Olivia didnât believe it at all. âNo way. Heâs only six years old.â North frowned. âBut I heard that story a few months ago.â Surprise welled in Oliviaâs eyes. âYouâve heard of the story before?â
âYes. And itâs even more complete than your version. They told me they escaped from a villain. Why did they tell you his grandfather raised them?â
Olivia frowned. âThey?â North nodded. âThere are three of them. I concealed their identities when they first came to Summer City.â Olivia was shaken. So, North does know. But still, she asked, âDo you know their names, then?â
North said, âNo. The names they provided were fake. All I had to do was conceal the identity of the guy who took them here, but Iâve seen their photos. The first two times he showed up on the news, I thought I had seen him before, but I wasnât sure. After what you just told me, Iâm sure thatâs him. Iâm going to see them tomorrow. They lied and ran away from me, and now they want you to be their mother?â
Olivia thought North was a bit prejudiced. âBut Pthey look like good kids.â North asked, âYouâve seen them?â
Olivia decided to be honest. She couldnât hide it anymore, so she told North everything. In the end, she added, âI just made them my godchildren because I sympathize with them. Youâre my real son, North. I love you no matter what.â She hugged him. âDonât get jealous.â
North hugged her as well. He didnât like this, but since his mother was being so careful with his feelings, he set his feelings aside.
âItâs alright. Iâm just worried they might hurt you.â
âI donât think theyâre bad kids. Iâd have fallen into their traps otherwise. Maybe they just need a mother figure in their lives.â He might feel down, though. She added, âWhy donât you evaluate him for me tomorrow?â
North nodded. âSure. But arenât you going to call Daddy?â Olivia answered vaguely, âLater.â In fact, she had been avoiding calling him. She had no idea what to say, so she would just leave it at that. Not like weâre married. Breaking up is easy.
Meanwhile, poor Eugene had been waiting for Oliviaâs call. Brian told him her phone was dead, so he waited for her to charge her phone. He kept waiting and waiting, but even when it was already late at night, he still didnât get her call.
Her phone was still turned off, so he called Brian instead. The moment the call went through, he asked, âWhy canât I get through to her?â
Once again, Brianâs sleep was interrupted. Infuriated, he snapped, âWhy are you asking me? I told her what you said. If she still wonât. take your call, thatâs on you.â
Eugene tried his best to remember what he did wrong, but nothing came up. âI didnât do anything.â
Brian chided, âThe hell you didnât. She would take your call otherwise. North and I went to her tonight. She said you arenât coming back yet because you have something to do. Moreover, sheâs keeping North with her. The situationâs bad, I have no idea what the f*ck is keeping you there, but if youâre not coming back, youâre losing your girlfriend and son. And your mother and brother.â