Chapter 115

Jake was sobbing outside for several minutes, and Agnes ultimately couldn't bear to let Jake face the biting cold alone. Ignoring Leopold's attempt to stop her, she opened the villa door. Outside, Jake's nose was red from the cold wind.

She sighed inwardly, half-kneeling in front of Jake. "Jake, if you promise me not to cry, I'll let you in, okay?"

However, the mischievous little Jake pushed Agnes hard, causing her to fall to the ground unprepared.

A surge of anger rose in her heart, and she sternly said, "Jake, why are you so naughty?"

Leopold was the first to come out, helping Agnes up and giving Jake a dark look. Intimidated by his presence, Jake immediately stopped crying, leaving only intermittent sobs.

Lydia quickly pulled Jake close and explained to Leopold, "Leopold, Jake's mom is stuck in traffic. How about I take him away first?"

Leopold, still fuming, snapped, "No! If you're so concerned, you can wait outside with him!"

This was the first time Leopold had scolded Lydia so frequently and harshly. Remembering the scene at the last party where she was ridiculed because of Leopold's absence, Lydia's eyes reddened, and she hesitated to speak.

Leopold then turned his icy gaze to the breathless, crying Jake and commanded, "Apologize to Agnes!"

Jake, trembling and hiding behind Lydia, continued to cry.

Growing impatient, Leopold pulled Jake out from behind Lydia. Jake screamed in fear.

"I'll say it again, apologize to Agnes!" Leopold repeated firmly.

Under pressure, Jake sobbed and managed to say, "I'm sorry. Mom, I want my mom!"

After the apology, Leopold pushed him back towards Lydia, his expression dark. "Don't let me see him again!"

Lydia, also frightened by Leopold's severity, nodded repeatedly, holding Jake tightly. 

Teresa sighed helplessly. "Agnes, let me see if you're hurt."

Agnes shook her head. "I'm fine, Mom. The ground is covered in snow, so I didn't get hurt."

Relieved that Agnes was unharmed, Teresa finally relaxed.

As the three were about to go inside, a BMW parked next to Lydia's Mercedes, and a woman in a green down jacket hurriedly got out of the car.

She was plump, short, and adorned with jewelry, looking wealthy.

She ran over, ignoring Jake, and quickly greeted Leopold, "Hello, Mr. Neville. I'm Jake's mom, Pauline."

Seeing Pauline Knight, Jake felt he had found his support and cried out, "Mom, come save me. He is a bad man; he hit me! They bullied me."

Pauline's heart ached at Jake's words, but she didn't dare to act out. Instead, she comforted Jake in her arms while addressing Leopold.

"Mr. Neville, I'm really sorry. There was traffic, and I got here so late," Pauline said.

Leopold glanced at her indifferently and said expressionlessly, "Apologize to my wife!"

What? When did Leopold get married? Pauline looked at Agnes beside Leopold in surprise. Was she Leopold's wife? Why had Lydia never mentioned it?

Leopold was succinct, and Lydia had to explain for him, "Jake just broke Agnes's very expensive makeup upstairs."

She didn't go into details, and Pauline was a bit taken aback. She wanted to be upset but held back, cautiously asking, "Mrs. Neville, I understand Jake caused some damage, but is it really necessary to make him cry over some makeup?"

Agnes glanced at Lydia, about to speak, when a maid calmly interjected, "Of course, Mr. Neville certainly doesn't care about the makeup. The key issue is your son's attitude towards Mrs. Neville. Not only did he destroy her belongings, but he also hurt Mrs. Neville with the face cream. Mrs. Neville kindly comforted him, and he pushed her down. Don't you think Jake's behavior is problematic?"

The maid's repeated use of "Mrs. Neville" made Lydia frown.

Seeing the maid's respectful attitude towards Agnes and Leopold's consistently stern expression, Pauline realized the seriousness of the problem. Who was Leopold? He was the man who controlled the economic lifeline of Lumina City! She couldn't afford to offend him!

She hurriedly pulled Jake forward, bowing her head and apologizing, "Mr. Neville, I'm sorry. It's my fault for not teaching Jake better. Mrs. Neville, I'm really sorry. I'll make sure he understands the consequences of his actions. We won't let this happen again."

Leopold stood there without a word, and Agnes couldn't guess his thoughts, so she just stayed by his side.

Pauline finished her phone call and had the most expensive cosmetics from Sunrise International Shopping Mall delivered. She then cautiously asked the Leopold, "Mr. Neville, is this acceptable?"

Leopold frowned upon hearing this. "Is this how you discipline your son?"

Pauline was momentarily stunned but quickly understood Leopold's meaning. She pulled Jake aside. "Jake, what you did was wrong. Apologize to Mr. Neville and Mrs. Neville now."

"No!" Jake broke free from Pauline's grip and ran towards the car. "I want to go home. I want to find Dad. You're all mean! I don't want to talk to you anymore!"

Pauline stood there awkwardly, watching Jake climb into the car. "Well, I... Mr. Neville..."

Leopold gave her a cold glance, said nothing more, and led Agnes back into the villa.

Inside the villa, Teresa was instructing the servants to prepare dinner ingredients. Seeing the two return, she interrupted her conversation with the servants and stood up. "Is everything settled?"

Agnes looked at Leopold beside her, and Leopold responded indifferently, "I won't let anyone who bullies my wife off easily." Even if they were just kids.

Agnes was touched by his sudden promise. Holding his large hand, she softly said, "It's okay now, Pauline has already apologized. Let's not hold a grudge, okay?"

"No!" he insisted.

Agnes lowered her head, chuckling softly. When she looked up again, her eyes were full of tenderness. "If you keep this up, word will get out, and everyone will say you are petty, not even sparing a five-year-old child."

Leopold, with a serious face, said, "I don't care about my reputation! If anyone dares to make you cry, whether it's five-year-old kid or an unborn child, I won't let them off!"

Making Agnes cry touched Leopold's inner bottom line. Anyone who made him uncomfortable would not be easily forgiven!

Agnes hadn't expected Leopold to be so persistent about this matter. She was almost moved to tears by his determination. She complained softly, "If you keep being so petty, I'll cry out of frustration. If I really cry because of you, who will you blame then?"

Seeing her eyes really redden, Leopold's heart tightened, not realizing it was due to being moved, not frustration. He gently lifted her chin. "If you say not to hold a grudge, then we won't. But if you dare to cry, I'll take you upstairs right now," He whispered the rest in her ear.

Before Agnes could respond, Teresa's helpless voice echoed in the living room. "Leopold, I came all this way, and you're just showing off your sweetness with Agnes. Have you considered my feelings?"

Agnes quickly redirected the conversation, pushing Leopold away, "Stop talking nonsense. Mom is still here!"

She then let go of his hand, blushing, and walked towards the living room.

Reaching Teresa, Agnes tried to act as if everything was normal and linked arms with her. "Mom, what are you and Eden planning for dinner?"

No one knew how much courage it took for Agnes to make this seemingly simple gesture. Teresa held her hand, taking the small notebook from Eden, which listed the ingredients she had instructed to be purchased. "Eden and I are discussing what to have for dinner. If you have any preferences, let me know, and I'll make it for you."

Agnes was a bit surprised. Could someone like Teresa also cook?

Her expression amused Teresa. "What, is it hard to imagine me cooking?"

Agnes shyly lowered her head. "Yes, I must be the clumsiest one, not even knowing how to cook."

She thought of the last time she cooked for Leopold, the food was so bad it was unforgettable.

If she had known, she would have listened to Henry and learned to cook properly, so she could be a good wife in the future.

Teresa said nonchalantly, "It's not too late to start learning. Whether you can cook or not doesn't really matter. With Eden and the others taking care of you, even if you could cook, Leopold wouldn't let you!"

In the Neville family, the culinary skills of the mistress weren't important. For them, cooking was just an optional hobby. With so many servants at home, they would never go hungry.

Leopold interjected at the right moment, "No one knows their child better than a mother."

Agnes blushed and glared at the shameless Leopold, while Teresa and Eden covered their mouths, laughing.

The unpleasantness caused by Jake earlier dissipated at this moment.

The villa door opened again, and Lydia walked in Teresa waved her over. "Lydia, is everything with Jake sorted out?"

Lydia walked in, looking apologetically at everyone. "Ms. Thorne, everything's taken care of. Uncle Leopold, Aunt Agnes, I'm really sorry about earlier. I promise it won't happen again."

Leopold nodded slightly. "My mom is cooking tonight. Stay and eat with us."

His attitude indicated that the matter was over.

Lydia cautiously looked at Teresa, who smiled gently. "Of course, you can!" Every time Teresa visited, they would dine together, so it was only natural for Lydia to stay.

"Okay, thank you, Uncle Leopold. I haven't had Teresa's cooking in a long time. This is great!" Lydia, sweeping away the previous gloom, cheerfully walked over to Teresa and took the small notebook from Eden.