Chapter 939 Ultimately Misplaced Trust
Hubert was happily munching on his food when he spotted Edward. His eyes lit up, and he reached out his hands, "Edward, hug!"
Edward strolled over and stopped in front of Theodore. "Hey, Mr. Reynolds, does Phoebe know you brought Hubert out for junk food?"
Theodore held Hubert, not stopping him from reaching out to Edward.
He didn't like Edward's gray coat, and if Hubert could smear it with greasy handprints, all the better.
"Looks like you can't wait to snitch," Theodore mocked.
Hubert tried to jump into Edward's arms a few times, but Edward didn't make a move to hold him.
Hubert pouted and stuffed a big piece of chicken into his mouth, channeling his frustration into eating.
Edward looked at Theodore. "Mr. Reynolds, using a kid to get close to Dwayne? Are you that desperate to win this project?"
Theodore replied coolly, "No one gets up early without a reason. Aren't you here to find a way to break through with Dwayne, too?"
Their conversation had an undercurrent of tension. Edward met Theodore's gaze. "Indeed. Since you want this project too, let's see who has better skills."
Theodore sneered, ignoring Edward's challenge. "Hubert, let's go home."
He carried Hubert down the steps.
A silver-gray Maybach pulled up by the curb. Theodore opened the back door, placed Hubert inside, and then got in himself.
Edward stood on the steps, watching the car drive away, his expression dark.
When Theodore held Hubert, their features looked increasingly similar. Anyone would think they were father and son.
Edward clenched his fists, anger and jealousy swirling inside him.
All these years, he had been wrong. If he had known, he would have taken measures to make Phoebe miscarry, preventing Theodore from being so arrogant.
When Phoebe got pregnant, she kept it from him.
Her four years of infertility had left a deep impression, so he never thought that one night would result in pregnancy.
By the time he found out Phoebe was in Canada and rushed over, she was about to give birth.
It was too late. He could only watch as Phoebe gave birth to Hubert, Boris, and Noomi, and see them grow to look more like Theodore each day.
Many times, along with Hubert, Boris, and Noomi, he wanted to strangle them. But he held back, thinking as long as Phoebe didn't return, they had nothing to do with Theodore.
But reality never goes as planned. Phoebe's career was rooted in Canada, yet she shifted her focus back home.
Edward pressed his temples and slowly walked down the steps.
He wouldn't let this go. He had to bring down the Reynolds Group to vent his anger.
In the Maybach, Theodore waited for Hubert to finish eating, then wiped his fingers carefully with wet wipes, twice for each finger. Hubert blinked at him.
"Theodore, I want to eat drumsticks again next time."
Theodore smiled. "Okay, but you have to promise me one thing. Don't tell Mom about today."
Phoebe didn't allow the kids to eat fried food; it wasn't good for their development.
He hadn't asked for permission and took Hubert out to eat. If she found out, she'd be mad. He wasn't afraid of her anger, just worried about her health.
Hubert nodded obediently. "Okay."
Theodore placed him on his lap and thought of a question.
He looked at Hubert. "Hubert, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
Theodore glanced at Jack in the front seat and lowered his voice. "Do you like Edward or me more?"
Hubert knew the answer. "Of course, you."
Theodore felt a bit pleased and asked, "Why?"
"You buy me yummy food," Hubert answered matter-of-factly, drooling at the thought of more junk food.
How could a child resist the allure of junk food?
Theodore was speechless.
Jack, driving, almost laughed but held back under Theodore's glare, pretending he heard nothing.
Seeing Hubert's innocent face, Theodore had to accept it. Why was he competing with a child?
Back at Lakeview Estates, as the car stopped outside the villa, Phoebe's car arrived too. Theodore stood by the road with Hubert, waiting for her.
Phoebe had no engagements tonight and came home early.
Seeing Theodore with Hubert, she walked over quickly. "Did you take Hubert out?"
"Yeah, just for a bit," Theodore replied. "No engagements tonight?"
"Not every night. But in the entertainment business, everything piles up in the last month. Brands and magazines fight over the same guests. If you go to one, you can't go to the other. It makes future collaborations awkward," Phoebe explained.
Theodore smiled. "You've worked hard."
Phoebe blushed and gave him a playful glare, then reached for Hubert. She smelled something on his hands.
She sniffed Hubert's hand and frowned. "What's this smell? Junk food?"
Before Theodore could explain, Hubert sold him out. "Mom, junk food is so good! Theodore said he'd take me again."
Phoebe glared at Theodore. "You took him for junk food?"
Theodore rubbed his nose and coughed. "Just a taste, not much. Don't be mad. I won't take him again."
Hubert cried, "You promised!"
Theodore was exasperated. Hubert had promised to keep it a secret, but he sold him out in a second.
He looked at Phoebe helplessly. She took the sobbing Hubert and walked into the villa.
Theodore panicked and followed, trying to explain. "Phoebe, it was just a taste. He didn't eat much."
Phoebe, in heels, almost tripped on a stone.
Theodore quickly caught her.
Phoebe was shaken. She could fall, but Hubert couldn't. She pulled away from Theodore and continued inside.
Theodore sighed. "I was wrong. I won't take him for junk food again. Don't be mad."
Phoebe paused, looking at Hubert, who was too scared to cry. "You shouldn't take him alone. Boris and Noomi are too young to notice now, but when they're older, they'll be hurt knowing you took Hubert alone."