Therefore, money could make people lost too. It wasnât unreasonable for the rich to look down on the poor and the poor was disgusted by the rich.
But Olive Steele didnât think she was poor. She had family affection, love and friendshipâthey were all her wealth.
Her parentsâ health was her wealth. Her daughter growing up happily was her wealth. Chloe Malan walking out from the shadow of her failed marriage was her wealth. And to be with Alan Hoyle together was her wealth too.
Her wealth wasnât quantified by money. It was something that Mrs. Hoyle would never understand.
Alan Hoyle apologized to her parents on behalf of his mother, still went in and out from the Steeleâs place, and picked her up to and off work.
Although Annie was young, many conversations between adults were did behind her. But she had already smelled the unusual atmosphere at home. She secretly pulled Alan Hoyle and asked, âUncle, will you leave us?â
Alan Hoyle smiled and stroke the little girlâs head, saying, âI wonât.â
Annie squeezed at him for a while, then whispered, âI donât call you dad because Iâm afraid that one day, you will suddenly disappear after I get used to.â
Alan Hoyle felt sad for a while after hearing that. Olive Steele saw the corner of his eyes were wet. She hid herself behind the door and cried silently. A childâs words always touched peopleâs hearts.
Since then, the intimacy between both father and daughter seemed to increase overnight. Annie still called him uncle, but their bickering had lessened more and more. Occasionally, she would suddenly call him dad, making Alan Hoyle feel as if he was in cloud nine.
On weekend afternoon, Alan Hoyle took her and their daughter to the shooting range.
He said that this was what he promised his daughter, and he couldnât break his promise.
The little girl had changed into a sportswear and ran as fast as a bunny as soon as she got out of the car.
From time to time, there were banging sounds coming from the shooting range. Alan Hoyle tested his skill a bit and hit the clay skeet one by one. That was dashing. Their daughter finally looked at him with admiration.
âWow. A sharpshooter.â
That made Alan Hoyle proud. He took the advantage of the situation to give guidance, âDo you want to learn?â
âYes,â Annie replied loud and clear, itching to have a go.
There werenât a lot of people in the shooting range. All of them scattered in safe areas. But Alan Hoyleâs skill still attracted attention.
There was someone apparently knew Alan Hoyle, and he came to compete, shooting with great precision.
Alan Hoyle was glad enough to give a performance for his daughter. He turned and winked. He said, âSweethearts, wait for me to win ice creams for you two.â
The man smiled, âTwo ice creams? President Hoyle, are you making fun of me?â
Alan Hoyle was loading bullets. He narrowed his eyes and glanced forward. âCanât help it. My woman doesnât like me gambling. The weather is a bit hot, so ice creams please them.â
âIt is rumored that President Hoyle dotes on his wife and child. And seeing it by myself now ââsweetheartsââyou really deserves the reputation.â The manâs gaze stopped on Olive Steeleâs face briefly.
Olive Steele calmly sat on the side and drank her beverage, smiling politely at him. Thanked to Alan Hoyle, she had also become a celebrity. She would occasionally be recognized on the street, so there was nothing strange when she received such curious stares.
The rule of the competition was to hit the clay skeets both at standstill and motion the most within one minute from a hundred meters away.
Everyone in the shooting range was attracted.
Annie couldnât restrain her excitement, âGood luck, Uncle.â
The man glanced at Alan Hoyle weirdly. He smiled, âIsnât she your daughter? Why does she call you uncle?â
Alan Hoyle calmly said, âDonât you think itâs cute to be called uncle?â
The man laughed with him, âSure.â
The result of the competition showed that there was no difference in standstill clay skeets, but Alan Hoyle was ahead for the motion clay skeets.
The man gave in sincerely.
Annie jumped and cheered, âDad, youâre awesome.â
Her addressing was so messy that even Olive Steele couldnât help but shook her head, not to mention at the surprised look of that person. But ever since Alan Hoyleâs daughter confessed her inner heart, he didnât care anymore. He said that as long as his daughter was happy, it didnât matter if she called him by his name, because she looked cute when she called her Olive.
The man really bought ice creams, which made Olive Steele a little embarrassed.
âMrs. Hoyle, itâs nice to meet you. Iâm Jerry Lan, the owner of this place. Do come here often when you have the time,â the man introduced himself.
So he was the owner of this place. It would be weirder if his skill wasnât good when he stuck in the shooting range. And private shooting range needed professional license. It was a difficult thing to get. It seemed that this person had some background.
âHello, Mr. Lan.â Olive Steele smiled, and then called for her daughter, âAnnie, say thank you to Uncle Lan.â
âThank you Uncle Lan for the ice cream.â The little girl was licking the strawberry flavor ice cream with a smile. Her dad was the best, knowing she liked this flavor and specifically told to buy it.
Coincidentally, the small pistol that Alan Hoyle asked the staff to bring had arrived and the onlookers had dispersed. Jerry Lan smiled, âEnjoy your family time. I wonât bother you guys anymore. But President Hoyle, you may not win next time you come again.â