her. Perhaps it was the chill of the night, but his pupils seemed far darker than usual. “And what leverage do you have to make an agreement with me?”

“To put it another way, Naomi Kenway, why on earth should I listen to you?”

“For our common goal. For Annie.”

Seeing that he seemed to tacitly consent, Naomi Kenway slowly began to speak. “We’ve both been so preoccupied with our own conflicts that we’ve never once considered Annie’s feelings. It’s cruel for him to grow up without both his parents. He needs a complete family and a healthy, positive environment. I don’t want my son to go without the things that other children have.”

“So, I’d like to ask you to set aside some of your time to spend with Annie, together with me. We don’t need to have any contact in private outside of our time with him. You don’t want to come back to the manor… and I respect that.”

Ethan Shaw was silent for a long time, his deep, scrutinizing gaze fixed on Naomi Kenway.

“I’ll consider it.”

With that, he turned and disappeared into the night.

’It wasn’t a definite no, which is a pretty good answer as far as I’m concerned,’ Naomi thought. ’And knowing Ethan, if he doesn’t refuse, it’s as good as a yes.’

*

Naomi Kenway went to pick up Ian Shaw from kindergarten as usual, but when she arrived, Jessica Hilton informed her that he had already been picked up. The person who took him was his grandmother.

’Jane Chandler can’t stand me, and she isn’t very fond of my son, either. She’s always thought Annie was dull and stupid, that he didn’t inherit the superior genes of the Shaw family.’

’What does Jane Chandler want with my son?’ While telling her driver to go, Naomi Kenway called Ethan Shaw.

The phone didn’t ring for long.

“Hello?”

Naomi Kenway couldn’t contain her anxiety. “Ethan Shaw, what is your mother doing taking my son?”

“Naomi Kenway…” The voice on the other end paused for a moment before making it clear that he didn’t know.

Upon arriving at Shaw Manor, Naomi Kenway stormed straight inside.

’Jane Chandler has never liked Annie, so what’s this about some touching grandmother-grandson reunion? What is she really planning?’

Naomi’s heart was gripped by an unbearable anxiety. She could never remain calm when it came to her son.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, Naomi told herself to stay rational.

*

「The Shaw Estate」

“Annie, would you like to have this pastry? We also have a split pea cake. Here, try some.” Jane Chandler offered him a piece of pastry, her eyes crinkled in a smile.

Ian Shaw, still wearing his little dinosaur backpack, sat stiffly in the chair, not even daring to move his hands. “Grandma, Annie wants to go home.”

“What’s the hurry to get home?”

“Annie wants to go home to Mommy. She’ll be worried if she can’t find me…”

Jane Chandler snorted. “All you ever talk about is ’Mommy.’ Your father was already very independent at your age.”

’Even though he’s my grandson, I still can’t stand him.’ Jane Chandler thought. She was regretting more and more that she had ever let Ethan Shaw marry Naomi Kenway, ruining the Shaw family’s excellent genes!

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