Chapter 682 - 14.78

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'How about it, hm? Just accept my offer, Gaius White. That's your real name, right? You don't need to have Clarke's last name behind yours anymore.'

—

Gaius woke up in a daze in the morning. He washed his face and checked that the kids were still sleeping soundly.

Thus, he opened the window and sat outside. He checked his phone and tried to find any work that would definitely accept him quickly.

Of course, with his degree and competitiveness, he could work in an office again, at least as an admin, secretary, or receptionist.

But that'd need him to wait for a while for the recruitment process. He didn't have time for that. 

Besides, he was almost in his 40. He doubted anyone would take him as a secretary,

"Even my scum husband doesn't want to take me as his secretary because I'm old and ugly now. Instead, he found a younger, female version of me and even cheated with her, heh," Gaius scoffed, lamenting over his fate for a moment before focusing on finding a job again. 

Hermes observed his Mom, who was busy searching for a job online. He clenched his fist when he heard Mom telling himself that he was old and ugly. 

Hermes braced himself and walked in, "You're not old and ugly, Mom…" he said, surprising Gaius, who was glued to the phone. 

Gaius turned his head and patted Hermes' head, "Haha, of course, my son. It's still early. I allow you to sleep more if you want."

"I'm not sleepy anymore, Mom…."

"Well, how about I make you a hot chocolate? We bought some sachets yesterday—"

"Mom, can you come with me today?" Hermes requested suddenly. 

"Hm? What do you mean? Come with you?"

"My homeroom teacher said that she wants to meet you first before giving me a permit to leave…." Hermes said.

"Huh? Really?" Gaius frowned. "But I already called her yesterday, and she said yes. Now she needs to meet me personally?"

"Yes, Mom. My friend told me yesterday that he also asked for a permit before, and she needs to meet you personally…."

"… okay then, let me prepare myself first before we go out and meet her. Go and wake your little sister. We can't leave her here."

"Thanks, Mom."

[Hermes is lying.]

[Pupa: How do you know?]

[Because that homeroom teacher clearly gave me a permit yesterday. But I have to admit that Hermes was a talented liar. He can lie through his teeth right in front of me with a straight face. I don't know what he's planning, but let's just find out, hehe.]

[Still, how could he be such a talented liar at such age? Kids his age would at least feel uncomfortable to lie to their Mom! Clarke is a terrible liar, from whom he inherited that lying skill?]

[Pupa:…]

[What? Why are you staring at me?]

Gaius prepared a small breakfast for the kids before he washed his face and prepared himself to meet the homeroom teacher. 

After the kids had breakfast and he was prepared, Hermes held his Mom's hand and asked, "I love you, Mom. I want you to be happy too…."

"Huh? What do you mean, son?"

Blip!

Gaius was a bit dizzy after the jump. He blinked a few times to regain his sight, blinded by the bright light of Hermes' teleportation.

He thought they'd be teleported to the school, but when he could finally see, he was astonished by his surroundings right now.

Because Hermes teleported them to the aquarium dome, the place where Reed took them together for the short vacation in his waterpark. 

"Hermes, why are we here? Let's leave now before your Uncle finds out, okay?" Gaius said, but Hermes only stared at his mother and shook his head. 

"This is the best place for you, for us, Mom," Hermes said. 

Gaius' eyes widened as he just realized that Hermes suddenly teleported away, leaving Gaius and Artemis alone. 

"M—Mommy, why are we here?" Artemis hugged Gaius' neck tightly. She got scared because of the dim light in this dome. 

Gaius was also confused about what Hermes did just now. But when he suddenly teleported back with a man, he then knew his son's true intention. 

But he refused to jump to the conclusion. He yelled at his son, "Hermes, come here with me, let's leave now!" 

"Uncle Reed will take care of us, Mom…." Hermes said as he clenched Reed Ville's hand. "Unlike Dad, Uncle Reed will make us happy…."

"HERMES!" Gaius took something from his pocket, a small branch that he took before he left the hotel. This was his method of protection. 

He threw the branch to the air and used his power to turn it into a giant living flower with thorny whips as arms, "HERMES GAIST, RETURN HERE NOW!" 

"Mom, I just want you to be safe from Dad! Dad is evil!"

"Your Dad is not evil! Now return here with me before I have to discipline you!" 

"No! I want to stay with Uncle Reed!" Hermes insisted, tightening his grip on Uncle Reed's hand. "Mom, just stay with Uncle Reed! He will treat us well. Dad hurts us. Dad is evil!"

"HERMES!" 

"Now, now, why don't we talk about this in a civilized manner. We're a family, aren't we?" Reed interrupted the fight between mother and son. 

He had a thin grin on his face as if he was enjoying the mess right now. Gaius was so sick of that thin grin full of hideous intention beneath. He knew that Reed Ville wasn't a good person either.

He had a feeling that Reed influenced Hermes to trap them here, a boy like Hermes. He wanted validation from a father figure.

Since Clarke didn't give him that father figure, then he turned to his Uncle Reed instead. 

"I don't think I'll have any talk with you, Reed. Now release my son and let us leave!" Gaius demanded.

"Hm? Release your son? But he is the one clinging into me right now, don't you see?" Reed chuckled. He patted Hermes' head which got the boy's cheeks reddened. He was so proud that he did a great job for Uncle Reed. 

"Great job, champ. You want your Mom to be safe, right?"

"Yes!" Hermes nodded excitedly. 

"Well, it seems that your Mom doesn't like it here," Reed showed a sad look. "Maybe you can talk to him?"

Hermes followed the instruction and persuaded, "Mom, Uncle Reed told me that Dad is searching for us outside. If you want to avoid him, isn't it good to stay with Uncle Reed? Uncle Reed is rich and kind!"

"And Uncle Reed has prepared all kinds of toys for Arte too~," Reed said, trying to persuade the little girl.

Arte, who buried her face on Gaius' shoulder, finally looked up and turned his head, "TOYS?!"

"N—No, princess, that man is lying—"

"Uncle Reed has toys!?" Artemis asked twice for confirmation.

"Correct, you can ask for whatever you want, and Uncle will buy it for you," Reed continued persuading. Little girl Artemis completely ditched his Mom and struggled to break free.

"Artemis, stop struggling!" Gaius tried to hold his daughter, but Artemis suddenly manifested her premature power and turned into hundreds of light butterflies.

"ARTEMIS!"