Day Twenty Three...
~~*****~~
Abigail and Ethan enjoyed the entire carousel ride. Nathan just stood there, watching them. He appreciated how Abigail was treating his son well. She was acting like a mother.
Nathan could see the joy on Ethan's face. He had been giggling and smiling for the entire ride... even after the carousel stopped. When they got off the carousel, Ethan ran in his father's direction and hugged his thigh.
Ethan gazed up and tugged the hem of his father's shirt. Nathan looked down, giving Ethan a questioning look.
"Dad! Thank you. I enjoyed the first ride. Let's buy cotton candy next!"
Nathan just smiled faintly, rubbing Ethan's head. "Alright."
"Miss Abi! Come, come!" Ethan waved at her excitedly. She just nodded her head and walked with large strides.
When Abigail reached their spot, Ethan grabbed her left hand while holding his father's right hand. He was now in the middle as he pulled the two towards the cotton candy stall.
Several bystanders couldn't help but admire the three beautiful people... a family of three. Some got envious of thema��� a handsome dad, a beautiful mom, and a charming son. They looked like a perfect family.
"Gosh, they are so sweet."
"The son is so charming... a good combination of the genes of his mother and father."
"Wow. I feel jealous!"
"Let's have a cute son like him."
Ethan could hear the murmuring of bystanders. They could tell that they were talking about his Dad, Miss Abi, and him.
He felt so proud and happy. For the first time, people thought he had a complete and happy family. He had a mother and a father!
In school, he was often bullied by his naughty classmates, telling him he had no mother. Because of those moments, Ethan urged his father to date someone.
Little Ethan played like a matchmaker for his father before but no one caught Nathan's attention. And no one dared to defy Nathan. The ladies got ignored and were treated harshly by him, sending them away.
Nathan had to ask Allen's help to stop the brave and desperate women from chasing after him. He also used Allen as a shield to prevent another set-up that Ethan arranged for him.
And now, Ethan changed his strategy and found a suitable candidate whom he thought could handle his father's temper and cold attitude. That person was none other than Abigail Scarlett. He truly liked her.
"Mister, how much is the cotton candy? I want to buy three cotton candies!" Ethan cheerfully said to the cotton candy vendor.
"Hello, charming boy! Just 5 dollars each. Oh, here... one for you, one for your Mom, and one for your Dad!" The guy handed over the three pieces of cotton candy to Abigail, Nathan, and Ethan.
Abigail was stunned for a moment when the man mistook her as Ethan's mother. Well, she couldn't blame him since they looked like a family of three.
Then she glanced at Nathan, waiting for him to contradict and correct the man's wrong assumption. But surprisingly, Nathan just remained silent as he accepted the cotton candy.
'Eh? Didn't he hear the man's words?' Abigail already expected Nathan to deny it. But for some unknown reason, he just sealed his mouth, not correcting the guy.
Then Ethan spoke up, asking the cotton candy vendor. "Mister, my Mom and Dad look like a perfect couple, right? By the way, keep the change." Ethan gave the cotton candy vendor one hundred dollars.
The middle-aged vendor chuckled and raised his two thumbs as he agreed to Ethan. "Yes! Definitely. They suit each other well. No wonder they have a handsome child like you!"
Abigail felt awkward when she heard that. Ethan was not her son and she was not his mother. Then she anxiously glanced at Nathan once again. She was expecting him to get offended and speak up but Nathan just pinched a portion of his cotton candy and put it in his mouth, tasting it.
Abigail's eyes widened in surprise and confusion. 'Why is he not saying a word?'
"Mister, I'm nota���" Abigail was about to correct the vendor's wrong assumption but Nathan suddenly fed her a cotton candy thus stopping her from talking further.
Abigail glared at Nathan as she didn't expect him to put cotton candy inside her mouth. Nathan just gave her a meaningful glance and shook his head as if telling her to just stay quiet.
Nathan was doing this because of Ethan. His son looked very happy and he didn't have any plan to ruin his mood. If he and Abigail had to pretend as husband and wife even just for today then he didn't mind it at all... as long as Ethan was happy!
Abigail and Nathan were still exchanging glances with one another when Ethan asked the cotton candy vendor. "Mister! Mister! What are the exciting things to do here in Amusement Park?"
The cotton candy vendor roamed his eyes around the area and rubbed his chin as he thought of a suggestion for this cute generous young boy.
"Hmm, one of the famous attractions here is the haunted house. But you should have a brave heart to try this out. But if you want exciting rides, you can try the Roller Coaster, Ferris wheel, Free Fall, and Bumper Cars."
Ethan'a eyes lit up when he heard those suggestions. He made sure to remember each one of them. He thanked the vendor and with a broad smile on his face, he turned to Abigail and Nathan. "Mom, Dad! Let's try them all!"
Abigail: "..."
Nathan: "..."
The two adults were reluctant to say yes. And it felt strange, hearing Ethan calling them both Mom and Dad at the same time. But the moment Ethan rubbed his two hands and put on a pleading look on his face, Nathan and Abigail could no longer refuse him.
"Sure. We have enough time to try everything here," Nathan softly mumbled, patting Ethan's shoulder.
"Yey! Thanks, Dad!"
"How about you, Honey? Are you fine with it?" Nathan simply asked Abigail, not looking into her eyes.
Abigail was stupefied for a moment. 'What the hell? Did he just call me HONEY?'
Ethan tried his best to hold his laughter. He didn't expect his Dad to play along with him.
"Y-Yes... I-I'm fine," Abigail replied, stuttering. She was still shocked by Nathan's endearment.
"Dad, let's go to Bump Cars! Then next will be the Roller Coaster. We can try the Haunted House, Ferris Wheel, and Free Fall after those two!" Ethan suggested as he pulled them once again.
Axel and the bodyguards could only follow them behind but maintaining enough distance from the three.
Axel stood outside the ticket booth of the bump cars when he received a message from Chantha.
[ Chantha: Where are you? What are Abigail and our Supreme Leader doing? ]
Chantha was done sending Ana and Santra back to their residence. She was curious about what their Supreme Leader and Abigail were doing so she decided to pester Axel.
Axel smiled as soon as he read Chantha's message. He could tell that this woman just wanted to hear some updates and to gossip about their Supreme Leader.
[ Axel: SECRET... ]
Axel chuckled after sending his message. He could already imagine Chantha's reaction once she read his message. He just wanted to tease her.
[ Chantha: You Old Man! I'm going to beat you! Just you wait. Tell me where you are!!!]
Thinking that it was so boring to follow Nathan, Ethan, and Abigail alone, Axel decided to tell Chantha to come.
[ Axel: Okay. Then come here and beat me. Towerville City Amusement Park. ]
*****
The three just finished their two ridesa��� Roller Coaster and Bump Cars when Chantha arrived at the Amusement Park. Axel was waiting for her at the entrance of the Haunted House. This was the next destination of Abigail, Ethan, and Nathan.
"Hey, where are they?" Chantha immediately punched Axel's shoulder upon reaching his spot. Axel was not able to dodge her punch.
"You truly intend to beat me."
Chantha just stuck her tongue out.
"They just entered the Haunted House. Here... I already bought us tickets. Let's follow them." Axel passed the ticket to her which Chantha accepted right away.
Chantha also pulled Axel's hand as they entered the Haunted House. From the entrance, they could hear the screaming.
"Eh? I wonder if our Supreme Leader will be afraid of the ghosts and props here. Hmm. Do you think Miss Abi will scream and cling to our Boss like a scaredy woman?" Chantha asked Axel expectantly. She was excited to see the reactions of those two people while traversing through this scary place.
Axel just shrugged his shoulders as a reply.
"Walk faster! I wanna see them!"
Not far from them, they heard another loud scream. They didn't know who owned the voice. Thinking that Abigail was the one screaming, Chantha dragged Axel faster until they found the three.
"Oh My Gosh!" Chantha gasped in surprise when they saw the current happenings in that area.
Axel: "..."
Nathan was carrying Little Ethan in his arms. The father and son duo stood there in silence as they watched Abigail twisting the hands and throwing the Bloody Corpses, White Ladies, and Skeletons on the floor.
They were the ones screaming and wincing in pain as if the grim reaper had arrived to fetch their souls. Abigail's body reflexively moved on their own accords.
"Gosh, what the hell is happening here?" Chantha blurted out in astonishment. Abigail was beating those hired ghosts and the haunted house staff.
Axel could only blink his eyes. He was too shocked to utter a word.
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