"Oh, hi son! Good morning. How's your sleep? Your mom's in the bathroom." he bends and ruffled his hair.

"I woke up when I heard mom screamed. What happened? Is she okay?" the child was overly concerned with his mom.

"She's alright. We were just having fun and she got p.i.s.sed off." He chuckled again at the thought and he imagined Ingrid's face fuming with irritation.

"I want to drink milk, uncle Cliff."

"Oh, just wait, I'll get it for you." He stood up and went outside the room, smiling.

For the first time in his life, he never felt so willing to do some small things like this. Even if Clark will demand to get him something impossible he will most gladly do it.

When he reached the kitchen, he went to the fridge and looked for milk. But then later, he did not know what to do, so he asks some help from one of the servants and within minutes he was ready to go back to the room with a gla.s.s of hot milk on a tray.

"Look at your son, Clint. He is in love." Helen said giggling. The couple hid themselves somewhere so as not to bother their son's joy.

Cliff hurriedly opened the bedroom door and was stunned when he saw Ingrid in her robe.

"Are insane? Don't you know how to knock?" she glared at him and almost throws a pillow at him but stopped when she saw a tray in his hands.

"Oops I thought you're still in the bathroom. Here's your milk, Clark." Ingrid ignored him and went quickly to the walk-in closet.

Ingrid stayed longer than usual in the closet and made sure that Clifford and Clark left already. After checking her attire, she tidies the room first before she left to have some breakfast. She really needed a quick breakfast so that she could go home early and have a long chat with her best friend.

"Good morning." She greeted everyone.

"Good morning." They greeted back.

The atmosphere is still lively and Ingrid is noticeably silent, because her mind is elsewhere. She tried so hard not to look at Clifford's direction and tried to focus on recalling what she will do today.

"Ingrid, just tell me when you're ready to go, the bodyguards are just on standby."

"Yes, thanks, uncle Clint." She moves her gaze to her son. "...son, I will just go home for a while and be back later. Mommy needs to do something. Please behave okay?"

"Okay mommy. Take care!" her son kissed both her cheeks and she did the same. She then excused herself and went her way.

She was escorted with three bodyguards, one of whom served as her driver. She felt awkward at their presence, as they silently drives to her home.

She sent text to Liane informing her that she is on her way to the house.

Upon her arrival, the securities of the village are now tighter and she had to open the window of the car before they were allowed to enter. She spotted some vans parked some distance away from the village.

Ingrid was surprise to see another three body guards lurking outside her home. They wore black suits and dark sungla.s.ses. She shook her head of the exaggerated security she received from Clint Briggs.

Liane arrived later and they talked hours about everything, from their business trip up to the recent DNA tests.

"That weekend business trip started everything. Ugh! If I only knew this would happen."

"But how about Clifford, what's his opinion regarding the matter?"

"I think he seems okay, he has no protest, but I do." Her best friend giggled.

"But why? Clifford is more than a husband material, don't you see? And he seems to be smitten by you."

"Smitten? Are you kidding me? He loves to tease me again and again! Is that what you call smitten?" she grumbled.

"Oh dear, you really have no idea what kind of man Clifford is. Frank shared some handful of infos about Clifford and who he is as a friend. I think you are match, Ingrid." Liane said it genuinely. Ingrid did not respond but averted her eyes elsewhere.

"...geez, are you starting to get attracted to the man?" Liane's eyes widen and she is so sure of the fact.

"O-of course not! Are you nuts, he's not my cup of tea."