Chapter 9: Heh, the Abandoned Husband

Amanda Vance heard the commotion and looked up, her eyes meeting the man’s handsome face.

His cold aura was somewhat out of place in the children’s clothing section.

He didn’t look like the type to bring a child shopping for clothes. Amanda Vance raised an eyebrow and glanced behind him, but his tall frame blocked her view completely. The moment he stepped aside, the door was immediately shut from the inside, and she only caught a faint glimpse of a small child.

Amanda Vance was a little amused. ’The kid is pretty wary.’

Samuel Ford saw her too. His gaze swept across her face; her profile seemed familiar, but he couldn’t place where he’d seen her. Noticing that she nonchalantly looked away, he averted his own gaze and walked to the other side, speaking into his phone, "Hello."

Felix Ford’s ears twitched. He pressed himself against the door, listening. ’Why does that sound like Dad’s voice?’

His heart leaped into his throat. He held his breath and listened carefully. ’It really is him!’

He jumped in fright. ’Is Dad here to catch me?’

’What do I do? What do I do?’

’I don’t want to leave Mom!’

"Don’t arrange any more blind dates for me," Samuel Ford said in a low voice, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I’ve told you, I have no intention of getting married."

After hearing what the person on the other end said, his tone grew cold. "Colt is very sensitive. Every time you bring up blind dates, he runs away from home. I don’t want to see this happen again."

He glanced toward the fitting rooms, his voice dropping even lower.

Amanda Vance couldn’t quite hear what he said, only catching something about a "blind date."

’A single dad?’

Divorce wasn’t exactly rare these days, so she didn’t pay it much mind. She glanced down at the time and knocked on the fitting room door. "Jean, are you done?"

Inside one fitting room, Felix Ford—and in the one opposite, Jean Vance—both felt their hearts leap into their throats.

Jean Vance was conflicted. ’Mom’s voice doesn’t sound upset at all. Since she’s not reacting, does that mean she’s over this man? Or... did she just not recognize him at all?’

Felix Ford was conflicted, too. ’Dad is still out there, but Mom is rushing me. What am I supposed to do now?’

He was so anxious he was about to break into a sweat. Then, his gaze fell on the clothes on the floor, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

Just as Amanda Vance was about to knock again, the door suddenly opened from the inside. "Huh?" she exclaimed. "Jean, what are you doing?"

Felix Ford had piled the clothes on his head, completely hiding his face except for his eyes. He peeked in Samuel Ford’s direction and sighed in relief when he saw his dad’s back was turned. Still, afraid his father might suddenly turn around and spot him, he quickly grabbed Amanda Vance’s hand. "Mom, I’m done trying everything on. Let’s go."

"Aren’t you going to show me?"

"I’ll put them on for you when we get home, Mom."

’Fair enough.’

Samuel Ford had just hung up the phone, only catching sight of a small, retreating back. The child had a pile of clothes on his head and hadn’t taken them off, which looked rather silly.

He turned and knocked on the other door. "Are you done?"

"No." Knowing the fitting room next door was empty now, Jean Vance relaxed. But he was still afraid of running into them if he went out, so he decided to sit on the chair and stall for time.

’It seems Mom hasn’t figured it out yet. That’s good. She needs to solve the Vance family’s problems first. She shouldn’t be distracted by us.’

"Still not done?"

Samuel Ford urged, made paranoid by the boy. No matter when, no matter where, he always managed to suddenly disappear.

Hearing no sound from inside now, he immediately grew nervous.

’So impatient.’

Jean Vance gave him another demerit in his mind. Estimating that enough time had passed and his mother was probably gone, he finally came out. "I’m done."

He handed all the clothes to him. "You can use your card."

"Okay."

The two of them walked straight to the checkout counter. The cashier looked at Jean Vance, a hint of confusion in her eyes. ’Didn’t this kid just leave with his mom? How did another one just pop up?’

Seeing her spacing out, Samuel Ford’s expression soured, and he impatiently tapped his fingers on the counter.

The cashier snapped back to reality. "Sorry, so sorry."

She quickly scanned and bagged the clothes.

After he paid, Samuel Ford led him outside. "Where to now?"

"Nowhere. Let’s just go home."

’Mom is right here. It’s too easy to run into her.’

"Mm," Samuel Ford agreed. He wasn’t one for shopping anyway. Now that they had what they needed, it was time to go home.

On the way, he noticed his son sitting bolt upright, lost in thought. He gave him a couple of curious glances, finding that he couldn’t guess what was on his mind. Finally, he just asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." Jean Vance blinked and looked out the window, then quickly turned his head back and suddenly asked, "How did you and Mom meet?"

At these words, Samuel Ford’s face instantly darkened. He had thought the boy’s good behavior over the past two days meant he had truly let it go, but he never expected him to still be thinking about it. He said coldly, "I’ve told you before. You don’t have a mother."

Just thinking of that woman made his teeth ache with anger. He had never been played so badly in his entire life.

"That woman took the money and left right after giving birth to you, you understand? From that day on, you have had nothing to do with her."

’Is he saying that Mom sold Felix Ford to him for money?’

’Hah.’

Jean Vance shot him a light, airy glance, then casually looked away, his face full of disdain. ’He was probably the one Mom dumped, which is why he’s so furious and trying to sling mud at her.’

’It makes sense. One look at him and you can tell he’s not good enough for Mom.’

’Just some arrogant, conceited, and irresponsible old man.’

Samuel Ford felt a pang in his chest at his son’s look. He took a deep breath, said no more, and turned his head to look out the window.

In contrast to the icy atmosphere in the car, things were much better on Amanda Vance’s end. Felix Ford no longer asked to be held, but he clung tightly to her hand. He kept breaking into a silly grin as he looked down at the bag he was carrying, his smile so wide his eyes curved into crescents. ’Mom bought this for me!’

Influenced by his mood, Amanda Vance’s own spirits lifted considerably. She took him to a restaurant and ordered a kid’s meal for him.

Felix Ford sat in the chair on the same side as her, leisurely swinging his little legs. Every couple of bites, he would turn to look at her, and the food would seem to taste even better.

For a moment, Amanda Vance almost suspected she’d become his appetizer. Amused by the thought, she noticed some sauce on the corner of his mouth and gently wiped it away with a napkin.

Felix Ford’s eyes met hers again. "Thanks, Mom."

"You’re welcome. Eat slowly, there’s no rush."

"Mm-hm!" ’Mainly, looking at Mom just makes me happy, so the food tastes better. It’s not like with Dad. He’s always stone-faced, and just seeing him when I eat makes the food seem awful and ruins my appetite.’

His eyes were filled with such joy as he looked at her; he practically wanted to glue himself to her side. The sheer adoration made Amanda Vance’s heart melt. She couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch his chubby cheeks, her eyes narrowing in pleasure. ’So soft.’

Felix Ford froze for a second, then cooperatively pushed his face forward a little. ’I don’t like other people touching my face, but Mom isn’t ’other people.’ I love it when she does.’