Chapter 171 A Sleepless Night
After the bonfire party ended, everyone returned to their tents, ready to retire for the night. Even though Aiden was already in the tent, he didn’t forget to call the two grown-ups, “Uncle Elias! Mommy! Come and sleep together!”
Sleep together? Amanda’s facial expression turned slightly awkward as soon as she heard that. Then, she couldn’t help but look up at the man standing beside her.
Elias could tell Amanda was in a difficult situation. Therefore, he explained, “Go to sleep with your mommy. I will protect you outside because there will be many unlovely little critters here at night.”
“Unlovely little critters? What are those? Uncle Elias, I want to be outside with you too! I want to see them!” the little guy said innocently.
“Aren’t you going to sleep?” Amanda frowned.
“Do you like snakes? Do you like mice? Do you like bugs?” Elias questioned in a threatening tone.
Aiden instantly widened his big, round eyes and shook his head violently. “I don’t like them! Mommy, are there mice and snakes here? I don’t want to stay here! I want to go home!” He was so frightened that he almost cried as he snuggled into Amanda’s arms and hugged her tightly.
That’s why you should be a good boy and stay in the tent with your mommy. I will stay outside and protect you. Okay?” Since Elias’ solemnity didn’t seem the least bit deceitful in a child’s eyes, Aiden was utterly convinced. Thus, he obediently nodded and refused to leave the tent.
Meanwhile, Amanda couldn’t help but smile when she saw this. The teachers in the kindergarten were the ones who chose this campsite. I’m sure that this place is the safest spot possible. Then again, I can’t deny what Elias said either. After all, encountering critters such as snakes, ants, and mosquitoes is unavoidable when camping outdoors. Still, Aiden has always been a fearless little guy. It seems that Elias truly has a way when it comes to dealing with difficult children.
Hence, Amanda and Aiden slept in the tent while Elias stayed outside. Everything seemed so harmonious” when suddenly, Aiden looked up at Amanda and asked, “Mommy, do you like Uncle Elias? Do you want him to be your husband?”
Since Amanda didn’t expect Aiden to ask her such a grown-up question out of the blue, she smiled and retorted, “Why are you asking? Do you want Uncle Elias to be your daddy, then?”
Aiden replied sensibly, “Mommy, I like anyone you like.
Amanda was slightly surprised by his words. Still, she couldn’t deny that his words melted her heart as she lowered her head to kiss his soft cheek. “There, there. Don’t overthink things. You just have to spend every day of the rest of your life happily.”
“But Mommy, I think you like Uncle Elias…”
Her heart skipped a beat as her eye fluttered in panic. Then, she lowered her head and looked at Aiden, who lay in her arms. She couldn’t help but feel flustered, it was as though Aiden had spilled her secrets.
“You’re still a kid, so what do you know? I like him? When?” Amanda blustered. When she parted her lips. to rant, she immediately shut her jaws with a click when she realized there was no point in explaining this matter to Aiden.
“Oh, I know, I can feel it, Mommy. I can feel that you like Uncle Elias. You treat Uncle Elias differently than
Uncle Simon.”
Amanda was stunned. Really? How did I treat Elias? And how did I treat Simon? Is there really a difference? Why can’t I see it? “What’s the difference?”
Aiden thought it over carefully for a few seconds before answering. “You treat Uncle Elias like a family but treat Uncle Simon like a friend.”
She kept quiet, unable to respond. Is it really as what Aiden said? Is it truly so obvious?
It was 1.00AM, and Elias sat by the fire, staring at it while immersed in his train of thought.
Just then, an unzipping sound came behind him as Amanda left the tent.
Elias swiftly snapped out of his thoughts, raised his head, and looked at her. “Why are you out? Are you not sleeping?”
“I’ll take over for a while, so you can go in and sleep for a moment. We still have to take Aiden mountain climbing tomorrow, so Elias will be dead on his feet if he doesn’t get some rest tonight.
So, Amanda walked up to Elias, sat beside him, and poked the fire with a branch.
Nonetheless, Elias declined her offer, “I’m not sleepy. Besides, I’m a man. Just go to sleep. I don’t know how to coax children.”
“So, what if you’re a man? Men can also get tired. Just go into the tent and sleep. After all, I can’t sleep right now. Indeed, Amanda only came outside for some fresh air because she was having trouble sleeping after hearing Aiden’s astute observation. She couldn’t help but feel awkward around Elias whenever her mind. strayed to her conversation with Aiden earlier. Do I really treat Elias like a family?
“Then, I’ll stay with you for a while. I can’t sleep either. Elias couldn’t sleep because of the pain he felt from hearing Amanda’s hurtful remarks while Amanda couldn’t sleep because of Aiden’s words.
Either way, tonight was bound to be a sleepless night for Amanda and Elias.
The others were sleeping soundly in their tents. Only Amanda and Elias were sitting by the fire.
Only the sound of cicadas chorusing and the light and hurried footsteps of some little critters crawling were heard in the quiet night.
Suddenly, Elias said, “Tell me about your life abroad in the past four years. Were you nervous when you. gave birth to Aiden?” Besides his misunderstanding of Amanda, there was one more thing Elias regretted. That was he wasn’t by Amanda’s side when Aiden was born. Was there anyone by Amanda’s side when she gave birth? Could it be Simon again?
He felt his heart wrench at that thought. It was my woman who gave birth, yet it was another man who stayed by her side. Such a feeling is indescribable.
Amanda smiled faintly and said, “Frankly, I was quite nervous. I was very anxious throughout my pregnancy. Since I was abroad and couldn’t access home-cooked meals often, I was constantly afraid that I lacked nutrition. Baby was born when he was about 38 weeks old and weighed less than 8 lbs. At that time, I kept blaming myself for not eating well. Fortunately, my worries were for naught as it turned out that he was pretty healthy. I made sure he ate well and slept well after he was born. Sure enough, he gained weight. rather quickly.”
“Then, who accompanied you to the hospital when you gave birth?” Since Elias knew how complicated the healthcare system abroad was, he naturally knew giving birth abroad was very troublesome,
“It was all thanks to Simon, I suppose. He helped me a great deal. He helped me make the hospital appointment. He sent me to the hospital when I went into labor in the middle of the night,” Amanda. answered truthfully while feigning nonchalance..
There was an apparent hint of despair in Elias’ eyes. My guess was right on the money. It was indeed Simon who was by her side. At that moment, Elias genuinely felt that he failed terribly as a father. I can’t believe I was unaware of my son’s birth! “Really? I would have shown up by your side promptly and kept you company in the labor room if you had informed me earlier.” Elias sounded jealous.
“Unfortunately, there is no if. At that time, I thought you were long married and had children of your own. After all, you had already shown me that you liked that woman a great deal. Amanda felt her blood boil whenever she remembered the scene from four years ago. She could never get over it, no matter how hard she tried.
Elias had no words to say in his defense. He also knew that it was all his fault. He was the one who pushed his wife and child into the abyss of despair, and he even nearly killed his own son due to his actions.
The silence dragged on as their discussion brought back terrible memories. Suddenly, Amanda heard something rustling through the leaves. She followed the source of the sound, and to her horror, a snake had crawled to her foot. It was even flickering his tongue, as though it was scenting her as prey.
“Oh, my God! A snake!” she yelled instantly in fright.
He got up and pulled Amanda to stand behind him quickly. Unfortunately, due to the ruckus, the snake seemed to have been frightened as well, for it bit Elias ankle.
Elias grunted in pain. Then, he immediately pulled the snake up and tossed it into the woods.
She sprinted down the stairs but suddenly remembered her pregnancy and slowed down. Clutching the test strip in her hand, she wondered what Elias Winters' reaction would be once he heard the news.
Yet, when Amanda was halfway down the stairs, she saw two figures in the living room—Elias and a sexy woman. Slowing down her steps, she held the handrail tightly and felt her heart sink. That was because she saw her husband and the woman behaving affectionately as though they were a smitten couple.
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