Chapter 22: Let Stella Come to My House

All the conditions had pointed out that Noah was diagnosed with autism.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ask it.” Hayden apologized sincerely. “How about this, in order to show my
apology, why don’t I treat you the meal today?” Joseph’s mind was pulled back from his thoughts and
seeing her anxious look, he realized his attitude just now was slightly rude. Having remembered her
saving Noah back then, he softened his voice and explained, “Noah can speak, it’s just that he doesn’t
like to.” Hayden nodded and did not ask anymore.

Meanwhile, Noah was sitting amidst a sea of colorful balls. Having lost track of Stella’s whereabouts,
he frowned and looked apprehensive. Suddenly, something exploded before him and the balls all
scattered everywhere. Stella shot up from beneath the balls and stared at him while laughing. “I’m right
here!” Noah was obviously shocked. He was stupefied as if it was the first time someone had ever
played with him like that.

Feeling slightly startled, Stella asked, “What’s wrong, Noah?” Noah shook his head and suddenly held
her hand. He pointed at the dining table’s direction, signifying that he wanted to return. Although Stella
did not have enough fun yet, seeing Noah’s frightened look, Stella nodded understandingly. “Are you
hungry? Let’s go back.”

Noah insisted to sit beside Stella during their meal no matter how Joseph warned him. Luckily Stella
was carefree enough that she straight away went to the place beside Joseph and said with a childish
voice, “Since Noah likes my mommy that much, I’ll let him sit beside mommy. I can sit here.” Seeing
Hayden did not show any dislike, Joseph then let him be.

Examining the adorable little girl beside him, he inexplicably thought her looks to be appealing. “His
name’s Noah Beckham,” Joseph introduced. Stella nodded obediently and a question popped out into
her mind. She then asked, “Oh yes, how old is Noah? What if he’s younger than me?”



“He’s five. His birthday falls just one day before the Moonlight Festival.” Having heard that, Hayden’s
look froze. Just before Moonlight Festival? What a coincidence that he actually had the same birthday
as Stella. “What about you?” Seeing Joseph asking her back, Stella scratched her head and looked
towards Hayden for help. She could not remember her birthday as she was just a five years-old kid
after all. Not knowing why, Hayden deliberately lied that Stella’s birthday was one month before her
actual birthday. “Stella’s birthday falls on 14 September.” Joseph no longer asked anything about that
as if he just asked it without any purpose.

During their meal, Stella and Noah both had same preference for taste : both of them liked sweet
foods. When the last desert was served, Stella ate hers in great delight while Noah ate his silently. But
from his clean desert plate after finished eating, he seemed to enjoy it very much. Children always had
immense energy and spirit. Both of them ran to play at the children corner again after finishing their
meal. Hayden and Joseph waited for them for some time while keeping each other company. Hayden
was composed at first, but as their waiting time got longer and longer, she started to look at the time
frequently.

She then reminded Stella for the umpteenth time, “Stella, it’s time to go home.” Stella looked up from
the sea of balls and glimpsed at her. “No, I still want to play with Noah for a while.”

“Stella Downey.” Whenever Hayden called Stella’s full name, it usually meant she was on the verge of
explosion. That worked well during normal days, but not knowing when had Stella gone bold today, she
dared ignoring her and continued to play battling games with Noah in the sea of balls. Hayden finally
went down and dragged her out. “Do you know what the time is now? You should go home with me
now, Stella.” One of Stella’s arms was grabbed and she immediately used her other arm to snatch
Joseph’s trouser leg. “Help me mister.”

Joseph had already planned to keep his son company in the first place as he played and he did not
care how long he played, not to mention he found that the little girl to be especially appealing. He then
scooped her up and carried her in his arms, saying blandly, “Kids like to play, why not just let them play



a little longer?” Stella put her arms around his neck and made a face at Hayden. “Mommy, since you
have nothing to do back home, why don’t you chat more with mister to improve your relationship!”

Hayden almost coughed blood hearing her words. “What nonsense are you talking about, Stella
Downey? Get down here…I’m sorry Mr. Beckham, I’m not hitting you…” Stella clung onto Joseph like
an ape and refused to get down. Hayden used to pat her butt to threaten her but her trick did not work
now that she had Joseph’s huge support. After causing a commotion due to their quarrels in the
restaurant, Hayden then gave up and stood there angrily, looking aggrieved. “Mr. Beckham, I think it’s
better you put her down. I’ve been lack in disciplining, and I’ll lecture her when we return.”

“It’s okay.” Joseph let out a rare smile. “Stella is actually quite adorable, she’s just active. And it’s rare
that she could play so well with Noah.” Stella was sensitive enough to hear his words; she then
immediately crawled into the pool via the ladder. “Then could mommy bring me to Noah’s house next
time?” With a livid look, Hayden gritted her teeth and spoke, “Stella, Downey!” How could an intern
worker like her visit Joseph’s house that casually? “Mommy, I’ll go home with you if you agree.”

As Hayden was going to use the hard way to bring Stella home, Noah who was at the side quickly took
out a stack of sticky notes from his bag and raised it up after writing something on it. He let Joseph saw
what he had written and it turned out it was: Let Stella come to my house.

Joseph was startled as Noah had rarely requested anything from him, not to mention anything
regarding making friends. Having remembered the psychiatrist mentioning the necessity for an autistic
child to form more connections with people, he became indecisive. After a moment of considerations,
he then said with a serious look, “Why don’t I send someone to pick you up next Saturday? You can
come over to my house with Stella.”

Hayden’s eyes bulged and she exclaimed, thinking she had heard something wrong. Yet Stella had
already started to cheer up and was as happy as a lark. She landed on the ground after escaping from



Joseph’s arms and seized Noah’s hand, forcibly giving him a high five. “Hurray…I can go to your house
now Noah.” Since Joseph had given his invitation, it was inappropriate for Hayden to reject the offer
and she then acquiesced. The only thing to be glad was the kids finally agreed to leave the Japanese
restaurant. Hayden had a feeling that every restaurant staff would soon know her if she stayed there
any longer.

After getting out of the shopping mall, Joseph’s chauffeur drove the car over and it was unusual for
Joseph to be such a gentleman. He rumbled, “I’ll send you back.” Without waiting for Hayden to reject,
Stella strode forward and scrambled onto the back seat of the car, sitting inside the car and waved at
Hayden. “Mommy, come in! It’s comfortable in here!” Hayden put her hand on her forehead feeling
speechless. Her instinct told her that after today, Joseph would think she was an irresponsible parent
that was greatly inept in educating her child!


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