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Chapter 1104
Chapter 1104
"I can't stand Dad. He's the absolute worst," Nina fumed, crossing her arms with a huff.
Mira, with her childish innocence, piped up, "Then let's get a new dad, shall we?"
Nina rolled her eyes, "Silly, you can't just swap out dads like an old pair of sneakers."
Undeterred, Mira bobbed her head energetically, "Why not? We could ask Uncle Arnold or Uncle
Leopold to be our dad."
William blinked thoughtfully and then said in a matter-of-fact tone, "You know, if your mom marries
someone else, you'll get a stepdad just like I did. Uncle Leopold is my stepdad."
The thought of her mom marrying someone else had never crossed Nina's mind before.
"I don't want a stepdad. They're probably as mean as wicked stepmothers from the fairy tales."
"But Uncle Leopold is really nice to William, isn't he?" Mira countered.
Nina smacked Mira's head lightly, "Dummy, Uncle Leopold's not just any stepdad. He's also William’s
uncle. Do you think someone without family ties would be that kind?" This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .
Mira stuck out her tongue playfully, "But what can we do? Adults never listen to kids. They just do
whatever they want."
William sighed deeply, his youthful face looking unexpectedly wise. "You're right. Adults don't care
about what kids think. To them, we're just accessories."
Skyler joined in with a sigh, a shadow passing over his face as he thought of his situation. Aunt Tanya
used him like a pawn, always manipulating him for her ends. Geoffrey was probably another one of her
pawns, brainwashed from a young age to do her bidding.
"Kids have it rough," Skyler murmured.
Meanwhile, Jelena sipped her coconut water, casting a glance at Leopold and Arnold. Seeing them
with Aurelia always gave her the vibe of an impending showdown. "Let's take a walk on the beach,"
she suggested to Aurelia, and they strolled off towards the rolling waves.
"Jelena, are you planning on keeping Fredric on a tight leash?"
Jelena shrugged off, "If he likes this play, I’ll play along."
Aurelia detected a hint of mischief in Jelena's voice. "How long are you going to play this game?"
Jelena's smile was enigmatic as effortless as the ocean breeze. "Until I find someone I like. Good men
are hard to find. They're like shooting stars, rare and unpredictable."
Aurelia patted her shoulder, "Don't waste your time on someone unworthy. Fredric might seem gentle,
but men from the Stirling family can turn cold as ice when crossed. If you push him too far, you might
not find it so easy to walk away."
Jelena was unfazed, "I never agreed to date him. I'm not his girlfriend. He's the one chasing me. Why
can't I say no?"
"Maybe he thinks you're playing hard to get," Aurelia suggested.
With a nonchalant shrug, Jelena replied, "Others might think that too, but it doesn't bother me."
Aurelia continued, "Just remember, Fredric is no prince charming. He's always been a womanizer and
that's not going to change."
Jelena chuckled, "Not necessarily. Arnold used to be quite the playboy, changing girlfriends more often
than his shirts. Now, he's the picture of devotion."
"Arnold is different from Fredric. He was a committed bachelor, playing the field without ever cheating.
He always waited until one relationship ended before starting another." Aurelia explained.
Jelena smirked, "But let's not forget all the hearts he broke. Maybe losing you is his punishment."
Aurelia kicked at the sand thoughtfully, "Love is a gamble. Men often chase after beauty, and true love
is rare. Women shouldn't be too blinded by romance. Love isn't everything. If one relationship doesn't
work out, move on to the next. Those who spiral into depression over a breakup are usually the ones
who put too much stock in love and lack resilience."