Corinne felt like her nerve had been struck when she heard what Francine said. She narrowed her eyes at the balloon seller again.
The balloon seller was out of sight by then, but she could still see the balloons flying high above the mansion walls.
"Corinne, I gotta run. Bye," said Francine in a hurry.
Corinne snapped out of her trance. "Are you going out on a date with Chester?" she asked with a smile.
Francine turned bright red. She was too shy to admit it, so she stammered, "I… I'm just going out for dinner… Bye!"
Francine sped away in her high heels.
Corinne chuckled and turned to go back to the mansion with the kids.
Suddenly, Christine grabbed her hand and asked cutely, "Mommy, is Aunt Francine going out on a date?"
Corinne looked down at her and laughed. "Yes, your Aunt Francine is going out on a date. You'll probably have a new uncle soon."
"I know who my new uncle is going to be! It's the man that had a picnic with us at the park that day, isn't it?"
"Yes, you adorable little genius. Nothing gets past you, huh?" said Corinne, squatting down to pinch her little button nose.
Christine rubbed her nose and said, "Mommy, even Aunt Francine has a boyfriend now, so when are you going to get one too?"
Corinne's lips twitched. "I don't need a boyfriend when I have you three."
'What am I going to do with her?' thought Corinne dotingly. She stroked Christine's cheek and said, "But Mommy's strong herself. Not only can I protect myself, but I can protect you and your brothers too!"
With the balloon still in her hand, Christine wrapped her arms around Corinne's neck and pouted. "Don't change the topic, Mommy. If a handsome man wants to be with you in the future, you must at least consider him! Don't turn him down because of us. Me, Joey, and Bryan all want you to be happy."
"Okay! I promise you I'll accept if a handsome man wants Mommy to be his girlfriend, okay?" said Corinne dotingly. She then picked Christine up, and the two of them walked into the mansion together.
After dinner, Pamela and Greg played with the kids in the living room, while Corinne went upstairs to her room.
It was summer, so the sky did not begin to get dark until much later. At that moment, it was still light out.
Corinne stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in her room, and her perfect eyesight allowed her to spot several suspicious people hiding outside the mansion compound.
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