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.

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

right?" Nathan

had

with Shane's dilemma. Freddie rubbed his forehead in frustration and said, "Well, never mind then. I guess

quite cute

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

was about to speak,

up to open

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

like spending time with my son," said Nathan as he took the fruit tray

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

Thank you for

her head and

idea

and called Sheryl. Soon enough,

Olive right now? Your

me that she wanted to go play on the swings in the

"What happened after that?"

I

else would

felt that something was off

not 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

Olive to be taken away without them noticing. "Don't worry, she might still be in the neighborhood. Maybe we can look for her again." Charlotte gently patted Avery's shoulder

already have people check everywhere else. Moreover, she isn't even ten years old yet! How is she able to hide from so many people? If this really

sorts of places. They're creative like that. It's hard to guess where she could be hiding at the moment." "Let's

nowhere in sight. Avery was about to go crazy with worry. Even though

Avery was getting more and more anxious. Worried that he was going to break down, she hurriedly gave Irena a call. Fortunately, Irena replied and told her that she would come to them as

at 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?

be crying out for help right now, and we're nowhere close to finding her." Avery

bunch of hills behind the villa, right? I remember there's a

haven't." Avery shook his head and continued,

know a secret passage that will get