You're Out, Daddy novel (Natasha and Kenneth)

Kenneth pushed Natasha and walked away.

Anthony remained firmly planted on the ground while staring at them.

Upon taking a turn, Kenneth lowered his gaze to look at Natasha. "Don't you have something to say?"

"Like what?"

"Don't you find Anthony's reaction strange?" Kenneth asked.

Natasha looked straight ahead. Even though she had meticulously put on makeup, she still exuded a sense of fragility.

She smiled. "Is it strange?"

"He didn't ask anything even after seeing you like this!" Kenneth averted his gaze toward Anthony. "Do you think Anthony already knows something?"

The corners of Natasha's lips lifted slightly into a smile. After a moment, she nodded and said, "Mhm!"

Kenneth halted in his tracks and bent down next to Natasha. "Did you tell him?"

"Is there a need for me to do that? Given Anthony's intelligence, it would be strange if he can't figure it out himself!" claimed Natasha, her eyes filled with indescribable tenderness. "Besides, he's my son. Don't people always say there's a special bond between mothers and their children?"

Kenneth looked at her with his lips pursed. "Haven't you ever considered telling him directly?"

Natasha shook her head.

"Nat..."

"Regarding this, as long as I don't admit it, he'll still hold on to a glimpse of hope, and he can still be happy. But if I admit it, he won't be able to put on a pretense in front of me anymore. When that happens, we'll both be in pain and sadness. Is there a need for that?" Natasha asked.

Kenneth wanted to say something, but upon noticing the look in Natasha's eyes, he could not bring himself to say more.

He reached out and placed his hand in her palm. "Nat, please wait for me a little longer. I promise to find you the antidote!"

"I believe in you." Natasha flashed a smile at him.

Kenneth rose to his feet and continued pushing her forward.

"By the way, from the way I see, Benjamin and Denise didn't react like how Anthony did..." Kenneth remarked.

"Anthony probably didn't tell them anything, I guess!" Natasha said lightly.

"I thought they never keep secrets from each other?" asked Kenneth.

"Anthony is a person of great responsibility. He wouldn't tell them even if he knew about it. He would think that the fewer people who know about it, the less sadness there will be!" Natasha looked up at Kenneth with a proud expression that made it seem like she was flaunting.

"What do you mean?" Kenneth asked, his eyes fixed on her.

"I gave birth to him. I know him well!" stated Natasha.

Kenneth chuckled and reached out to gently pat her on the head.

Natasha, too, laughed. Looking ahead, she continued, "Kenneth, you should find more time to understand them in the future."

As soon as her words fell, Kenneth was frozen at his feet.

He gazed at her, the look in his eyes unfathomable.

Of course, Natasha knew what was going through the man's mind. With a smile, she said, "What I meant is that if you don't try to understand them more, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle them in the future!"

"All I need is you by my side. With you around, I doubt they'll dare cross the line!" responded Kenneth.

Natasha nodded in response. "That's true. But aren't you afraid that maybe one day I won't be able to control them anymore?"

"If there's such a day, I'm sure it won't be as simple as a matter of discipline anymore. If they don't even listen to you, how will they possibly listen to a father who missed out on six years of their lives?" Kenneth deflected her question with another.

Hearing that, Natasha replied, "You've got a point!"

Kenneth lowered his gaze to look at her. "But I think you're overthinking things. That will never happen to the three of them!"

"Are you that sure?" Natasha queried.

Kenneth nodded.

A smile crept up on Natasha's face. "Based on your confidence, I can see that you know the kids pretty well!"

"Of course! No one knows a child better than the father!"

"Shouldn't it be the mother?"

"That's kind of the same meaning!"

"Kenneth, you're getting more and more shameless..."

The two chatted as they walked. Even though grave matters were weighing on their hearts, they still tried to cheer each other up...

Meanwhile, Anthony was still at the entrance trying to compose himself after the couple had left.

As much as he constantly reminded himself to put on a more unconcerned facade, he still could not control his emotions every time he saw Natasha in the wheelchair.

His eyes were reddened, and it took him a great effort to hold back his urge to cry.

While he was adjusting his mental state, a loud smack echoed from inside the house.

Stumped, Anthony rushed inside.

Inside, Spencer was pinning onto Thalia.

When Anthony entered to see that scene, he was briefly taken aback and quickly turned around.

"..."

Anthony was about to explain himself when Spencer yelled, "Why did you turn around? Aren't you going to come and help?"

Huh?

Anthony was slightly stunned.

"Come over here!" Spencer shouted.

Only then did Anthony turn around to face them. Just as he was about to ask something, he saw Thalia abruptly send a kick toward Spencer. Fortunately, the latter managed to dodge her, all thanks to his quick reflexes.

At that moment, Thalia sat up straight and glared fiercely at Spencer. "As I said, don't blame me for not holding back if you offend me!"

As she leaped forward, intending to make a move, Anthony swiftly pulled her back. "What are you doing? Do you think you're filming some drama?"

Thalia was visibly startled and turned around to glance at him. "Who are you?"

Anthony was struck dumb.

With his mouth agape, he shifted his gaze toward Spencer.

Spencer sighed helplessly. "She had one glass too many!"

Anthony uttered, "Drunken antics?"

Spencer remained silent..

Displeasure surged within Thalia. With her eyes on Anthony, she ranted, "Dude, I did drink a little, but I'm not drunk. I'll let it slide on the account that you're still a kid. Now, off you go!"

"All right. Goodbye!" With that, Anthony turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Thalia cast a glance at him, then immediately followed him outside.

As Anthony was walking, he felt a presence beside him. He stopped and whipped his head around. "Why are you following me?"

"To look for someone!"

"Who are you looking for?" Anthony questioned.

Thalia said nothing.

"Sure. Go ahead then!" said Anthony.

And so, watching Thalia head outside, Spencer and Anthony quickly trailed behind.

"Does she always act like this after drinking?"

"It's only because she drank too much!"

"Has she always been like this?"

"Rarely!"

Anthony nodded, seemingly as if he understood something. He was about to say more when he lifted his gaze and saw Thalia heading toward his room. His brows snapped together. "Why is she going to my room?"

Immediately, he went after her.

Seeing that, Spencer resignedly followed behind.

As Anthony pushed open the room door, he spotted a gorgeous silhouette sitting cross-legged on his bed with a thin quilt draped over her body. Anthony's mysophobia acted up at once. "What are you doing, Thalia?"

Nonetheless, when Thalia looked up and saw him, her eyes instantly welled up with tears. With a teary voice, she said, "Anthony..."

Anthony stared at her in bafflement.