13 If your Husband Returns in the Future

"Uncle, what's inside that bag?" Shy Shy spoke up.

She finally noticed that Henry had carried with him two eco-bags.

Christine also noticed the eco-bag. Her nose quivered as she sniffed.

"Something delicious is in the bag, Uncle!" Shy Shy exclaimed.

Henry broke out into a smile. "Yes, I have with me some Sweet Braised Pork. It's not much, but I hope you'd like it." He took out the Tupperwares from the bag and placed them onto the table.

"Ah!"

Christine was charmed by Henry's smile.

It took her a moment to return to earth and when she did, she exclaimed out of embarrassment before dashing over to the kitchen.

Upon her return, she was carrying with her a few ceramic bowls.

"Do you happen to have some rice? This Sweet Braised Pork is even more delicious if we place it on top of rice!" Henry advised.

"Yes, yes... There is rice. Let me get it for us." Christine stood up in a panic.

"What's with Mommy?" Shy Shy was baffled by her mother's panicked actions.

Henry waved his hand in dismissal. "She's just hungry, Shy Shy."

"Mommy is hungry..." Shy Shy eyed the box of sweets.

Only three pieces of pastries remained. To be frank, Shy Shy had the capability to finish these pastries by herself. But she planned on saving them for later in the night, so she decided to not eat them anymore.

However, when she heard from Henry that her Mommy was hungry...

Shy Shy's eyes shone in a determined light.

When Christine returned with the rice cooker, Shy Shy took a pastry out of the box and dangled it over in front of Christine's mouth.

"Mommy, ahhh..." The young lass gestured.

"What's with this all of a sudden?" Christine stared at her daughter in confusion.

She was amused that her daughter was trying to feed her like this since it was usually the other way around.

"Shy Shy found out that you're hungry." Henry calmly stated.

His eyes shone in fondness as he stared at his thoughtful daughter.

The smirk on his face hadn't disappeared even once.

"Nom..." Christine suddenly lunged over and bit the pastries off Shy Shy's hand.

"Mommy, why did you do that?"

Shy Shy exclaimed in shock before she erupted in laughter. "You ate it like you're a shark!"

"Did I?"

"Yeah, you chomped it. You chomped!"

Shy Shy pointed at Christine's mouth. "You chomped it like a shark! Hahaha..."

With the young lass's laughter, the atmosphere turned fluffy and light.

Henry felt as if his heart was about to be melted in such an atmosphere.

Fortunately, Christine broke the status quo when she realized that Henry was here.

"Ah!"

"S-S-Sir Henry... I'm sorry about that, uh... It's just that... my daughter is..."

"Mommy, why are you apologizing to Uncle?" Shy Shy was confused.

She couldn't understand the matters of adults, and she still didn't have any idea about the culture of Dalaget in propriety and etiquette.

Especially between men and women.

The women of Dalaget were always expected to act dignified in front of the members of the opposite sex.

To think that she had forgotten such a crucial part of their culture!

But Christine wasn't really to be blamed for this blunder.

Even Henry wasn't so sure if he would be able to retain his sanity facing such an adorable little munchkin like Shy Shy.

"Shhh! Shy Shy, keep quiet!" Christine softly scolded.

Henry was an esteemed customer.

With his spending in their company, one could consider that Henry was VIP Client that she couldn't possibly afford to offend.

Her previous actions in their previous meetings might've already offended Henry.

Fortunately, the latter was open-minded and didn't criticize her openly.

But what if he went for her supervisor and complained there?

Wouldn't that be the end of her?

"What are you apologizing for, Miss Ayala?" Henry asked with furrowed eyebrows.

He couldn't understand what was going through Christine's mind at this moment.

"I-It's because, ah..."

"All right, stop." Henry interrupted. "No matter what you did, I forgive you, okay? If you think that you did something bad, then I will forgive you. You are worthy of forgiveness no matter what..."

"Don't beat yourself up anymore, okay?"

"Just eat."

"Try the Sweet Braised Pork that I personally made. Tell me how it tastes."

Henry waved his hands in dismissal.

Christine's cheeks turned crimson.

She didn't expect that Henry would easily read her mind just like that.

Yes, what she wanted was forgiveness.

Even though she didn't actually believe that she did anything wrong...

Rich people were often eccentric.

What if she unknowingly did something that offended him?

It was better to be safe than sorry.

"I'm not as eccentric as you think. I'm just an ordinary person that appreciates what you appreciate and hates what you hate."

Henry spoke up.

He once again saw through Christine's thoughts.

"O-Okay..." Christine was at a loss for words. She didn't know what to say. But since Henry had already said that she should eat, then she was not in a position to question Henry's words. She took a bowl of her own, scooped some rice, and then started eating with gusto.

But she suddenly stopped what she was doing when she realized that she had selfishly scooped rice for her own, but she actually forgot to give Shy Shy and Henry their own bowl of rice.

"Mommy! Why are you eating already? Where is Shy Shy and Uncle's share?"

Shy Shy puffed her cheeks and complained.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I forgot. Don't kick up a fuss, okay? I'll get it now."

Christine was quick to rectify her mistakes.

Henry couldn't help but chuckle. "It seems that your Mommy is really hungry, Shy Shy. To think that she would try to keep the entire rice cooker for herself!"

Christine immediately blushed in embarrassment hearing Henry's words.

She wanted to retort, but she remembered that Henry was an esteemed VIP Customer.

In the end, she decided to bury her frustration.

Unfortunately for her, it seemed that she had forgotten Shy Shy's playful nature.

Hearing Henry's words, the young lass took advantage of it and said, "I really don't understand why Mommy wants to eat a lot, but he doesn't want to get fat..."

"You know what, Uncle?"

"Yesterday, I saw Mommy on the weighing scale. She was complaining that she had gotten fat, but she doesn't want to start a diet!"

"Oh..." Henry looked at Christine in amusement.

"Hey, Shy Shy! Continue telling lies, and I will deduct your school allowance tomorrow!"

Christine glared.

"Lying? I'm not lying... Children do not tell lies..."

Shy Shy casually munched on a piece of meat as she looked away from Christine.

The fuming Christine proceeded to ignore Shy Shy as she took several deep breaths to calm herself down.

Afterwards, she continued to eat and the meal concluded harmoniously.

However, the end of the meal was the start of a nightmare for Christine.

It was because as expected, Henry did came here to ask for an update regarding the land acquisition.

"I see. The problem lies in the Land Regulatory Authority?" Henry casually said.

"Yes, I've already submitted an appeal. But I'm afraid that it might take a few days to six months before we can receive a reply..."

Christine looked nervous.

"Six months."

Henry went silent for a moment before he continued. "I cannot wait that long. Everything has to be done by next week at the latest."

Christine's countenance changed.

It was impossible for this task to be completed by next week, unless...

Unless there was a change of agent.

But Christine couldn't allow that to happen.

Her position in the company was already somewhat unclear due to that vixen Rose, but if she failed to seal this transaction...

If she failed to meet Henry's requirement, then she would definitely be fired from her job.

If that happened, then everything would snowball to ruins.

Christine's figure trembled.

She bit her lips and looked at Henry with a pleading look on her face.

She was hoping that Henry might keep her as the agent for this transaction.

But...

"No..."

"I have to get that property by next week."

... it seemed that her hope was futile.

"I see..." Christine was instantly crestfallen. "I am too powerless to do anything about the Land Regulatory Authority. Please forgive me, sir Henry. If you want to have the property by next week, then I have no other choice but to recommend another agent."

Henry was taken aback by Christine's words.

Then, his eyebrows knitted tightly. "What's wrong?"

Christine quivered. But she didn't say anything.

To be frank, she wanted to tell Henry about her suspicions but Henry was their customer after all.

If she randomly opened her mouth without any solid evidence, then she might harm the image of the company.

"Is someone deliberately targeting you in the company? Someone that has connections to the Land Regulatory Authority?"

But Henry had instantly seen through what she was thinking.

Christine's figure trembled once more.

This was enough confirmation for Henry.

"I see..."

"Give me the appeal number and let me handle the Land Regulatory Authority. I shall lodge a complaint. How dare people use the authority vested to them by the people for their own benefits? That cannot be allowed under any circumstances." Henry coldly said.

Christine was taken aback by the look of indifference on Henry's face, but she still obediently handed over the appeal number to Henry.

Henry took his phone out and sent a picture of the appeal number to Patrick.

Aside from the picture, he only sent a single sentence to Patrick.

"Do what you must."

Turning to look at Christine, Henry saw that the former was still worried.

"Don't worry, miss Ayala. You will always be my agent, forever." Henry said with a smile.

"O-Okay... Thank you, sir Henry..." Christine softly nodded her head.

She looked like an obedient child at this moment.

A blush spread on her cheeks. Henry's words sounded wholesome, yet full of ulterior motives at the same time.

"Mommy, I'm sleepy!" Shy Shy spoke.

Christine glanced at the time and noticed that it was about time for Shy Shy's nap.

Usually, she would make Shy Shy sleep in the bedroom but since she couldn't possibly leave Henry alone in the living room...

She handed over the keys to the bedroom to Shy Shy and said, "Okay, go sleep now. What do you want to eat for dinner?"

"I want anything that Mommy wants!" Shy Shy replied.

Stretching her tired body, she took the keys from Christine's hand and walked into the bedroom for her nap.

With Shy Shy's disappearance, Henry could finally ask.

"Miss Ayala, you told your daughter that your husband is on a mission for the country?"

"Do you have an idea where he is?"

Christine's expression turned unpleasant.

Henry was quick to explain. "I apologize if I am overstepping my boundaries, but your daughter showed me that drawing, and I can feel that she really longs for her father. This is why I am curious. Forget my question if it makes you uncomfortable."

Christine revealed a smile. "It's okay. It's not really a secret. You can look up my name and you'll find out everything about me..."

"To be honest, I don't know."

"I have no idea where that man is..."

"I only told Shy Shy that he's on a mission for the country because I can't possibly tell her that I don't know where her father is..."

A bitter look appeared on Christine's face.

"It's been five years. It's been five years, yet he still hasn't shown up even once..."

"I guess it's safe to say that he will always be out of our lives forever."

Henry's heart trembled.

'I'm here...'

'It's me...'

'I'm Shy Shy's father...'

'I'm your husband!'

Henry wanted to say these words out loud so badly, but he knew that this wasn't the right time.

"Miss Ayala..."

"If your husband returns sometime in the future, will you be willing to let him be Shy Shy's father?"

Henry stared right at Christine.

He had never felt so nervous before in his entire life.