Chapter 72 - Thermonuclear Energy (1/2)

White noise silence. That was all Ava could hear despite the distorted laughing faces of Matriarch Lin, Auntie Martha, and Olivia. She scanned the room and her gaze landed on her beautiful, innocent son who's no longer crying. Her beady eyes softened and her curled fists loosened up when Finn laughed along with them.

”Finnie boy,” Matriarch Lin clapped her hands in glee. ”You just added another decade to Grandma's life!”

”Forget about that, Finn. Okay? Mommy was just giving daddy a massage,” Auntie Martha chimed in and winked at Ava.

The spotlight then returned to the star of the afternoon: The sobbing dumpling mess Finn.

Olivia wiped the tears on his face and squished the little guy in her arms. She wanted to tease Ava too but she realized it was the perfect distraction for her grandma and auntie from their nagging so she just rode along the waves.

Glancing at her watch, Olivia saw it was time for her and Maxen to leave. She had a scheduled spa treatment with Emma in two hours and she didn't want to be late and get stuck with traffic.

After bidding their goodbyes, exchanging warm hugs and smiles, the two older Lins didn't give Olivia and Maxen a hard time and sent them off on their merry way.

Tomorrow would be Olivia's birthday dinner and she repeatedly reassured them that Maxen would be in attendance and they would be seeing each other again.

Walking behind their guest, Ava and Finn accompanied them back to Olivia's car in the ten-car garage.

Olivia was about to get inside her car when she was reminded of their purchase last night so she turned on the balls of her feet and asked Ava, ”So which one did you use last night, Ava?”

”Ha! Ha! Livi!” Ava nervously laughed. She clung onto her son as she felt her world spin again in humiliation but the soft tug of Finn's tiny hand that was wrapped on her finger brought her back to life. In gritted teeth she said, ”Let's talk about that next time, sister.”

Olivia smirked at how fl.u.s.tered Ava was. Shifting her focus, her eyes landed on Finn which made her pause. After what happened earlier, she felt it was her duty as his godmother to educate him from time to time, so she crouched down to level with Finn's eyes. ”Hey, little guy. What do we do before we enter a room?”

”Knock knock!” Finn raised his juicy fist and knocked in the air.

Messing her nephew's hair, Olivia beamed at him and resisted the urge to pinch his cheeks. ”That's my boy. Don't forget that next time, okay? Gosh, you're so cuuuute!” She bit her bottom lip when Finn's cheeks wobbled as he bobbed his head. She could never get enough of him.

Pressed for time, Maxen held Olivia by the elbow to remind her that it was time for them to leave. He gave her a little push as she stood and held the small of her back, sending a curt nod to Ava.

”Maxen, don't forget Finn's horse. Ollie will collect it for me,” Ava blocked the door just before Maxen could close it.

Maxen gave Ava a curt nod and the latter pursed her lips to stifle her laughter upon seeing the gray clouds that hovered above Maxen's head.

With that, Mother and son waved happily as the car left the garage.

Uncle Jin drove out of the Lin's compound and was joined with the waiting cars outside. However, at the foot of the hill, the cars pulled over to a shaded side.

Maxen and Olivia were at a crossroads.

He had to go and see the King and Queen which was on the other side of the road, away from the metro.

Immediately, Uncle Jin and Shadow alighted the car when Maxen cleared his throat—a signal that he wanted some privacy.

Outside, the rest of their entourage were preparing to exchange vehicles when their attention was stolen by the scramble of rocks under Uncle Jin's shoes.