President’s Twins: Buy One, Get One Free novel Chapter 45

“Stella.” Hayden’s voice became deeper. She gazed at the little girl motionlessly.

“Do you think it’s appropriate to do so?”

Stella pursed her lips, feeling a sense of guilty.

Usually if her mother spoke to her in this way, it meant she really got angry.

“Mommy.”

Stella tugged at her sleeve. “I just want to play with Noah for a bit longer.”

Hayden still stared at her solemnly.

“I know, but what time is it now? Haven’t I told you to mind your manners before coming here? You can play with Noah, but you can’t linger around or refuse to go home. This is the most basic courtesy.”

When she was scolding Stella, Noah suddenly crawled to her and held one of her legs, holding the drawing board in the other hand.

Hayden felt that her left leg was tightly gripped. Looking down, she saw the words written on the drawing board raised high in Noah’s hand: “I want Stella to stay.”

“Noah.” Hayden frowned and didn’t know what to say at the moment. It seemed that she could never refuse Noah’s requests.

“Noah, I have to go now. It’s really too late. Next time I’ll bring Stella over and play with you again when I have time, alright?”

Seeing that Hayden still insisted, Noah became anxious. He hurriedly wrote another line on the drawing board, and then dragged Joseph’s pants, asking his father to read his words.

“If you don’t make Stella and Aunt Hayden stay, I won’t eat.”

Joseph was taken aback, feeling a sudden fluctuation in his heart.

He hesitated, looked at Hayden, and said, “How about staying here tonight? We have a room for you and Stella.”

Hayden was startled. “Well, I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

“Please don’t get me wrong.” Joseph glanced at her and unhurriedly explained, “If you leave, Noah wouldn’t eat again tomorrow. He still has an injury, so he could only stay home instead of going out. He can barely meet his friends nowadays.”

Upon hearing it, Hayden could do nothing to refuse.

Stella was also striking the iron while it was hot. “Mommy, tomorrow is Sunday. I don’t need to go to school and nor do you need to work. Mommy, I promise. I will definitely go home tomorrow. I just want to spend more time with Noah.”

Now Hayden had to agree with her reluctantly.

She poked Stella’s forehead and said meaningfully, “You are so young and you want to accompany a boy already. Alas, you are grown up and I can’t keep you home anymore.”

Since they had agreed to stay overnight, a servant arranged a guest room for them. Hayden went to bathe Stella first. The little girl acted as if she was nuts -- she kept screaming, jumping up and down, and running around in the bathroom. All towels were soaked in the water.

“Enough is enough. Are you done? Why are you so excited?”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

Stella looked at Hayden with a smile. “Mommy, I always wish that I could have an older brother.”

Hearing her mentioning that, Hayden couldn’t help but furrow her bows.

She said in a lower voice, “You have one.”

Stella realized that she had brought up her mother’s sadness, so she regretted immediately.

“Mommy, I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright.” Hayden rubbed her head helplessly. “Stop messing around. Stay in the bathtub to keep warm. I’ll go out to find you a new towel.”

“OK.”

Her taken-away son in the past was always the knot in Hayden’s heart. Although she knew it might not be possible for her to bring him back if she could find him, she always hoped that she could meet him one day. As long as she could take a look at him from afar and if he was leading a happy life, she didn’t need to disturb him.