Chapter 112 Lydia: Hello, Uncle

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Lydia: Hello, Uncle

She didn’t explain who Lydia’s so-called parents were. Her parents were both alive and well. Her father was simply busy playing free dad to someone else’s kid.

Julian Sterling didn’t respond to what Sophie Winslow said. He merely continued to stare thoughtfully at Lydia.

His unusual attention toward Lydia made Sophie deeply uncomfortable. Alarm bells rang uncontrollably in her head. Not giving him a chance to ask further questions, she led Lydia straight into the classroom.

The classroom was spacious, with an open area in the middle reserved for interactive games. Sophie deliberately took Lydia far away from the center. Fortunately, Seth Sutton was clinging tightly to Julian, leaving him no time to pay attention to her and Lydia. Only then did Sophie finally have a moment to breathe a sigh of relief.

During the games session, Sophie spotted Julian in the center of the crowd. Even though Seth was large and chubby, Julian easily picked the boy up to complete the challenge. Stella Sutton stood nearby, smiling and cheering them on like a gentle mother and wife. Anyone looking at them would assume they were an incredibly happy family.

The mothers surrounding Stella cast envious glances her way, their praises endless. "Your husband is so patient with the child, and he’s so handsome! I almost thought he was a celebrity."

The smile in Stella’s eyes deepened. "He is indeed very responsible," she replied, not bothering to deny being called his wife. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Sophie in the crowd. Raising her chin slightly, a fleeting sneer flashed across her face.

"Look at the rest of us—hardly any fathers showed up today," another mother chimed in. "Your husband’s clothes are obviously expensive, and that watch alone must be worth five or six million, right? It’s obvious he’s a man of high status, yet he loves his wife so much and is so generous with his time. It’s truly enviable."

Another mother immediately added, "With your husband’s excellent genes, you only had one child? What a waste! You should have a few more!"

Stella raised her brow at this.

A mother nearby smiled suggestively, speaking from experience. "That’s right, have a couple more. Men are tied down tightly by children. Once you have kids, he won’t fly away. Besides, you’re so pretty."

A hint of shyness appeared on Stella’s face, but she responded graciously, "You flatter me." As for the rest of their assumptions, she tacitly accepted them all.

Sophie lowered her eyes and reached out to cover Lydia’s ears, blocking out the surrounding chatter. "Sweetheart, do you want to go play some games later?"

Lydia didn’t understand why her ears were covered, but she nodded anyway.

Meanwhile, Seth’s game had ended. Just as Stella and Julian were surrounded by parents praising them as a match made in heaven, Seth ran over. He stared at Lydia and immediately began to laugh. "Did your parents not come to keep you company? You’re so pitiful. Do you not have a dad?"

Lydia’s small face instantly flushed red at his words, a flash of confusion and hurt crossing her innocent eyes. Even so, she instinctively grabbed Sophie’s hand. "I don’t need a dad. Having my mom is enough."

Seth mocked her even more brazenly. "So you don’t have one! What’s the difference between you and an orphan? Nobody is protecting you. Unlike you, I’m the happiest kid in the kindergarten today."

Lydia’s face remained expressionless. Although her eyes were red, she neither cried nor made a fuss.

Sophie couldn’t fathom how the Sutton Family had managed to spoil this little brat to such an extent. That word—"orphan"—pierced ruthlessly through the defenses around her heart. But the cruel reality was that her daughter’s father simply devoted all his love to someone else.

Her face turning ice-cold, Sophie stared at Seth and spoke in an intimidating tone that worked flawlessly on children. "If you dare bully Lydia again, I’ll tell all the kids in kindergarten that your sister is a thief who steals other people’s husbands. And since you’re a thief’s brother, everyone will despise and spit on you. You’ll be isolated, and no one will ever like you again."

Sure enough, Seth was terrified. His chubby face turned bright red as he hastily looked around to ensure no other children had heard.

Sophie almost wanted to laugh. See? People always claimed that young children didn’t know any better, but even he knew his sister was in the wrong and felt the shame of it.

"Sophie Winslow! Is it really necessary to talk to a child like that? Does bullying a kid give you a sense of accomplishment?" Stella, who had just walked over and overheard, rebuked her coldly.

Julian lifted his gaze and looked in their direction.

Sophie merely let out a disinterested "Oh" and added, "Keep shouting, and the whole school will know you’re more than happy to be a mistress."

Stella’s lips pressed into a tight line as she frowned in displeasure. She assumed Sophie’s jealousy was making her say such outrageous things.

At the same time, Sophie felt Julian’s gaze on her—profound and obscure.

She knew very well that if she publicly declared right now that she was the true Mrs. Sterling, Julian wouldn’t acknowledge it. Instead, he would side with Stella and make a fool out of her. She at least had that much self-awareness.

Without paying them any more attention, she took Lydia’s hand and walked away. Lydia cooperated beautifully, marching forward with an imposing stride on her little legs, her small face taut and serious, not sparing them a single glance.

Julian’s peripheral vision swept over Lydia’s small figure. He paused for a few seconds.

There were a lot of people at the kindergarten today. Worried that Lydia might get thirsty, Sophie had her wait on a chair while she went to the lockers to fetch her thermos.

Just after Sophie left, Julian stepped out of the room. He had taken a brief work call. After hanging up, he spotted Lydia sitting obediently in the hallway, head bowed as she played with a small Rubik’s Cube.

His long legs paused for no apparent reason. Changing direction, he walked over and stopped in front of her.

Lydia looked up at him. Her large, beautiful black eyes held no curiosity, but out of politeness, she still greeted him, "Hello, mister."

The little girl’s soft voice was incredibly sweet and adorable. That greeting made Julian’s eyes waver slightly. He didn’t know what was wrong with him; he just found this child very endearing.

He simply sat down next to Lydia. "Where..." He paused, weighing his words. "Where did Mrs. Winslow go?"

Lydia looked confused for a moment. She wanted to say that was her mother, but remembering the game she had agreed to play with her, she silently corrected him in her heart. Lowering her head to continue turning the Rubik’s Cube, she answered softly, "She went to get water for me."

Julian’s gaze fell on the faint little dimples at the corners of Lydia’s mouth. "Are you two close?"

Lydia thought it was a very strange question. She and her mother were the closest people in the whole world, of course. More importantly, this man seemed very interested in her mother’s affairs. Lydia looked at him defensively. "Why are you so curious about us, mister?"

The innocent, childlike words made Julian raise an eyebrow. It actually stumped him.

"Because Mrs. Winslow and I are acquaintances."

A string of questions filled Lydia’s small head. Tilting her head to look at him, she voiced her biggest confusion. "If you’re acquaintances, why didn’t you speak up for us when that lady and Seth were bullying us earlier?"

Julian was somewhat surprised. This child’s thinking was incredibly agile, and she knew exactly how to grasp the main point, despite her young age.

He slowly raised his brow. "She didn’t tell me she needed my help."

Lydia solved the Rubik’s Cube, pouted, and muttered, "My mom says that candy you have to beg for doesn’t taste sweet at all, so it’s better not to eat it."

This answer made Julian’s gaze darken a fraction. He stared intently at Lydia’s excessively exquisite and pretty little face.

"Can I ask you another question?"

"I’ll selectively answer it."

He was surprised that such a young child was so opinionated. He couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.

"Who are your parents?"