Chapter 107: Tender Taunts
Thea’s gaze softened as she nodded toward the sleeping child. "Who is she?" she asked John.
The little girl, who had been sleeping, stirred awake, her eyes locking onto Thea’s. "Hello, sister." she said in a sleepy voice.
Thea smiled warmly. "Hi."
The little girl’s gaze remained fixed on Thea.
"You are?"
"I’m Emerson." she replied, her voice still laced with sleep. "My father is Liam Flynn."
Thea’s expression froze, as if struck by thunder.
John’s gaze snapped wide, matching her shocked expression. "What does she mean?" he asked softly.
"Thea, she is," John said, his voice straightforward.
Emerson turned to John, her eyes flashing a silent warning. "Uncle John, where’s my father?"
"He’s gone to greet a colleague."
Thea gaze never left John’s face. "Is she... Liam’s daughter?" she asked, her voice trembling with unspoken implications.
Her mind raced. "Liam has a child this big... She must be around 4 or 5 years old."
Emerson’s voice broke the silence. "Sister, want to sit beside me?" She patted the seat.
She nodded, still distracted. "Yeah..." She sat down, her eyes drifting back to Emerson.
"Where’s Ryder?"
"He stepped out for a call." John replied.
John’s gaze lingered on her. "You look stunning, Thea. This outfit suits you."
Thea’s complexion turned rosy. "Thanks, I got some styling advice from a friend."
"Was it hard finding your way here?"
She shook her head. "No issue. I asked the waitress for help. You’re quite famous, Mr. John." She giggled.John smiled. "This restaurant belongs to our family."
"Seriously? I was unaware... If I’m ever struggling, don’t abandon me, Boss John."
John smiled warmly. "Ryder’s looking out for you. And if he’s not,Liam and I have got you covered."
"So, Emerson, tell me more about yourself. Oh, by the way, I’m Alethea Klein. I’ve known your father since I was a tween."
"I’ve heard your name mentioned by my br.. father." she replied.
Liam stepped into the room, followed immediately by Ryder.
They entered and saw Emerson sitting on Thea’s lap.
"Liam, your daughter is so cute," Thea said, looking up at Liam and smiling.
"My daughter?" Liam asked, making eye contact with Ryder, then John.
John, sensing Liam’s gaze, felt like a culprit.
"Who is my daughter?" Liam inquired.
"Emerson...Have you forgotten that you have a lovely daughter?"
"Thea, Emerson is not my daughter." Liam chuckled.
"Emerson, say sorry for your action." Ryder instructed.Emerson’s face fell, and tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. "Sorry, Sister Thea. I know I’m not Brother Liam’s daughter. I was just feeling bored and..."
Her voice trailed off as she anxiously sought Brother Ryder’s and Liam’s reactions, worried she’d upset them.
"Don’t cry." Thea whispered, enveloping Emerson in a gentle hug.As she held her close, she dabbed away Emerson’s tears with a tissue.
"Are you angry with me?" Emerson asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No.. Who could ever be angry with a precious little girl like you?"
Emerson’s eyes still held worry. "What about Brother Ryder and Brother Liam? Are they angry?"
Thea gaze flicked to the two friends before returning to Emerson’s upturned face. "No, they’re not angry."
"Thea, she’s Aunt Brenda’s daughter."
"You’ve grown up so much.Do you know that when you were just around 2 months old, I saw and held you for the first time? You were so tiny, I felt like taking you home with me."
Thea playfully pinched Emerson’s nose.
Emerson giggled, and Ryder’s expression softened further.
"Liam, I assumed you and Miss Rachel started a family."
John raised an eyebrow. "You’re familiar with Rachel?"
Thea nodded nonchalantly. "We crossed paths at the supermarket. Liam and Miss Rachel were shopping together."
"Can you believe he kept his engagement a secret from us?" John said, shaking his head. "I only found out a few days ago."
"Brother Liam, you’re engaged? You have a girlfriend?"
"Hmm... sort of."
John’s hands clapped together loudly, filling the room. "That settles it! Mr. Flynn will sponsor today’s event!" He exchanged a knowing glance with Ryder.
Liam objected, "John, that’s not fair."
John’s grin broadened. "Fair or not, you’re celebrating! We’re just finding out about this amazing news – it’s worth toasting!"
"Liam, what’s with the long face?" John asked, studying Liam’s gloomy expression. "Did you fight with your fiancée?"
Liam took a deep breath. "I have something to tell you all."
"Go on." John encouraged. "We’re all ears."
Liam began, "Listen, things aren’t like they seem... and please, don’t tell others about my engagement."
"Okay, I promise I won’t say anything to anyone, but I have a question – did you secretly get engaged to her?"
John couldn’t contain his amusement, breaking down into laughter. "Pfft..."
"John, Liam’s angry. Don’t push him further."
John’s gaze met her, and he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "In our group, we have two different species – only you and I are the same."
"Ryder, too?"
John whispered, "He hasn’t told me who his crush is yet."
Thea continued playing with Emerson’s hair while muttering, "That would be a secret... even if you knew, you wouldn’t want to tell others."
"What are you two talking about?"
John smiled mischievously and pulled Thea closer. "None of your business... that’s between me and her."
The dishes arrived, and John’s extravagant order became apparent. He stood up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Today, in honor of our dear friend Liam’s engagement news, he graciously agreed to treat us." John announced, his voice carrying across the room.
Thea and Emerson applauded enthusiastically.
"I never agree to foot the bill." Liam corrected, irritation etched on his face. "You coerced me into paying."
Emerson leaned in, whispering to her, "Sister, before coming here, I asked Brother Liam when he’d get married, and he said ’in the future.’ But now, I find out he has a girlfriend."
"Hmm, that’s adult business; we shouldn’t interfere."
Emerson’s voice remained hushed. "I promised my elder sisters I’d tell them about today’s event after getting home.I’ll share the news that Brother Liam is taken."
"Emerson, your brother Liam asked us to keep it secret. It’s our responsibility to respect his wishes."
Emerson nodded, her smile returning. "Yes, that’s true. Okay, I promise I won’t tell anyone he has a girlfriend."
John bent down, his lips inches from Thea’s ear, and whispered,"If I were her, I’d make sure everyone knew."
"Go and utter those words to him.." she said, tossing John a playful glance.
"If I take the bait, they’ll pounce... You’ll have to intervene."
"Thea, keep your distance from him." Ryder warned, his eyes fixed intently on John. "He’s not safe."
"What do you mean?"
But before Ryder could respond, John chimed in, a smirk spreading across his face. "Are you getting jealous, Ryder?"
"This has nothing to do with jealousy, John. It’s about protecting her."
"I need the bathroom." Emerson said.
Ryder moved to take her, but John teased, "Ryder, you’d cause a scene in the women’s restroom."
Ryder retorted, "Men’s room, obviously."
Thea intervened smoothly, "I’ll take her, Ryder. Easier that way."
She returned after taking Emerson to the washroom.As she walked back, Liam’s gaze fell upon her, and his eyes softened with admiration. Previously, she had been sitting, and he hadn’t gotten a good look at her, but now, standing before him, he was captivated.
Liam’s eyes lingered, taking in her presence, and he found himself unexpectedly drawn to her.
Ryder instructed, "Liam, go sit beside John."
Thea return with Emerson coincided with John’s sly suggestion, "Liam, trade seats with me. I’ll sit beside Ryder."
Liam’s response was swift and intimate. "No, I’d rather stay with you. We’re close."
John flashed Thea a playful smile and said,"Looks like they’re not letting me sit beside you."
"Ryder’s acting like he’s lost his childhood companion to his best friend ." John playfully ribbed.Liam and Thea shared a chuckle, meanwhile Ryder maintained a stoic silence.
Emerson sat between them, expertly feeding herself.
As Thea reached for her steak, Ryder swiftly took her plate and replaced it with his own, already cutting the meat into bite-sized pieces.
John quipped, "Ryder, we’ve been so close, but you’ve never cut my steak for me, not even once."Liam joined in, "Hmm, neither have you done it for me."John continued maintaining the lighthearted atmosphere.
Ryder’s expression remained stoic, focused on Thea as she began eating from the plate he had prepared.
Emerson turned to her and asked, "Sister Thea, can you help me cut my steak?"
John seized the opportunity to again tease Ryder, saying, "Ryder, see? Your little cousin’s ignoring you too."
"Emerson,I would cut it for you."
But Emerson declined Ryder’s offer to cut his steak, insisting, "No, Brother Ryder... I want Sister Thea to cut it for me."
