Chapter 223 Happy Playtime
Lauren remained silent, making Ethan increasingly nervous. He was afraid she might be angry.
"Lauren, was my tone too harsh?" Ethan said softly. "Please don't be mad. I just want to help you solve the problem."
Lauren gently shook her head. "No, Ethan, you're right. I don't regret letting Matthew know the truth. Seeing him so happy was worth it. I know you all care about Matthew and worry about me, but we have to admit that the role of a father is irreplaceable, and any other care can't compensate for fatherly love. So, please support my decision."
Kimberly kept sighing. "Alright, since you've said so, I won't pressure you anymore, but you really need to be careful with Quentin. I feel like there's something we don't know about his relationship with Matthew. Maybe Quentin has been manipulating things behind the scenes. Matthew is too young and too naive. It's easy to win him over. I'm really worried."
Lauren didn't know how to respond. Could Quentin really be as sinister as Kimberly suggested?
Lauren remarked, "Mom, no matter what, Quentin is still Matthew's father. I don't think he would harm Matthew."
"Lauren, I'm worried not about him hurting Matthew, but about him hurting you! Even more, I'm worried he might never let you see Matthew again!" Kimberly said angrily.
Lauren frowned, "Mom, I know you're worried Quentin will take Matthew away. However, if we keep hiding the truth from him, Matthew will definitely blame me when he grows up! And in this situation, if I force Matthew not to see Quentin, it will hurt him emotionally. So, we have no choice. We'll have to take things as they come."
Kimberly wanted to say more, but Ethan interrupted her.
"Alright, Aunt Kimberly and Lauren. I think we should respect Matthew. He may be young, but he has his own opinions," Ethan said, smiling at Lauren.
Lauren nodded heavily. She did believe in Matthew.
Lauren said, "Ethan, I'll finish the Fortis Dominion Group project in the next couple of days. Don't worry."
Ethan advised,"It's okay. Take your time. Don't overwork yourself."
Seeing that Ethan and Kimberly dropped the subject, Lauren felt a bit relieved and went back to her room to work.
After Lauren left, Kimberly couldn't help but sigh, "Ethan, you must help Lauren with this. If possible, I hope you can talk to Quentin. Tell him that Lauren has agreed to be with you and that he should stay away from her and stop messing with you two."
Ethan looked deeply at Kimberly. "I understand. I'll handle this properly."
Meanwhile, Matthew was in a great mood. He had never had so much fun.
"Daddy, I want to ride on your shoulders like other kids do!" Matthew said excitedly.
Quentin rolled his eyes at him. He had just played soccer with him and was exhausted. Matthew didn't seem tired at all and now wanted to play more.
Quentin shook his head, "No."
"Daddy, I've never played like that before. I really want to," Matthew said, holding Quentin's hand pitifully.
Quentin's hand was large, with long fingers, and Matthew's small hand could hold just one of his fingers.
Quentin couldn't resist Matthew. He finally understood the saying that children were like little tornadoes that wreck one's sanity. Matthew just couldn't give him a rest.
"Alright, but only for five minutes. Once five minutes are up, you have to get down!" Quentin conceded.
"Okay," Matthew agreed without hesitation, a sly glint in his eyes. He wasn't going to be so easily satisfied.
Matthew happily climbed onto Quentin's shoulders, riding on his neck with great joy.
"So high! So high! Daddy, look. I'm much taller than you now!" Matthew shouted excitedly.
Matthew's world was simple and wonderful. Quentin couldn't understand it, but Matthew's happiness was contagious, and a smile crept onto his face.
"Be careful! Don't move around too much," Quentin reminded him.
Matthew ignored him. "Daddy, I want to go over there and touch that branch."
Matthew gave orders, and Quentin had no choice but to comply. Hearing Matthew's laughter, Quentin felt deeply satisfied.
Matthew, tireless, played on Quentin's shoulders for half an hour, his laughter echoing throughout the ancestral home. Hearing the sounds of Quentin and Matthew playing together, Jessica felt a rare surge of energy despite her illness.
She strained to listen to the laughter downstairs. It had been a long time since she felt this happy. Her greatest wish was for the family to live together in harmony and happiness.
Finally, Matthew got tired, and the sky began to darken.
Matthew was extremely satisfied. He looked at Quentin seriously, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. "Daddy, I have to go home now. Will you take me back?"
Hearing this, Quentin was momentarily stunned, then nodded expressionlessly.
Matthew thought Quentin was angry and quickly explained, "Daddy, don't be mad at me. We're boys, and Mommy is a girl, so I have to protect her."
Quentin looked at Matthew with amusement. "I'm not mad. Let's go. I'll take you back."
Matthew immediately cheered up and quickly followed Quentin to his car.
On the way, Matthew gradually calmed down from the excitement of finding out that Quentin was his father. He began to remember his questions.
"Daddy, can I ask you a few questions?" Matthew asked, his brow furrowed in worry.
Quentin glanced at Matthew's serious expression. He didn't treat him like a child and took him seriously.
Quentin replied, "Sure, go ahead."
Matthew felt sad but still asked, "Daddy, why did you abandon Mommy and me? Why don't you live with us?"
Quentin's heart ached. He didn't know how to explain. Should he say that he and Lauren were divorced and no longer in a relationship? Matthew might not fully understand what divorce means. Although he did, he would be very hurt.
"I was playing a game with you to see if you could recognize me," Quentin answered ambiguously.
Quentin never thought he would encounter something he wanted to avoid, and he never expected the person making things difficult for him to be such a little guy.
Matthew's eyes lit up. "So, does that mean you'll live with us? That's great!"
Quentin was deep in thought. Although he wanted to live with them, Lauren probably wouldn't agree. After all, she disliked him so much, and she had a new love, Ethan.
