Chapter 484: Surely You Will Not Reject Such A Simple Request
Todd was already there when Wendy and the rest arrived at the restaurant.
A waiter approached them and asked, "Hi, are you Ms. Swift?"
Wendy nodded.
"This way please." The waiter signaled for them to follow him.
Todd had booked a private room.
"Uncle Todd..." Leah called out to him sweetly the moment she saw him.
Jake also greeted him happily.
Todd was no stranger to them. Uncle Todd had always been kind to them in Rheinsville City.
Children were simple, they remembered those who were nice to them.
Todd warmed up when he saw the two children.
He walked up and carried Leah in his arms. He placed her on the seat next to him and asked, "Leah and Jake, did you miss me?"
Both Leah and Jake nodded and said in unison, "Yes!"
"Uncle Todd also missed the both of you," Todd responded.
The waiter came in with a tablet in hand to take their order.
Todd took the tablet and gave it to Leah. "Leah and Jake, what would you like to eat?"
Leah was not shy at all. She ordered the dishes that she liked.
Todd passed the tablet to Wendy when the children were done.
The waiter left the room after taking their order. Todd stole a glance at Wendy, not sure what to say.
Thank God for the two children. Their presence made it less awkward.
The food was served shortly.
"Thank you for your treat tonight..." Wendy picked up the glass of juice and got up. "I shall not take alcohol. So let me make a toast to you with this glass of juice instead.
Thank you for your help all these years. Drink up."
Michael didn’t stop Wendy.
No matter what feelings Todd had for Wendy, it was a known fact that he had helped her quite a bit.
It was only right for her to propose a toast to him.
Todd was a smart man. He knew that with this toast, Wendy was trying to end their relationship.
So he took a while to pick up his glass. He didn’t want to accept the toast at all.
He didn’t want them to become strangers.
He knew Wendy was wary of him because she knew about his feelings for her. That was why she had kept her distance.
Now that she had settled everything in Rheinsville City, there was no need for her to keep in touch with the friends here.
But this was not the ending that Todd wanted.
"Uncle Todd, Mummy was making a toasting you..." Leah looked puzzled. She thought he didn’t hear Wendy so decided to remind him.
Todd couldn’t feign ignorance anymore now that Leah stated the obvious.
With a grave look, he could only pick up his wine glass and stood up. He clinked his glass to hers and said, "You are being too formal to use the word "thank". We are friends after all. Do you mean to say that after you leave Rheinsville City, we’ll no longer be friends?"
Wendy placed the empty cup on the table. She smiled, "Of course we’ll still be friends. But saying ’thank you’ is still necessary even between friends."
Wendy had always drawn the line between Todd and her but tonight, this line seemed more obvious.
They were drifting even further apart.
Michael was the only reason.
He had done many things for her. He even accepted what had happened between Clement and her. And he had stayed by her side these past few days.
In the past, she didn’t think much about having Todd as a friend. There was nothing in her making friends.
But now, Wendy thought, it was better to keep her distance from Todd for Michael’s sake.
...
This was the least that Wendy could do for Michael. Besides, this was also good for Todd.
He could only move on with his life after Wendy completely dashed his hopes.
Todd stared at the empty cup that Wendy put on the table. He smiled helplessly, it felt so unfair.
He tilted his head and finished up the drink.
He then put his glass down forcefully.
"What time are you leaving tomorrow?" Todd looked down, unable to look Wendy in the eyes. "Let me send you off."
"Tomorrow morning," Wendy replied. "There is no need to send us off. Let’s consider tonight as our farewell."
It would just add on to his sorrow if he had to send them off. There was no need for that.
Todd poured another glass of wine and finished it with one gulp after hearing that.
Wendy frowned at the rate Todd was drinking.
"Corrine, are you drawing lines between us, do never want to see me again?" Todd looked up. His eyes were bloodshot and his tone harsh. "I can’t even send you off now?"
"We are taking the helicopter back. So don’t trouble yourself." Michael interrupted.
Todd’s hands didn’t stop. He continued to pour himself a drink and finished it in one shot.
Leah grew concerned after seeing Todd drink so many glasses of wine at once.
She stretched out to stop Todd and warned, "Drink slower, Uncle Todd. You will hurt your body if you drink too fast."
Todd shook off her hand without thinking. Since she was small, she almost fell off the chair when he did that.
Although she didn’t fall, Leah still screamed out of fear.
Wendy, Michael and Jake stood up immediately and rushed to her side.
Michael was the first to react. He carried Leah into his arms.
Wendy’s pounding heart only went back to normal when she was assured that Leah was not hurt.
Todd suddenly realised what he had done. He quickly apologized, "I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose."
Leah was still in shock. She held on to Michael tightly and didn’t say a thing.
Todd moved forward wanting to apologize to Leah personally. But Wendy blocked him just as he took the first step. With a grave and wary look, she said, "I know you didn’t do it on purpose. And Leah is fine."
She knew he didn’t do it purpose yet she blocked him?
Todd was hurt by her response.
It could have been her reaction or maybe just the alcohol that had gotten to his head. Todd lost control of his emotions.
He grabbed Wendy by the shoulders and with a fierce look, he questioned, "Corrine, have you thought about it carefully? Are you sure you want to go to Lake City with Michael Lucas? What man can overlook the fact that his own wife slept with another man? Don’t be fooled by his sweet nothings! You..."
"Todd!" Michael heard what he had said and shouted abruptly, "Watch what you say!"
Both Leah and Jake were present. Had he not realized what he was saying?
Michael turned to Wendy and saw that the color had left her face.
What happened had been a traumatic experience for Wendy. Now that Todd mentioned it in front of her children, she was devastated.
Leah had barely recovered from the previous shock. When she heard Michael shout, and became frightened again.
Michael could feel her little body tremble in his arms.
He took a deep breath and held her closer. He gently rocked her to calm her down.
...
Michael wasn’t sure what would happen next. And he didn’t know what else Todd would say.
Having Leah and Jake here might not be a good idea.
Michael passed Leah to Zess. With a serious tone, he instructed, "Zess, please take the two children out for a while."
Zess immediately agreed and took Leah over.
Jake’s gaze darted between Wendy, Michael, and Todd.
Based on what was said earlier, he knew something serious must have happened in Rheinsville City.
He wanted to stay behind to help his mother. But he knew that he was too young.
There were some things that he, as a child, could not interfere with.
Jake thought to himself, surely his father would take good care of his mother. With that in mind, he left the room with Zess.
After they left, only three people were left in the room.
Silence filled the atmosphere.
Todd felt a little warm after drinking. He loosened his tie and took a deep breath.
"Todd, I know that you love Wendy but I love her too. I hope we can be clear about this. My love for Wendy is no lesser than yours. I will not let her be humiliated."
Michael wanted very much to fight Todd or even argue with him. But Wendy was still present and Todd was an important friend to Wendy.
She certainly wouldn’t want to see them getting into a fight. So he kept his temper in control and said to Todd, "I can swear to you now. I, Michael Lucas, will never use what happened with Clement as a tool to attack Wendy. And not just that, my love for her will not diminish."
"You can swear?" Todd laughed at the comment and mocked, "Michael, do you remember when we were at Corrine’s house, we had a conversation at the balcony?"
Michael certainly could remember.
"I told you then that if you ever treat Corrine badly or let her down again, I will surely not let you off," Todd recalled. "I thought you were in love with her then and was willing to bless the two of you. But ask yourself this, have I ever done anything to break you up? It was you who failed to do what you said. You are the one who said you loved her but you were also the one who hurt her the most! How do you expect me to trust you again now?"
Michael lowered his eyes, "I admit, I had indeed done many things that hurt Wendy.
But from now on, I will never do it again."
"Yeah, right." The alcohol had made Todd’s face turn red. He held on to the table to balance himself, his eyes now teary.
Todd lifted his head and looked at Wendy.
They both looked so good together under these lights.
But, if it was him standing next to Wendy, they would still have looked equally as good.
Why wasn’t Todd the one standing next to her now?
"Corrine..." Todd’s eyes were filled with pain and sorrow. "You really want to leave Rheinsville City? Is it too much to want to see you again?"
"Todd, stop behaving this way." Wendy knew it didn’t feel right to see him this way.
After all, he had been a good friend.
Todd took a deep breath and put a smile on his face.
He glanced at Michael and said to Wendy, "Since you want to go, I shall not keep you. But can I talk to you privately for a while?"
Wendy and Michael exchanged looks.
Michael shook his head.
"Surely you will not reject such a simple request?" Todd’s eyes seemed to be filled with tears.
