Barry seemed worn out and haggard, his unkempt hair falling to his eyes. In spite of this, he managed to look handsome.
"Alick, be careful!" Mary shouted anxiously.
"Alick, slow down!" Barry took two steps forward, bent down, held Alick in his arms. Smiling, he asked, "Why are you in a hurry? After all, you just recovered. You need rest, my boy."
"I'm all right!" Alick said, shrugging it off. "Daddy Barry, I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too, Alick." Barry kissed his face and examined the scar on his head. "Well, not bad. It has almost vanished. Does it hurt?"
"Not even a little bit," he replied.
"Daddy Barry!" At the sight of Barry, whom Elissa hadn't seen for a long time, Elissa cried out happily. Leaving William behind, she ran towards Barry. William watched this with a pang.
"Elissa!" Barry called her name as he watched her rushing towards him. The three of them stood together, chatting and giggling.
Lucas touched his nose and mumbled in a low voice, "Look at those two ungrateful brats. They don't run so fast when they see me! Daddy Barry always receives special treatment."
William didn't utter a word. Instead, his eyes dimmed with sorrow. His arms were empty, whereas Barry held his most prized possession, his kids. It was unfair! 'They shouldn't be calling him Daddy!' William gritted his teeth, turning his face away from them.
"How did you manage to come back so soon?" Mary walked towards them. "Didn't you say you couldn't be back before tonight?"
"I finished my work in advance. I knew Alick would be waiting for me." Barry looked at Mary tenderly and added, "There's no place like home."
She lowered he
rear-view mirror.
Once they reached Barry's villa, William got off the car and took a look.
"Mr. Lan, this way, please." Barry got off the car and guided him. As they walked, he said, "Mary and I are glad to have you in our house." William was shocked by the implication, but he managed to look indifferent.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Gu!" said William through gritted teeth.
"You're welcome."
Soon, they stepped into the villa.
"Barry, go upstairs and take some rest," said Mary. "I'll call you when the dinner is ready."
"What about Mr. Lan?"
"I am sure Lucas won't mind showing him around," said Mary, refusing to meet William's eyes.
"Alright." Barry nodded and said to William, "Mr. Lan, I need to take rest. But please make yourself home."
"Okay." William snorted as he watched Barry leave.
"Lucas! I hope you will show Mr. Lan around. I am going to the kitchen to prepare dinner," said Mary.
William looked at her, only to realize she wasn't meeting his eyes.
Mary tied her hair in a bun, put on the apron skillfully, and trotted into the kitchen.
As she walked, William took one quick glance at her face. A slight blush suffused her cheeks and her eyes lit up, showing she was quite passionate about cooking. He found himself enraptured by her beauty.
A thought occurred to him, making him quite uncomfortable.
'Is this how she cooked for Barry in the past four years?' he wondered, feeling as if a knife was piercing his soul. Mary was a gentle and virtuous woman. He couldn't stand the thought of her cooking for other men.
'Only I, William Lan, deserve this treatment from her,' he thought, clenching his fists.