CHAPTER 507: CHAPTER 507: SUCH A WONDERFUL HUSBAND

Ivy Linden noticed that Howard Yeats’ gaze became intense, making her cheeks hot. She bit her lip, feeling annoyed. If Howard wasn’t holding Nicole right now, she would have called him shameless and a pervert.

Seeing her not get up, not turning around to leave, and staring at her without blinking, what was he if not a lecherous rogue?

"Have you seen enough? Get out."

Ivy Linden really couldn’t stand Howard Yeats’ gaze, as if she was standing naked before him.

"Mommy, don’t be fierce to Uncle Howard. Uncle Howard is so good to us."

Nicole wrapped her little arms around Howard Yeats’ neck, not understanding why Mommy was being so fierce to Uncle Howard? Clearly, Uncle Howard was especially good to both Mommy and Nicole.

Nicole was too young, completely unaware that Howard Yeats’ kindness came with intentions.

Ivy Linden couldn’t explain to Nicole, seeing Howard Yeats’ thick-skinned, shameless smile, she glared at him fiercely.

"Your mommy wasn’t fierce to me."

"Ah? Is that so?"

Nicole tilted her little head, her clear eyes looking at Howard Yeats.

Howard Yeats pinched her little nose and said with a smile, "Yes! Your mommy isn’t being fierce; she’s just shy."

Ivy Linden looked at Howard Yeats incredulously. How shameless could this man be?

Howard Yeats put Nicole down: "Girls get shy easily, so Uncle Howard will leave first. Once your mommy gets up, Uncle Howard will come back to play with you."

"Okay."

Nicole happily agreed.

As Howard Yeats turned to leave, he glanced at Ivy Linden, seeing her dumbfounded expression, which was adorable. He gave her a mischievous smile.

Ivy Linden felt teased, her face red as a beetroot. After Howard Yeats went out, her heart couldn’t calm down.

She lingered in the room for twenty minutes before slowly getting dressed. When Nicole went to open the door, Ivy suddenly hugged her.

"Nicole, Mommy wants to talk to you."

"What?"

Nicole looked at Ivy Linden innocently.

Ivy Linden sat Nicole on her lap and took a deep breath.

"Do you really like Uncle Howard?"

"Mhm!" Nicole replied happily, then anxiously asked, "Does Mommy not like him?"

Ivy Linden didn’t answer Nicole, instead asking again, "Then...if Uncle Howard wanted to be your daddy, would you agree?"

Nicole fell silent, and after a while, her eyes turned red, misty with tears. Her small lips quivered, "Mommy, Nicole misses Daddy and wants to go home."

Her precious daughter cried.

Ivy Linden felt deeply saddened not only by Nicole’s words but also by the fact that Nicole missed her daddy and wanted to go home. But she...couldn’t be with Samuel Lockwood again, couldn’t give Nicole the daddy she wanted, nor could she send Nicole home.

Ivy Linden felt frustrated. Why did she say this to Nicole? Even if she didn’t want anything with Howard Yeats, didn’t want Nicole to rely more and more on Howard Yeats, she could have chosen another way. Why did she have to use this painful method for Nicole?

Ivy Linden felt particularly guilty, holding Nicole tightly: "I’m sorry, Nicole, I’m sorry Mommy can’t give you what you want..."

The mother and daughter hugged each other and cried for a long time.

Nicole sniffled: "Mommy, don’t be sad. Nicole won’t leave Mommy."

Ivy Linden’s tears fell again, biting her lip to stop the sobs from escaping her throat.

Nicole was just a few years old. Missing her daddy was normal, but for her to say she wouldn’t leave in such a short time without anyone teaching her—to understand that both Mommy and Daddy might never be together in this lifetime.

Ivy Linden washed their faces with warm water and opened the door. She handed Nicole to Howard Yeats without saying a word and went to make food.

Howard Yeats looked deeply at Ivy Linden’s back. In the room, she cried with Nicole, and he heard it from outside.

Howard Yeats felt both angry and amused. To make Nicole less close to him, she made herself and Nicole cry. What was this woman thinking?

"What do you want to play, Nicole? Uncle Howard will take you to play."

Howard Yeats picked up Nicole, lovingly like an elder father.

"Whatever."

Nicole wasn’t very enthusiastic about playing. Children are the least capable of pretending. When they’re happy, they’re happy; when not, they’re not. Nicole hadn’t completely recovered yet.

"Alright, then Uncle Howard will take you to play something really fun."

Howard Yeats noticed Nicole’s less-than-happy expression but acted as if he hadn’t, enthusiastically taking her out.

As they passed the kitchen, Howard Yeats said to the busy Ivy Linden, "I’ll take Nicole downstairs to play for a while; call us when it’s time to eat."

Ivy Linden, holding a tomato, really wanted to throw it at him.

Seriously, are you the boss here?

Call you when it’s time to eat?

Thinking that all the wonderful dishes were bought by Howard Yeats, if it weren’t for him buying groceries all this time, she and Nicole might still be struggling.

Ivy Linden didn’t hold a grudge against Howard Yeats.

Just as Howard Yeats left, Mrs. Ward hurried over, looking at Ivy Linden with envy.

"Oh my! You’re so fortunate to have such a loving husband who buys you fresh fish and meat every day from the market."

"He’s not my husband."

"Not your husband, and he spends money every day buying so much good food to send here? I’m telling you, Ivy Linden, don’t take your blessings for granted. You should make up with your man! Couples fight at the headboard and make up at the footboard. Really, he’s buying things to please you, and you still won’t reconcile? Be careful, or someone else might snatch up such a good man."

"He really isn’t my..."

"Ivy Linden, don’t say I didn’t warn you. That young girl next door has her eye on your man. I’ve seen her several times, staring at him in a daze, nearly drooling."

Who? Who’s so bored that they’re staring at Howard Yeats?

Wait a second, who stares at Howard Yeats has nothing to do with her?

Ivy Linden was at a loss for words, as Mrs. Ward assumed Howard Yeats was her husband.

Ivy Linden was exasperated, seeing Mrs. Ward off with a sigh.

Howard Yeats took Nicole downstairs. A snow-white unicorn appeared before Nicole. Its horn was rainbow-colored. When it saw Nicole coming down, it immediately spoke in a cute voice.

"Welcome, my little owner, Princess Nicole, I am your steed. Come sit on me, Princess Nicole."

"Uncle Howard, how does it know my name is Nicole?"

Howard Yeats smiled and asked the unicorn, "Tell Princess Nicole how you know her name?"

The unicorn said, "Because I am a gift from the owner to the little princess. The owner has told me that your name is Nicole, and you are an adorable and noble little princess."