Chapter 1025 Indifference
Cassie caught Joseph's smug look in the rearview mirror and wished she could just take off her shoe and smack him.
As Sophia and Oliver's dad, he must be feeling pretty proud of himself right now.
Oliver noticed and his eyes turned icy. "If I were you, I wouldn't even show up around here."
It was the first time Oliver had said so much to him, and Joseph's confident smile froze.
Oliver went on, his voice cold. "You want me to call you Dad? For what? Just because you donated some sperm, you think you have a son and a daughter? That's a joke. What have you ever done for us?"
Joseph's face went pale.
Cassie almost clapped. She thought, 'Way to go, Oliver. You said exactly what I was thinking.'
"I haven't done anything before, but I will from now on," Joseph said, looking regretful. "Oliver, I was under someone else's hypnosis; otherwise, I wouldn't have treated your mom that way. If I were myself, I would have been thrilled about you and Sophia."
Oliver sneered. "A grown man can be hypnotized? If I were you, I'd be too embarrassed to admit that."
Joseph was at a loss for words.
Oliver continued, "I don't even know how you became the richest man in Madison. No wonder you lost it all."
Joseph couldn't respond.
Oliver's sharp tongue was just like his own.
Well, he was his son after all.
"You're right." Joseph nodded, looking appreciative. "Cassie, no wonder he's your son. He speaks so directly. If I had half his smarts, I wouldn't have ended up with a broken family."
For winning back his wife and kids, he could swallow his pride.
Sophia stared at Joseph and then burst out laughing. "You're so funny."
Joseph was speechless but managed a smile. "Sophia, Daddy can be even funnier if you give me a chance to make things right."
Sophia was speechless. He was really going all out for this chance.
Cassie sighed.
Joseph quickly said, "Cassie, where are we heading? I think we should find a restaurant first. I know a place with a playground and all kinds of delicious steaks, cakes, and snacks."
"Okay." Sophia immediately nodded.
"Childish stuff," Oliver scoffed.
Sophia hummed, "I'm just a kid; I have the right to be childish."
Oliver frowned. "Sophia, are you being fair to David? He's been so good to you since you were little."
A trace of guilt flashed in Sophia's eyes, but she still pouted and said, "If you like David so much, why don't you live with Mommy instead of moving to Robert's house?"
Oliver glared at her in frustration.
Joseph patted Sophia's head, deciding to buy her some candy as a reward later. "You need to understand, David is good to you because he wants to win over your mommy. He needs her to like him, so he has to please you first."
"Joseph," Cassie warned him to watch his words.
"Am I wrong?" Joseph shrugged innocently. "Cassie, David's not that selfless. He's good to the kids because he wants to win your favor. He knows if he's not good to them, you wouldn't even consider him."
"That's still better than you," Oliver shot back. "When we were still in Mommy's belly, you wanted to give us to Megan to raise, to separate us from Mommy. You're a bad person."
Joseph's face turned red. He didn't expect Cassie to tell Sophia and Oliver about that.
Sophia shouted, "We don't want the mean Megan; we only want Mommy."
"There's no more Megan. Now, I only have your mommy in my heart," Joseph said seriously. "I love her, till death do us part."
Oliver's cold little face twisted in disgust. "So gross, you hypocrite."
Joseph felt a pang of hurt.
Cassie saw his ashen face and couldn't help but want to laugh.
In the end, she drove to the restaurant Joseph mentioned.
Joseph wanted to please Sophia and Oliver. He knew what Sophia liked, but he had no clue about Oliver, so he just ordered one of everything kids usually like.
"That's enough. Don't order so much; it's wasteful." Cassie stopped him.
Before Joseph could respond, Sophia piped up, "It's not wasteful, Mommy. Let him spend more money. He should be spending it on us anyway."
Cassie poked her little head. "Don't think I don't know. You just like to eat. Eating so much desserts would get you cavities."
"Don't blame me. Laura always says, if you don't spend a man's money, he'll spend it on another woman later," Sophia said confidently, puffing out her little chest.
Cassie held her forehead, thinking, 'That damn Laura always teaches Sophia these crazy things.'
Joseph looked at Sophia, Oliver, and Cassie, his eyes full of tenderness.
He wished he could protect them forever.
When the food arrived, Sophia put on a bib, and soon her whole little face was covered in stains.
Oliver sat upright, holding his knife and fork properly, like a little gentleman.
Joseph was very pleased, constantly placing dishes in front of Sophia and Oliver.
But every time, Oliver would push his food aside, not eating it, treating him with complete indifference.
Joseph said softly, "Oliver, I know you hate me, but I won't give up. Don't worry. I won't take you away from Cassie. I just want to fulfill my responsibility."
Oliver continued eating his food as if he hadn't heard him at all.
But Joseph didn't give up. "You're a boy. There are many things Cassie can't do with you. I can teach you to play basketball."
"David can, too," Oliver interrupted him.
Joseph smiled. "He's not as good as me. The national basketball team even invited me to join before, but I wasn't interested."
"Bragging," Oliver said flatly.
"I never brag. We can try after we finish eating." Joseph raised his eyebrows, full of pride.
Oliver was momentarily speechless.
Cassie just quietly watched them. Since Joseph already knew, she was really powerless to drive him away. She could only take it one step at a time.
Joseph continued, "I can also teach you combat."
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