Chapter 7 Blanket Forts

• "It's nothing," Athena shrugged as she watched the father and son stroll away.
• The room seemed to echo with emptiness, leaving Athena momentarily stunned. She shook her head, trying to make sense of the unexpected feeling washing over her.
• Why was she inexplicably drawn to a child she'd barely known for a day? Could it be that Ronnie's sheer adorableness had cast a spell on her?
• As darkness descended, a sleek Mercedes Benz Maybach S-Class cruised the street with effortless grace, casting a luminous trail in its path.
• An unspoken tension lingered inside the car, thickening the atmosphere with each passing moment.
• Ronnie turned his head away in a huff. He refused to even look at his father.
• Thaddeus' fingers exerted pressure on his temples, each throb signaling the emergence of a headache. He made no move to assuage his son's evident frustration.
• Family members' overindulgence greatly influenced his son's temperament and prompted him to seek intervention from an external source.
• The car pulled up to the front of the house.
• As soon as the car door swung open, the young boy darted out in a flash and sprinted into the house.
• Ignoring the greetings from the servants, he marched directly to his room and slammed the door shut behind him.
• Before long, a tumult of crashing noises echoed from within, mingling with the sharp, piercing sound of glass breaking.
• The housekeeper outside the door trembled in fear and rushed to find Thaddeus. "Mr. Sterling, something's wrong with Ronan! He's locked himself in his room and throwing a tantrum. We need to make sure he doesn't hurt himself."
• Thaddeus' expression darkened. "Just let him be for now."
• But how could the housekeeper turn a blind eye to the unfolding crisis?
• Old Mr. Sterling and Madam Sterling showered Ronan with affection as if he were their very own flesh and blood. If any harm were to befall him, it would undoubtedly unleash chaos.
• The entire household would spiral into chaos, with Ronan bearing the brunt of the suffering.
• "You should go check on him. After all, Ronnie is still a child. It's normal for kids to throw tantrums. If you handle it gently, he might listen," the housekeeper suggested.
• Thaddeus rubbed his forehead and reluctantly knocked on the door. "Ronan, how long do you plan on causing trouble?"
• There was no response from inside the room. Only the continued clattering sound followed by a muffled groan.
• Both the housekeeper and Thaddeus grew increasingly concerned.
• Thaddeus decisively kicked open the door.
• Upon entering, he came across the young boy perched on the floor. His finger was lacerated, blood trickling from the wound, staining the ground beneath him.
• The housekeeper's eyes widened in shock as he urgently called for a servant. "Quickly, fetch the first aid kit!"
• Thaddeus maneuvered through the scattered debris on the floor, swiftly scooping up the boy. His eyes flickered with a blend of fury and despair. "Is this what you wanted?"
• The boy lifted his head. "I want to see Ms. Sinclair."
• "It's too late. You're not getting your way," Thaddeus retorted firmly.
• The boy's resistance escalated. "Then I won't let you patch it up. Let me go. I hate you, Dad."
• Thaddeus felt a headache brewing as he calmly questioned, "Why are you so fixated on her? You've barely known her for a day!"
• "I just feel a connection with Ms. Sinclair. She's like a mother to me," the boy admitted tears in his eyes.
• Thaddeus' demeanor softened, his anger melting away in an instant.
• He had believed his son to be unique, never imagining he would crave a maternal presence.
• In the past, Madam Sterling had arranged meetings with several noble daughters, hoping to create a sense of family for him, but the boy had rejected them all.
• And now, in less than twenty-four hours, he saw a mother figure in a woman he barely knew.
• Thaddeus' emotions churned within him, a turbulent sea of conflicting feelings.
• He had barely scratched the surface of understanding that woman.
• "Let's take care of this first. We'll talk about the rest later," Thaddeus proposed.
• "But can we see Ms. Sinclair after?" Ronnie pressed.
• "It's getting late," Thaddeus reasoned.
• Ronnie's tears flowed freely. "I don't want you, Dad. Just leave me alone."
• The concerned housekeeper interjected urgently, "Ronan, please, listen to him. If we don't tend to that wound, there'll be blood everywhere."
• The words were a tad dramatic, but the wound was undoubtedly real.
• Thaddeus clenched his jaw, wrestling with his decision before conceding, "No tears. Once we patch you up, I'll take you."
• Upon hearing this, Ronnie's tears ceased, although his small shoulders still trembled with emotion.
• After carefully bandaging the wound, Thaddeus maintained a stoic silence as he gently lifted Ronnie into his arms and quietly exited the house.
• At that moment, Athena had just finished showering.
• The doorbell rang urgently once again.
• Curious, she opened the door and found a man and a child standing there.
• Athena: "Well, hello there."
• Thaddeus strode in, cradling Ronnie, and got straight to the point. "Ms. Sinclair, if it's not too much trouble, we might need to crash here for the night. Ronnie's been adamant about seeing you."
• Athena's face lit up with delight as she swiftly took Ronnie into her arms. "No trouble at all. You're both welcome here."
• Thaddeus' lips curved into a faint smile. "Excellent," he remarked before settling onto the nearby sofa.
• Athena's brow furrowed with confusion.
• Is he… not intending to depart?
• Indeed, it was only Ronnie staying.
• "Mr. Sterling, are you…"
• "Hmm?" Thaddeus replied casually. "Since you didn't have any spare rooms, I figured I'd crash on the sofa."
• Athena's jaw dropped in disbelief.
• What does he mean? Does he want to crash on the sofa? Is he planning to stay?
• Thaddeus quickly discerned the shift in her expression.
• She seemed somewhat hesitant, didn't she?
• In the bustling city of Juneau, countless women yearned to be by his side, going to great lengths to capture Sterling's attention.
• Yet, encountering someone like her was a first for him.
• It was entertaining to witness.
• Thaddeus didn't challenge her, merely regarding her with curiosity. "Any concerns?" he inquired.
• "Uh, no problem," she chuckled nervously. "I just think my sofa might be a bit snug for you to crash on, so… maybe you should head back for now, leave Ronnie with me, and swing by to pick him up tomorrow morning."
• There wasn't a need for him to stay.
• I'm a single, vulnerable woman. If word gets out that I spent the night with a stranger, will I ever be able to find love?
• Thaddeus let out a hearty laugh, his demeanor playful. "Well, I suppose I can rough it on the sofa, but if Ms. Sinclair is feeling generous, I won't object to some bed-sharing."