Once Bitten, Twice Shy

When those accusations were leveled, Timothy saw the little boy cry even fiercer.

As he cried, he explained to the elderly people, "Gramps and Grannies, Daddy treats me really good. He won't leave me."

The boy had red lips, pearly-white teeth, and facial features as delicate as a porcelain doll. That alone made him very likable to begin with, and his miserable appearance elicited even more pity from those elderly people.

As a result, they stepped up their efforts again.

One old lady stepped forward directly and roared while pointing at Timothy, "You were about to abandon your child, but he's still saying good things about you. This is the first time I've ever seen a father as heartless as you!"

"Hey ladies, snap a picture of him! We're going to expose him as a useless father!"

Timothy frowned, and his temples were sore.

He was fearless in the face of imposing individuals within the business world, and he was unperturbed even by tall, strong men. When facing those annoying old ladies, he could not lay a finger on them or scold them. Giving them a cold stare was not going to do anything either since they just ignored it outright!

His handsome expression sank and there was a profound coldness in his eyes.

He inadvertently glanced at the little boy who was still crying and distinctly noticed a lack of sadness despite the loud wailing.

The boy was doing it on purpose.

He did not like children, especially not crying children, and his patience was reaching its end.

Timothy stretched out his hand, grabbed the little boy by the collar, and was ready to fling him away.

Seconds before that was about to happen, Ronald pushed aside the crowd and squeezed in.

When he saw Timothy's expression and movements, his heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly said, "I, our… You like joking around, don't you, little boy! How could Mr. Barker abandon you when you're so adorable! Hahaha!"

Timothy's movements froze. He looked up coldly at Ronald and his dissatisfaction with Ronald's remark was evident.

'When did I get a son out of nowhere?'

'Am I bring forced to acknowledge this kid?'

'Which part of this little brat is adorable?'

'He's trying to scam us and he's so noisy that my head hurts!'

Of course, Ronald knew what Timothy's gaze was trying to tell him, but there was nothing he could do about it.

If Timothy was allowed to fling that little boy away, the elderly people who were already surrounding him would definitely rip him to shreds.

Timothy had never experienced that aspect of reality yet.

Messing with anyone else was fine as long as those people were not ladies like them!

Ronald did not have the luxury of admitting his mistake to Timothy and said to the horde of elderly onlookers, "I'm sorry, everyone. The boy is just a little cheeky. You may all leave now."

The elderly onlookers were not that easily sent away. The lady who spoke just now opened her mouth again and asked Timothy, "So he is your son, isn't he? You won't lose your son again, will you?"

Ronald could only give Timothy a look.

'Just do it.'

'It'll be over as soon as you answer it.'

Timothy's face became even uglier.

He lowered his eyes and looked at the little kid who was still holding on to his legs. At that point, the little kid also raised his small head and looked at him with big tearful eyes.

That look was a look of anticipation.

Timothy laughed in anger and spoke coldly as if each word popped out from between his teeth. "Yes…. He's… My… Son! I… Won't... Lose… Him!"

The elderly onlookers were finally satisfied with his answer and left after giving him another brief, earnest lecture.

Ronald wiped the sweat from his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief.

However, when he raised his eyes, he saw that Timothy's handsome face was blacker than the bottom of a pot. Ronald immediately held his breath just as he was about to breathe out that sigh of relief.

Timothy said in a cold and extremely disgusted manner, "Get him away from me!"

Ronald nodded, squatted down slightly, and stretched out his arms towards the little boy. He lowered his voice and coaxed, "Hey there little kiddo, let me carry you up."

The little boy raised his eyes and glanced at Ronald, and at that moment, a disgusted look that was similar to Timothy's immediately appeared.

Ronald was speechless.

Was he not friendly enough? Probably not. He was much friendlier than the stone-cold Timothy!

Ronald suddenly remembered that there was some candy in his pocket and quickly took it out. He smiled very sincerely and said again, "Hey, I have some candy here. Come over and I'll give you some!"

At that point, the little boy turned his head away and refused to look at Ronald.

He then hugged Timothy's leg even tighter, as if he had already decided against letting go.

Ronald felt a little sad.

The only aspect by which he was probably inferior to Timothy was his looks.

What had the world become if even a three-year-old boy valued a person's face?

Since Ronald had failed to convince the boy, his greatest fear was that Timothy might get annoyed and just kick the boy away. Ronald had no choice but to say, "Mr. Barker, I think this child just got lost from his parents. He doesn't feel safe so he decided to stick with you."

"He's still young, and his parents are surely very anxious. We still have an hour before we have to board our flight, so why don't we send him to the lost and found office?"

The child was quite clean and his clothes seemed expensive, so the likelihood that he had been kidnapped was low and the more probable explanation was that he was a traveler's child.

Timothy glanced at Ronald without refusing that suggestion.

He just wanted to get rid of that troublemaking brat as soon as possible.

However, Ronald's voice softened once and he said, "Mr. Barker, you... I'm afraid you have to carry him up..."

It was not that Ronald was lazy and did not want to carry the boy…it was the boy who did not let himself be carried by Ronald!

Timothy's eyes instantly became cold and he pursed his thin lips slightly. He then bent down, grabbed the little boy's waist with both hands, and carried him up effortlessly.

The little boy wrapped his short hands naturally around Timothy's neck and did not seem the least bit afraid.

Ronald could not help but gasp at the sight of that.

That was the first time he ever saw a child who did not fear Timothy. He remembered a certain year in the past when Timothy attended a Children's Day event where all the children were afraid to get close to him as soon as they saw him. It was understandable, considering how scary Timothy's cold face was.

Timothy freed up a hand and removed the boy's short hands from around his neck. After a few seconds, the little short hand hugged his neck again, prompting Timothy to narrow his eyes at the boy. In an instant, the little boy withdrew his hands again.

However, the boy looked away and wrapped his hands around Timothy's neck again. His body became cold but he did not care anymore.

Ronald looked at it and had to stop himself from laughing out loud.

The little boy managed to subdue Timothy! How amazing!

Timothy did not bring the little boy to the lost and found office but went straight to the VVIP waiting room.

He then instructed Ronald, "Tell them to make an announcement and direct this kid's parents here so they can bring him away."

It was difficult enough for Timothy to actually humble himself and carry the boy there. There was no way he would be willing to wait there at the lost and found office.

Ronald nodded. "Okay, I'll go right now."

After walking into the VVIP room, Timothy unceremoniously threw the little boy onto the sofa. He looked down condescendingly at the boy and asked, "What's your name?"

The little boy did not brush off the question and answered solemnly, "Daddy, my name is Matthew!"