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.

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

right?" Nathan reminded his

had

not related at the moment, he had no right to concern himself with Shane's dilemma. Freddie rubbed his forehead in frustration and said,

child looked quite cute when he

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

Nathan was about to speak, someone knocked on their

got up to open

tray to him. "This is

time with my son," said Nathan as he took the fruit tray from her. "Thank you for

her somewhere else. If you need anything to eat, just

Thank you

nodded her head and

had no idea

phone and called Sheryl. Soon enough,

Sheryl. Are you with Olive right now? Your mother is looking

on the swings in the garden this afternoon," she answered

"What happened after that?"

I

would Olive

that something was off about this

the premises for the child, but their attempts were futile. As Olive did not bring her phone with her, they could not track her whereabouts on the GPS. They had already checked all the places Olive

was impossible for 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 and continued, "We must've missed some

be? Shane and Rick already have people check everywhere else. Moreover, she isn't even ten years old yet! How is she able to hide

They're creative like that. It's hard to guess where

was nowhere in sight. Avery was about to go crazy with

tell that Avery was getting more and more anxious. Worried that he was going to break down, she hurriedly

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,

might be crying out for help right now, and we're nowhere close to finding

heard from Olive that she likes to frequent places with water. There's a bunch of hills behind the villa, right? I remember there's a large lake. But since an accident had occurred, no

I haven't." Avery shook his head and

will get us