CHAPTER 413: CHAPTER 413: I DON’T LIKE QUITTERS

Stephen Sutton squatted down, adjusted the little boy’s slightly crooked pants, then picked him up and said to Phoebe King with a light tone, "Smoke less."

Phoebe was stunned, and Stephen walked away holding the child.

Was he educating her or caring for her?

Phoebe stared at Stephen’s departing back and vaguely heard the little boy sitting in his arms ask, "Big Uncle, is she your girlfriend?"

Holding the child, Stephen walked farther away, unable to hear his answer.

Phoebe scratched her head, wondering what this man meant.

Did he like her or not?

Phoebe hurried forward holding her phone, then turned back to get her purse left by the sink, and followed him again in her high heels, shouting from afar at his back, "Stephen Sutton, stop!"

In the past, he might have pretended he didn’t hear and quickened his pace to leave.

But this time, he stopped.

He set down the boy from his arms, said a couple of sentences to him, and the boy happily ran off on his own.

He stood up and remained in place, looking at her.

Phoebe jogged to stand two meters away from him, pursed her lips and asked, "... What do you mean? Make yourself clear."

Stephen calmly replied, "Say what?"

Phoebe frowned, "Do you like me or not? I want a definite answer. If you nod, I can immediately go to the civil affairs bureau with you. If you push me away again, I’ll never bother you again! I, Phoebe King, stick to my word!"

Stephen looked at her, his expression and eyes showed no change, appearing very calm.

His silence made Phoebe uneasy and anxious.

She didn’t want to drag this on any longer; she wanted an outcome for this one-sided love, whether it’s good or bad, she’s prepared to accept it.

Yet her heart still harbored a tiny wish, hoping he would admit he liked her.

They stared at each other in silence for ten whole seconds before he finally said in a bland tone, "I don’t like people who quit halfway."

Phoebe paused, "... What do you mean?"

He turned around and walked away slowly, saying, "Figure it out yourself."

Phoebe was momentarily stunned and quickly followed his pace, walking beside him and asking, "Are you telling me to keep pursuing you?!"

He said nothing, but his eyes carried a faint smile, as if tacitly approving of her interpretation.

Phoebe frowned, "What do you mean by this? If you like me, get the certificate with me, and I’ll go home with you. Do you really have to keep stringing me along like this? Have you become addicted to making me chase you? Do you just enjoy teasing me this way?"

Stephen: "You have the option to let go."

Phoebe: "You’re such a drag, even though you set an example for others, you have no honesty. Doesn’t it bother you to say insincere things every day? If I had really agreed to Micah back then, you would have to beg for regret meds for the rest of your life."

Stephen, still expressionless, said, "You can try to see if I’ll regret it."

Phoebe glared at him, "You’re just stubborn! If you like me, can’t you just give me a little hope so I have the motivation to keep chasing you? You drive me away every time. What if I really leave?"

Stephen: "I never said I liked you."

Phoebe was so angry she stomped her foot, "Then what do you mean?! There are streets full of people chasing me. Don’t just occupy the place without going!"

Stephen maintained his pace, walking forward neither too fast nor too slow, saying, "I’ve never seen someone compare themselves to a latrine, also, watch your language."

Phoebe stood still and pointed at him, "Stephen Sutton, you’re just a coward!"

Stephen paused, turned to look at her, and said calmly, "Watch your language."

Phoebe raised her middle finger, "Coward!"

Stephen frowned and dropped one line, "A rotten piece of wood cannot be carved."

He turned and continued walking forward, a grin appearing at the corners of his mouth.

Hearing the sound of high heels hastily following him, he quickly composed himself and managed his expression.

Phoebe thought he was angry, and quickly came over to apologize, "I was wrong, I’ll stop swearing, okay?"

Stephen said nothing, quietly walking forward, listening to her change tactics to apologize.

After the wedding, it was only a couple of days before the start of school.

After spending two days on the island, Shane fulfilled Audrey Sutton’s little wish to go swimming at the beach, and they set off early on the twenty-seventh to return to Rivia.

Back home again, Audrey felt quite sentimental.

During her absence, Shane had someone tidy up the house very well, even the flowers in the backyard had been tended to beautifully.

She thought that with such hot weather, Shane probably wouldn’t have time to care for those flowers and expected they might be wilted when she returned.

The day they returned, Shane had the house cleaned by the servants, and everything inside was orderly and spotless, with a faint aroma in the air.

"Finally home!" Audrey kicked off her high heels as soon as she entered and sprawled on the sofa.

Shane changed his shoes, took her slippers from the shoe cabinet, and placed them beside the sofa where she lay, saying, "Go upstairs and wash off. You’re sweaty and will get everything dirty."

"Let me rest for a while."

"Should I carry you up to wash?"

Audrey immediately sat up from the sofa, slipping into her slippers while saying, "No need, no need, that would be so troublesome for you."

Having said that, she hastily slipped into her slippers and hurried upstairs.

She found that after being apart, Shane seemed to be more persistent, always thinking about those things, leaving her with a constant ache in her waist and back.

School is about to start, she didn’t want to go to classes in a wheelchair.

In the evening, Audrey couldn’t escape, and while exhausted and half-asleep, she seemed to hear him saying he was going on a business trip.

Upon waking, she wasn’t sure if it was a dream or reality.

She searched downstairs but didn’t see anyone; only then did she confirm that the business trip was probably real.

Last night, they had dinner at the Suttons, and they brought General and Pea back with them.

General hadn’t changed much, but Pea had grown quite a bit, with cheeks as round as balls.

Audrey took out the breakfast Shane left for her from the microwave, sat by the living room coffee table, eating and watching TV.

Returning to the familiar life from before, she felt a strong sense of fulfillment in having regained everything.

Though, she still felt a bit melancholic when touching her stomach.

This time, she was determined to control her diet and schedule from now on, take good care of herself, and ensure no tragedy would reoccur.