Boss, Your Wife’s Asking for A Divorce, Again novel Chapter 203

Chapter 203

Before Zane could speak up for himself, Douglas barreled toward Sonia and wrapped his arms around her waist, thereafter whining, “Aunt Sonia, Uncle Zane was pinching me!”

Sonia’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as she surveyed Zane reproachfully.

Zane was quick to raise his hands, as though the gesture was symbolic of his innocence. “No, I did not! Why would I pinch the little guy? I was only teasing him.”

“Teasing him, you say? So, why are his cheeks all red?” Her heart twisted as she soothingly caressed Douglas’ face, which was pink from the pinches. Then, she accusingly addressed Zane, “You’re just like Toby.”

At the mention of Toby, the playful glimmer in Zane’s eyes dimmed. “Toby?! What did he do?”

She rolled her eyes in exasperation and explained witheringly, “He practically kneaded Douglas’ cheeks until they were red last night. It’s always brute force when it comes to you men.”

His brows furrowed. “He kneaded Douglas’ face? Does that mean the both of you met Toby after I left last night?”

Sonia handed a spoon to Douglas and pulled up a chair at the table. “That’s right. Douglas was hungry, so I brought him out for food. We then ran into Toby at the restaurant. When Douglas needed to use the restroom, I was too embarrassed to bring him into the men’s room, so Toby brought him instead.”

“Oh, okay.” Zane nodded in understanding.

Meanwhile, Douglas was taking his oatmeal when he suddenly piped up, “Mr. Toby was hurt too.”

“Hurt?” Zane could not hide his shock as he looked over at Sonia. “How did that happen?”

She pinched the space between her brows in exhaustion as she began to narrate what had happened the night before.

After he heard the whole story, he rubbed his face and remarked, “There must have been some kind of jinx on you guys. I mean, the chances of stuff like this happening are practically slim-to none otherwise!”

A rueful smile played on Sonia’s lips. “Believe me, I know.” She thought they had been rather unlucky as well.

“You’re fortunate to have escaped unscathed,” he pointed out with a lopsided smile, his eyes meeting hers.

The corners of her lips slightly tipped up. “That’s only because Toby shielded me and was hurt instead. I’m still thinking about how I should thank him for it.” She didn’t want to show up at his place to deliver her thanks in person. If she did, a certain lunatic named Tina might very well

 

unleash chaos once more.

As though he read Sonia’s mind, Zane took a bite of the pancake and casually responded, “That should be easy. It’s not as if you were the one who forced him into saving you. Why don’t you rustle up a get-well-soon hamper or something and have someone send it over to him?”

“A get-well-soon hamper?”

“Yeah.” Zane nodded emphatically. “The man had injured his foot. I’d say that’s a good excuse to send him a hamper.”

Sonia found this suggestion a rather sensible one and after she sipped her milk, she agreed with it. “I guess that works. I’ll have someone make the arrangements later.”

When breakfast was over, the three of them left the apartment.

Upon arriving downstairs, he took Douglas by the hand and stood in front of his car. Then, he glanced over at her meaningfully as he said, “Thanks for taking care of Douglas last night.”

“It’s no big deal.” She stepped forward and ruffled Douglas’ hair affectionately. With a small laugh, she added, “Besides, I like hanging out with Douglas.”

“I like hanging out with you too, Aunt Sonia. Can I come by again soon?” Douglas lifted his face and blinked his pair of sparkling eyes at her.

“Of course you can,” she promised, nodding in affirmation.

Upon hearing their exchange, Zane felt the wheels in his mind turn. He grinned at Douglas as he interjected, “Don’t you worry. I can drop you off here whenever I have the time.”

Douglas resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his own uncle. I know you’re just trying to use me as an excuse to see Aunt Sonia, you sly man. However, given how much he wanted Zane to triumph in his romantic pursuit, he refrained from calling the older man’s bluff.

“By the way, are you going to the hospital for the operation today?” Zane’s gaze flickered over to Sonia’s lower abdomen.

Her smile faded as she suppressed her heartache. A strained hum then escaped her before she answered, “Yes, I’ll be going this afternoon.”

“In that case, I’ll be there and I won’t take no for an answer. I know Charles will be present as well, but maybe I could lend an extra helping hand or something. Better to be safe than sorry, right?” he offered compassionately.

Sonia was mildly amused by his insistence. “Okay, then. You may come.”

“It’s settled then.” Zane waved his hand at her. “Right, I’ll be taking Douglas home now. See you later.”

Douglas brought his little hand up and waved goodbye at Sonia too. “Bye, Aunt Sonia.”

 

“Bye, Douglas,” she responded with a warm smile.

The receptionist gestured toward the intricately-wrapped hampers in which were expensive goodies, “Mr. Brown, a director from yet another company has had this gift delivered.”

He glanced at the hamper and its extravagant contents before he grimaced, “Didn’t we just announce on our website that all gifts are politely declined? And here we have another hamper to pile onto the others that we have yet to sort through.”

“Maybe the sender missed our announcement,” the receptionist guessed with a shrug.

Tom adjusted his glasses. “Very well, then. Who’s the sender? Which company is he or she from?”

“Paradigm Co.,” she replied flatly.

“Paradigm Co.?!” he repeated in bewilderment.

The receptionist nodded. “That’s right.”

He straightened his posture and grew somber before he responded briskly, “Okay, hand me the note and I’ll have the hamper sent up.”

“Got it.” The receptionist was new at her job and she had no idea of the importance Paradigm Co. connoted. With that being said, she did not question Tom when she saw how serious he was and handed him the gift note without further delay.

He took it from her and scanned the inscription. Then, he shoved it into his pocket before picking up the hamper and hurrying toward the elevator.

It didn’t take long for Tom to arrive at the presidential office, where he entered after knocking on the door.

Toby looked up at that moment with a frown when he registered the hamper in Tom’s arms. Clearly disgruntled by the presence of yet another gift, he snapped, “Didn’t I say to stop bringing

 

these gifts up to my office? Bring it over to the finance department and have them figure out the cost so that we can return the sender’s favor.”

“This one is different, though,” Tom countered as the light reflected off his spectacles.

Toby suspiciously narrowed his eyes. “How so?”

“This hamper is from Miss Reed,” Tom clarified, peering earnestly at Toby’s expression. When he saw the displeasure on Toby’s face being replaced by mild surprise, he suppressed the urge to grin impishly.