Chapter 26

Sylvia wrapped herself up with the children for a while. She planted a kiss on both of their
cheeks in turn. Similarly, they smothered her with kisses.

It was a particularly endearing scene.

Meanwhile, Odell was left out like a stranger.

Forget about Isabel, even Liam who had been living with him for so long had never had so much physical
contact with him. He had never done anything remotely close to asking for hugs, and kisses were never
even considered.

Odell became more annoyed the longer he looked at them. He coughed drily, filled with irritation.

Sylvia finally untangled herself from them.

Still, Isabel and Liam kept holding her hands.

Isabel turned up to her and declared, “Mommy, don’t be afraid of him. Brother and I will protect you!”
“Yes, we have some dirt on him,” Liam agreed. Sylvia did not know what to say. “Uh…”

She looked at Odell.

As Odell twitched his lips and seemed disgruntled, she had to resist the urge to laugh at his present
situation.

Isabel and Liam brought her to the couch to sit.

Liam’said to the butler, “Uncle Maxworth, could you tell the kitchen hands to prepare some fruits for us?”



The butler glanced at Odell who did not utter a word in response, then he did as Liam told him to and
went to the kitchen.

Isabel sat on Sylvia’s lap and handed the snacks that she had not finished to her. “Mommy, this candy is
delicious. It’s got the right amount of sweetness.”

She peeled the wrapper off and stuffed the candy into Sylvia’s mouth.

Sylvia chewed and finished it in no time. It certainly was tasty, but she was not able to fully savor it
because Odell was scowling at her like the Devil the entire time.

She wavered briefly before turning to Odell. “Odell, stop looking at me like that. I’m not here to take your
children away.”

Odell eyed her suspiciously. “Then, what are you doing here?”

“I just wanted to come and see the kids,” Sylvia told him, “I know they’re better off with you, and I won’t
try to take them away.”

Odell squinted suspiciously. He doubted that she would have such an epiphany overnight. However, the
sincerity on her face and the way she looked at him with determination seemed to suggest she was
telling the truth.

Just as he was about to study her expression for further hints, she proposed, “But I have a condition.”

Odell scoffed, “Out with it.” “I moved nearby to where my grandparents lived back then so that I can be
closer to this place to see the children regularly.” “You’d wish.” Sylvia insisted sternly, “Odell, I came here
in good faith to discuss terms with you.” Odell sneered back at her, “You have no right to discuss terms
with me.”



Sylvia felt something catch in her throat. She was certainly not on the same level as he was. The truth
was that she had no leverage whatsoever over him. The children could no longer bear staying quiet.
Isabel turned to Odell and rebuked him loudly, “You stinky jerk, be nice to Mommy, or else!” Liam added,
“We still have your pictures.” Odell remembered the call from Cliff just now and suddenly felt his head
ache. These unruly brats! Sylvia was a little confused by this and asked the children with intrigue,
“Isabel, Liam, what pictures are you talking about?”

Isabel smiled cheekily. “I doodled a little someth ning on his face-”

“Enough!” Odell belted. The frightened Isabel immediately shut her mouth. Sylvia promptly hugged her
and patted her head gently. “Don’t worry, Isabel.” Liam propped himself between the two parties and
scowled at Odell. Odell suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness when he saw how the trio of mother, son,
and daughter were unified against a common enemy that was himself. After a brief silence, he informed
Sylvia, “You can meet them, but not just whenever you feel like it.”


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