“It’s not like that.” The boy raised his head, then pointed to the man standing behind Lily and said, “Uncle Thornton, so pitiful!”
Lily blinked in confusion. When she turned around, she saw Maxwell’s face darkened, a storm of emotions brewing as he looked at her.
“Thornton Chairman, don’t you have work to do this early in the morning?” Lily laughed awkwardly, trying to change the subject.
Maxwell gave her a cold glance. “Do you think there's anything worth doing so early in the morning?”
He placed breakfast in front of Lily and then looked toward the child sitting on the bed.
“What’s your name, kid? ‘Baby’?”
Maxwell turned to Lily, clearly displeased. “Did you pick this child up? A cute boy like him, and you didn’t even give him a proper name?”
Sensing the unspoken dissatisfaction on Maxwell's face, Lily frowned and explained, “My son’s name is Liam Bennett. 'Baby' is just an affectionate term.”
“How old are you, Liam?” Maxwell sat down on the bed, clearly intrigued by the boy. Perhaps it was because Liam was Lily’s son... Or maybe, in part, because the boy reminded Maxwell of himself when he was younger.
“Stepfather, I’ll be six next month,” Liam obediently answered.
Maxwell’s expression darkened. Lily quickly covered her son's small mouth. A moment ago, he had called him “Uncle Thornton,” and now it was “stepfather?”
Lily pointed at Maxwell, trying to correct her son. “Baby, this man is not your stepfather.”
Liam pushed his mother’s hand away and asked, confused, “If I can’t call him stepfather, what should I call him?”
“Call him Dad,” Maxwell said without a second thought.
Liam burst into laughter and cheerfully called out, “Dad!”
Lily was wide-eyed, watching the two speak so naturally. She frowned and asked her son, “Who do you listen to more? Me or this man?”
Liam, without hesitation, replied, “I listen to you, of course.”
After all, it was his mother who had given birth to him and raised him. A dad was nice but not essential.
Seeing Liam’s disappointed expression, Lily knew how much her son adored Maxwell. She didn’t want to crush his joy after calling “Dad” for the first time, so she sighed and spoke gently.
“How about you call Uncle Thornton your godfather? That way, you can still call him 'Dad.'"
Godfather? Maxwell's face darkened again, clearly displeased. Clever, aren’t you? Making your son call me godfather so you can avoid defining our relationship. A woman as smart as her should’ve become a lawyer, not a urologist—definitely a career choice misstep.
Liam didn’t mind. Whether it was a godfather or a stepfather, they were both still “Dad” in his eyes. Happily, he called out, “Godfather!”
Though the childish voice was soft and endearing, Maxwell showed no signs of joy. It wasn’t until he realized how strange this growing affection was that he understood. In front of him were simply a child and a woman who had no real connection to him. They were unrelated to him... Except that she reminded him a lot of his ex-girlfriend, Monica Nguyễn. Yet, somehow, they had quietly carved out a place in his heart and were influencing his emotions.
Whenever he thought of Monica, his heart ached. But when he was with Lily Bennett, his heart raced, and a warm feeling filled his chest. Her foolish yet sincere nature, her lack of pretense, somehow forced its way into his life, leaving an indelible mark on his soul. Maxwell Thornton, who had always been so bold and driven, suddenly realized today how little he understood about love.
Frowning slightly, Maxwell remained silent, then turned and left.
Liam, confused, looked up at Lily. “Why did my godfather leave? He seemed upset.”
“Godfather went out to earn money. Eat up! After breakfast, I’ll take you swimming in the ocean!” Lily ignored Maxwell’s departure and excitedly passed food to her son before eating some herself.
Liam, eyeing her with suspicion, asked, “Lily, are you really going to take me swimming at this hour? It’s still morning; no one swims this early because the water is cold.”
Lily gave him a sheepish smile. “You’re right. We should be exercising instead.”
Running her hand through her hair, Lily sighed. Ever since she met Maxwell Thornton, it felt like her sanity had slipped away. Perhaps after this trip, she should schedule a visit to the psychology department.
That afternoon, Liam finally got his wish to swim in the ocean, and he was overjoyed. However, since Lily didn’t know how to swim, she hired a swim instructor to teach her son and ensure his safety. Lily wore a form-fitting black swimsuit, modest but not overly revealing. Meanwhile, Liam sported black swim trunks, pursing his lips as he glanced at his mother, who was sitting on the shore sipping coconut water through a straw.
“Lily, why aren’t you swimming?” Liam eagerly asked.
Seeing her son’s hopeful expression, Lily, despite her fear of the water, mustered the courage to ask the swim instructor, with a smile on her face, “I really don’t know how to swim, so please, make sure I don’t drink too much seawater.”
The instructor reassured her with a warm smile before leading her into the water. The warm waves lapped at her feet, bringing a comforting sensation. The instructor said, “I’ll hold your waist for a bit to help you feel safe. Don’t worry, just relax.”
Though his words were reassuring, a non-swimmer's fear was often deeply ingrained. It's not entirely clear what they’re afraid of, but staring at the vast, seemingly endless ocean and the waves crashing in created an overwhelming sense of dread. Who knows what terrifying mysteries lie beneath the transparent, bottomless water?
Clutching the instructor’s hand tightly, Lily was lifted onto the surface in the shallow water. At that moment, Maxwell Thornton and Lucas Greek, both dressed casually, were walking along the beach. Maxwell was just about to explain the purpose of his visit when Lucas stopped, pointed toward the shoreline not far away, and laughed.
“I was wondering why I hadn’t seen Mrs. Bennett and your son today. Turns out they’re right there.”
Following Lucas’s gesture, Maxwell saw Lily floating on the water, her hands and legs splashing, with a tall, muscular man holding her waist. The stark contrast between his dark skin and her soft, pale complexion was striking.