Chapter 42 Dinner Together Finished " I thought I was pinching myself - no wonder it didn't hurt . Turns out I was pinching you ! " Rosalie finally realized what she'd done . Fighting laughter , she added , " Sorry , I forgot I had a handful of your skin ! " All Christopher's fault - he'd startled her senseless . " So you meant to pinch me ? " Rosalie slapped a hand over her mouth , eyes dancing . " Oops , guess I let that slip ." " You - you- ! " Morris was so mad he stammered . Rosalie tried to soothe him , still grinning . " Sorry , sorry ! I admit I did it on purpose , but you kind of deserved it . Who told you to laugh at me earlier ? And besides , it was for your own good . " " For my good ? " Morris's eyes bulged . " So I should thank you ? " he said , dripping sarcasm . Rosalie managed a straight face . " Of course . Without me ' bullying ' you , how else could you so easily get away with skipping school ? " Christopher : " " What a neat little trick . She'd scolded him , distracted him , and brushed the whole skipping - class issue aside all in one stroke . Morris , still fuming , hadn't even put the pieces together . " So pinching me was justified ? " he demanded . " Naturally ! " Rosalie said shamelessly . His face flushed red . Rosalie quickly pulled him closer , her tone softening . " I was wrong , don't be angry . Getting mad isn't worth hurting your health . " " Hmph ! " Morris tried to wrench his arm free . But Rosalie held fast . He glared daggers at her . She only beamed back , eyes sparkling . Something twinged in his chest . Unable to take it , he turned to the three spectators . " Dad , are you just going to let this happen ? What kind of stepmother clings to her stepson like this in public ? Is this appropriate ? " Christopher gave him a glance . He saw the boy's stiff protests , but also the smile flickering in his eyes . It wasn't true rejection - just a 1/3 12:14 Thu , Sep 18 GO Chapter 42 Dinner Together 美食 47 % Finished teenager's pride and embarrassment making him squirm . Inside , he wanted that closeness . So Christopher said nothing . Holden stepped in smoothly . " Why not appropriate ? A stepson is still a son . What are you fussing about ? " Alex chimed in , " Don't be ungrateful . If Holden and I were taller , Mom wouldn't even give you the chance to stand beside her ! " Morris : " ... " Apparently , every man here had turned traitor but him . Rosalie , triumphant , smirked . " Face it , today no one's going to save you . Stop struggling and just listen to me . " " Mom , that line sounded a little ... wrong , " Alex said , frowning . " What's wrong with it ? " Rosalie asked . Alex couldn't explain and looked to Holden . Holden only shrugged , so Alex turned to Christopher . Christopher's eyes met Rosalie's . He noticed the flicker of panic in hers before he asked , " You seem awfully afraid of me ." " Huh ? " Rosalie stiffened . " N - no , " she said , brushing her hair back , eyes darting . " Is that so ? " Christopher's voice was calm as ever , unreadable . Rosalie couldn't tell what he was thinking , and with the kids watching , she wasn't about to dive deeper . She nodded briskly and changed the subject . " We were just about to eat . Do you want to join us ? " " Would you mind ? " Christopher countered . " Mom , let Dad stay , " Alex pleaded , arms wrapped tight around Christopher's neck . " We haven't seen him in so long . " " I've never once had dinner with you and Dad together , " Holden added . Morris muttered , " You spent so much of his money today . The least you can do is feed him before he goes back to work . " With all three children siding with Christopher , Rosalie couldn't refuse - not that she'd planned to . After all , they were still married . She no longer wanted a divorce , and if they were going to stay together , they had to try . And a man like Christopher was temptation itself . With her agreement , Christopher led them straight into the VIP passage . When the elevator opened , the Xavian bodyguards were already waiting by the cars . They stepped forward , holding the doors open . 2/3 12 . Sep 18 Chapter 42 Dinner Together Rosalie slipped into the nearest car without thinking . The three boys , however , all defected to the one behind . Rosalie : " ... " 48 ( 1 ) 47 % Finished Title: A Boyfriend on Loan, A Real Love on Way Author: CrushReels Genre: Romance, Modern Status: ongoing In "A Boyfriend on Loan, A Real Love on Way" by CrushReels, Felix Lloyd finds himself in a predicament as he seeks to pacify his family's marriage expectations by renting a girlfriend for the holiday season. However, a serendipitous airport mishap leads Kendal Scott, the wrong woman, into his life. 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