Stanley, who was sitting next to them, was touched by their conservation too.
“Dad, you’re the best.” Xyla hugged Jeremy’s arm tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Silly kid, why are you crying?”
“I’m touched.”
“Look at you crying like a baby. How old are you, huh?”
“No matter how old I am, I’m forever a little kid to you. This is what you’ve been telling me all the time. Therefore, I can always cry in front of you.” As Xyla spoke, she wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks inadvertently.
Shaking his head helplessly, Jeremy turned to look at Stanley. “Look, Stan, my daughter hasn’t grown up yet. She’s still acting like a child.”
Tenderness was written all over Stanley’s face as he stroked Xyla’s hair. “As long as we’re by her side, she can always be a child for the rest of her life.”
Jeremy nodded in agreement.
“By the way, if your aunt ever bothers you or begs you to forgive the Sullivans, you mustn’t be soft-hearted, okay?” Jeremy lowered his voice and reminded the two of them in earnest.
“Got it,” responded Xyla.
“She’s been bugging me since last night, hoping that I’ll help her to plead you guys. How is that possible? She’s trying to mess with Stanley Batton’s wife, Jeremy Quest’s daughter! She has to pay the price for bullying our princess,” Jeremy glowered sternly.
Once again, Xyla’s heart was warmed. Reluctantly leaving her father’s embrace, she lifted her head and fixed her gaze on his face. “Dad, how many times are you going to make me cry today?”
“What’s so touching about it?” Questions were swimming in Jeremy’s head.
Was this not what he supposed to do as a father?
“Okay, let’s not talk about it anymore. Stan, do you want to play chess with me?” Jeremy asked Stanley as he changed the subject.
“My pleasure,” Stanley accepted his offer without hesitation.
Delighted with his answer, Jeremy quickly took out a chess box from the drawer and placed it on the coffee table.
Right at that moment, the main door was opened from the outside. Emily Quest held Bailey Ronson’s hand and walked into the house in the very next second. Emily kept her head down the whole time, her face was as dejected as usual.
Bailey, who was following closely behind Emily, dropped her head as she entered the house too. Though the wounds on her face and neck had already formed scabs, they still looked terrifying.
The smile on Jeremy‘s face froze the moment he saw their presence at the doorstep. Likewise, Xyla’s and Stanley’s face darkened instantaneously.
Bailey forced a smile as she looked at the three of them. However, none of them responded to her.
Emily remained silent all the time. She continued to pull Bailey by her hand and sat down across from the three of them. Without wasting any time, she stared at Xyla determinedly and began, “Sister, I’m sorry for what I did in the past. I was wrong, and I don’t want to fight with you anymore. Let’s reconcile.”
Inwardly, Xyla also wanted a truce with Emily. For one thing, Emily had already gotten herself into a major depression, and there was no point battling with her anymore.
Secondly, she did not want to put her dad in a dilemma. If Emily behaved herself in the future, she naturally would not pick a fight with her again. However, having a truce with Emily was the best she could do. She did not have the slightest interest in being friends nor getting closer with her.
She would never forgive Emily for all the things that she had done to her. Furthermore, Emily’s words were untrustworthy. Xyla could not tell if she was serious right now.
