Chapter 136 - One Hundred And Thirty-six : Give In To Temptation (1/2)

The third point of view

There was no way on earth he was letting her return to Niklaus, Eden thought. Maya was different from other women he has socialized with in the past and present; she was like a breath of fresh air, no wonder Niklaus fell hard for her.

Perhaps he liked her - no, he liked her but not to the extent of being called love and he wanted it to remain that way, he still had great plans for her.

But as perfect as Maya was, she had too many flaws: she was intelligent yet naive; headstrong yet unwary. Albeit what she had gone through in the hands of some people, she still had faith in same damned humanity

It was hard to believe that people like her still existed but Maya had extremely bad luck to have associated with Spencers; his family was a hellhole filled with betrayers and selfish people.

Eden was sorry to Maya; she had such a beautiful heart, but he had larger plans and she was a huge factor in it. His success and failure depended on her and he was going to take a step starting tonight.

But first, he had to break down Maya's wall around him. His mouth curled to the side in a smile, Niklaus wouldn't know what hit him.

”Daddy” Anabelle shook his arm, attracting his attention.

He looked down, ”What is it? ”

She pouted her lips and rubbed her stomach while casting her pitiful eyes on him, ”I'm hungry ”

”Get into the car then, let's find a restaurant? ” He said to his daughter.

But his cute daughter refused, ”I want that ” She pointed to a Burger and Fries food stand not far from them.

”Both the food and its location is unhygienic ” Eden rejected her idea with disgust but heard Maya snort by his side.

”You rich people and your beratings” She rolled her eyes,” Millions of people consume food there every day and haven't died already. Besides, the stomach can't speak what it eats ”

”My daughter's health is far more important ” He replied to her defensively.

”Anabelle won't die from just a day of eating street food; anyone meant to die would die, healthy or not. Well, protect her all you want, I'm going to fill my stomach with relatable food” Maya decided after lecturing him.

She directed her next question at Pedro.”Are you coming along boy or are you waiting for the classic high-end restaurant?”

Eden sensed the mockery in her voice but didn't say anything.

Pedro grinned, ”I'm coming with you”

Her face brightened, ”At least the little boy knows a good food unlike someone here ” She subtly taunted him while leaving with Pedro.

He was firm on his decision but his resolve dwindled when Anabelle kept up with her tantrum and the fact Maya looked in his direction while taking a huge bite out of this mouthwatering hot dog.

He gave in to the temptation.

Eden normally had such dishes but it was always prepared by world-renowned chefs or bought from five-star restaurants, not from a lowly graded roadside food cart.

Negative thoughts about the food flooded his mind as he had his first bite with a grimace on his face. He chewed cautiously, it wasn't that bad.

And that was how Eden wolfed down serving after serving till his stomach had no space to accommodate another.

”So much for, 'my daughter's health is far more important' ” She ridiculed Eden animatedly after they were done with their food.

Eden let her mock him to her heart satisfaction, he deserved it a bit but he still wouldn't give up on his belief.

He had grown up in the countryside, seen what poverty looked like, and the poor living standard of people; how clean was the cooking apparatus? Cooking environment? What health measures were put into preparing the dish? - He had a good reason to worry about the food.

”We should leave already,” Maya announced, looking up at the sky; It was evening.

”We still have one more place to stop before going home,” Eden told her.

”Where is that? ”

”It's a secret ”

She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously, ”I hope you're not planning on - ”

”Don't you even trust me one bit? ” He interjected.

”Try again ” She patted him on the shoulder and added, ” In your next life”

They got into the car and drove off but Maya knew she shouldn't have trusted him cause they found themselves trudging through a meadow minutes later.

”Where in the world are you taking us? ” She complained, already tired of walking.

”We're almost there! ” He shouted, ahead of them.

”You said that ten minutes ago! ” She reminded him.

”Don't worry, we're here already ” he said with a hint of excitement in his voice.

Maya's brows narrowed together in confusion, what could get him this happy? So she and the kids hurried after him and that was when she saw it.

”Wow ” Maya breathed, taking in the clear azure pool staring back at her. The water was breathtakingly surreal that she just stared in awe.

Eden's lips tilted to the side as he watched the look on her face, he knew she was going to love it; simple things moved her.