Only Ashley and Ellie's sobs and heavy breathing could be heard when suddenly, a crisp voice rang out, breaking the silence around. "Mommy!"
Greyson, who was stunned upon hearing that voice, quickly cocked his head from left to right and asked, "Who is that? I just heard someone shout 'mommy'. Did you hear that too?"
"Yes," Francis replied with a deep breath.
Among the people in the box, only Andrew stood quietly. He was not, at all, surprised to hear his son's voice.
Suddenly, Fabio ran towards Ashley and tightly grabbed her clothes with his tiny hands, Making room between her and Ellie, she stooped down to the little boy's level of sight and asked, "What's up, honey?"
Fabio's mouth pouted as he uttered, "Please don't cry, mommy! Give me a hug."
He stretched out his little hand for a hug, and the caring mother that Ashley was, she naturally gave in and lifted him up.
Meanwhile, everyone in the room except for Andrew stared at the mother and son with their mouths agape. They were just dumbstruck and looked at each other.
They couldn't say anything for a while as they jaw hung open in sheer surprise. 'Mommy?
Did the little boy just call Ashley mommy? What's going on?
When did Ashley have a baby? Who was the baby's father? Did Ashley cheat on Andrew?'
All these questions flooded their minds, obviously speculating about that boy's identity. It was, after all, their first time seeing him. And it was not like Ashley had mentioned his existence to any of them before.
As Fabio's face was buried in Ashley's neck, none of them could see clearly what he looked like. They only heard him yell, "Mommy."
But, seeing how he stuck to Ashley, it was more than enough to confirm what was going on.
Ellie was closest to Ashley in proximity, so she stared at the boy in total daze and broke the silence, "Ashley, is this... um, your child?"
Ellie couldn't help but stutter as she looked at the baby wrapped in her friend's arms.
"Yes, Ellie, this is my baby. Fabio. Fabio, this is Auntie Ellie that I have mentioned to you," Ashley answered with a smile.
Turning around to look at Ellie, Fabio put on a cute smile on his chubby face and said, "Hello, Auntie Ellie. My name is Fabio."
"Hello," Ellie greeted, slightly waving at the boy.
She couldn't help reaching out her hand and rubbing Fabio's head as her heart melted with his innocent voice and adorable a
corner, Jeremy cast a glance at the little boy and felt a deep sense of closeness with him.
It was, perhaps, an inherent urge in the blood among people who were related.
Yet, surprisingly, he had no such feeling for Angelina.
Thinking of this, Jeremy frowned. It was just a kind of intuition that he had without knowing why.
But this was not the right time to think of such things. After all, they've reunited after a long time, so these people should be his focus right now.
What happened five years ago had always been a thorn in Andrew's heart––something that had always wounded him inside. But now that Ashley had come back, the truth about what had happened should be revealed.
"What really happened five years ago?"
Jeremy suddenly asked curiously, as if it was just small talk between friends.
Quite surprised at his question, Andrew narrowed his eyes and said, "Someone drove her away, on purpose."
"Who?" Jeremy's voice displayed how Andrew's answer had finally caught his full attention.
The person behind this was really something. Even Andrew hadn't found anything wrong in it until Ashley told him what she had experienced.
Lightly, Andrew mentioned a name.
"Oh? Aren't they all your female admirers?" Jeremy mocked, cocking his head to one side as he sipped on his wine.
It was undeniable that Lesley meant nothing to Andrew. He only knew that she was the daughter of the Feng Group, a family that was more than willing to engage in a fixed marriage with his family. He was being civil to them but he neither cared for being part of such a ridiculous tradition.