Kayla wrapped her arms around Zoey's neck like a baby and said in a baby tone, "Mommy, you don't have to apologize. We'll love you forever."
Zoey's eyes were red as soon as she heard this. If not for her children, she would not have been able to endure the hardships for as long as she did.
"Kayla and Kayden, you are so precious." She hugged the twins, feeling sorry and guilty. "If you like him, I'll try to work out with him."
At this time, Leo walked out of the kitchen with two dishes in his hands when he saw the heart -warming scene where three of them were hugging each other. His usual dark and cold-looking eyes were filled with tenderness. The moment when an invisible, warm, and striking sunlight seemed to have illuminated one of the dark corners in his heart, he knew it was the feeling of home.
"Wow, it smells good." Kayla sniffed around, and her eyes gleamed as soon as she spotted the plates in Leo's hands.
She got out of Zoey's arms and scurried to Leo.
"Daddy, did you make barbecue ribs?" She could smell the ribs from far with her sharp nose. Hence, there was no doubt about it.
Leo could not help but draw the corner of his lips when he met the gleaming eyes of Kayla.
"Yeah," he replied.
"Wow... I want to have it now!" Kayla was bouncing up and down like a cheerful little rabbit.
Leo placed two dishes on the dining table and flicked her forehead gently with his finger. "Go and wash your hands first."
"Okay." Kayla was a little disappointed, but she had good manners. Even though she was a glutton, she would obey the instructions from adults and washed her hands.
Kayden peered at Leo with a complicated look in his eyes before he headed to the bathroom with his sister.
Leo was better than he thought, as superb cooking was definitely considered a plus point.
Being a doctor, his mother often had to work late, and she had no fixed time for meals. Thus, it would be healthier for her to bring some home-cooked food from her job.
On the other hand, Zoey was at a loss. For a moment, she did not know how to get along with Leo.
"Zoey, go and wash your hands. You should set a good example."
Zoey was unprepared and did not realize he was calling out for her.
"Why are you still standing there? Are you feeling unwell?" Leo walked over and lowered himself to look into Zoey's eyes. From his eyes, Zoey could tell that he was genuinely worried about her.
Zoey blinked her eyes, and she could hear her heart throbbing.
Up close, she realized Leo had glowing skin and there were no blemishes at all.
Moreover, he was really good-looking in person.
"Let me take a look."
Just when Leo was about to touch Zoey's forehead with his hand, she subconsciously dodged it. She stood up in a panic and hit his chin by mistake. She cried out in pain as she covered her forehead. Tears almost rushed out of her eyes as it was hurtful.
"Oh gosh. You're such a..."
Leo could not help but sigh as he took Zoey's hand away from her forehead. Before she knew it, she felt a sense of coolness on her head.
As shocked as she was, she felt like a hundred beasts were clamoring in her heart.
"Leo was actually blowing air on my forehead? Since when did we become so close?" She thought to herself.
That was not the point. The point was her heart was racing like crazy.
"I'm fine now." Zoey shoved his hand away and kept a distance from him. She was breathing hard, trying very hard to keep her sanity.
...
"Daddy, Mommy, are you two playing kissing games?" At this time, a kiddish female voice let out a surprised cry.
As Leo lifted Zoey's chin and lowered his head, their postures seemed like they were going to kiss each other.
Zoey was startled as she shoved Leo right away with brutal force. She looked to the source of the voice and saw Kayla covering her face with both hands. However, a pair of big, round eyes, flickering with a cunning gleam, was peeking through the gaps of her fingers.
Zoey could not help but twitch the corner of her lips. Somehow, she always felt she had given birth to a pair of cheeky and naughty siblings.
"Mommy, you two have come to the kissing stage?" Kayden fixed his eyes on Zoey with a complicated look on his face. He seemed to be a little lost.
All he did was wash his hands in the bathroom.
"How did they get to the point where they are kissing each other? Or did Leo force my Mom into it?" He thought to himself.
When this possibility came into his mind, he squinted his calm and mature eyes, which were flickering with wrath, as he glared at Leo without him knowing.
If this man dared to bully his mommy, he would never give his consent for him to pursue her.
"No, Kayden, this is a misunderstanding."
Zoey raised her hand and rubbed her swollen forehead. She wanted to explain, but she did not know how.
With a smile drew at his lips, Leo strolled to the twins.
"Get ready for dinner, cutie pie," Leo said this, targeting at Kayla. "There are more dishes in the kitchen, I will bring them out."
Sure enough, a delicious meal had completely diverted Kayla's attention. Her eyes glistened as she looked at Leo, "Daddy, go on now."
"Kayden, can you give me a hand, please?" He requested Kayden's help, and not demanding it.
"Yes," Kayden answered as he followed Leo to the kitchen.
A face-off between an adult and a child was taking place in the kitchen.
"Daddy, are you bullying Mommy?" Kayden fixed his eyes, which resemble Leo's, as he questioned him.
"No, I'm pursuing her." Leo corrected. "But in order for her to like me as soon as possible, I used a little trick, and it's never wrong to deploy tactics in a real war.
Besides, you and Kayla want us to get together as a family soon, right?"
In order to win his son on his side, Leo played the family card without showing any shame.
Kayden knit his eyebrow as he tried to weigh the credibility of his words.
"Don't ever force mommy to do the things she dislikes, and don't bully her. Don't do anything that she hates."
After a while, he looked straight into Leo's eyes and mentioned three rules.
"It's a deal." Leo readily agreed to it.
"Why would I want to force his woman?" He thought. He would only deploy strategies to achieve his goal as quick as he could.
"Kayden, I'll agree to all your conditions if you help me to get your mommy back."
Leo threw out a bait. "I'll never go back on my words. I promise."
But Kayden did not bite it.
"Daddy, I'll accept you wholeheartedly if you're true to Mommy, and never upset her again."
With a stern look, he continued, "Kayla and I will respect Mommy's decision."
This implied that it was impossible to win the sibling's favor unless he showed sincerity in winning their mom's heart.
Yet, Leo was more than satisfied with this answer.
"Good boy." Leo raised his hand to pat Kayden's head, but he dodged his hand.
"Daddy, you can't just touch my head like that. Otherwise, I'll never grow tall." Kayden was rigorous with his words.
Leo couldn't help but chuckle out upon hearing it.
He really had a cute son over here.