Chelsea Raines hung her head like a defeated stray.
The strange looks from the countless staff members around her made it impossible for her to save face. She never could have imagined the situation would turn out like this.
She suddenly gritted her teeth, knelt, and quickly muttered an apology before scrambling to her feet and running away.
Renee Jennings chased after her. "Chelsea…"
Chelsea Raines was a proud person; she probably wouldn't come back to cause trouble in Naomi's room anytime soon. Naomi Kenway's goal was achieved, and she stretched contentedly.
The cameraman suddenly handed her a cell phone.
Naomi Kenway looked at him, a bit confused. The rules had clearly stated they couldn't use electronic devices.
"It's bonus time. It's your first day in Prospera Village, so you're probably still getting adjusted. For the next hour, you can use this phone to contact your family."
"Oh, I see." Naomi Kenway took the phone, but the question of who to call stumped her.
Her relationship with her parents was already severely strained, and her social circle consisted only of fair-weather friends who clung to her for her wealth.
Naomi Kenway handed the phone to Ian Shaw and asked his opinion. "Ian, who do you want to call?"
Ian Shaw's big eyes blinked, and he called out a name without hesitation. "Daddy!"
"Daddy?" Naomi Kenway frowned slightly. She hadn't seen her wealthy husband in a very long time. Their marriage was on the verge of collapse. Ethan Shaw had moved out long ago, and his attitude toward Naomi Kenway could be described as utter annoyance.
It was safe to say that if it weren't for Ian, they probably would have divorced long ago.
In the instant Naomi Kenway was thinking, Ian had already dialed the number he knew by heart.
"Ian…" Just as Naomi Kenway was about to say something, a gentle, magnetic voice came from the other end of the line:
"Ian, why are you on a different number? Have you been eating well today?"
[Oh my god, Ian's dad's voice is so nice! He must be super handsome!]
[If his voice is that nice, the chances of him being handsome are actually a lot lower. How could Naomi Kenway be so lucky to find a husband who's both handsome and rich?!]
[He's rich and has a great voice. Why did a woman like Naomi Kenway get so lucky?! Life is so unfair! Someone like her doesn't deserve him!]
…
Naomi Kenway leaned in and saw that Ian had even started a video call. She quickly backed away again, unsure of what attitude to take with Ethan Shaw.
Compared to his cautious and reserved demeanor around Naomi Kenway, Ian was much more open with Ethan Shaw. He was usually a quiet and taciturn child in public, but now he was chattering away about his day's adventures.
"Daddy, Mommy and I are on a trip! There are green wheat fields here, and they're so pretty." He picked up his precious little wooden sword from the table. "Daddy, look! Mommy made this for me! Mommy is so good to me. She knocked down dates for me to eat and even made a bunch of pretty stools! Mommy is amazing…"
Ethan Shaw listened quietly, one of his handsome eyebrows arching slightly, skeptical about the credibility of these claims.
He was exceptionally good-looking, with a noble and gentle temperament. He didn't hold back his faint smiles when facing his son and was extremely patient.
"Is that so? It sounds like you two are having a lot of fun. What did you have for dinner?"
"The show's crew gave us lots of food. I liked the eggs Mommy peeled for me the most…"
Ethan Shaw's smile faltered for a moment but quickly returned. "Is that so?"
"Daddy, Mommy's right next to me. You have to talk to her, too, or she'll be sad."
After saying this, Ian Shaw quickly handed the phone to Naomi Kenway.
Naomi Kenway felt as if she were holding a hot potato. Staring at the handsome face on the other end of the video, she managed a stiff greeting. "Hi?"
Her tone was incredibly distant.
Ethan Shaw's originally gentle expression turned icy the moment he saw Naomi Kenway.
"During this time, I'll have to trouble you to take care of Ian. Also…"
"I hope you can take good care of Ian. I don't want…"
He seemed to be holding back for some reason and didn't specify, but the threat in his eyes was palpable.
Naomi Kenway knew she had a "prior record," so it was normal for Ethan Shaw to worry that she wouldn't take good care of Ian. She couldn't be bothered to make any promises and just gave a dry response. "Okay."
Naomi Kenway was usually flamboyant and unruly, but today she seemed somewhat… obedient.
Ethan Shaw saw all of this but didn't say anything more.
As the call was about to end, Ian said to Ethan Shaw, "Good night, Daddy."
Ethan Shaw replied softly, "Good night."
"And Mommy! Mommy didn't get a good night!" Ian said in his childish voice.
Ethan Shaw paused, looked in Naomi Kenway's direction, his gaze inscrutable. "Good night."
The call was finally over.
[Ian's dad's voice is so nice. Too bad the camera can't see his face. I wonder if he'll show it later on. I'm really looking forward to it.]
[This couple seems so distant with each other. I suggest everyone go watch Renee's stream. Best Actor Lynch is so handsome and romantic, and he and Renee are super lovey-dovey.]
[Ugh, just a casual viewer here. I'm not a big fan of Renee Jennings's stream. It feels so fake. I didn't expect Best Actor Lynch to be so greasy at his age.]
[Is the person above a paid shill for Naomi Kenway? Are you starting to slander Renee now?]
…
Naomi Kenway had just lulled Ian Shaw to sleep when she saw a staff member walking toward her, holding a task card. "Nina, come get the new task."
Naomi Kenway took it and slowly opened the letter, which was printed with a "My Super Mom" logo. Inside was a piece of white cardstock with the task printed in black letters:
Please arrive at the east end of the village on time tomorrow morning to select your breakfast.
Naomi Kenway's sharp eyes noticed the word "select." She raised an eyebrow. "First come, first served?"
"Yes." The staff member nodded. "The amount of food is limited. The first guests to arrive can pick the food they want. The last guests to arrive might not get any food at all."
Thinking of Naomi Kenway's usual lazy habits, the staff member added, "Nina, you'll need to get up at six tomorrow, or you might not get any food. If that happens, you and Ian will both go hungry."
Naomi Kenway nodded in understanding.
It was already ten o'clock at night. Naomi Kenway turned off the light and lay down on the other side of Ian Shaw.
Ian Shaw was a quiet sleeper, but he had a habit of curling his body up like a shrimp. She'd heard this was a sign of insecurity.
Naomi Kenway wrapped an arm around her son, and then she too fell into a deep sleep.
「Veridia」
Ethan Shaw stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows. The twenty-third floor was high enough to overlook the entire city.
His gaze was focused as if he were deep in thought. The screen in his hand was still on the "call ended" interface.
'Was Ian threatened by Naomi Kenway to say all that? But the atmosphere between them didn't seem like it at all.'
'Could it be that Naomi Kenway has really changed?'
The thought had barely formed before Ethan Shaw dismissed it. 'This is probably just a new trick of hers to get me to come home. I've tolerated her so much and poured resources into her career. What else could she possibly want?'
Suddenly, the image of Naomi Kenway's slightly reserved appearance flashed through his mind…
Ethan Shaw walked slowly to his desk and called his assistant, his voice steady.
"Liam Sherman, come to my office."