Chapter 181: A Guest’s Visit

"What’s wrong? You don’t want to go?" Seeing the strange look on his face, Amanda Vance asked.

"That’s not it." Jean Vance blinked. "I just remembered there’s a competition on the hacker forum today. I already signed up, so the timing might not work out."

He wasn’t lying. There really was a competition, though he had previously turned down the invitation to participate. However, the main point now was that he couldn’t go to the Fords’ place, so he had to get his mom to agree first. Signing up was the easy part; it would only take a few taps of his fingers.

The hacker forum often held competitions, so Amanda Vance didn’t suspect anything when she heard this. She nodded. "In that case, I’ll take you home first. I can go to the Fords’ by myself."

"Mm, okay." Jean Vance nodded and lowered his head, a complicated look in his eyes. Even at his young age, he understood just how awful a headache could be.

’This is giving me a massive headache. It’s a classic case of what you fear most is what comes to pass. Things are spiraling in a direction completely beyond my control.’

The hotel room was small, after all, and Jean Vance couldn’t find a chance to contact Felix Ford. It wasn’t until he got home and she had left that he finally had an opportunity to call Felix Ford. Unfortunately, the call never went through, and his messages went unanswered.

After trying for a while longer with the same result, he finally gave up. He could only hope that Felix Ford wasn’t at the Fords’ right now. Otherwise, if he ran into Mom...

His head started to ache again.

「The Ford Residence.」

Felix Ford was nestled on the sofa, with Mr. Ford on his left and Mrs. Ford on his right. One was shelling nuts for him, while the other held a fruit platter to his mouth. He didn’t even have to lift a finger; all he had to do was open his mouth.

They were waiting on him like he was a little prince.

To one side, Samuel Ford watched this scene, frowning. In a low voice, he said, "Felix Ford, do it yourself."

Pouting, Felix Ford didn’t say anything. He reached for the fruit platter. "Grandma, I can get it myself."

But Mrs. Ford moved the platter away from his hand, beaming. "It’s fine, Grandma will hold it for you. Colt can just watch TV."

Mr. Ford also chimed in, "Nuts are hard to shell. You don’t have the strength to open them. Let Grandpa do it."

Hearing this, Felix Ford glanced slyly at Samuel Ford and shrugged. ’See? It’s not that I’m lazy. It’s Grandpa and Grandma who won’t let me do it. I can’t help it.’

Noticing his little glance, Mrs. Ford said with some displeasure, "Don’t mind him. Just eat. Your father is such a killjoy."

Felix Ford nodded in profound agreement.

The moment he nodded, he saw Samuel Ford shoot him a look. Unafraid, he immediately tattled, "Grandpa, Grandma, Dad’s glaring at me."

In the next second, Mr. Ford and Mrs. Ford both glared right back at Samuel.

Samuel Ford felt a headache coming on. After being away for a few days, the boy had become even more brazen, as if he had some new source of confidence.

Frowning, Samuel Ford said, "Mom, Dad, don’t spoil him so much. He’s already five years old, and he’s still being fed. It’s ridiculous."

Now Mrs. Ford was unhappy. "So, are you lecturing me?"

After a moment of silence, knowing it was useless to argue with them, Samuel Ford looked at the little boy who was gloating at him. "Nobody likes a lazy child."

His words had a hidden meaning. Mr. Ford and Mrs. Ford didn’t catch it, but Felix Ford understood immediately.

’It seems adults really do prefer kids who are a bit more helpful.’

When he was with his mom, he would wash the vegetables while she cooked. Every time, his mom would smile happily, and the look in her eyes would be especially gentle.

Of course, he also knew his mom loved him for who he was. She would love him even if he didn’t help out.

But even so, after hearing his father’s words, he couldn’t sit still any longer. He took the fruit platter from Mrs. Ford’s hands and said obediently, "Grandma, I can do it myself."

Seeing his firm attitude, Mrs. Ford couldn’t argue and had to let him be. She turned to her son, her eyes full of resentment, and said unhappily, "Colt barely gets to visit, and we haven’t seen him in so long. We just want to be a little closer to him, and you have to come and spoil it. Besides, Colt isn’t usually lazy. Your father and I just want to do more for him, and you’re stopping us."

They were old. The child’s upbringing was his parents’ responsibility, and they didn’t want to interfere too much. They just wanted to spoil him a little, to do more for him. Even something as simple as feeding him made them happy.

But then her son had to stick his nose in it, even implying his own son was unlikable. How could she be happy about that?

Even Mr. Ford was a little displeased.

Seeing their reactions, Samuel Ford’s expression didn’t change. He was already used to their double standards. They had been very strict with him when he was little. Of course, he wouldn’t say that out loud. He was just a son; how could he possibly compare to their precious grandson? Bringing it up would only be asking for trouble.

He took a sip of water and said, "Dad, Mom, I know you want what’s best for Colt, but he’s getting older. If he’s too coddled, he’ll have trouble getting along with his classmates at school, and he’ll be the one to suffer."

They were all children, all little treasures at home. Who would be willing to give way to him?

Besides, he’s five now. It’s time he started doing things for himself.

Mr. Ford and Mrs. Ford understood the logic. They grumbled a bit but didn’t say anything more.

Seeing they were still a little unhappy, Felix Ford piped up in a soft voice, "Grandpa, Grandma, don’t be sad. I can eat by myself. And Grandma, you cut this fruit for me. No wonder it’s so sweet. I love it!"

Hearing this, Mrs. Ford instantly cheered up again.

Having placated one, he immediately grabbed a nut, popped it into his mouth, and turned to Mr. Ford. "And the nuts Grandpa shelled are extra tasty!"

Now Mr. Ford was smiling too.

The two of them instantly forgot the earlier unpleasantness and started chatting with him again.

Seeing how he had won them over with just a few words, Samuel Ford raised an eyebrow. He had thought the boy would continue to stir up trouble. After all, he was a clever one who knew his grandparents could keep his father in check. He’d tattled on him to them plenty of times before, just so he could sit back and watch the show.

’He seems to have matured a bit after his trip away.’

Little did he know that Felix Ford was only thinking about how he would soon be living with his mother, which was why he was making an effort to be a little nicer to them.

’When I’m not home anymore, you guys will have to get along.’

Unaware of the child’s thoughts, Samuel Ford was still trying to figure out how to tell his parents that Amanda Vance was coming over today.

’I wonder if Dad will be upset.’

Just as he was about to speak, Felix Ford hopped off the sofa. "Grandpa, Grandma, I have something to show you!"

It was the little doll Amanda Vance had made for him. He showed it off wherever he went.

He certainly wasn’t going to miss the chance to show it to Mr. Ford and Mrs. Ford.

"Wait for me, I’ll go get it." His grandma had put his backpack in his room upstairs.

Mrs. Ford watched him with a loving expression. "Don’t run so fast."

He had just gone upstairs when the doorbell rang. Samuel Ford was the first to get up and walk over.

In the room, Felix Ford quickly found his backpack and unclipped the doll, ready to go back down. The moment he opened the door and saw the person in the living room, his face froze.

’Mom?!’