CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

It was hot outside, even though it had rained in the morning. Still, Nate had promised to bring the pups to the centre to eat their favourite ice cream.

He had collected them from the kindergarten and driven them to town. Then, he made them stroll around to let their legs do some exercise. They would sleep better if they were tired.

Only after did he bring them to their favourite place. They loved the ice cream they made at a small shop in the centre. It wasn't fancy, but the ingredients were all fresh and the cream very delicious. Also, the girl working there would always put some extra whipped cream on top for the twins.

He had just bought two portions and sat on a bench while waiting for his pups to order and walk to him. From there, he observed how they talked with the girl and waved while getting out.

Scarlet moved a step in Nate's direction, but then she was distracted. Jaden also reached her, in front of the shop door, and they both stared at a man not far from them.

«Hello, old uncle,» Jaden said, walking to him.

He was sitting on a bench on the opposite side from Nate's, and he was looking at his hands with a dejected expression. He was in front of an ice cream shop, and he didn't have a single dollar to buy some. It was so damn frustrating!

And the court was late to unfreeze his savings.

He had found a place where to sleep for a few days, and he had bought food with the rest of the money he had in his pockets.

«Inflation is a hell of a thing,» he said.

«My daddy agrees,» a little girl commented. «He says that sometimes.»

He turned his head and noticed two children, a boy and a girl.

The little blonde boy was staring at him from up close, licking his ice cream so distractedly that it was a waste. The girl, dark-haired with azure eyes, was behind him. She didn't want to come closer - and that was good - but she also felt curious about that mysterious man sighing in front of an ice cream shop.

«Why are you sad, old uncle?»

«I'm not that old,» Luther said, defending himself. «I might look like that, but I'm actually just fifty-five!»

«Fifty?» Scarlet muttered, tilting her head. How much was that?

Jaden seemed to think about it, but it was too hard. It was a big number, wasn't it? His dad had taught him the smaller ones, but fifty was just... too much for his fingers!

He turned to Nate and asked with his eyes.

«It's not that old,» Nate sighed.

He had considered getting up and dragging his pups away before they had time to inconvenience a poor, desperate man. However, neither of the three seemed unhappy when facing one other.

As such, he remained seated.

He greeted the man with a nod when he noticed him, and he felt scrutinised by that gaze. As if he had done something terrible, but... Was it because he had left the kids alone? Those two little beasts were able to cross a city while looking for their mommy. A few steps in or out of a shop were nothing for them!

Also, he didn't want his kids to become too dependable on him. He liked it more when they learnt to use their own capabilities instead of blindly relying on others.

He felt his method was correct, and never would he have imagined that other people might disagree and judge him for that. Being a parent wasn't an easy feat; not at all. Stay connected through empire

However, the man's gaze returned to the kids after barely a moment.

«You two like ice cream, don't you?» the man said. «I also do. It's so delicious. And this place makes it even better than any other... Or it used to, a lot of time ago. I've spent years away, so I'm not so sure it's still like that.»

«It is,» Jaden confirmed, licking again.

«But why don't you have one?» Scarlet asked. She hadn't started her cone yet. She had been distracted by that strange man and didn't feel hungry anymore.

«I don't have money,» the man revealed with a sad smirk.

He had once had the money for many things he wanted... Who would have ever imagined he would end up drooling after ice cream like that?

«I have some,» the little girl said, walking to him «Not money because my daddy always pays, but I have this ice cream.»

«And you would give it to me?» the man chuckled.

He accepted the gift, though. It was so precious, wasn't it? Just what he desired the most at that moment. And it had been offered by a little girl with a big heart.

«One day, when I get my money back, I will buy you one too,» he said before trying it. «Oh, chocolate! And caramel. You know what is good, girl!»

«There's also crunchy,» Scarlet whispered with a wily smile. She then strolled back to her daddy and looked for his arms.

Jaden, on the other hand, stood there. He observed the man, and they studied each other while eating ice cream. Nate was cleaning Scarlet's hands, so Jaden knew he had a minute or two before his turn.

Just enough to find out something more about that man.

«What's your name?» the man asked.

«I'm Jaden.»

«Nice name. It's a pleasure to meet you, Jaden. My name is Luther.»

«Luther?»

«Yes, does it ring any bells?»

«No,» Jaden said, shaking his head. «It must be the first time we meet.»

«Indeed.»

The little boy's gestures were so fun. He would talk and try repeating the same acts of an adult, but his warm eyes showed his curiosity too well.

At the same time, he was a little diffident of the strange man but also wanted to know more. Such a huge contradiction for a kid so small.