fantishu
Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Liam roamed the vibrant kindergarten with an unmistakable sense of unease written across his young
face. It was a stark departure from his usual exuberance that greeted the end of a school day. Devin, a
vigilant member of the school staff, took notice of the little boy’s restless demeanor and approached
him, his expression filled with concern.
“Is something wrong. Liam?” Devin inquired, his gentle voice infused with understanding, a stark
contrast to the unsettling emotions that seemed to envelop the young child.
Liam’s response was tinged with innocence as he scanned his
surroundings, his eyes searching for a figure that seemed conspicuously absent. “I don’t see Mr.
Woods, he replied, a touch of uncertainty in his
voice.
“Mr. Woods?” Devin repeated, momentarily puzzled as he menta l l y sifted through the roster of staff
members. After a brief pause, he responded,
There’s no Mr. Woods.”
Liam’s face mirrored his inner conflict as he grappled with the disparity between what he believed and
what he was being told. With a serious. frown etched on his young features, he hesitated before
resuming. “But. that man from the picnic. He… he… Liam trailed off. Original content from NôvelDrama.Org.
Devin’s confusion began to dissipate as he pieced together Liam’s reference. “The man at the park?”
he inquired, his memory conjuring images of the recent picnic outing. He chose not to correct the child,
recalling that Ethan had introduced himself as Mr. Woods during that event. “Oh, that Mr. Woods,” he
acknowledged with a nod, his understanding of Liam’s concern now crystal clear.
Liam nodded eagerly, relieved that Devin now comprehended. It was evident that he was determined to
learn more about this enigmatic figure named Mr. Woods.
“He only comes sometimes.” Devin explained gently, endeavoring to temper the little boy’s
disappointment with a measure of understanding and compassion.
shadow of disappointment crossed Liam’s face as he absorbed this revelation. “Only picnics?” he
asked, seeking to clarify whether Mr. Woods was exclusively associated with their outdoor trips.
Liam roamed the vibrant kindergarten with an unmistakable sense of unease written across his young
face. It was a stark departure from his usual exuberance that greeted the end of a school day. Devin, a
vigilant member of the school staff, took notice of the little boy’s restless demeanor and approached
him, his expression filled with concern.
“Is something wrong, Liam?” Devin inquired, his gentle voice infused with understanding, a stark
contrast to the unsettling emotions that seemed to envelop the young child.
Liam’s response was tinged with innocence as he scanned his
surroundings, his eyes searching for a figure that seemed conspicuously absent. “I don’t see Mr.
Woods,” he replied, a touch of uncertainty in his
voice.
“Mr. Woods?” Devin repeated, momentarily puzzled as he menta l l y sifted through the roster of staff
members. After a brief pause, he responded, “There’s no Mr. Woods.”
Liam’s face mirrored his inner conflict as he grappled with the disparity between what he believed and
what he was being told. With a serious frown etched on his young features, he hesitated before
resuming, “But, that man from the picnic. He… he…” Liam trailed off.
Devin’s confusion began to dissipate as he pieced together Liam’s reference. “The man at the park?”
he inquired, his memory conjuring images of the recent picnic outing. He chose not to correct the child,
recalling that Ethan had introduced himself as Mr. Woods during that event. “Oh, that Mr. Woods,” he
acknowledged with a nod, his understanding of Liam’s concern now crystal clear.
Liam nodded eagerly, relieved that Devin now comprehended. It was evident that he was determined to
learn more about this enigmatic figure. named Mr. Woods.
“He only comes sometimes,” Devin explained gently, endeavoring to temper the little boy’s
disappointment with a measure of understanding and compassion.
A shadow of disappointment crossed Liam’s face as he absorbed this revelation. “Only picnics?” he
asked, seeking to clarify whether Mr. Woods was exclusively associated with their outdoor trips.
Devin nodded empathetically, realizing the child’s profound attachment to his boss. With a drooping
head, Liam turned away, leaving Devin to watch his retreating figure. It was clear that Liam, despite his
tender age, possessed a maturity beyond his years, often choosing meaningful conversations or
solitude over playtime with his peers, and it seemed he had forged a unique bond with Ethan, who had
unwittingly become Mr. Woods.
Later that day, Hazel embarked on her usual routine of picking up her kids from school. As she
observed Liam’s unusually somber demeanor during the car ride home, a sense of concern washed
over her, and she couldn’t help but cast frequent worried glances in his direction.
“How was school today?” she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern, her eyes never straying far
from her contemplative son.
Liam responded with a single word, his voice tinged with a hint of, melancholy. “Okay,” he said, a small
sigh escaping his l*ps. This was a stark departure from his usual enthusiasm, as Liam typically greeted
the end of the school day with unbridled excitement. He would often urge Hazel to hasten her
conversations with other parents so they could. promptly head home. However, on this particular day,
he sat quietly in the car, Daisy’s cheerful chatter providing a stark contrast to his subdued demeanor.
Ethan seated in his classy and meticulously organized office was deeply. engrossed in his work. His
face bore the unmistakable expression of unwavering seriousness. His eyebrows furrowed in
concentration.
Despite his longing for more leisurely moments, he had an overflowing agenda to contend with, and
even his employees were working overtime this evening to help meet the demanding deadlines.
Feeling the urgency of the tasks at hand, Ethan reached for the intercom button on his desk, he
instructed Axel
“Fix a meeting with Sarah Ford’s.”
was
Axel’s response swift and to the point, “Already done that, sir.”
Ethan, however, had something more specific in mind. He leaned forward, his voice carrying an air of
formality, “This evening. Over dinner.
A flicker of understanding passed through Axel as he acknowledged his boss’s request with a nod.
“Certainly, sir. I’ll make the necessary
11:24
Chaper 23
arrangements.”
Ethan gave a subtle nod of approval, acknowledging Axel’s efficiency in handling the task.
Later that evening, as the sun began its descent. Bella’s soft voice. resonated through the phone’s
receiver. “Ethan. can you come home early tonight?” Her request was imbued with a gentle, hopeful
tone, and the warmth in her voice hinted at the longing she felt. “Let’s eat dinner together. It’s been a
while.”
“I’ll be busy,” he replied stiffly, his focus completely on the documents he was reviewing.
Undeterred, Bella’s voice held a note of optimism as she said. “Just come home, I’ll be expecting you.
With those words, she hung up, leaving Ethan to contemplate the choice before him.
Hours passed. Ethan still hunched over his table and buried up in the demands of his work, had lost
track of time and failed to notice when evening descended upon the city. It was then a sigh escaped his
l*ps, and he realized he had been sitting at his desk for hours on end, that he finally stood, preparing to
leave his office for the dinner engagement with
Sarah Ford.
As he made his way towards the exit. Axel followed closely behind.
Hours later, Ethan found himself ensconced in the VIP section of an upscale executive restaurant.
Surrounded by international business. representatives, including those from Sarah Ford’s delegation,
he was deeply engrossed in a high-stakes dinner meeting. However, his phone, which had become a
persistent source of distraction, repeatedly buzzed with incoming calls and messages.
Each vibration punctuated the atmosphere of tension in the room. briefly drawing the attention of his
dining companions. Ethan’s gaze flicked toward his phone, and he briefly examined the messages that
continued to flood in. The name “Bella” illuminated the screen, prompting a momentary internal struggle
before he decided to fl*p the phone over, attempting to redirect his focus back to the business at hand.
Yet, the messages persisted, their frequency and urgency escalating until they finally compelled Ethan
to excuse himself from the table. As he navigated his way toward a more private corner of the
restaurant to take the call, the collective curiosity of his fellow diners lingered in the air, a testament to
the enigmatic nature of his abrupt departure.
“Where are you, Ethan?” Bella’s voice trembled with a mixture of concern. and frustration as she
sought answers about his whereabouts. “Are your still working? I’ve prepared dinner. Can’t you come
home?” Her words carried a poignant note of longing, a heartfelt invitation to reconnect.
With a voice that conveyed both seriousness and exasperation, Ethan replied, “I can’t. I’m in the middle
of something.” His preoccupied mind had little room for anything else.
A note of disappointment crept into Bella’s voice as she responded, “So you’d rather stay out? You
don’t want to be with me? Fine, I’ll leave you. alone!” Her words reverberated with echoes of past
disagreements, hanging in the air like an unresolved chord.
“Bella…” Ethan began, his voice laced with an earnest attempt at reason, but before he could articulate
his thoughts further, the line abruptly went silent. Panic surged within him as he vividly recalled the
tumultuous. consequences of a similar outburst in the past-the loss of their child, a wound that had
never fully healed.
In a desperate bid to reach her, Ethan initiated a barrage of calls, each unanswered attempt fueling his
growing unease. Finally, he turned to use his mansion home line, it was answered by one of the serva
n t s. He urgently instructed them to persuade Bella to answer her phone.
“The Luna just left, sir. She drove off angrily,” came the servan t’ s unsettling reply, sending Ethan’s
anxiety levels skyrocketing.
Desperation gnawed at him as he continued to call Bella’s number, time passed like eternities, each
ring amplifying Ethan’s mounting distress. Then, a shuddering voice answered on the other end, its
tremors echoing through the receiver.
“Calm down, Bella. Where are you?” Ethan implored, his voice now laden with genuine concern, his
earlier frustration replaced with anxiety.
Bella’s so b s overshadowed her words as she grappled to convey her emotions. “It’s not my fault, you
know,” she managed to articulate between tears. “I understand you want a child, but I do too. Ever
since. that night we lost our baby, it’s as if you’ve changed. It’s almost like you. don’t love me anymore.
You’re exhausted with me, and I’m better off leaving you alone!” Her words flowed like a river of
emotion, a reflection. of her inner turmoil.
Ethan pleaded, “Where are you?” His voice carried a hint of care and
concern.
“Last night, since you brought back that child’s drawing,” Bella continued, her voice rising with the
intensity of her emotions. “That’s why you refused to be close to me. You resent me for the miscarriage,
but it was an accident, Ethan, I swear it.” Her words were punctuated by her anguished so b s.
Ethan ran his hand through his hair in exasperation, grappling with the depth of Bella’s pain. “Bella, pull
over the car right now and calm down,” he implored, his voice softening as he tried to guide her. He
was trying to avoid the repetition of the last event she had driven angrily.