"Alright, I'll bring my private doctor and princess dolls, but I want to ask you something later."
"W—What do you want to ask?"
"It's about Clarke and the company. Let's just talk about it later," Reed replied. He hung up the call and then summoned his subordinate with just one sign.
A man suddenly appeared out of thin air and bowed his head obediently, "Yes, Master."
"It seems that my niece is sick right now. It's a great opportunity for me to have fun on my own. My brother is having a board meeting with those people from the small company, right?" Reed asked.
"Yes, Master. According to your order, they'll strike a deal with Clarke Gaist company, so he will be busy with his project. Isn't that what you want, Master?"
"Yes, that's what I want, but since my niece is sick right now…." Reed watched the family photo of them in the aquarium dome, and the smirk on his face grew. "Tell those people to intensify the project, double the budget, don't worry, I'll pay for them. I want my brother to be as busy as possible."
"Tell Myriam to make the city busy as well. I want my brother to be too busy to take care of his small family. It'll be fun to watch," Reed ordered.
The man stared at Reed, sitting on an executive chair, staring at a small framed photo of him and the Gaist family (minus Clarke) on their vacation.
He didn't understand what his Master was thinking, especially since he knew how much hatred he had for his Superbman brother and family.
He could just wipe that small family out of existence easily, but he chose to play this sick and twisted game.
But he wasn't the one allowed to question because Reed's order is absolute. Thus he nodded and replied, "Certainly, Master."
After the man disappeared, Reed continued staring at the small frame and then shifted his gaze at the big city outside the glass pane. A smirk grew on his face as he imagined how busy Clarke must be right now, "This is so exciting, brother."
**
Gaius was so worried about Artemis' wellbeing. He checked every hour to see whether the fever had gone down, and it did, thanks to Gaius' healing fruit.,
But he was still worried if there was a complication, maybe something that Gaius didn't know. He wasn't a doctor after all.
He checked the clock. Two hours passed since the last time he called Reed. If that guy didn't show up for another hour, he would just use a taxi to the hospital.
But Reed actually came about a half-hour later, bringing a big box full of princess dolls in front of the apartment.
Gaius hurriedly opened the door, and then he also saw an old doctor standing behind Reed. He was probably the private doctor Reed had.
"Hi, bother-in-law, am I too late? I'm sorry, okay, I still have to buy all the princess doll for Artemis before coming here."
Gaius was stunned by Reed's thoughtfulness. He didn't expect such scoundrel to actually buy every single princess doll edition for Artemis.
[Oh my… what a great father figure…]
[Pupa: He's a great father figure?]
[I mean, at least he cares about the kids, even though they're not even his kids.]
[Pupa: He's still not a good man.]
[I never said that he's a great man. I just said that he's a great father figure.]
"N—Not at all, please come in. Artemis' fever has died down, but I'm still worried about her," Gaius said.
"Don't worry, I bring my private doctor here. He's a professional. He has been taking care of me since I was a kid," Reed pointed at the doctor behind him, and the doctor nodded lightly.
"O—Okay."
Gaius led Reed and the doctor to Artemis' room. The doctor checked on Artemis' condition immediately, and after a doctor examination, he concluded, "She is tired after vigorous activity. It's very natural for kids to exert more energy than they actually have, especially when they're excited."
"But I can also sense that she has been stressed out. A kid like this shouldn't be stressed out, Sir."
"Stressed out?" Gaius frowned. Artemis was still three years old, so she hadn't even gone to formal school or kindergarten. She's still in daycare.
"Did you promise something to her? You see, Sir, a child-like her will take a small promise seriously. So when you give her false hope, she'll be sad and start throwing tantrums."
"But it seems this little girl is a kind child who doesn't throw tantrums everywhere, but she's still stressed out and sad nonetheless…" the doctor explained.
Of course, Gaius could immediately link it to the fact that Clarke kept making false promises to Artemis.
Unlike Hermes, who was vocal about his discontent, Artemis was still a child, yet she understood her Dad was busy. So she never demanded her Dad despite all of those false promises.
Gaius was stressed out as well, he kept reminding Clarke not to give some false hope to Artemis, but he was always careless on his own.
Slowly, Artemis opened her eyes and stared at three people in front of her. She looked at her Mom sitting beside her and hugged his arm, "Mommy…."
"Yes, Sweetheart?" Gaius carefully wiped the sweat on Artemis' forehead.
"Un… Arte… Arte wants Daddy…."
Gaius' heart broke when he heard his daughter wanting to meet with her Dad. He could call Clarke now, but he said that he was in an important meeting.
"Artemis, I heard that you're sick. So Uncle bought you a lot of princess dolls," Reed suddenly interrupted. He approached Artemis and slowly put the dolls one by one on the bed, so Artemis could see everything.
Artemis' expression brightened immediately, and she burst out of happiness. As if that fever was just an illusion, "UWAAA! Uncle Reed bought all princesses for me!?"
"Ahahah, of course! You said that you want princess dolls, right?"
"Yes! Thank you so much, Uncle! Arte loves Uncle!"