The CEO's Mischievous Little Bride
Chapter 532 Pitiful Teddy

Shawn leaned back and said, "Molly, you gotta learn how to blow some cash. Patrick's busting his butt to make that dough so we can spend it. If you don't, he's got no reason to hustle. And Vera, you gotta get the hang of online shopping too. Those apps are a lifesaver. Why drag yourself to the store when you can just tap a few buttons?" Vera, chilling next to Patrick, pointed at Theodore in his arms, "I gotta be thrifty. You think raising a kid is cheap? He's already burned through a ton of diapers, and those things ain't cheap."

Teddy, catching some flak for his diaper usage, let out a few cries.

Patrick looked down at Theodore with a soft smile, "You know Mommy's talking about you, huh?"

Ever since Patrick became a dad, everyone could see he had turned into a big ol' softie!

Around eight in the evening, Sebastian rolled back to the hotel and opened the door, but Molly was MIA.

The water bottle on the table was bone dry. He chuckled a bit and headed to the bathroom, spotting her used toothbrush just lying there.

Sebastian picked up the toothbrush and smirked coldly, "So disgusted with me, huh?"

Molly got a call from Sebastian while the Olteran family was in the living room, watching TV, gaming, and chatting.

The vibe in the Olteran house was chill. Vera and Cindy were swapping parenting tips, Shawn and Molly were teaming up in a game. Susan was on the floor, turning an apple into a masterpiece with a knife, even though it was just for eating. Randall would glance at her now and then but didn't mess with her flow. He was deep in convo with Vincent and Patrick. Teddy, lying in the middle of the room, woke up and whimpered, so Vera scooped him up.

Everyone was doing their thing, and Sebastian's call made Molly's heart skip a beat.

"Hang up, Molly, we're about to win," Shawn urged.

Molly did just that and kept playing the game with Shawn.

The TV was on, and the family would glance at it now and then before going back to their activities.

Vera needed a bathroom break, so she handed Theodore to Patrick. Theodore nestled into Patrick's chest, soothed by his voice, stopped crying and closed his eyes comfortably.

If the noise around him got too much, he'd start wailing. But once the room quieted down, leaving only his cries, he'd stop.

Sebastian tried calling again, but Molly didn't pick up, so he gave up.

It was getting late, but no one seemed ready to hit the sack. Susan, who had been playing with the apple, headed to the kitchen to whip up a late-night snack.

At nine, Sebastian lay on the bed Molly had slept in the night before. The room was dim and quiet. He raised his arm slightly, resting his head on it, staring at the ceiling, replaying Molly's words in his head. A smile crept onto his lips. Back at the Olteran Mansion, even the usually disciplined Patrick couldn't resist Susan's cooking.

As everyone was munching away, Theodore woke up and started crying 'cause he was hungry.

When Vera went to grab him, Patrick had already scooped him up with one hand.

Watching Theodore cry, Patrick got up and started pacing with him. The servants didn't even get a chance to take Theodore from him.

When Vera tried to take him, Patrick just said, "Babe, you eat. I got this."

Vincent's phone started playing lullabies. He opened an app and let those soothing tunes work their magic on Theodore.

Susan, always quick on her feet, scarfed down her snack, wiped her mouth, and went over to Patrick. "Patrick, I'm done. Let me hold Theodore so you can eat."

Randall chimed in, "Patrick, Susan's been hitting the books hard and hasn't had a chance to hold Teddy. Give her a turn."

Patrick handed Theodore over to Susan. Theodore took one look at her and started wailing again.

Susan, a bit flustered, patted Theodore's leg and gently rocked him as she walked around.

Eventually, Teddy's cries softened, and he started to drift off.

Feeling like a champ, Susan sat next to Randall and whispered, "Randall, I got him to sleep. Check it out."

Vera smiled at Susan but then noticed Molly looking spaced out. Usually, when she got home, it was a struggle to get Theodore out of her arms. But today, since Molly came back, she had been unusually quiet and didn't even try to hold Theodore.

Vera's eyes drifted over Molly's high-neck sweater and saw her biting her fork, not saying a word.

Around eleven, the family finally called it a night. Theodore was back in Vera and Patrick's arms, snoozing away.

Molly went back to her room and stared at Sebastian's number on her phone. She hesitated, wanting to call back but then pulled her hand away. "If he's calling me, it can't be anything good. If it were important, he wouldn't call me," Molly muttered to herself.

Back in the bedroom, Patrick went to take a shower while Vera was undressing the sleeping Theodore. As she undressed him, Theodore's eyes popped open.

Vera and Patrick exchanged a look.

"Theodore, close your eyes and go to sleep," Patrick said.

Theodore kicked his little legs in Vera's arms, full of energy. Since he was awake, Vera kept undressing him, pulling off his pants.

Vera placed Theodore on a mat, "Since you're up, let's keep practicing lifting your head."

A bit later, Patrick came out of the shower and saw Theodore awake, lying on the bed with his head down.

"Honey, can you help him practice lifting his head? I've been trying for a week, but he's too lazy to do it." Vera lightly patted Theodore's butt, "Let Daddy teach you. Mommy's gonna take a shower." Patrick changed into his pajamas and sat by the bed, looking at Theodore, who was lying face down. Patrick got hands-on with Theodore.

He lifted Theodore's little face, pulling him up.

Patrick's hands were big and rough, not as soft and comfy as Vera's. Teddy, held by his hands, soon started crying in discomfort.

Lying on the bed, his hands clenched into fists at his chest, his head forced up, he was super uncomfortable, crying louder and louder. Hearing the cries, Vera quickly finished her shower, wrapped in a towel, and ran out, "What's wrong?"

Theodore was already in Patrick's arms, his eyes filled with tears, looking all pitiful.

Patrick told Vera, "He can lift his head now."

Vera was shocked and didn't believe it.

Patrick crossed Theodore's hands over his chest and placed him on the bed. Theodore cried, and when Vera tried to pick him up, Patrick stopped her.