Single Mom's Sweet Husband by Charlotte

"She wants you to be happy." Freddie looked at Shane with a solemn expression and continued, "Perhaps I don't understand your world. But I'm sure that you, as a twelve-year-old, have the same wishes as my eight-year-old self. I don't wish for you to live a meaningless life. Do you really want to live a life where everyone is constantly afraid of you?"

"That's none of your business." Shane frowned.

He did not care what anyone had to say about his life choices. He was a stubborn man, and decided that no one had the right to judge him, let alone an eight-year-old child who knew nothing about life. "Then what about Sheryl? Does it not involve her as well? I know that when she was growing up, all she ever wanted was a father."

"Did you learn to spout such nonsense from Nathan?"

"No, I'm aware that his thoughts on the matter are similar to yours." Freddie lowered his head and continued, "But I don't want to become whatever he's planning for me. I want to sing and play the guitar. Eventually, I want to perform on stage. I have endured this long for this greater dream of mine. But you on the other hand, I know you don't have a dream anymore."

"Reality will hit you when you least expect it."

"You've been brought down by reality, haven't you?"

"Money is more important. It can buy you anything."

"But it can't buy my happiness."

The conversation ended badly. Freddie did not know what point he was trying to get across before, but he felt angry and regretful after the encounter. He sulked the entire way back to the villa.

He didn't really want to concern himself over Shane's well-being, but when he saw how worried Sheryl looked, he couldn't help himself. If he had a daughter in the future who felt the same way about him, he would definitely feel upset.

Freddie returned to his room looking rather glum. He stared at his computer on the table in a daze.

"What's wrong?" Nathan asked as he gently ruffled his hair. "What're you looking at?"

"Dad, why is Shane so odd?"

"He wouldn't be Shane if he wasn't."

"His life before sounds really unhappy. But when he was playing the piano just now, I saw a spark of life in his eyes. It's all gone now."

This made Nathan realise that Shane must have already regained his memories but was keeping it a secret from everyone. He had no idea why Shane told Freddie though.

"Why do I get the feeling that you' re more concerned about him than he is?" Nathan mumbled.

because he's my future father-in-law," Freddie replied with

'future', right?" Nathan reminded his

had a good

not related at the moment, he had no right to concern himself with Shane's dilemma. Freddie rubbed his forehead in frustration and said, "Well, never mind then. I

eight-year-old child looked quite cute when he

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

as Nathan was about to

got up

door, Charlotte handed a fruit tray to him. "This is for the children. Also, is Olive in

with Sheryl at the moment. She doesn't particularly like spending time with my son," said Nathan as

all right. I'll go look for her somewhere else. If you need anything to eat,

you for

nodded her head

had no idea

out his mobile phone and called Sheryl. Soon enough, Sheryl picked

Sheryl. Are you with Olive right now? Your

not. She told me that she wanted to go play on the swings in the garden this afternoon," she answered in a low

"What happened after that?"

that... I don't

would Olive

something was off about

track her whereabouts on the GPS. They had already checked all the places Olive usually frequented, but to no avail. As such, burning with anxiety, Avery rushed to the local police station and requested to look at the

to be taken away without them noticing. "Don't worry, she might still be in the neighborhood. Maybe

old yet! How is she able to hide

can burrow into all sorts of places. They're creative like that. It's hard to guess where she could be hiding at the

unsurprisingly, Olive was nowhere in sight. Avery was about to go crazy with worry.

she hurriedly

the villa and walked up to Avery's side. She gently held Avery's hand and said, "Avery, don't worry. Olive is a very independent child, remember? Even if she's in danger, she will definitely figure out a

just worried that she accidentally slipped and fell into a hole somewhere. She might be crying out for help right now, and we're nowhere close to

of hills behind the villa, right? I remember there's a large lake.

and continued, "There are surveillance

will get us there. I will