Falling For My Accidental CEO Husband
Chapter 197: A Little Fool

Chapter 197: A Little Fool

"Did she really believe my acting? I did good, didn’t I, brother? You believe me now, don’t you? I still have my acting chops intact!"

The older woman’s grin stretched wide as she clutched a little doll tightly to her chest, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of triumph and mischief. She glanced up at her younger brother, her expression expectant and brimming with childlike eagerness, as though his approval were the most important thing in the world.

He let out a soft chuckle, patting her gently on the head. "Yes, you’re still the best actor. You had me convinced too. If I wasn’t constantly worried about you getting hurt, I’d have written roles for you in movies myself. You’d have swept every award there is to win."

Her giggle was light and melodic, more fitting for a girl decades younger, as she spun the doll in her hands. She cast him a coquettish glance, her lips curling into a playful pout. "I don’t need awards, brother! I already have the best prize— you!

What could an award possibly mean to me when I have the best brother in the world?"

He shook his head at her theatrics. She tilted her head, her mood shifting ever so slightly as a pensive look crept into her eyes. "But, brother..." Her voice softened, and she glanced at him almost shyly. "That girl... The one you sent to judge my acting. She looked so much like my best friend from all those years ago. Like Edwina. It was startling. For a moment, I—I almost forgot to act. I could barely stay in character when I saw her face. It was like a ghost from the past had come alive."

Her brother’s gaze narrowed, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before he let out a measured sigh. Still, he reached out and gently patted her head comfortingly. "Then it’s good that you didn’t break your act. You did well, and you will be rewarded for this. Now, I want you to go back to your room and rest for a while. I have some things to discuss with Michael here."

The woman pouted, her lips forming a dramatic curve of discontent as she turned her attention to the man seated silently at the table. Her eyes narrowed at him with playful defiance, and she wrinkled her nose like a child who had been denied her favorite treat. "I don’t like him," she declared petulantly, her voice rising just enough to emphasize her displeasure. "He’s always taking up your time. You spend too much time with him, brother."

Her older brother’s jaw tightened at her words, and his sharp glare made her flinch slightly. "Nvidia," he said firmly, his voice low and steady, "don’t speak like that. Michael is important to you, isn’t he? Don’t you remember how he used to play with you when we were younger? He’s been there for you, always."

Nvidia crossed her arms and shifted on her feet, her pout deepening into a sulk. "Well, he doesn’t play with me anymore," she muttered under her breath, her tone sulky but tinged with genuine hurt. She glanced sideways at Michael and stuck out her tongue childishly. "So I don’t like him anymore. Go away, Michael."

Instead of taking offence, the man smiled and shook his head,"Okay okay. I know you are angry with me. I’ll definitely come play with you next time, hmm? We can play hide and seek. No, go and rest mother."

The old woman wrinkled her nose at him and shuffled back towards her room. She was tired. Her body was too weak.

Michael watched his mother go and felt the familiar ache in his heart. This child-like woman was his mother. But she had no knowledge of it. As a child, he used to think that she was some ecccentric aunt of his, so it had taken a lot of time for him to come to terms with the fact that this was his mother. Nvidia Dawn was the woman who had given birth to him. The woman who had always been like a child. And everytime he looked at her, it galled him to accept this state of his mother. It was why he usually avoided coming to see his uncle. But today, there was need. He didn’t understand why he was doing this.

He was brought out from his distraction by his uncle’s voice who scolding Nvidia because she was still not leaving. "Don’t do that, Nvidia. Behave yourself."

Nvidia’s lips pressed together tightly, and she dropped her gaze, shuffling her feet in a mixture of defiance and submission. She gave one last, exaggerated huff before clutching her doll tightly to her chest as she stood at the door. But just as she was about to leave, she cast one more glance over her shoulder at Matthew. "You’ll come play with me later, won’t you? You promised."

"Of course. Now go rest. I’ll come by soon."

Once Nvidia Dawn had left the room, Matthew turned to his uncle," Now tell me. Why did Serena act like that? She took an about turn and offered Ava a way out instead of trying to continue froward. And why is she suspecting my mother of all people?"

Corrick’s lips curved into a sly smile, his eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of someone holding all the cards. He leaned back in his chair with deliberate ease, tapping his fingers against the armrest. "Your mother is my hidden card, Matthew," he said smoothly. "Quite a remarkable actress, wouldn’t you agree, despite her sickness, isn’t she?"

Matthew’s brow furrowed, "Yes, I’ll admit she can act well enough for short-term situations. But only because of those damn drugs you keep feeding her. That doesn’t explain what’s really going on here."

"Patience, my boy. Fine, let me break it down for you. Do you remember how I drove Edward and his dear mother apart? The misunderstandings, the carefully placed doubts, and everything else that followed? It is time to use the same thing with Serena"