When he looked at himself in the mirror, Alden saw that his shirt collar was practically torn, his hair looked like a birdâs nest, and his mouth twitched.
Georgeâs mouth twitched too. He did not even know who had made the red scratch mark on his face.
The collar of his shirt was stained black, and he looked very disheveled. Only Harold remained absorbed in the fun of playing.â Alden, you lost today, haha! Hurry, call me big brother!â Alden rolled his eyes at him and said, âTake a look at Mel, then weâll talk.â
Melody stood forlornly in front of the mirror and looked helplessly in the mirror at herself. Tears were threatening to spill from her eyes.
The little girlâs hair was long, but it was all over the place and looked like a birdâs nest now. Her chiffon dress had been tom in some places, and there were even a few dirty shoe prints on her pink dress.
âUh, Iâm sorry, Mel.â Harold was very guilty. âI wonât do that again.â
Alden came over and helped tidy up his sisterâs clothes and hair before leading her out while holding her hand, The six of them sat down at the small dining table.
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The four rascals had been too rowdy just now, so they were very quiet while eating their dinner.
After she was almost finished with her meal, Adina spoke tentatively, âMr. Winters, itâs getting late already, why donât you let Georgie and Hal stay at my place tonight?â Duke placed down his spoon and said, âI think Iâve said the same words to you yesterday.â
Adina was flabbergasted.
The Winters family had offered her to stay the night at their mansion, but she had turned them down.
Dukeâs choice to reject her request for George and Harold to stay at her home tonight was understandable.
However, she really did not want to lose the chance to spend more time with the kids.
She pursed her lips and said, âThen, what should I do so that youâll agree to let George and Harold stay the night here?â
âThey have every right to do that since you are their birth mother. I donât have any issues with it,â Duke calmly said.
Adina was stunned.
âDid this man just agree?â
âBut-âIn a low voice, Duke added, âIâm the childrenâs birth father. Itâs not too much for me to occasionally ask them to stay with me for a few days, right?â
Adina went silent.
Of course, he had been waiting for her to say that.
She just knew that it was not easy to convince this man.
There was no way that George and Harold could spend the night at her house if she rejected him.
If she agreed to him, then it meant that she would have to send Al and Mel to the Wintersâ house at some point in the future.
The atmosphere turned heavy all of a sudden.
Duke looked at her for a few seconds and muttered quietly, âItâs okay, Iâm just bringing it up. I never said that the kids had to stay at my house. I wonât make them do it if they donât want to.â
He turned to face George and Harold and added, âYou two are all grown up now, and you have the right to decide where you want to spend the night. I wonât get in the way of your decision.â âWow!
Really, Daddy?!â Harold was ecstatic when things took a turn because he believed they had missed their chance. âYouâre the best, Daddy! Youâre the best daddy in the world! I love you so much!â
The corner of Dukeâs lips curled up.
Harold thought Duke had no idea, but he knew this little rascal gave him a nickname behind his back and always secretly called him the Big Devil.
Now that he agreed to let this little guy stay here, and he became the best Daddy in the world?
He was not sure whether to get angry or be happy at that.