Free Web NovelChapter 442: Todd Had Selfish Motives
There was nothing wrong with Wendy’s explanation.
However, Michael felt that it wasn’t as simple as she had put it.
He frowned on the other side of the phone, saying, "Wendy, those are not important.
If you like design work, you can continue to do it. You don’t have to worry about connections and resources. I will take care of those for you. By then, you can just come to MC or you can also start a design company of your own. It is too dangerous for you to stay back in Rheinsville alone. On top of that, you had a fall out with Timothy. What if he lost his mind?"
"Don’t worry, I know my limits and I can take care of myself. You just need to take care of our two children," Wendy said.
"Wendy..." Michael felt anxious and wanted to say something. But Wendy cut him off and said, "Michael, you wouldn’t be thinking that you don’t want your two children to go and look for you, would you? You said that you like your two children. Is it a lie?"
What else could Michael say when Wendy made such an accusation.
"Of course I like Jake and Leah. I am happier than anyone else that they could come to Lake City. But Wendy, come over with them. How about this? I will book a flight ticket to come and get all of you," Michael said.
"There’s no need to. Michael, you just have to do as I say," Wendy said determinedly.
"Wendy, be frank with me. What are you trying to do?" Michael asked directly.
"I am not trying to do anything. I just think that it is safer for the two children to be with you. Didn’t you say that yourself earlier?" Wendy purposely let out a heavy sigh, acting impatient and annoyed. She added, "If you don’t want the children to go over, forget about it. I will take care of them myself."
"That’s not what I meant. I am just..." Michael explained.
"Alright. If that’s not what you meant, just do as I say. I will send you the flight details. Remember to pick them up from the airport. Zess will bring them to you. It is late here. I am sleepy too. I will go to bed now. Goodbye," Wendy said.
Wendy finished what she wanted to say and hung up the phone right after.
She was worried that Michael would suspect something and continue to question her if she didn’t hang up the phone.
Wendy definitely couldn’t tell Michael the truth because she knew that Michael wouldn’t let her be in danger.
Wendy took a deep breath after she hung up the phone.
The night breeze was cold. She pulled her cardigan tighter around her body as she looked far away in the dimly lit distance.
"Mommy..." Jake’s voice resounded from behind.
Wendy was frightened by the sudden voice. She turned around and saw Jake standing behind her. She asked, "Why are you awake?"
Jake’s face was glum as he replied honestly, "I did not fall asleep."
"You didn’t?" Wendy frowned. She clearly saw that Jake slept long ago.
This child.
"Mommy, are you in danger? That’s why you are sending Leah and I to him?" Jake asked.
Wendy squatted and saw that Jake was wearing a very thin fabric. She held his hand and pulled him into the living room. She found a jacket and put it on him. She said gently, "He is your dad. Jake, no matter what, Daddy and Mommy love you and Leah.
I hope that you can accept Daddy, alright?"
"Mommy, you haven’t answered me yet," Jake didn’t play along with Wendy’s redirection of conversation, but persisted asking his question.
"What danger can Mommy be in? This little brain of yours, what are you thinking about all the time?" Wendy replied, smiling.
...
"I know you definitely wouldn’t tell me. When you talk to him... I mean Daddy on the phone, you didn’t even tell him. Why would you tell me?"
Jake referred to Michael as "Daddy" in the end.
It wasn’t because he wanted to recognize Michael as his dad.
But he knew that such a trivial matter wasn’t important then. He didn’t wish to upset his mom further when he was about to leave Wendy to go to Lake City with Leah.
"Mommy, I will protect Leah. You have to protect yourself, please," Jake said solemnly as he hugged Wendy firmly with his tender hands.
Jake had no idea what Wendy was going to do but he could tell that it was definitely very dangerous.
He hated the fact that he was too young and he couldn’t be much help to Wendy. He was dying to grow up faster so he could protect his mom and his younger sister. It was a pity that what he could do then was to obey his mom and leave her, leave Rheinsville. Going to his so-called dad and not holding back on his mom was the biggest help he could offer to his mom.
Listening to her son’s sincere promise, Wendy’s eyes were welled up in tears.
She couldn’t fight back her tears and they rolled down her cheeks. She lifted her chin, trying hard to not let herself cry. She sniffled, patting his shoulder gently.
Wendy said only after a while, "I definitely will."
...
Michael’s eyebrows were knitted tightly after Wendy hung up the phone on him.
He felt that it wasn’t that simple. When he invited Wendy to go back to Lake City with the two children a few days ago, Wendy clearly refused.
But she suddenly told him that the two children would be coming to Lake City the next day. And she, herself, wasn’t going.
Michael thought for a while and tapped on the contacts to look for Todd’s number.
He was thinking of asking Todd. He might know what was going on.
It was a pity that no one answered when he called.
Michael looked at the time and suddenly recalled that it was the middle of the night in Rheinsville. He then let out a heavy sigh.
Oh well. He could only ask Todd the next day.
...
Wendy cooked a meal the next day.
She then drove them to the airport herself after the meal.
Leah was crying the entire journey to the airport while Jake was comforting her.
"Leah, isn’t it great that we are going to look for Daddy? Mommy will be coming to look for us in a few days’ time. Why are you crying? Mommy doesn’t like crybabies. If you cry more, Mommy will find you annoying and not come to look for you," Jake warned her.
Jake was the person who knew Leah the best. The moment he said that, Leah didn’t dare to cry anymore.
She wiped her tears, shaking her head. She said, "I’m not going to cry. I’m going to be a good girl. Mommy, you have to come and look for us as soon as possible."
"Alright. I will definitely come and look for you," Wendy replied to Leah while driving.
The change in Jake’s attitude made Wendy grateful, but her heart ached as well.
He was so young, yet he was so understanding. He was really against the idea when he found out that he was going to Lake City.
But then, he helped to comfort Leah.
When they arrived at the airport, Leah didn’t want to let go, holding onto Wendy’s neck firmly.
The broadcast announcement reminder for boarding resounded but Leah was still unwilling to let go of Wendy.
She had already stopped crying, but when she saw everyone lining up to board the plane, she started wailing in tears again, "Mommy, I really don’t want to leave you.
Can I not go?"
Wendy felt extremely heartbroken when she saw Leah’s eyes filled with tears.
But she could only harden her heart and put Leah down. She shook her head at Leah determinedly, saying, "Leah, be a good girl. I will come and look for you and Jake in a few days’ time. Okay?"
...
Leah wanted to refuse, but she had to be obedient.
She couldn’t affect her mom’s work.
Looking at Leah nodding in tears, Wendy bent down and kissed her forehead.
Zess held a child in each of her hands. She looked at Wendy, cautioning, "Wendy, you are alone in Rheinsville. Please be very careful."
"I will. Don’t worry," Wendy nodded. She then waved at them reluctantly.
They turned their backs to her, and she watched them as they walked out of her sight.
Jake then shook off Zess’s hand. He turned back and ran to Wendy.
His eyes were red when he hugged Wendy’s thigh, saying, "Mummy, you must takegood care of yourself."
Jake hardly cried. Ever since he grew up, Wendy had never seen him cry.
But his eyes were red then. freeweɓnøvel.com
Wendy felt extremely upset at this sight.
Wendy stroked Jake’s head, biting her lips. Her tears flowed down her cheeks, saying, "I will take good care of myself. You must listen to Daddy when you are in Lake City. Okay?"
Jake responded with a nasal twang.
The broadcast announcement reminded the passengers to board again.
The people who were queueing to board the plane were already almost gone.
No matter how reluctant Wendy was, she could only let go of Jake. She looked at them, saying, "Go ahead."
Jake took a deep breath, looking reluctant to leave.
But in the end, he had no choice but to leave with Zess and Leah.
The three of their receding figures finally disappeared from her sight.
Wendy wiped her tears and let out a sigh.
She then took out her phone and sent Michael a message.
There was only one simple line in the message: "They have boarded the plane."
It was two in the morning in Lake City then.
Michael had already fallen asleep.
Wendy knew that it was late in Lake City, so she didn’t call but sent a message instead.
When Michael woke up the next morning, he saw the message.
He frowned then replied to her message.
The message he replied was simple. There was only "OK."
Michael looked at the time after he sent the message.
It was seven in the morning. So, it was about seven at night in Rheinsville.
Michael thought for a while before he searched his contact book for Todd’s number again.
He called Todd the night before, but he didn’t answer.
He reckoned Todd was sleeping then.
He wanted to call Todd again to ask if he knew what Wendy was planning to do.
He scrolled through his phone screen swiftly.
Soon, he made a call.
Todd heard his phone ringing and saw that it was Michael calling.
He looked at Wendy sitting opposite him and said, "Michael is calling."
Wendy was having a meal with Todd outside then. Todd wanted to tell her about Clement’s upcoming schedule.
Todd woke up in the morning and saw a missed call from Michael. He didn’t call him back on purpose.
He could probably guess why Michael was looking for him.
He had to inform Wendy so that he knew what to tell Michael over the phone later.
Wendy heard Todd, and she didn’t seem to be surprised.
She sent her two children away. It would be strange if Michael didn’t get suspicious.
Michael couldn’t get an answer from her. So, he naturally had to ask Todd.
Wendy pursed her lips tight. She heard the phone was still ringing, so she told Todd, "If he were to ask you about the two children, just tell him that I have to wrap things up in Rheinsville. I sent the children over first, and I will there in a few days."
...
Todd heard what Wendy had said and nodded in response.
He then answered the call.
He turned it on speaker in front of Wendy.
Michael’s voice resounded from the other side of the phone.
"Mr. Lewis, are you free? Do you have time for a few words?" Michael spoke first.
Todd replied, "Yeah, I’m free now. I am just having a meal. Oh yeah. You called me last night. I’m sorry. When I saw it, I thought I would interrupt your rest as it was nighttime there. So, I didn’t call back. How can I help you?"
Todd explained out of courtesy.
Although anyone would know that the explanation was insincere.
"All right then. I shall cut to the chase. Wendy sent the two children to Lake City.
You know about it, don’t you?" Michael asked.
Todd lifted his head and looked at Wendy.
As expected, Michael called him to ask about it.
Wendy shook her head at Todd.
As long as Todd said that he didn’t know, no matter what questions Michael asked later would be in vain.
Todd understood Wendy’s intention. He immediately replied to Michael, "I have no idea. When did it happen? I just saw Jake and Leah two days ago. Why did they go to you?"
"You didn’t know?" Michael frowned. He was puzzled.
"I don’t know," Todd lied. He didn’t feel guilty at all.
Todd had selfish motives.
Whatever Wendy was going to do, only the two of them knew as of then.
As Wendy didn’t want Michael to know, it was unnecessary to tell him.
And, so what if Michael finds out? He was far away in Lake City. He wouldn’t be able to provide any sort of help.
At least, he was Wendy’s partner in that matter.
The only person who could help Wendy was Todd.
"Did you find anything strange with Wendy recently?" Michael asked.
"Mr. Lucas, what do you mean?" Todd played dumb. "Corrine hasn’t been doing well recently, but it is understandable. After all, she is the one who caused HG to have trouble. Regardless, Timothy is our mentor, and HG nurtured her. She is devastated to see HG collapsed."
"I’m not talking about this. Did you notice if Wendy had any extreme thoughts recently?" Michael rephrased his question.
Todd lifted his head to take another glance at Wendy.
Wendy shook her head again, and Todd said, "I don’t think so. I don’t think Corrine is behaving strangely at all. Mr. Lucas, did you find her strange?"
"Wendy suddenly sent the two children over. I felt that she might be up to something. Mr. Lewis, you are in Rheinsville. If you have any news, please inform me at the first instance. Would you?"
"Mr. Lucas, you are the children’s father. Understandably, Corrine sent the children to you. You don’t find the two children troublesome, do you?" Todd taunted on purpose.
"Why would I think Jake and Leah are troublesome? I like them too much. I just find that Wendy seems to be up to something major as she sent the children to me. I told her to come back together, but she had refused to. I feel rather uneasy about it," Michael said helplessly.
"Michael, I think you are overthinking. Corrine might just be thinking that it is only a matter of time until she returns to Lake City because HG has closed down. She sent the two children back first so that she could wrap things up here on her own. After all, Corrine has stayed in Rheinsville for so many years. Even if she wanted to leave, she’d have to bid farewell to her ex-clients and friends. Ain’t that right, Mr. Lucas?"
