Book 1: She Becomes Glamorous After the Engagement Annulment

Chapter 7

Chapter 19: My Brother Looks Just Like Me

Pete blushed. “No, no, it’s fine, Mommy.”

Nora chuckled softly and said, “Cherry’s a big girl now.”

Pete ran away in a hurry after Nora let go of him.

He stood outside the door to the bedroom and listened to the movements inside. The sound of running water, the sound of someone in the bath, and the sound of Mommy walking around in slippers after she was done bathing.

After confirming that Mommy was dressed, he opened the door and saw her lying on the bed. With her eyes closed, she said, “Mommy has a very important operation in two days, Cherry. I need a crazy amount of sleep for the next few days, so I’ll go to bed first, alright?”

“Okay, Mommy.”

His sister had told him before that Mommy had poor health and that her hobby was sleeping. She was usually either asleep or dealing with troublesome issues so that she could sleep.

Therefore, he mustn’t disturb Mommy.

Two minutes later, when he heard steady breathing coming from where the bed was, Pete tiptoed over to his mother. His tiny little form climbed onto the bed. Then, he found a spot in Nora’s arms and curled up there. Before he knew it, he had fallen into deep sleep while listening to her heartbeat.

How wonderful.

He also had a mother now.

As a result, he didn’t see the SOS messages from Cherry on the cell phone in his pocket:

“Help, Pete!”

“Let’s exchange our positions again, Pete!”

“Sob, I don’t love Daddy anymore!”

Downstairs.

Cherry took advantage of the opportunity while Justin was pouring a glass of water to send another text message to her brother on her cell phone. When she saw that he still wasn’t replying, she could only give up and start tackling her assignments.

She bit her pen and stared at the textbook, her face all wrinkled as she frowned.

She, who had grown up abroad, was still at the literacy development stage. She couldn’t understand the questions on the papers at all!

Justin sat next to her when he returned.

It had been half a year since he last tutored his son. As such, he didn’t know how far their current progress was. He pointed at the simplest question and asked, “Do you know how to solve this?”

Cherry’s big eyes were completely blank.

Justin fell silent for a moment. Then, he flipped back to syllabus from half a year ago. “What about this?”

Cherry shook her head hard.

“…”

Justin stared at her. He wanted to ask Pete why he couldn’t solve the question now when he could do it half a year ago. Also, was he really shaking his head when he hadn’t even read the question?

Cherry wordlessly suggested, “Why don’t we learn about history instead, Daddy? I’m very knowledgeable in that.”

“Alright.”

Justin flipped open the textbook. “Who’s the first president of the United States?”

Cherry’s eyes lit up. She raised her hand and said, “I know this!”

Justin breathed a sigh of relief. His son had fallen behind in his mathematics, but it would also do if he was doing well in his history classes.

As soon as the thought formed, he heard her yell, “Tom Cruise!”

“It’s George Washington!”

Cherry blinked. “Oh right, I must have remembered it wrongly. Next question please, Daddy.”

“Which American politician was assassinated in 1963?”

“Leonardo DiCaprio!” Cherry immediately answered.

“…”

Justin took a deep breath and told himself not to get mad. His son had just started talking a little more. He mustn’t lose his temper. He decided to try again. “Who invented the light bulb?”

Full of confidence, Cherry answered, “Keanu Reeves!”

As Justin looked at his son’s usually stern countenance that seemed more alive and animated today, he couldn’t help yelling, “Peter Hunt!”

Cherry looked up, her expression as though she was eagerly seeking praise. “Aren’t I great, Daddy? There’s still a lot more that I know!”

Justin was perplexed.

But when he saw how his son looked, he immediately reined his temper in.

The tutors were the ones who had taught him all these, so what was he losing his temper at the kid for? He would just ‘reward’ those two tutors even handsomely!

Justin said glumly, “Let’s continue tomorrow.”

“Okay, Daddy!”

Cherry heaved a huge sigh of relief. Seeing Lawrence poking his head into the room every now and then because he probably had something to talk to her father about, she carefully climbed down from the chair and said, “I’m going off to play now!”

“…”

Justin rubbed his temples as he watched her run off.

Lawrence entered the room. With a complicated look, he said, “Pete seems to be doing worse than how the tutor had put it. If this goes on, he’ll probably fall to the last place in the year-end assessment, right? Do you want to quickly

contact a few other tutors? There’s still time until the end of the year.”

The Hunts held assessments for the children at the end of each year.

Pete always took top place in the past. That was how he became known among outsiders for having a high IQ.

Yet his grades had deteriorated so badly in just half a year.

No wonder it was said that even though children had good memory, they were also prone to forgetting. Once they stopped learning, their grades would suffer immediately.

Flames of fury flared in Justin’s eyes. He closed his eyes and pondered for a long time before he finally sighed and said, “Forget it. Let’s not force him to do it anymore.”

It was exactly because he had placed too much emphasis on education in the past that he always fell out with his son.

But when he saw how he smiled and how he cried and kicked up a fuss, it was then that he realized that his son’s mental health was more important than anything else.

Even if his son were to really forget everything that he had learned and take the last place in examinations every time, he could just live from day to day in the future. He would pave the way for his son’s future.

Justin, who had always been bold and resolute when facing the unscrupulous commercial world, hesitated for a moment. Then, he asked, “Do you find Pete very different today?”

The abuse had been ongoing for a very long time, but his son had never once mentioned anything.

Yet not only had he spoken up today, but his personality seemed to also have become a lot more cheerful?

For some reason, Justin suddenly thought of what that woman had said downstairs… How did she know that the tutors were problematic?

Had Pete been keeping in contact with her all this time?

A pondering Lawrence also said, “Could Miss Smith have counseled Pete? Speaking of this, she’s really not a simple woman. After all, so many women have tried to gain Pete’s favor in order to get near to you, but all of them have been unsuccessful.”

Lawrence couldn’t even keep count of how many of Justin’s suitors he had to handle in the past anymore.

He thought for a while and asked, “Do you want to consider giving Miss Smith a chance to get near you if she really has a positive influence on Pete?”

Justin hesitated for a while before he asked, “What is she doing now?”

A hesitant look appeared on Lawrence’s countenance again. “When the cleaners went to clean the room just now, they heard from the nanny that she’s asleep, and she forbade them from disturbing them. Her aunt’s life is still in limbo, yet she can still bring herself to sleep?”

A person who could do that was too unfeeling.

Justin’s expression darkened. “Don’t let her make contact with Pete so often anymore.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lawrence wanted to say more, but Justin suddenly noticed that the little fellow had fallen asleep on the sofa.

He gestured to Lawrence to keep quiet. Then, he walked over and picked up Cherry, intending to carry her into the bedroom.

A dazed Cherry suddenly placed her arms around his neck and said,

“Mommy, I’ve found my elder brother. He looks just like me…”

Justin paused and frowned.

Chapter 20: Let’s Have A Date, Mommy, Daddy!

Justin stared at the young child in his arms. Her murmur reached his ears. It seemed like she was calling out for her mother… The light in his eyes dimmed.

Pete rarely asked about his mother.

But as it turned out, to his son, his mother was such an important figure.

He lowered his eyes, hiding the complex emotions within. Then, he carried Cherry into the bedroom, took off her shoes, and tucked her in.

He gazed at his son’s young, sleeping visage for a long time before he quietly exited the bedroom.

The next day.

“Sorry, I fell asleep last night. Did Daddy scold you last night, Cherry?”

Cherry lay on the bed and sent her brother a voice message back. “Nope, because even though I don’t know much about mathematics, I’m awesome at history! Daddy was so moved that he canceled my homework!”

Pete believed her. He said, “Okay. Don’t forget our plans today.”

Cherry was about to reply when the door opened.

Justin pushed the door open and walked in to see his son on the bed with his butt perched high into the air while texting on his cell phone.

At the sight of him, his son turned off the cell phone screen in a slight panic. Then, with a guilty conscience, he blinked with his big cute eyes and exclaimed, “You look even more handsome today, Daddy!”

Justin couldn’t help but smile when he heard the little fellow complimenting him."You’re a handsome fellow, too.”

“No, that won’t do.” Cherry corrected him seriously and said, “‘Handsome’ is used to describe boys. I’m going to be pretty when I grow up!”

Justin was perplexed.

Cherry flipped the quilt aside and climbed out of the bed nimbly. Then, she held his large hand with her own small one and asked, “Wanna have breakfast, Daddy? Cherr… Cherry Pit is really hungry!”

“…”

Justin glanced at her hesitantly again.

Grandpa was the one that had named him Peter, in hopes that he would be as resilient and down-to-earth as a rock. How did that become ‘cherry pit’ instead? It sounded a little sissy.

He took Cherry to the dining room.

The presidential suite was bigger than 5,000 square feet. It had four bedrooms, two studies, a living room, a lounge, a gym, a kitchen, and a dining room.

While they were eating, Justin instructed, “Get the family doctor here.”

Cherry ate slow, so Justin got the nanny to look after her after he finished. Then, he entered the study with the family doctor who had hurried over.

As the doctor stood there, he saw his employer’s expression changing again and again before he hesitantly asked, “Is it possible to tell a five-year-old child’s s****l orientation?”

During the history quiz the day before, all the names that his son had mentioned were good-looking and attractive men.

Moreover, his son’s wish to become ‘pretty’ and how he had called himself ‘cherry pit’ this morning was rather worrisome.

Was Chester being a bad influence on him?

When the family doctor saw how serious he was, he replied solemnly, “One’s s****l orientation is generally already decided at birth. But if you have concerns about this, I can prepare a test for Pete.”

“Okay, get the test ready.”

After giving the doctor instructions, Justin exited the study. The moment he returned to the dining room, he saw Chester and his son’s arms slung across each other’s backs while they spoke with each other in low voices. His face immediately sank.

“Why didn’t you log on to the game last nigh—”

Chester was stuffing bread into his mouth and speaking with a muffled voice when he suddenly felt a chilly aura coming toward him.

He turned his head slowly to see the tyrant standing behind him. The look in his eyes was as if he wanted to kill him.

Chester was so frightened that he jumped up from the chair. “A-are you okay, Justin?”

Justin retracted his scrutinizing gaze and walked in between Chester and Cherry. He said, “No one’s living next door. You can move in there instead.”

Chester was confused.

Why was he sensing acute disdain from the tyrant?

When Cherry was full, she walked over and put her arms around Justin’s leg. Then, she looked up and asked adorably, “Can you accompany me to the movies today, Daddy?”

Just as Justin was about to refuse, his son wheedled, “C’mon, Daddy! Pretty please?”

That tone…!

Justin bent over and picked Cherry up. “Don’t plead with others so lightly, Pete.”

Cherry’s big round eyes blinked. “Will you go, then?”

“Alright.”

In order to make it up to his son, he had already postponed all his work and meetings today. Since he wanted to go to the movies, he would accompany him.

The two picked an afternoon screening for a cartoon film. Before leaving, Cherry secretly sent a message to Pete: “All set, Pete! What about you?”

Pete replied very quickly: “We’ve already set off.”

How could Nora possibly reject the request? She was always sleeping, so she was already spending less time with her child than other mothers. Thus, as long as the request wasn’t too much, she agreed to every one of Cherry’s requests.

As she had to perform surgery the next day, she had slept all the way until 2pm. Then, she took Pete to the movie theater while yawning.

At the entrance of the movie theater, the corners of her lips spasmed a little as she looked at Pete. “It’s just a movie, Cherry. Is this really necessary?”

Pete had a mask on. “It’s to prevent being infected by contagious diseases.”

Nora held her forehead with her hand. “And the shades?”

Pete pushed them up a little and replied reticently, “It looks good.”

“…If you say so.”

After Nora bought some popcorn and cola, she took his hand and led him into the movie theater. After taking their assigned seats, Pete took out his cell phone and sent a text message to his sister: “Are you here yet?”

Cherry was currently following Justin into the movie theater sulkily.

She wanted popcorn, but her father had adamantly refused to buy her some, saying that it was unhealthy. He was horrible!

Justin intensely disliked large movie theaters like this. Not only were there a lot of people, but the air was also very dirty. But because his son wanted the experience, it wasn’t quite appropriate for him to book the whole theater, either.

He entered the cinema sullenly with Cherry in his arms. When he reached the seats assigned to them based on the tickets that his son had bought online, he immediately spotted the woman already seated there.

The theater was very dark, but she was so fair that it dazzled one’s eyes.

Her eyes were lidded and she seemed very sleepy. Her arms were comfortably crossed and she was currently asleep.

Justin’s expression darkened.

He had been wondering why his son suddenly wanted to come to the movies and even bought tickets. So, in the end, it was all still that woman’s scheme.

He wanted to turn around and leave, but when he thought of his son’s mental health, he suppressed his impatience and placed Cherry between the two of them in the end.

He would never give her a chance to get close to him again.

The two cuties, who both had masks on, exchanged a look with each other. How were Daddy and Mommy going to fall in love with each other if they didn’t sit together?!

The movie started at this point.

The theme song of Frozen started to play. With just a glance, the movie instantly grabbed Cherry’s attention and she started to watch it with her eyes widened.

Half an hour later, Cherry suddenly smelled popcorn. Engrossed in the cartoon, she subconsciously nudged Nora and said,

“Popcorn, Mommy!”

Nora, who was dozing off, let out a dazed “Okay”. Then, she picked up a piece of popcorn, took off Cherry’s mask, and stuffed it into her mouth.

Pete was astounded.

Chapter 21: The

Operation!

The expression of Justin, who wasn’t interested in the movie, instantly darkened after he saw what she had done.

Instead of feeding her own daughter, she was feeding his son.

If even something like this wasn’t her attempt at trying to please him and pursue him, then how else was he supposed to interpret her actions?!

Upon sensing a cold aura coming from the side, Nora slowly opened her eyes and looked over.

When confronted with Justin’s deep and dark eyes, which also had a bit of a sharp look in them, she was taken aback for a moment.

Was she dreaming?

Otherwise, why was she seeing Justin in the movie theater?

Her sleepiness disappeared instantly.

She lowered her eyes lazily and wondered, Is this a coincidence? Or is Justin here because he suspects that I’m Anti and has come to sound me out?

Things had gotten troublesome.

She wanted to pretend that she didn’t see him, but her instincts told her that the man seemed to still be staring at her at the moment. On top of that, he had a rather hostile look in his eyes.

Nora turned to the side and gave a perfunctory greeting. “What a coincidence, Mr. Hunt.”

A coincidence?

The look on Justin’s face turned darker. “Never mind that we’re watching the same movie, but even our seats just so happen to be next to each other’s? What a coincidence, indeed!”

Nora was puzzled.

Why did he sound so sarcastic?

She frowned. “What do you mean by that, Mr. Hunt?”

Justin replied coldly, “I told you, I hate it when people try to approach me by using my son. Did you forget what I said, Miss Smith?”

Nora was astonished.

He was misunderstanding her again and again. Had he had enough yet?

Nora slowly retracted her gaze and looked in front of her seriously. She said, “You are indeed an attractive man, Mr. Hunt, but you shouldn’t be too narcissistic, either. Men like you who look prettier than women aren’t my type.”

Justin sneered, “Your actions are so blatant, Miss Smith, yet you’re still trying to hide your intentions? Let me make things clear—I’m not interested in you. If you have the time to seduce me, why don’t you think about how to cure your aunt’s illness instead?”

His words angered Nora. That man must be sick in the head! She said coldly, “Don’t worry, you needn’t bother yourself with my aunt’s illness at all!”

When he heard how she glossed over the topic, Justin became even angrier. He was about to retort when the moviegoer with their children seated in the row in front of them suddenly turned around and snapped,“Hey, we’re in the middle of a movie here.and snapped, “Hey, we’re in the middle of a movie here. Can the two of you refrain from quarreling with your other halves in here?!”

Justin was bewildered.

Nora was bewildered.

The movie theater was pitch-dark. Justin didn’t know why, but he didn’t immediately feel any disgust when someone else misunderstood him and Nora as a married couple. Instead, a dazed feeling, not easily detectable, arose in him.

The movie theater was pitch-dark. Justin didn’t know why, but he didn’t immediately feel any disgust when someone else misunderstood him and Nora as a married couple. Instead, a dazed feeling, not easily detectable, arose in him.

Nora looked at where the moviegoer was pointing and looked down to see Cherry who was sitting there with a mask on and only her eyes exposed.

Justin bent over and picked her up. He said with displeasure, “This is the last time I’m warning you, Miss Smith. The next time I see you approaching my son, I’m not holding back!”

He strode away right after saying that.

Nora was bewildered.

She glanced at the other side, finding herself mystified when she saw Pete there. It seemed like her hand had gone the other side instead when she was feeding Cherry just now, right?

While she was hesitating, Pete held her hand silently and said, “Let’s go too, Mommy.”

He hereby declared that the first date had failed.

When they returned to the hotel, it was already four in the afternoon.

Nora went to sleep again. The next day’s operation would last seven or eight hours. If she didn’t get enough sleep, she wouldn’t have enough strength and energy to support herself through it.

Pete, who was next to her, anxiously sent a text message to Cherry:

“How’s it going over there, Cherry?”

Meanwhile, on the top floor.

Cherry was facing off with Justin.

Justin ordered, “You’re forbidden from making contact with that woman in the future.”

Cherry’s large eyes were full of grievances as she asked, “Why?”

Knowing that it wasn’t right to speak badly about other people in front of children, Justin didn’t answer right away.

However, Lawrence, who was next to him, answered, “It’s because she’s someone that just sits on the sidelines and watches without doing anything even though her aunt is sick. On top of that, she’s even going to the movies! That woman is too cold-blooded!”

Cherry panicked and retorted angrily, “Mommy isn’t cold-blooded! She’s someone that values relationships the most! She’ll definitely save Grandaunt!”

Justin’s expression darkened. Never mind that she was cajoling his son to call her Mommy, but he’s even addressing her aunt as Grandaunt now?

“You’re a bad Daddy! You can’t say that about her! I’m ignoring you!”

Cherry pouted aggrievedly. With tears in her eyes, she ran straight into the bedroom.

Justin clenched his fists angrily. He had been getting along well with his son today, yet now, he had actually made his son cry because of that woman!

At this point, Lawrence came over and said excitedly, “Mr. Hunt, we’ve received news that Anti is coming to the hospital in town for an operation! Observers are allowed during the operation. I’ve asked for a spot, and I plan to send someone there to stand guard.We’ll catch hold of her this time for sure!”

Justin thought for a while, then looked at the bedroom. At last, he said, “I will go in person!”

_

The next day.

Nora didn’t go to the operating room after entering the hospital. She went to the ward to visit her aunt first, intending to comfort her.

As soon as she entered, a worried Lisa came over. “Nora, is the message you sent me yesterday saying that Mom will undergo surgery today true?”

Nora nodded. “Yeah.”

Next to them, Angela sneered, “You’re such an unlearned piece of trash, Nora. Do you know that Aunt Irene’s tumor is located in a very risky area? It’s impossible for ordinary surgeons to operate on her!”

Nora looked at her. “I know that.”

“Since you do, then why did you still look for someone to operate on her? You’re obviously taking her life lightly!”Angela looked at Will and Lisa and said, “I’ve already shown Dr. Larson Aunt Irene’s CT scan a long time ago, and even he is hesitant to take on the task. Do you really think she can get a better doctor than Dr. Larson?”

When Will heard this, he asked somewhat hesitantly, “Tell me the truth, Nora. How high is the operation’s success rate?”

Aunt Irene can still live for another two months, but if you do, there’s a 90% chance that she won’t be able to come out of the operating room alive today!”

Her words frightened Lisa so badly that blood drained from her face. “I-isn’t there a better doctor?”

“Oh, there is!” Angela said, “There’s Dr. Anti, the top surgeon in the world. To her, there is no surgery that cannot be done! She can achieve a 100% success rate. Unfortunately, Dr. Anti is currently abroad and a great distance away from

here. Even so many of the wealthy and powerful can’t find her, so how can ordinary people like you possibly convince her to do it?”

“…”

The ward was dead silent.

Just as Angela was all smug and both Will and Lisa had lost all hope, the three suddenly heard Nora’s low voice:

“In that case, do you know who the doctor I got is?”