Chapter 13

As soon as I got off the car, I saw Corey Bruce carrying Teresa Barton past me, with Teresa screaming the whole time.

When Eileen Barton got nervous, she thought Corey Bruce was coming to take Teresa Barton away from her.

“Cory Bruce, what are you doing?” Eileen Barton didn’t say another word and rushed after him.

Cory Bruce and Theresa Barton had no idea that Eileen Barton was following behind them. The father and son continued playing on their own.

Eileen Barton was wearing high heels, so she couldn’t walk fast at all. Let alone Corey Bruce, who was running.

“What the hell do you want, Corey Bruce? Give me Teresa back!”

Little Teresa Barton was also completely absorbed in playing, with no idea that her mother was right behind her, chasing after her.

“Teresa! Mommy’s here!”

“Oh no!” Eileen Barton was running too fast, and her high heels broke. She fell to the ground outright.

This scream finally caught Teresa Barton’s attention. When she turned around, she saw that it was her mother who had fallen.

“Mom! It’s Mom!” With a heartbroken expression, Theresa Barton struggled to get off Corey Bruce’s lap, then ran toward Eileen Barton with her short legs.

Cory Bruce followed closely behind.

Eileen Barton finally managed to get Corey Bruce to stop. I really should be thankful for that fall of mine.

“Mom, how did you fall?” Looking at Eileen Barton’s broken high heels and slightly swollen ankle, Teresa Barton’s face showed great concern. She gently touched Eileen’s ankle and blew gently on it from time to time.

Eileen Barton couldn’t help but laugh. How could she possibly give up this mischievous little girl to someone else?

“Theresa, Mom was trying to catch up to you behind, but her high heels broke.” Eileen Barton looked at Theresa Barton with a pitiful expression.

Teresa Barton must be feeling even more heartbroken and self-reproachful now, with an even more solemn expression on her face.

“Mom, it’s my fault. I hurt you.” Teresa Barton apologized to Eileen Barton, her eyes filled with remorse.

Eileen Barton couldn’t help but laugh and cry. She patted Teresa Barton’s little head. “It’s okay, Mommy’s fine.”

Corey Bruce watched the whole scene quietly, without saying a word.

When Eileen Barton stood up, she said coldly, “Well, has the acting ended, and your feet don’t hurt anymore?”

When Eileen Barton saw Corey Bruce, she was furious. It wasn’t his fault that she had fallen. How could it possibly be his fault?

Why is he everywhere? He shows up at the kindergarten. Could he be trying to steal Teresa Barton away from us?

Eileen Barton glared at Corey Bruce. “What kind of act is this? Do you think I’m an actress? And what are you doing here in the first place? Are you trying to steal Teresa away secretly? Let me tell you, there’s no way that’s going to happen! If you do this again, don’t blame me for calling the police!” Worried that Corey Bruce might try something similar again, Eileen Barton warned him outright.

Corey Bruce, however, didn’t care at all and simply snorted in disdain.

“I’m Teresa’s father. I’m here to pick her up from school. What’s wrong with that? As for you, coming to pick her up so late—how are you fulfilling your duties as a mother?”

“If you can’t do what a mother is supposed to do, I advise you to give me the child sooner!”

Cory Bruce spoke in a sarcastic tone, but every word was directed at Eileen Barton.

Eileen Barton felt a tightness in her chest. Corey Bruce had come prepared.

But Eileen Barton smirked. “I’m Teresa’s legitimate mother. I have custody of her. You show up out of nowhere. Who do you think you are? It’s been five years since you last appeared. Don’t you think it’s too late?”

That’s exactly what Eileen Barton thinks. Corey Bruce knows exactly where his daughter goes to kindergarten. Yet he stubbornly believes he has some kind of plan. This shows that he already knew who he was five years ago. So why didn’t he find himself five years ago, if he knew who he was? Why did he wait until five years later to come forward?

All of this was something that Eileen Barton couldn’t let go of.

“Teresa, let’s go.”

Corey Bruce felt a pang in his heart. Eileen Barton seemed different from what he had imagined. It seemed like she truly didn’t care about fame or wealth, and was only concerned about her daughter. Then why didn’t she mention it when she was pregnant five years ago? Why wait five years before coming back?

“Uncle Handsome!” By the time Corey Bruce realized what was happening, he saw Teresa Barton looking at him with eyes full of reluctance.

“Wait a moment.” Corey Bruce took a step forward, blocking the path between the mother and daughter.

Eileen Barton glared fiercely at Corey Bruce, watching him with great wariness.

Corey Bruce crouched down. “Teresa, are you happy today?”

Theresa Barton nodded excitedly.

“Then do you still want to play?”

Theresa Barton nodded even more excitedly.

Cory Bruce stood up proudly. “You see, Teresa really enjoys playing with me. You can’t deny that, can you?”

Eileen Barton was truly fed up. Why couldn’t they just leave her alone?

“You...” Eileen Barton was about to speak, but her phone’s ringtone interrupted her.

Before she could respond to Corey Bruce, Eileen Barton picked up her phone to answer the call.

But as soon as I picked up the phone, Emily Church’s anxious voice came through.

“Irene, please come back quickly. There’s a problem with the design.”

“Okay, I’ll be back right away.”

Eileen Barton almost forgot that the filming time was approaching.

There was no time to waste on dealing with Corey Bruce anymore. Eileen Barton simply picked up Teresa Barton, stepped right past Corey Bruce, and left quickly.

Corey Bruce was slightly jolted by the impact. As he watched Eileen Barton walk away, he found himself thinking that this woman, who always challenged him, was actually quite interesting. After all, no one had ever dared to confront him head-on before. Or rather, no one had the courage to do so!

Eileen Barton didn’t even have time to put on her high heels. She ran into the company barefoot, holding Teresa Barton in her arms.

As soon as I entered the company, the atmosphere was somber.

Everyone seemed very cautious, afraid to speak. Even Emily Church stayed aside.

“Theresa, play here for a while while Mom goes to work!” After settling Theresa down, Eileen Barton immediately went to find Emily Church.

Emily Church silently made a “shh” gesture, then pulled Eileen Barton to a more secluded corner.

Eileen Barton was completely confused.

“What’s going on here?”

Emily Church pointed toward the conference room, and Eileen Barton followed her gaze.

In the conference room, there was a man sitting there with a serious expression on his face. Yet, he had an air of distinction about him, making it clear that he wasn’t an ordinary person. Baldwin Owen was sitting nearby, seemingly engaged in some kind of conversation.

“See that? Newman Dora!” Emily Church exclaimed in surprise.

Newman Dora? Eileen Barton found the name somewhat familiar, but couldn’t recall where she had heard it.

Looking at Eileen Barton’s confused expression, Emily Church knew that she knew nothing again.

Emily Church had no choice but to explain everything one by one.

“Newman Dora, a renowned film actor and our brand’s spokesperson!”

Eileen Barton finally understood.

“After he arrived, he took a look at the new products and said he wasn’t satisfied. He got angry. President Gu is trying to calm him down right now!”