Chapter 113

Agnes was suddenly accused and found it difficult to defend herself with clumsy words.

Unexpectedly, Teresa said, "Agnes did the right thing! Leopold needs to know women's strength! He used to underestimate women; you should keep him in line in the future."

Agnes was stunned. Was Teresa joking? But there was no hint of humor on her face. Was Leopold really Teresa's biological son?

The atmosphere in the car was harmonious, and seeing Teresa being so kind, Agnes felt much more relaxed.

Upon arriving at the villa, Teresa looked at the house and asked in confusion, "Leopold, don't you live on the estate?"

Leopold hugged Agnes tightly before responding, "Yes, we will move back soon." Once the laboratory, music room, and other rooms were renovated, he would move there with Agnes.

Estate? What estate? Leopold's previous residence? But in front of Teresa, she couldn't ask, so she suppressed her curiosity.

Just as they were about to enter the villa, a red Mercedes approached and finally stopped beside them. Seeing the license plate, Leopold stopped.

A figure in pink jumped out of the driver's seat and rushed into Teresa's arms. "Ms. Thorne, I missed you so much!"

Lydia was wearing a pink cashmere coat and white sneakers, looking both youthful and innocent.

Seeing that it was Lydia, Teresa was also overjoyed and hugged her. "Lydia, let me see if you've grown taller again."

Teresa had treated Lydia like her own daughter over the years, as Lydia had once saved Leopold's life.

Lydia pouted slightly. "I'm already an adult. I don't grow like I did when I was a kid! Teresa, I'm really not a child anymore!"

Teresa laughed heartily and lightly patted Lydia's hand, then turned to Agnes who was standing next to Leopold. "Agnes, have you met Lydia before?"

Suppressing the pang of jealousy, Agnes forced a smile. "Yes, a few times."

'They really looked like a family.' Agnes thought.

Lydia left Teresa's side and ran excitedly to Leopold, naturally linking her arm with his. "Leopold, Agnes, I was so excited to see Ms. Thorne that I forgot to greet you!"

Leopold subtly withdrew his arm from her grasp and affectionately ruffled her hair. "When have you ever seen my mom and not forgotten everyone else?"

Lydia stuck out her tongue and returned to Teresa's side, proudly saying, "Of course, Ms. Thorne is the best person in the world to me!"

Leopold hugged Agnes tighter without saying a word.

Agnes felt the strength of his arm, standing stiffly, her hand in her pocket tightly gripping the fabric, the smile on her face somewhat frozen.

She wasn't as adept at sweet-talking as Lydia, nor did she know how to please others. Would Teresa be disappointed in her?

"Let's talk inside." Teresa turned to enter the villa.

Suddenly, Lydia pulled her back. "Oh, Ms. Thorne, I almost forgot. My friend's child is still in the car! His mom had a last-minute meeting, and I was in such a hurry to see you that I brought him along!"

With that, Lydia stuck out her tongue apologetically.

Hearing there was a child in the car, Teresa quickly said, "Let's get him out right away."

A bodyguard opened the car door not far away, and a little boy in a blue down jacket, Jake Wells, jumped out. He was wearing a black knit hat and holding a toy gun. As soon as he saw the group, he raised the gun and shouted, "Hands up, or I'll blow your heads off!"

Jake looked mischievous, Leopold frowned slightly, while Agnes, who had little experience with children, was at a loss.

Only Lydia immediately raised her hands in "surrender." "Jake, spare me! I'll take you to eat something delicious, okay?"

Hearing there was food, Jake quickly put away the toy and ran into the villa shouting, "Charge! There's food, everyone, follow me!"

Jake then disappeared into the villa.

Lydia seemed unfazed, perhaps used to it, and helped the always elegantly smiling Teresa into the villa.

Agnes, watching Jake's playful antics, couldn't help but wonder if she had a child as mischievous as Jake with Leopold, would she be able to resist scolding him every day?

Just as this thought crossed her mind, Leopold's voice interrupted her reverie, "I think we should have a girl instead!"

Agnes blushed slightly, responding as she followed him into the house, "Didn't you always say you wanted a boy?"

"I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to resist scolding him every day!" Leopold admitted.

His words made Agnes laugh; their mutual understanding in this matter was remarkable.

Seeing her laugh, Leopold's mood brightened. "Well then, starting tonight, I'll work hard!"

"For what?" Agnes asked, changing into her slippers and handing his to him.

Leopold slipped on the slippers and replied with a grin, "Work hard to make sure you give me a daughter!"

Caught off guard by his teasing, Agnes playfully pinched his arm. "You really have no shame!"

Leopold chuckled.

Standing in the living room, Teresa turned back and inadvertently saw the couple whispering at the door. Seeing Leopold's smiling face, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes. Since Leopold had grown up, she hadn't seen him so happy in a long time.

'It seems that his feelings for Agnes are more than just liking,' Teresa thought, then called out to Agnes, "Agnes, come over here."

Agnes obediently walked over to Teresa and reluctantly called out, "Mom."

It wasn't that she was unwilling to call Teresa that, but she had never called anyone "Mom" before, and the sudden title made her feel quite uncomfortable.

Just as Teresa was about to speak, Lydia suddenly exclaimed, "Jake, come down, you're not allowed to go upstairs!"

Jake, who was on the stairs, turned back and made a face at Lydia. "No way! I'm not coming down!" Then he continued to climb up.

Lydia glanced at the three people downstairs, looking a bit troubled. "Leopold, why don't you come up with me to check? After all, the upstairs is your place."

Leopold didn't say anything but didn't refuse either, and was about to go upstairs. At this moment, a small hand grabbed his wrist, and Agnes looked into his eyes. "I'll go check, you stay with Mom."

She didn't want to give Lydia and Leopold a chance to be alone.

Teresa, not understanding Agnes's thoughts, smiled. "Agnes, let Leopold go up. I have something to talk to you about!"

Since Teresa insisted, Agnes had to let go of Leopold's wrist. Leopold sensed Agnes's subtle emotions and patted her hand reassuringly, then walked towards Lydia, instructing one of the servants. "You go up and watch him."

"Yes, Mr. Neville!"

Seeing the servant follow Jake upstairs and Leopold return to her side, Agnes finally felt at ease and sat down next to Teresa.

"Agnes, I came in a hurry and didn't have time to prepare a proper gift. These bracelets have been passed down in the Neville Family, and today I'm giving them to you. Please take good care of them, understand?" Teresa removed a pair of crystal-clear bracelets from her wrist and solemnly handed them to Agnes.

Teresa had actually prepared a gift, but if it was for Leopold's wife, it seemed too light, so she decided against it.

Agnes was shocked. Family heirloom bracelets? A mix of emotions and nervousness washed over her as she looked helplessly at Leopold beside her.

Leopold gave a reassuring smile. "Mom gave them to you, so just accept them."

Agnes tightly held the bracelets, her eyes red as she thanked Teresa, "Thank you, Mom. I promise to cherish and take good care of them."

Teresa nodded in satisfaction at Agnes's response. Agnes had made a good impression on her—she seemed genuine, honest, and particularly cheerful and lively when with Leopold.

Lydia sat down next to Leopold, resting her chin on her hands, showing her signature sweet smile. "Ms. Thorne, you are so good to Agnes! I'm so jealous!"

Teresa was amused by her innocence. "Lydia, when you get married in the future, your mother-in-law will be good to you too!"

"Teresa, I'm far from getting married!" Lydia took the water cup handed by a servant and shyly sipped some tea.

Teresa smiled and then started chatting with Agnes. "What year are you in college? Is your study stressful?"

"Junior year, it's actually not too bad," Agnes replied.

"What's your major?"

Before she could finish, the servant who had accompanied Jake upstairs hurriedly ran back. "Mr. Neville, Mrs. Neville!"

"What happened?" Lydia asked with concern.

The servant looked at Agnes apologetically and explained, "Mr. Neville, Mrs. Neville, I didn't mean to. I was just tidying up the mess he made, and I didn't notice for a moment, and he...I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen."

At this point, the servant's voice was almost in tears.

Agnes suddenly had a bad feeling. She quickly stood up and walked briskly upstairs, with the others following closely behind.

Most of the doors upstairs were closed, except for Agnes's room, which was open. She stepped into the room and found the previously orderly space now in complete disarray.

Jake was not in the room, but the sound of running water came from the bathroom. As she passed the dressing table, Agnes noticed that the neatly arranged skincare products were scattered, with some missing.

Pushing open the bathroom door, she saw Jake playing with the running water, smearing her skincare products all over his face and body. Worse, many more products were scattered in the sink, being washed away.

Agnes was usually not easily angered, but seeing this scene, she couldn't help but ask Jake sternly, "What are you doing?" She quickly turned off the faucet, trying to salvage what she could.

However, it was too late. The cream jars, serum bottles, and toner bottles were already empty.

Seeing her displeased expression, Jake was frightened and threw the remaining cream jar at Agnes. "Bad woman! Bad woman!"

"Stop it!"

Although it didn't hit Agnes directly, the remaining cream splattered all over her clothes. Agnes could no longer hold back her anger and almost jumped up in frustration.

The others were all a bit stunned by the scene, except for Leopold, who protected Agnes in his arms and gently asked, "What happened?"