The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 126: Chapter 126
You are reading The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep, Chapter 126: Chapter 126. Read more chapters of The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep.
Keith nodded. "Thank you so much."
Serena managed a tired smile. "I told you, no need to thank me. I'm heading back now. You look pretty worn out, too. So, why not get some rest? You can take over for me in the morning."
If she hadn't said that, Keith probably would have stayed up all night, too anxious to sleep. But after a moment of thought, he realized she had a point. He finally stood up. "Thanks for taking over. I'll come get you in the morning."
After he left, Serena returned to Alyssa's room. The little girl was sound asleep in bed, and only then did Serena let out a quiet sigh of relief. She sat down on the carpet to avoid waking her.
The night passed just like that. Alyssa stayed asleep the whole time, which was far better than expected.
As soon as the sun came up, Keith came by and took over from Serena. "You should get some rest. I've got things covered here."
Serena nodded without insisting and headed to the guest room for some sleep.
Aside from her breakdown the night before, Alyssa was in much better shape when she woke up.
Even Nate had to admit that what he had witnessed felt like a medical miracle. Nothing he had done before had helped Alyssa, yet somehow, Serena's presence always seemed to calm her down and bring real improvement.
He said, "Alright, from what you've told me, Alyssa is probably going to be fine. But she is really attached to Ms. Gray. I think it'd be best if they stayed together for a while longer."
Standing out on the balcony, Keith caught his words and couldn't help but knit his brows. "Don't you think that's a bit much to ask? Sure, Serena does care about Alyssa, but looking after her all the time—"
Nate cut him off, "That's why I said you two should just get married already. The two of you make a perfect pair, and let's face it, you're not getting any younger, and you've got a kid.
"Who else but Ms. Gray would sign up for that?"
Keith, now branded as some kind of late-blooming bachelor, was left completely speechless.
He muttered, "Forget it. Now is not the time to get hung up on this. I'll let Serena know what you suggested when I get the chance, but whether she agrees or not is up to her."
To Keith, everything Serena had done so far was already going above and beyond. If she didn't want to agree, that was perfectly fair.
He had no intention of using Alyssa's situation to guilt Serena into anything. With everything Serena had already done, and on top of her own job, he could tell she was more than exhausted.
"Yeah, sure," Nate replied half-heartedly before saying he had work to get back to and hanging up.
Keith turned around, about to look for Serena, when he spotted her standing not far away. It looked like she had overheard their conversation.
He scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Uh, Nate is just like that sometimes. He doesn't always think before he speaks."
Serena shook her head with a faint smile. "I didn't hear what Dr. Sutter said. I only heard you."
Only then did Keith realize he hadn't been on speakerphone. From that distance, there was no way Serena could've heard what was said on the other end. It was just Nate's weird comments that had made him tense for no reason.
Serena added, "It's fine. I just wanted to say it's really not a big deal. Alyssa is usually very well-behaved and easy to calm down. If she stays with me for a while, she might start doing better."
She had no issue with Alyssa being around. Her personal life and work weren't so hard to balance that she couldn't manage both.
Keith caught on, a grateful look flashing in his eyes. "Honestly, if it weren't for you, I'd have no idea what to do."
At that, Serena gave him a playful grin, a charming kind of mischief lighting up her expression. "So the big-shot CEO of Brannon Creative Group can't handle everything after all. And now you're complimenting me? I'm gonna start getting embarrassed."
They shared a quick laugh, and the heavy mood between them began to ease.
Then, Keith grew serious again. "I know you care about Alyssa, but you're still giving up your time to look after her. I'll pay you the standard rate. I don't want you sacrificing your free time for nothing."
But Serena rejected the offer without hesitation. "Alyssa and I may not be related, but I treat her like my own daughter. If you paid me, wouldn't that make me her nanny?"
Keith hadn't meant it like that, but he didn't know how to argue without making it worse.
Serena's eyes sparkled with a cheerful smile. "Just leave her with me. Friends don't have to keep score over every little thing."
Since she insisted, Keith finally let it go.
That same day, they moved Alyssa and all her essentials into Serena's home.
Keith crouched in front of Alyssa and said, "You'll stay with Serena for the time being. When she's busy with work, the nanny will come over. While you're here, listen to whatever she says, alright?"
Even though Alyssa had always been mature for her age, he still felt the need to remind her—worried that she might cause trouble for Serena.
Alyssa quickly gave a quick, obedient nod.
Serena walked out of the bedroom and chimed in, "Alyssa has always been such a good kid. She'll definitely listen to me." She had already unpacked all of Alyssa's things and placed them in the main bedroom, making the space feel warm and inviting.
Alyssa ran to her side, reached out, and grabbed her hand tightly. Her little face was serious, as if trying her hardest to prove how well-behaved she would be.
Keith smiled, "Very well then."
With that, he turned to leave. But Alyssa ran up and tugged at his sleeve. He looked puzzled but followed her cue and crouched down again.
The next second, Keith felt a warm, gentle kiss land softly on the side of his neck. He looked down to see Alyssa shyly lower her head and give him a little wave.
His gaze softened as he said, "Be good, okay, Alyssa? I'll drop by when I can. If you miss me, send me a message and I'll come get you."
After saying all that, Keith finally stepped out of the front door. In the meantime, Alyssa nestled quietly against Serena's side.
"For now, you're sticking with me, Alyssa," Serena chirped, scooping Alyssa up into her arms.
Alyssa let out a bubbly laugh, her face bright with relief.
To her, Serena was the person she trusted most in the world. No matter how bad things got, she always showed up right when she needed her.
Alyssa couldn't help but think, 'Oh, it would be perfect if Serena could be my mom. But when I said that before, she told me not to say things like that. Does she not like Dad or something?'
Her little mind couldn't sort through all the complicated thoughts. So, under Serena's gentle gaze, she soon forgot all about them and followed her into what would be her new room.
"You'll be sleeping with me from now on," Serena said warmly. "I even got a little bed just for you."
Serena managed a tired smile. "I told you, no need to thank me. I'm heading back now. You look pretty worn out, too. So, why not get some rest? You can take over for me in the morning."
If she hadn't said that, Keith probably would have stayed up all night, too anxious to sleep. But after a moment of thought, he realized she had a point. He finally stood up. "Thanks for taking over. I'll come get you in the morning."
After he left, Serena returned to Alyssa's room. The little girl was sound asleep in bed, and only then did Serena let out a quiet sigh of relief. She sat down on the carpet to avoid waking her.
The night passed just like that. Alyssa stayed asleep the whole time, which was far better than expected.
As soon as the sun came up, Keith came by and took over from Serena. "You should get some rest. I've got things covered here."
Serena nodded without insisting and headed to the guest room for some sleep.
Aside from her breakdown the night before, Alyssa was in much better shape when she woke up.
Even Nate had to admit that what he had witnessed felt like a medical miracle. Nothing he had done before had helped Alyssa, yet somehow, Serena's presence always seemed to calm her down and bring real improvement.
He said, "Alright, from what you've told me, Alyssa is probably going to be fine. But she is really attached to Ms. Gray. I think it'd be best if they stayed together for a while longer."
Standing out on the balcony, Keith caught his words and couldn't help but knit his brows. "Don't you think that's a bit much to ask? Sure, Serena does care about Alyssa, but looking after her all the time—"
Nate cut him off, "That's why I said you two should just get married already. The two of you make a perfect pair, and let's face it, you're not getting any younger, and you've got a kid.
"Who else but Ms. Gray would sign up for that?"
Keith, now branded as some kind of late-blooming bachelor, was left completely speechless.
He muttered, "Forget it. Now is not the time to get hung up on this. I'll let Serena know what you suggested when I get the chance, but whether she agrees or not is up to her."
To Keith, everything Serena had done so far was already going above and beyond. If she didn't want to agree, that was perfectly fair.
He had no intention of using Alyssa's situation to guilt Serena into anything. With everything Serena had already done, and on top of her own job, he could tell she was more than exhausted.
"Yeah, sure," Nate replied half-heartedly before saying he had work to get back to and hanging up.
Keith turned around, about to look for Serena, when he spotted her standing not far away. It looked like she had overheard their conversation.
He scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Uh, Nate is just like that sometimes. He doesn't always think before he speaks."
Serena shook her head with a faint smile. "I didn't hear what Dr. Sutter said. I only heard you."
Only then did Keith realize he hadn't been on speakerphone. From that distance, there was no way Serena could've heard what was said on the other end. It was just Nate's weird comments that had made him tense for no reason.
Serena added, "It's fine. I just wanted to say it's really not a big deal. Alyssa is usually very well-behaved and easy to calm down. If she stays with me for a while, she might start doing better."
She had no issue with Alyssa being around. Her personal life and work weren't so hard to balance that she couldn't manage both.
Keith caught on, a grateful look flashing in his eyes. "Honestly, if it weren't for you, I'd have no idea what to do."
At that, Serena gave him a playful grin, a charming kind of mischief lighting up her expression. "So the big-shot CEO of Brannon Creative Group can't handle everything after all. And now you're complimenting me? I'm gonna start getting embarrassed."
They shared a quick laugh, and the heavy mood between them began to ease.
Then, Keith grew serious again. "I know you care about Alyssa, but you're still giving up your time to look after her. I'll pay you the standard rate. I don't want you sacrificing your free time for nothing."
But Serena rejected the offer without hesitation. "Alyssa and I may not be related, but I treat her like my own daughter. If you paid me, wouldn't that make me her nanny?"
Keith hadn't meant it like that, but he didn't know how to argue without making it worse.
Serena's eyes sparkled with a cheerful smile. "Just leave her with me. Friends don't have to keep score over every little thing."
Since she insisted, Keith finally let it go.
That same day, they moved Alyssa and all her essentials into Serena's home.
Keith crouched in front of Alyssa and said, "You'll stay with Serena for the time being. When she's busy with work, the nanny will come over. While you're here, listen to whatever she says, alright?"
Even though Alyssa had always been mature for her age, he still felt the need to remind her—worried that she might cause trouble for Serena.
Alyssa quickly gave a quick, obedient nod.
Serena walked out of the bedroom and chimed in, "Alyssa has always been such a good kid. She'll definitely listen to me." She had already unpacked all of Alyssa's things and placed them in the main bedroom, making the space feel warm and inviting.
Alyssa ran to her side, reached out, and grabbed her hand tightly. Her little face was serious, as if trying her hardest to prove how well-behaved she would be.
Keith smiled, "Very well then."
With that, he turned to leave. But Alyssa ran up and tugged at his sleeve. He looked puzzled but followed her cue and crouched down again.
The next second, Keith felt a warm, gentle kiss land softly on the side of his neck. He looked down to see Alyssa shyly lower her head and give him a little wave.
His gaze softened as he said, "Be good, okay, Alyssa? I'll drop by when I can. If you miss me, send me a message and I'll come get you."
After saying all that, Keith finally stepped out of the front door. In the meantime, Alyssa nestled quietly against Serena's side.
"For now, you're sticking with me, Alyssa," Serena chirped, scooping Alyssa up into her arms.
Alyssa let out a bubbly laugh, her face bright with relief.
To her, Serena was the person she trusted most in the world. No matter how bad things got, she always showed up right when she needed her.
Alyssa couldn't help but think, 'Oh, it would be perfect if Serena could be my mom. But when I said that before, she told me not to say things like that. Does she not like Dad or something?'
Her little mind couldn't sort through all the complicated thoughts. So, under Serena's gentle gaze, she soon forgot all about them and followed her into what would be her new room.
"You'll be sleeping with me from now on," Serena said warmly. "I even got a little bed just for you."
End of The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep Chapter 126. Continue reading Chapter 127 or return to The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep book page.