Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

Everett raised an eyebrow.

Where did this little munchkin come from?

He settled into the sofa across from the kid, leaning back lazily, loosening his tie, and gave the child a once-over with casual curiosity.

The kid looked about three or four, with tiny hands and feet and a face that was all chubby cheeks and innocence. Those big, bright eyes were like shiny black grapes. Unexpectedly, Everett felt his heart skip a beat.

Those eyes reminded him, if only for a moment, of a woman named Selena.

Surprisingly, the little one was as cool as a cucumber, showing no signs of being shy, even daring to meet his gaze. Everett couldn't decide if the child was just too young to know fear or if he was simply bold for his age.

Over the years, Everett's demeanor had grown more reserved; he rarely smiled, and his presence carried an air of cold danger. Even the Bennett family's kids would shiver at the mere mention of his name, and the adults respected him but also tread lightly, avoiding direct eye contact.

Kate, the housekeeper, came rushing out of the kitchen, her face a mix of panic and surprise at seeing her employer back.

Wringing her apron nervously, she quickly blurted out, "Sir, I'm so sorry, this... this little one is from a relative's family. They asked me to watch him for a bit. I'll take him away right now."

Everett fixed her with a knowing look, seeing right through her fib. "Tell me the truth, whose kid is this?"

The boy had an air of quiet confidence and seemed well-mannered, his demeanor suggesting he came from a good background. Kate had been with the Bennett family for ages and knew everyone's story inside out; it was unlikely she had such well-off relatives. Kate's face flushed red with embarrassment.

Of course, her employer's sharp instincts wouldn't be fooled so easily.

Under Everett's cool stare, Kate couldn't keep the truth hidden any longer and spilled the whole story.

The child had been found at the doorstep.

To be precise, he claimed he was here looking for his mom.

Earlier that morning, as Kate stepped out to run errands, she spotted him with a little hat and backpack, peeking around the entrance. Such a tiny thing, she nearly collided with him.

He insisted he wanted to go inside to find his mom, but there was no mom here, Kate thought, assuming the child was lost. She tried to take him to the police station, but he refused and quietly walked away.

To her surprise, when she returned, he was there again, huddled pitifully at the door.

And honestly, the kid was just too adorable, looking up at her with longing eyes that tugged at her heartstrings. Against her better judgment, she let him in, showing him that she was the only one around, and his mom wasn't there.

Though disappointed, the child was still convinced this was his mom's house and insisted on waiting for her to return.

Kate figured she'd let him wait a bit longer; if his mom didn't show up, he'd give up and agree to go to the police station with her.

But he was content to sit quietly, not making a fuss or bothering anyone, so Kate got on with her chores.

Caught up in her work, she lost track of time, and before she knew it, it was late.noveldrama

She had hoped that Everett wouldn't come home and catch her bringing a stranger in, but no such luck.

Afraid of getting an earful, she made up the story about the kid being from a relative's family.

Everett chuckled softly. So this little guy was here looking for his mom?

He thought wryly, the lady of the house had long since run off with someone else; no moms to be found here. If the kid was looking for a dad, maybe Everett could step in temporarily. Perhaps it was the tot's unruffled nature that Everett found intriguing, this calm and collected vibe, unlike those whiny, noisy kids that could be so annoying.