Mitchelâs voice was frosty.
âPregnant women shouldnât eat anything too stimulating.
Seafood the other night, and ice cream today.
Combining them could lead to problems.
Werenât you aware?â
Forty hours had passed since then, and Stefan hadnât considered this.
He wasnât a doctor, but the ice cream and seafood got approval from a doctor for occasional enjoyment.
However, understanding Mitchelâs concern for Raeganâs health, Stefan conceded graciously.
âI overlooked it.
Iâll take greater care in the future.
â
Mitchelâs demeanor became even more severe, his tone icy and strict.
âI expect you to be a hundred times more cautious.
Just because the children arenât yours doesnât mean you can be negligent!â
Even with Stefanâs generally calm demeanor, such accusations made it hard for him to stay composed.
âI never thought it that way,â he responded sharply.
Youâd better not have thought so,â Mitchel retorted, his words laced with a subtle threat.
Raegan was vivid.
Who did Mitchel think he was? He was already involved with someone else, yet he was meddling in her life.
Plus, Stefan wasnât really her husband.
He was only trying to Lend a hand, and now he was getting a scolding.
It felt so unjust.
Right now, with Mitchelâs bossy tone and piercing stare, it felt especially overwhelming.
By comparison, she thought Mitchel was completely unreasonable.
While the two men faced off, Raegan had finished the remaining half of the ice cream.
Both men looked over at her, visibly shocked.
With a frosty expression, Raegan declared, âMr.
Dixon, I was the one who asked for the ice cream.
Youâve been scolding the wrong person.
â
The fact that Mitchel knew she ate seafood made her feel uneasy.
âWhy are you monitoring me? What gives you the right to meddle in my matters? They are my children.
Donât you think I can look after them myself?â The more Raegan reflected on it, the angrier she felt, especially about the ice cream she had barely tasted.
It left her with a sour feeling.
Mitchel, taken aback by Raeganâs outburst, stiffened.
After a moment of silence, he admitted, âI apologize.
I shouldnât have used that tone.
â
Upon hearing this, Stefan caught a glimpse of an emotion on Mitchelâs face that he hadnât seen before.
It was a mix of sadness and self- reproach, an expression unfamiliar to such a confident man.
Mitchel simply didnât seem to fit in.
Or rather, he seemed completely out of place.
Like the guys one had read about in finance news or remember from the past, Mitchel shouldnât show vulnerability like this.
Stefanâs perception of Mitchel shifted.
Considering that Mitchel was just trying to show his love for the children, it felt silly to dwell on his demeanor.
Plus, Mitchelâs worries over Raeganâs children made Stefan feel a tad uneasy and anxious.
Raegan felt upset, and she signaled for Stefan to leave with her.
Stefan understood that her gesture was meant for Mitchel to see, and after hesitating briefly, he took her hand.
He gave Mitchel a nod, and then they began to walk away.
Mitchel appeared conflicted, his feelings mixed, and suddenly reached for Raeganâs hand.
Raegan quickly pulled her hand away, causing him to stagger backward, unsteady on his feet.
With a slight frown, Raegan composed herself and stated firmly, âMitchel, they are my children.
Donât even think about taking them, or Iâll disappear with the children somewhere youâll never find us.
â
Mitchel stopped in his tracks.
Raeganâs declaration clearly had a powerful effect.
âI didnât meanâ¦â he began.