Zoey looked at Leo, the skepticism clear in her eyes. She pursed her lips and said coldly, "Mr. Leo, these kids are all I have. I'll give everything, even my life, if anyone tries to take them from me."
Leo concurred at once, "Hm, not bad. You're a good mother."
Surprised by Leo's reply, Zoey paused momentarily before finally squeezing out, "Thank you for your compliment."
Out of courtesy, she added, "If there's nothing else, I'll be going back to my apartment with Kayden and Kayla."
Zoey wanted to minimize contact with Leo ever since his audacious behavior yesterday.
But Leo ignored her hint of rejection. His gaze moved down and saw the grocery bag she had in her hand. Reaching over to take the bag from her, he started to walk towards her apartment building as he said, "Let's go then."
Kayla tugged a bewildered Zoey eagerly, "Hurry up, Mommy. Daddy's gone already."
Zoey glared at Kayla as she secretly vowed to teach this girl a lesson once Leo had left. It had only been one day and this little traitor had betrayed her. Kayla had to learn that while it was good to do no harm to others, she must be vigilant against evil-doers. It was dangerous for Kayla to trust a stranger like Leo.
"Mr. Leo, let me carry the bags. You can ..." Before Zoey could complete her sentence to ask Leo to leave, he looked at her and stated instead, "I'll cook. The three of you just need to wait for the food to be ready."
Zoey was immediately distracted with what he had said. She looked at Leo worriedly as she wondered if Leo could really cook. He sure did not look like someone who could. Zoey was still wondering about Leo's cooking ability when they entered the apartment.
"Daddy, you're so smart. You know which is our unit even without us telling you." Kayla looked at Leo, her adoration for him was plain for all to see.
Leo smiled in response. Finding out someone's address was only a trivial thing to do, but when praised by his daughter, he suddenly felt he was indeed someone powerful.
Kayden shook his head in disbelief as he glanced at his infatuated-with-their-daddy sister.
Leo bent over and met Kayla's eyes. His usually cold voice softened considerably as he asked her gently, "Do you like sweet and sour pork ribs?"
Kayla beamed and nodded vigorously, "Daddy, you're really clever. You know what's my favorite dish, even without having to ask me."
"You're such a good girl, Kayla." Leo patted Kayla's head and brought the grocery bags into the kitchen.
Zoey stared after Leo with mixed feelings. With a sudden look of determination, she instructed her son, "Kayden, watch your sister. Both of you are not allowed into the kitchen without my permission."
Zoey went into the kitchen directly after giving Kayden the instruction. She planned to have a good talk with Leo.
Kayla was about to follow Zoey when her brother stopped her.
"Kayden?" She asked, puzzled over her brother's action. "Mommy doesn't look very happy. What if she picks a fight and scare Daddy off?"
"If he's so easily frightened off, then he's not fit to be our Daddy." Kayden retorted. A man who was easily frightened would not be able to protect them.
Kayla rubbed her chin thoughtfully before agreeing, "You're right, Kayden."
In the kitchen, Zoey watched as Leo washed the vegetables. The water ran over the back of his hands and with his long, slender pale fingers, he did not look like a man who was doing something as menial as washing vegetables. Instead, he looked as if he was an artist, carving something delicately with his fine-looking hands.
Zoey spoke up after some hesitation, "Mr. Leo, I don't think I have anything that I can possibly offer you. With your status, there'll be plenty of women who will be willing to have your children."
"Does that include you?" Leo glanced at her as he asked.
Zoey paused as she thought about what Leo meant. She finally said, "Mr. Leo, I know myself." In other words, she was only an ordinary woman. She wasn't worthy enough to have Leo's children. Sure, she had born his children once before, but it was only because of an accident back then.
Leo answered, "If I offer you the chance, would you want it?"
Leo put down the vegetables that he was handling and walked over towards Zoey. Moving closer to her, he trapped her between a wall and him. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes as he looked into Zoey's eyes and said, "I couldn't stop thinking about you after that night seven years ago. I've been searching for you, but you seemed to have disappeared into thin air. If I hadn't bumped into you at the hospital yesterday, I wouldn't even know I'm already a father to a pair of adorable kids."
Zoey's eyes widened slightly as Leo bent his head lower and pressed his lips lightly onto hers. He did not forget what Kayla had instructed him; Zoey did not like bodily contact with men she was not familiar with. But he considered this to be a collection of interest from Zoey first. Once Zoey was familiar with him, he would make her payback for all these years of absence from his side. She was just as sweet as he remembered, and the light kiss had only increased his desire for her.
"You jerk!" Zoey pushed Leo away and rubbed her lips roughly with the back of her hand, "What makes you think you can kiss me?!"
"You're the mother of my kids, my future wife. Isn't it normal for me to kiss you?" Leo could be pretty thick-skinned when he had to, "Would you be interested to date me on the premise of marriage?"
In Leo's world, he would strike once he was fixed onto a target. He would never allow others to have a chance to vie with him.
Zoey rolled her eyes, totally convinced that Leo had gone crazy.
...
"Leo, we're almost like strangers," said Zoey as she sulked. "Please leave. You're not welcome here."
Instead of acceding to her request, Leo exhibited a faint smile instead upon hearing this.
Leo has always portrayed a serious and unapproachable image. If not for this, many women would have rushed and stuck to him like glue due to his outstanding appearance. Hence, it was not difficult to imagine how suave he was with that smile.
At least, his smile seemed to have caused Zoey's heart to skip a beat.
She was taken aback by this peculiar feeling. Immediately, she shook her head, disregarding all the inappropriate thoughts.
"Zoey." Leo approached her and called out her name in a low voice.
" Are you afraid of something? That you might fall in love with me? That's why you tried to be stern and unapproachable, just to chase me away?"
For a moment, Zoey's eyes gleamed with embarrassment.
She cast him a death stare and flared up in embarrassment. "Nonsense!"
Up till now, they had only met twice. The only thing she could do was to detest him, let alone falling in love with him.
"You're still denying this. Look, your ears are getting red."
Leo, who seemed to be in a good mood, let out a soft chuckle with his eyebrows slightly raised.
Subconsciously, Zoey rubbed her ears. But soon, she came to the realization of her actions, which embarrassed her even more.
She was known to be a gifted and independent gynecologist who was clear with her thoughts. But losing control of herself before Leo, time and time again, was not expected of her. She seemed to have become an idiot, which was the opposite of her usual self.
"Zoey, look at you now. You're so cute!" Leo chuckled again.
"Cute?!" Zoey threw him an impatient look. "Don't you ever describe me as cute."
She was an intellectual and independent woman who did not fit into the cute category.
"As you wish," Leo answered her as though she was a baby.
"What's with this pampering tone?" she thought to herself.
"Leo, what exactly do you want?" asked Zoey without a choice.
"You know the answer," said Leo as he arched his eyebrows, "Zoey, take your time
to think about it."
"No, my decision is final." Zoey was firm with her answer.
Leo was from a different world. Given her current status, she was a misfit for the prestigious Yanceys. Moreover, she would not want her children to be involved in their complicated family affairs, since underhanded plays were more than common in wealthy and influential families.
"Zoey, are you sure that Kayden and Kayla don't need a father?" Leo was patient with her as he followed up with that question.
This question hit her soft spot.
"Don't turn me down so soon." Leo lifted Zoey's chin and gazed at her face with his dark eyes. "I'm quite certain no one can fit the role of their father better than me. Besides, can other men treat your children as their own from the bottom of their hearts?"
Zoey tightened her brows.
This had always been an issue for her, and the reason why she turned down those men who were pursuing her.
"I'm not going to force you, and you can have the time to think this through." Leo released her chin. "I need to cook, so don't get in my way. Wait outside now, will you?"
Finally, Zoey left the kitchen in confusion and sat on the couch with her knit brows.
"Mommy, do you have something on your mind?" asked Kayden, worried, as he sat on the other side of the couch.
Zoey looked up and fixed her eyes on her son, who was a mini version of Leo.
But the man in the kitchen was so loathsome as compared to her son, who was sweet and sensible.
"Kayden, would you like him to be your father?"
Even though Zoey wanted her children to stay out of the affairs of rich and influential families, she had to respect their opinions.
" On paper, he's my dad." Kayden did not specify his preference, as he did not want to exert stress on his mother. "I'll like him if you do."
In his opinion, Leo was not that bad, and he was fit to be their father. But... Kayden peered at Zoey as he could clearly feel that Leo was not in her good books.
Hence, he would not choose Leo if his mother did not like him.
"Mommy." Kayla dashed to her mother's arms as happy as a lark. "I like Daddy. Give him a chance, will you?"
She did not want someone else to be her dad for the time being. Hence, she wanted to help Leo fight for his chance.
Zoey frowned, "Do you really like him?"
"Yeah." Kayla nodded. "He treated me to a lot of good food." More importantly, he was handsome and rich, and Zoey would not have to work so hard in the future.
Zoey twitched the corner of her lips. Did her daughter take the side of Leo because of food?
"Kayla," Kayden said, "Don't cause any trouble to Mommy." Kayla pouted, but she apologized obediently. "Mommy, I'm sorry."
Seeing her daughter feeling wronged and apologetic, Zoey felt more guilty than ever.
All these years, her children stayed with her overseas and experienced enough hardships. Besides, they were still young, and a father meant a lot to them at their age. She should not have deprived them of their rights to a happy family.
"Kayla, you don't have to apologize to me. It was my fault for overlooking your needs." Zoey lowered her head as she apologized to her children. "Sorry, please forgive Mommy, will you?"
It seemed like she had to reconsider whether she should try it out with Leo. M