CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: EATING HOT POT WITH MR. HUO (PART 1)

Thinking of Bobby, Raina North couldn’t help but sigh, a few traces of worry appearing between her brows. Bobby was a child of The Hawthorne Family. With the power of both The Hawthorne Family and Elias Hawthorne, taking the child away was too difficult.

"Mommy." Casper North came over, tugging her sleeve, looking at her with concern.

"It’s okay. Everything will get better." Raina North patted the little guy’s head, "Quick, get ready, we’re having hot pot tonight. Mommy bought lots of meat."

"Yay."

With the cooperation of the mother and son duo, the ingredients were prepared quickly.

Casper North sat by the dining table, rubbing his hands together, staring intently at the steaming pot.

Just as the pot was about to boil, the doorbell rang.

"Who could be here at this time?"

Raina North looked through the peephole in confusion and froze.

Coming back to her senses, Raina North grabbed her son and headed to the bedroom, "Quick, quick, hide."

"Who’s here?" Casper North struggled, poking his little head out. He had never seen Mommy so flustered.

"Your good-for-nothing daddy." Raina North pushed him into the room, her face full of seriousness, "Whether we mother and son can be together for the rest of our lives depends on whether you manage to hide well today."

Casper North immediately calmed down; he didn’t want to end up pitiful like his estranged big brother.

Raina North took a few deep breaths, and once she managed to calm her emotions, she went to open the door.

"Mommy." As soon as Baby Hawthorne saw Raina North, he threw himself onto her.

Without hesitation, Raina North wrapped her precious son in her arms, glancing at Elias Hawthorne, who was standing tall and handsome at the side: "President Hawthorne, what brings you here at this hour?"

"Ask Baby."

Baby Hawthorne looked up from within Raina North’s embrace, cutely playing with his fingers: "Mommy, I missed you."

"Mommy missed you too." Unable to resist, Raina North hugged the little boy even tighter.

Baby Hawthorne’s little face immediately brightened, "Really?"

"Really, even more precious than pearls." With that, she planted a firm kiss on the little guy’s forehead.

Baby Hawthorne was momentarily stunned, his little face turning as red as an apple, but his eyes were brighter than the stars in the sky.

Looking at the little guy, Raina North felt an indescribable pang in her heart.

Seeing the two of them cuddled together so warmly, Elias Hawthorne couldn’t help but feel like he was superfluous.

Suppressing this inexplicable emotion in his heart, he asked, "Aren’t you going to invite us to sit down?"

"Uh, please, President Hawthorne, come in."

Raina North hurriedly invited them in, seeing the mess in the living room; she quickly placed the little cub on the sofa and swiftly tidied up the unnecessary items into the cabinet.

A few minutes later, Raina North sat on the opposite sofa, thinking about how Elias Hawthorne had seen her place in such disarray, she couldn’t help feeling slightly embarrassed: "Sorry, President Hawthorne, for the mess. Would you like something to drink? I only have juice, milk, or plain water here."

"Anything is fine." Elias Hawthorne sat down on the sofa, his long legs stretching out.

Baby Hawthorne: "Mommy, can I have some juice?"

"Of course."

"Can I come with you?"

The kitchen was stuffy, and Raina North originally wanted Baby Hawthorne to wait in the living room. However, looking at his sparkling eyes, the words of refusal caught in her throat: "Alright."

Baby Hawthorne followed Raina North into the kitchen, leaving Elias Hawthorne sitting alone on the sofa, his gaze wandering around the room.

The three-bedroom, two-living-room layout wasn’t particularly large but very bright. The house was decorated in a post-modern style, making the space look simple and elegant, and the slightly messy traces added a lived-in feel, unexpectedly relaxing.

It wasn’t long before Elias Hawthorne’s attention was drawn to the commotion coming from the kitchen; he didn’t know what Raina North had done to make Baby chuckle like that.