His gaze swept around the room, finally landing on the suitcase Rowan Keller was still holding.
His soft, sweet voice was serious.
“Mommy, what are you doing with a suitcase?”
Rowan Keller opened her mouth, but for a moment, she couldn’t think of a reasonable excuse.
“She was packing it for me.” Zion Hawthorne spoke up, crouching down in front of him so they were at eye level.
“Daddy is going on a business trip for a few days.
You have to be a good boy and listen to Mommy while I’m gone, okay?”
Summer nodded obediently.
“I know.”
Zion Hawthorne ruffled his hair.
“Good boy.”
“Who is this auntie?” Summer’s gaze shifted to Serena Sterling.
“She’s Daddy’s secretary.” The lie came effortlessly to Zion Hawthorne.
“She’s going on the business trip with Daddy in a little while.”
Rowan Keller’s hand tightened on the suitcase handle unconsciously, but she didn’t let a trace of her inner turmoil show on her face.
Zion Hawthorne stood up, walked over to her, and naturally took the suitcase from her hands.
Just like he always did, he planted a kiss on her red lips, his tone incredibly gentle.
“I have to go now.
If you miss me, give me a call, okay?”
Rowan Keller suppressed her discomfort and stiffly replied with a single word: “Mm.”
“Good girl.” Zion Hawthorne tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
His fingertips traced the shell of her ear downward, finally rubbing her earlobe suggestively.
“Wait for me to come back.”
‘Being this close to him for even a second longer made her feel sick.’
‘She just wanted him to leave immediately.’
Zion Hawthorne sensed her repulsion.
Just before leaving, he deliberately leaned down and pressed a fleeting kiss to her lips, giving her no chance to refuse.
By the time she looked up at him with a hint of fury in her eyes, he had already taken her suitcase and walked out of the room, one after the other with Serena Sterling.
“Mommy,” Summer suddenly said as they left.
Rowan Keller suppressed her emotions and put on her best face for him.
“What is it?”
Summer opened his mouth, but seemed to swallow his words and say something else instead.
“It’s time for lunch.
Let’s go downstairs and eat.”
“Okay,” Rowan Keller agreed.
「During the meal.」
Rowan Keller was still thinking about what had just happened.
‘How could he lie to Summer with such a straight face?
Wasn’t he afraid I’d tell Summer he was cheating?
And those two kisses…
He has someone else, so why did he still kiss me?’
As she was thinking this, she suddenly remembered the suitcase he’d taken.
All of her documents were inside, including her frequently used ID card and passport.
She grabbed her phone and sent him a message: [When are you giving my suitcase back?]
Zion Hawthorne saw it, but he didn’t reply. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
About an hour later, another message came to his phone.
He assumed it was Rowan Keller nagging him, but it turned out to be a voice message from Summer.
“Daddy, that auntie today isn’t really your secretary, is she?”
Zion Hawthorne froze.
He hadn’t expected such a question.
He was about to reply when he remembered he’d told Summer he was on a business trip.
At this time, he was supposed to be on a plane, unable to receive any messages.
Summer waited in his room.
‘If Daddy replies, it means he isn’t on a business trip.
It means he lied.’
But Zion Hawthorne was his old man, after all; he wouldn’t make such a rookie mistake.
Meanwhile, Rowan Keller had been waiting for several hours without a reply, so she decided to just call him.
The call connected, but before she could even speak, Serena Sterling’s voice came through the phone.
“Zion, I’m done with my shower.”
“You go back to the room and rest first.
I need to take a call.” Zion Hawthorne’s voice was deep and pleasant, filled with utter gentleness.