Said I didn’t Love Him But I Lied

On the podium, a staff member of the Panda World was asking for all visitors to maintain order with a megaphone, “Order please! Do not squeeze! Please take care of your children. Please maintain order as our lucky draw event is going to start soon. The winner gets to take a photo with the panda!”

On Theodore’s shoulder, Adrienne took a look at her badge and said, “My number is 28. How about you, Alastair?”

Alastair grabbed Everleigh’s hand and murmured, “30.”

In order not to let the children down, Everleigh reminded Adrienne in advance. “Adrienne, you have to be very lucky to get picked. Promise me you won’t be angry if you don’t get picked, okay? We’ll take a photo with the panda statue near the entrance later. It’s the same thing.”

Adrienne held Theodore’s head and nodded seriously. “I won’t get angry. I’ve already seen the panda anyway. Alastair, do you want to see it? I can see it clearly from up here.”

Theodore was surprised when Adrienne asked Alastair if he wanted a clearer view of the panda. Theodore’s shoulder could only accommodate one child, but Adrienne was willing to give up her spot for Alastair. Theodore always thought children of Adrienne’s age were usually self-centered and it was rare for them to care about others.

Adrienne was usually quite playful and it was her brother who would always give in. Nonetheless, whenever she was enjoying something good, she would always think of sharing it with Alastair.

“No. I can see it from here.” Alastair shook his head.

Theodore looked down and saw Alastair standing silently between him and Everleigh. When the crowd was not moving, he could indeed watch the giant panda inside its cage. However, when the crowd moved and there was no consistent gap between them, his view was significantly blocked.

Everleigh had always treated her children equally, but there was nothing she could do under the current circumstance.

Theodore whispered something into Adrienne’s ear and the latter voluntarily hopped down from his shoulder.

“She’s heavy, isn’t she?” Everleigh asked Theodore apologetically. She helped Adrienne onto the ground and reminded her, “You saw the panda, right? Now be a good girl and stop fussing about it, Adrienne.”

Adrienne blinked at her, indicating for her to look.

Everleigh didn’t understand but then she heard Theodore’s voice. “Alastair, do you want to see the panda?”

When she looked up, she noticed Theodore bending down to face Alastair with his hand placed on the boy’s shoulder. Theodore’s large figure overshadowed Alastair’s tiny body. She was not sure if it was due to the lighting system of the Panda World, but Theodore’s black eyes looked inexplicably amiable.

Alastair was in deep thought; in fact, it was his signature move whenever he had to make a decision. He shook his head and answered, “No, it’s okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Besides, I don’t even like pandas.”

“No, he’s lying. He likes pandas the most!” Adrienne interrupted from beside Alastair, exclaiming, “Even his favorite plushie is a panda! He holds it whenever he sleeps!”

Adrienne’s revelation made Alastair’s cheeks blush, as if something he had been keeping private was revealed to the public. He frowned and knitted his lips together tightly.

Theodore actually smiled and lifted him up without a word. With a sudden cry, Alastair was now sitting on Theodore’s shoulders.

Everleigh was stunned and looked nervously at her son.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

As a mother, she had never known much about her son’s preferences. She had thought that the panda plushie at the top of Alastair’s bed was actually placed by Adrienne. She did not know that it belonged to Alastair since he had a dispensable attitude towards his belongings. It was hard for her to accurately tell what he liked or disliked as he had been the way he was ever since he was a toddler.

Theodore did not bother about Alastair’s feelings when he had carried the boy up and placed him on his shoulder. She was surprised by this and she was afraid that Alastair might lose his tamper. Things might get a little awkward if that really happened.

Everleigh carefully studied Alastair’s expression. The only time he showed any traces of unease was when he was being shoved up onto Theodore’s shoulders. His expression immediately changed the moment he laid his eyes on the panda. His grin was now so wide that his tiny teeth were visible.

Everleigh felt relieved. Even as a mother, she had never seen him this happy before.

She felt something was pulling the hem of her clothes, so she lowered her head and saw Adrienne waving her hand. She crouched down and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Adrienne tiptoed and wrapped her arms around Everleigh’s neck. She whispered, “Just now, Daddy asked me if Alastair really likes pandas. When I said yes, he asked me to let Alastair have a look at the panda.”

Adrienne’s remark left Everleigh dumbstruck. She observed the man next to her in astonishment. His figure definitely stood out among the crowd and the lighting inside the venue only further amplified this. His hands were now holding Alastair’s legs.

Suddenly, she became distressed.

How could she let someone like Theodore slip from her grasp seven years ago? He was a man who shined brightly among any other man she had ever met.

When we are young, we are prone to making hasty decisions. We insist even if the move will soon bring painful consequences. However, as we grow older, we tend to be more sentimental. It is hard for us to just let it go and move on.

Everleigh lamented the decision she had made seven years ago. If her 29-year-old self was given another chance, she would have done things differently.

When the Panda World stadium was fully occupied, a staff member spoke through a megaphone, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be having our lucky draw next! Let’s see who is the lucky winner who’ll be able to take photos with our panda, Poppy!”

…

“No. 29.”

When the number was announced by the staff, the Panda World became a noisy mess. There were visitors who shook their heads, regretful for not being selected. They were also children who began to throw their tantrums as soon as they knew they would not be taking photos with the panda.

Holding Everleigh’s hand, Adrienne began counting, “My number is 28. Alastair’s is 30. Mommy, what’s your number?”

“Mine is 31.” Everleigh was regretful.

“Is anyone holding a number 29 ticket? Please raise up your hand! We’re going to arrange a photo session for you and your family!” the staff announced through the megaphone again.

“Over here.” The voice came from beside Everleigh.

Everleigh turned and, to her surprise, saw Theodore slowly raising his right hand that was holding a ticket with the number 29 written on it.

Sometimes, destiny comes when you least expect it.

Everleigh remained in the state of disbelief even when she prepared herself by putting on the protective gear.

She was never a lucky woman, which was why she had never put much hope on something like a lucky draw. Why was Theodore this lucky then?

While she was still in a daze, a staff member brought over a baby panda. The young man asked, “It’s quite dangerous if the kids hold the panda. Will the father or the mother hold it?”

Everleigh hurriedly explained, “We are not…”

“I’ll do it.” Theodore’s voice fell, overlapping whatever Everleigh had meant to say.

Everleigh shot a glare at Theodore and for the moment; she just did not know what she should do.