Ambition and obsession - Season 1 Episode 9

Having set the time and place for the meeting, Nicole quickly ended the call. On the other end of the line, Joseph held his cell phone with disbelief in his eyes. He had only called Lisa to try, thinking that even if there was only a remote chance that she would agree to meet him, he had to make an effort to do so. But who would have thought that Lisa would agree to meet him right away? His lips curled with pleasure written all over his face. If I can do this, my father will probably think better of me… Meanwhile, Nicole was coaxing Hayden to eat lunch. “Hayden, I made some hot cereal. Let’s hurry up and eat it.” She placed the cell phone on the couch before leading her son to lunch. Hayden lifted his little head and asked in bewilderment, “Mom, who were you talking to just now?” “Your father,” Nicole replied. Hayden’s face lit up with a hint of pleasure. “Was it Colton?” Nicole was perplexed. How did this brat remember Colton’s name right away? Seriously, I don’t want to see this kind of weird and conceited guy in my life anymore. “You and your crazy ideas. Listen, Hayden, he’s not your father—your father is Joseph!”

Hayden’s initially cheerful face fell at once. He pouted, arguing, “He’s not my father! Colton is!”

Nicole was perplexed. Hayden had only met Colton once, so why would he immediately claim that the latter was his father, as if he had been put under the latter’s spell? “He’s not! Stop daydreaming!”

…

In the afternoon, Nicole dressed in warm colors with a pure white nightgown underneath a cream-colored overcoat, which made her look competent and polite at the same time. After applying light makeup, she curled her hair and left the room.

Hayden was sitting in the living room watching TV. The moment he saw Nicole coming out, his eyes involuntarily lit up. “Mom, are you going to find me a new father?”

Nicole looked confused. Since when had my son become so open-minded? “I’m taking him to see his father this afternoon,” she said. It was 1:30 now, so they could be gone for half an hour.

A look of surprise crossed Hayden’s face, and there was a note of joy in his voice. “We’re going to meet Colton?”

Nicole frowned. “No, it’s Joseph we’re going to meet. I already told him about that!” This brat must have been under Colton’s spell!

Hayden’s face instantly contorted. “I’m not going with you!”

“You’re going with me, even if you don’t want to.” Nicole grabbed the boy’s collar and lifted him up. “Let’s go find him, and don’t call any random guy ‘dad’ anymore!”

Pouting his hurt lips, Hayden protested in displeasure, “A playboy like him can’t be my father! There’s no way a loyal, intelligent, and outstanding citizen like me could be born to someone like him!”

Stroking her son’s chubby cheek, Nicole replied, “They say boys are more likely to take after their mothers, so you probably look like me.” I have to wake my son up to reality so he doesn’t keep thinking about Colton all day long. Thinking about that guy gives me the creeps, she thought.

However, Hayden flatly retorted, “There’s no way I look like you! After all, I’m so smart.”

Nicole was speechless. Is this little rascal trying to insinuate that I’m stupid?

As reluctant as Hayden was, Nicole bundled him into the car. On the way to Scottsdale Mall, she said worriedly, “I’m just letting you meet him, so don’t call him ‘dad’ when you get there.”

“I won’t recognize him as my father,” Hayden muttered with a sad face. He leaned against the car window, staring blankly out the window.

After driving to Scottsdale Mall, Nicole got out of the car with Hayden.

There were few people in the café in the afternoon. After looking around, Nicole spotted the man sitting in the corner and led Hayden there. Although she knew the man in front of her was Joseph, she asked, “Hi, may I ask if you are Joseph Mann?”

Hearing her voice, the man looked at the woman in front of him. Dressed in a cream-colored overcoat, she wore light makeup and her hair was slightly curled. In addition to having a refreshing quality, she had a gentle smile and her beautiful eyes were as clear as a lake full of life.

Joseph couldn’t help but be moved by the woman’s beauty, but his eyes slowly darkened when he set his eyes on the child beside her. “Are you Nicole?”