Chapter 248 Exclusion from Matthew
Ethan's gaze was as tender as water, but his words were sharp and aggressive. Now, Lauren's biggest worry was how to get along with Quentin. They had a child together, and it seemed impossible to avoid contact completely.
However, now she was Ethan's girlfriend, and it was understandable that Ethan was upset about her entanglement with Quentin.
"Ethan, don't overthink it. I won't hang out with Quentin anymore. I'll do my best to avoid him, so you won't have to worry, okay?" Lauren responded cautiously; she couldn't hurt Ethan anymore.
Ethan smiled and replied, "Lauren, I don't want to pressure you. I just care about you a lot. By the way, Matthew is about to start school. In a few days, I'll go with you to get his school supplies and also take the opportunity to bond with him. How does that sound?"
"Okay," Lauren agreed immediately.
She also wanted to improve the relationship between Matthew and Ethan. This way, she might have fewer difficulties. After all, she had decided to spend the rest of her life with Ethan.
Ethan's gaze was deep, and he kept his thoughts to himself, no longer willing to be as open with Lauren as he used to be.
After Quentin returned from the Water Park, he would always stay in his room. Although there was no one else in his villa, not a single person was present.
Since his divorce three years ago, he had dismissed all the servants, leaving only Robinson, who occasionally came to help with the cleaning.
The next day, Quentin called his private doctor. Although Lauren's health shouldn't concern him, he couldn't help but ask the doctor many questions about leg cramps.
Fortunately, the doctor told him that leg cramps were not a big issue. It was either a calcium deficiency or overexertion. Proper rest and calcium supplements would suffice.
Quentin didn't know what was wrong with him, so he asked the doctor to prescribe him many supplements.
When the doctor delivered the supplements, Quentin realized he had no reason to give them to Lauren. With a sigh, he tossed them all into the trash. If he couldn't give them to her, there was no point in keeping them.
Since Lauren and Quentin parted ways at the Water Park, they each returned to their peaceful lives. Lauren was busy with work and immersed in Ethan's meticulous care, so she hadn't been to the Robinson Estate again, nor had she had the chance to see Quentin.
Lauren had promised Ethan that she would work on improving his relationship with Matthew, and she was actively working on it.
With Matthew's school start date approaching, Lauren and Ethan found some free time and planned to take Matthew shopping for school supplies.
When Matthew learned that Lauren was taking him shopping, he was very reluctant. To him, shopping with Lauren and Kimberly was pure torture. They would compare every store and only start buying after visiting the entire mall. Every time, his legs would be exhausted.
However, he was also looking forward to it, as Lauren's busy work schedule rarely allowed her to spend much time with him.
Matthew changed into his stylish clothes and came downstairs, only to see Ethan standing next to Lauren with a smile.
Matthew's excited face instantly turned gloomy. Ethan noticed Matthew's reaction and maintained his smile as he looked at him.
"Matthew, are you ready? Let's get going!" Ethan tried to keep his voice cheerful, though he was starting to dislike this situation and Matthew's attitude.
Matthew was very downcast because he knew he would probably not have the chance to call Quentin for help this time.
Lauren walked over with a smile, took Matthew's hand, and said, "Your Uncle Ethan made time to take us shopping, Matthew. You should thank him."
Matthew's big eyes darted around, and then he smiled at Ethan and said, "Thank you, Uncle Ethan. If you're too busy, I can ask Daddy to take us."
Lauren felt instantly awkward upon hearing this. Matthew was too inconsiderate. She wanted to distance herself from Quentin, but Matthew kept bringing him up, making her feel embarrassed and disrespecting Ethan.
A cold glint flashed in Ethan's eyes, but he kept his smile in place. He replied, "It's okay, Matthew. I promised your mommy that I would take good care of you both. No matter how busy I am, you two are my priority."
Ethan spoke without giving anything away, even in front of Matthew. However, Ethan knew that Matthew was more challenging to deal with than other kids. Whether he could successfully be with Lauren or Matthew was a significant hurdle.
"Alright, let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll be back," Lauren said, taking Matthew's hand and smiling at Ethan.
Ethan nodded and followed Lauren out of the villa.
Ethan had hoped to use this opportunity to bond with Matthew. Kids needed to be coaxed, and he wanted to buy some things Matthew liked for him.
However, Matthew already had his own plans. He knew exactly what he wanted to buy. When they arrived at the mall, Matthew led Lauren to their destination, quickly bought a backpack and school supplies, and was ready to leave.
Ethan didn't get a chance to do anything, not even to pay. Matthew refused Ethan's offer to pay and used his lucky money from the past three years.
Lauren looked at Matthew with a face full of affection, then shook her head at Ethan. She remarked, "Matthew is about to start school; he's a big kid now. Let him make some decisions on his own."
Facing Lauren, Ethan couldn't say anything to refuse, but he felt very depressed as if he had swallowed something bitter.
Pretending nothing was wrong, Ethan smiled at Matthew and said, "Matthew, I saw a toy gun over there that you might like. It lights up, plays music, and shoots bullets. How about picking one as a back-to-school gift from me?"
Despite Ethan's enthusiasm, Matthew was unmoved. He frowned and firmly refused.
Matthew refused, "No, Mommy said I should buy fewer toys. I already have two toy guns at home; I don't need another one."
Ethan's enthusiasm was dampened, but he awkwardly continued to persuade, "It's okay. It's a gift from me. Your mommy won't mind."
Lauren walked over, smiling at Matthew, and said, "Matthew, since it's a kind gesture from your Uncle Ethan, why don't you pick one?"
Matthew looked at Lauren, then at Ethan, feeling a bit angry.
Matthew refused, "I don't want it."
With that, Matthew ran towards the store's entrance, not giving Ethan any dignity. Worried that he might get lost, Lauren gave Ethan an apologetic look and then ran after Matthew out of the store.
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