Chapter 512 David Wants to Take the Children Away
The words on the notebook began to blur before Clifford's eyes. He struggled to control his emotions, but it was futile.
Felix and Gabrielle had always been towering, positive figures in his life—upright, passionate people whose love for him had never been in question. So why were they doing something so horrific now?
Their actions left Clifford reeling with shock and confusion. His thoughts drifted in chaos as the truth stared him in the face, his heart pounding with pain. They shouldn't have done this to Yvette.
Clifford raised his hand to wipe away the blood streaming from his nose. After cleaning up any traces in the doctor's office, he took the notebook back to his room and carefully hid it away. If Yvette hadn't disappeared but was still in his parents' hands, then he had a chance to find her. He had to find her.
Meanwhile, David slowly rose from the sofa, his eyes burning with resentment. Why could Albert act so righteous when he was the one who'd lost Yvette? BoBo and CiCi were children David had raised from infancy—what gave Albert the right to claim them so easily?
David blinked and called out cheerfully, "BoBo, CiCi, I'm leaving now!"
Albert's brow furrowed as he moved to stop him, but it was too late. BoBo and CiCi came running out of their room, and CiCi threw her arms around David's legs, tilting her small face up to look at him.
"Daddy, do you have to leave right now? I haven't had a chance to play with you properly yet!" CiCi's voice was tinged with disappointment.
David smiled gently, stroking her head. "Sweetheart, this is your home with Mommy. I can't stay here."
He struggled to crouch down to her eye level. "I'm sorry, baby. When I came back from Eldoria, I didn't bring the little dresses and toys you wanted. You've grown so much that they wouldn't fit anymore. If you'd like, I can take you shopping for new ones."
"They won't fit anymore?" CiCi's lip jutted out in a pout. "But they were just bought."
Albert's frown deepened as he interjected coldly, "I'll take you shopping."
David didn't give Albert the chance to shine, turning back to CiCi. "I remember exactly which styles and sizes you liked. I'll get you the exact same ones, just one size bigger. How does that sound?"
The upward lilt in David's voice rang like pure provocation in Albert's ears. David's three years with the children were an undeniable fact, a period of time Albert could never claim. Albert's aura darkened further, his eyes nearly sparking with fury as he watched David.
CiCi seemed reluctant but pouted and said, "Okay then. Do you really have to go, Daddy?"
"Yes." David blinked, a cunning glint flashing in his eyes. "But BoBo, CiCi—would you like to come home with me? Back to Eldoria?"
David's words sent shockwaves through everyone present, as if time itself had frozen. The question hit like a stone thrown into still water, instantly charging the atmosphere with tension. Even BoBo and CiCi looked bewildered and surprised, unsure how to respond.
The children exchanged glances, neither daring to speak first.
"David." Albert stepped forward, his presence commanding and threatening. "Take back what you just said."
Albert's brow was deeply furrowed, his eyes blazing with anger. David was practically challenging him, and if it weren't for the children's presence—if he didn't want to lose control in front of them—he wouldn't let this slide so easily.
But David remained perfectly composed, as if completely indifferent to their reactions. He looked quietly at BoBo and CiCi before asking again, "Just say what you're thinking. It's okay."
BoBo blinked, his already serious little face growing more troubled. He looked up at Albert, then back at David. "Daddy, can you wait until Mommy comes back and ask her first?"
As soon as BoBo spoke, CiCi nodded eagerly. "Yes, Daddy! Wherever Mommy goes, BoBo and I want to go too."
"But Mommy's been having a hard time lately, so she might not be able to come back and take you with her right now." David pressed on with a smile. "If you could choose for yourselves, would you want to come back to Eldoria with me?"
His voice took on a coaxing tone. "We could go back to Eldoria and collect leaves in the maple grove. We could have picnics with our neighbor Selena's family and play frisbee with their big border collie. Eldoria has all those foods and little animals you love. Would you come back with me?"
Albert's Adam's apple bobbed as he clenched his fists, fighting to control his emotions. He knew he couldn't hurt David in front of the children. They didn't understand the complexities between adults, and he didn't want to create a bad impression that would only frighten them and push them further away.
Albert wanted to interrupt David, to stop the children from going with him. But strangely, his throat felt blocked, making even breathing difficult. He found himself nervous, almost expectant, wanting to know how the children would actually respond.
Albert stared intently at BoBo, watching those thin lips—so similar to his own—begin to move. Just as the boy was about to speak, Albert panicked.
His throat tightened as he addressed David. "This isn't a question you should be asking. They're my children and must remain under my protection."
"Protection?" David raised an eyebrow, his lips curving in a mocking smile. "If you were truly capable of protecting anyone, I wouldn't be here today to take the children back to Eldoria."
David gritted his teeth against his discomfort, using the sofa for support as he slowly stood. His body's weakness made him sway slightly, but he still managed to look challengingly at Albert. "I just want to give the children a safer living environment. Since you can't provide that, then my children will be under my protection."
Two nearly identical faces faced off in an unyielding standoff, the tension so thick it seemed ready to explode at any moment. The entire living room was shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere that refused to lift.
Just then, a clear, timid child's voice broke through the tension. "Mommy said that when she's not here, we should listen to Daddy."
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