In fact, Aria’s main purpose ining on the pic was also to seek some assistance for the Green Family. Who would have thought that the men who flocked around her would all start avoiding her after just one meal!
Ka also noticed something was off. She had only gone to wash some fruit, but several people had deliberatelye over to greet her.
Ka was not good at handling such situations, and when Ethaniel returned with the fish, he saw Ka awkwardly waving off a sycophant.
He smiled but did not intervene.
Those who had been fishing with Ethaniel didn’t miss any chance to curry favor, offering him their catches-fish, crabs, and shrimp.
Ethaniel prepared Ka’s favorite steamed fish, made some fresh fish slices, and also grilled some crabs and shrimp.
Ka, who loved seafood, was having the best time, enjoying the camping trip more than Oliver.
“My dad doesn’t like fat people!” Oliver teased her.
Ka snorted, “What does it matter to me whether he likes it or not?”
Ethaniel peeled a shrimp and ced it on her te, casually saying, “I love everything about you, no matter if you’re fat or thin.”
One sentence left both Ka and Oliver speechless.
After dinner, Ka couldn’t wait to drag Oliver to the beach to build sandcastles.
Although she had lived in Seatowne, she rarely had the chance to y by the sea so freely. In her memory, at Oliver’s age, she was already taking care of her mother, andter she had to work every day to support her family. It was only today that she had the chance to do something that only children enjoyed.
The sea breeze gently blew, making Ka’s long hair flutter, revealing her beautiful face. Her big eyes were clear and bright, like the stars in the sky.
Oliver awkwardly spoke, “Hey…”
“Hmm?” Ka was busy ying with the sand and casually responded.
“If my dad likes it, I won’t… well, I won’t object,” Oliver mumbled with his head down.
Ka paused, then quickly looked up, “What did you say?”
“… If you didn’t hear it, then forget it,” Oliver said, refusing to repeat himself.
“… I think I heard you say that if Dad likes it, then you won’t… object, right?” Ka carefully observed Oliver, who must have known about her and Ethaniel.
Oliver, still looking down, muttered, “As long as Dad…”
“Ollie.” Ethaniel’s sudden voice startled Oliver, causing him to almost knock down the sandcastle.
“What are you guys talking about?” Ethaniel sat down, looking at the somewhat ugly sandcastle. Smiling, he could tell it was Ka’s work. Ollie couldn’t possibly make something this unattractive.
“Nothing, just chatting,” Ka quickly deflected. She didn’t want to expose their secret conversation until Oliver fully epted it.
“Let’s build a sand mound,” Ka suggested, changing the topic. She sat opposite Ethaniel and Oliver, “Let’s make a big mound and then dig from the outside. Let’s see who can dig through first!”
“Childish,” Oliver protested.
Ethaniel raised an eyebrow and nodded, “Alright.”
“… Fine, let’s dig,” Oliver quickly changed his attitude to follow his dad, even sneering at Ka, “You’ll definitely lose.”
“You’ll lose. How can your short arms dig faster than me?” Ka dismissed him, starting to pile sand with Ethaniel.
The three of them worked quickly, creating a half-meter-high sand mound.
Ka looked at the two of them, “I’ll count to three, and then we start digging.”
“1-3!” Before finishing the count, Ka already started digging.
“… You’re cheating!” Oliver’s face turned red with anger.
Ethaniel remained calm, methodically scooping sand with his long fingers.
Therge sand mound was quickly hollowed out. Ka dug the fastest, but her arm length was no match for Ethaniel’s. As she reached halfway, her fingers were suddenly grasped.
The ticklish sensation felt like being rubbed by fine sand. Ka froze for a moment, then looked up at Ethaniel.
Behind Ethaniel was the rising moon, its light casting a silver glow on his indifferent purple eyes. When he looked at her, his thin lips curved into a gentle smile.
Before Ka could speak, she felt another warmth on her hand. A small hand joined hers and Ethaniel’s. Oliver looked at her with a smug expression as if saying, “See, I’m not slower than you!”
Beneath the sand mound, where they couldn’t see, their hands were joined for the first time. It felt warm, very much like a family.
But soon, there was a problem!
After changing into her pajamas, Ka looked at the three pillows in the tent, feeling a massive headache.
How was she supposed to sleep?
Ethaniel leaned against the pillow, working on hisptop, while Olivery on a small pillow in the middle, seemingly fast asleep.
“Get some rest,” Ethaniel said softly without looking up.
Though reluctant, Kay down on the other side, right next to Oliver. After a whole day of activities, Oliver was deeply asleep, his long eyshes slightly trembling. Ka watched Oliver’s peaceful face, feeling an urge to touch his cheek-this little troublemaker looked quite adorable when he was sleeping.
Gradually, Ka also felt drowsy, her eyes slowly closing as her breathing became steady.
After finishing a few emails, Ethaniel turned to see the two of them sleeping soundly together. He smiled faintly and covered them with a light nket. Oliver unconsciously rolled into Ka’s arms, his small hands hugging her waist, his chestnut curls buried in her shoulder.
Havingpleted his work, Ethaniel lifted the tent p, preparing to extinguish the hanging light outside.
“Mr. Han,” a slender figure emerged from beside the tent.
Aria wore a light, thin nightgown, her skin faintly visible through the sheer fabric under the light. Ethaniel’s lips thinned as he asked coolly, “What?”This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.
Aria’s heart skipped a beat under his gaze. “Mr. Han, I… I love you. It might seem sudden, but it’s true.”
Since their brief meeting in the lounge, Aria had been smitten with Ethaniel. In the high society of Seatowne, she was quite popr, with many wealthy men vying for her attention. But she felt none of them were good enough for her.
Until Ethaniel appeared. She instantly knew he was the man she wanted.
“You love me?” Ethaniel smiled, his voice as cold as ice. “Too bad, I’m not interested.”
“Why!” Aria’s face paled. “Ka is not fit to be your wife, let alone Oliver’s mother.”
“If she’s not, then are you?” Ethaniel’s voice turned icy. “Don’t let me hear you say such things again. I won’t tolerate anyone questioning Ka being my son’s mom.”
“She’s not! Oliver isn’t even hers!” Aria eximed.
Before she could finish, Ethaniel grabbed her jaw harshly. “I’m warning you for thest time, don’t cross my line.”
“Mm-” Aria, her surgically altered jaw almost dislocated, was in too much pain to speak.
Ethaniel released her in disgust and turned back to the tent. Aria, clutching her jaw, copsed to the ground.
From behind a nearby tent, Perez quietly slipped away. He had been secretly following Aria and witnessed the entire scene.
…
Ka had always been highly alert, especially in the wilderness. At this moment, she felt a soreness in her shoulders, a heaviness on her body, and her hands were being pressed down by something…
As she slowly opened her eyes, she realized she was trapped between the father and son, unable to move. Oliver’s delicate face rested on her shoulder, his whole body clinging to her like a sloth.
Her other hand was held by five slender fingers. Following the arm up, she saw Ethaniel’s face.
Her slight movement woke Ethaniel. He looked at Ka, trapped by Oliver’s embrace, his gaze softening with a smile.
Ka gently pushed Oliver onto his own small pillow and sat up, rubbing her sore shoulder. Ethaniel also got up, lifting the tent window p.
The morning sunlight by the sea shone into the tent, casting a golden glow on Ethaniel’s chestnut hair. His violet eyes, reflecting the dawn, were mesmerizingly deep.
Ka pinched herself, trying not to be swayed by his looks, and said, “I’m hungry.”
Ethaniel smiled, kissed her cheek, and said, “You go wash up and change in the car. I’ll make breakfast.”
For the final activity of their camping trip-jungle treasure hunting-Ka changed into camouge gear, a perfect blend of beauty and strength. Ethaniel and Oliver naturally donned matching outfits, quadrupling the cool factor.
After breakfast, they entered the dense forest beside the beach. Teachers had hidden “treasures” in concealed spots, marked on maps for everyone to find, with the prizes going to the finders.
Holding the map, Ka pushed aside branches, matching locations confidently. “Don’t worry, we’ll find it first,” she assured Oliver.
“… If it were just you, I’d have doubts. But luckily, you have me and Dad to help,” Oliver countered from behind her.
“Humph, little brat. When I was in survival training, you were still sucking on a bottle. Don’t cryter,” Ka retorted.
“… Humph, you’re all brawn, no brains. Don’te crying to Dad for helpter!”
Ethaniel chuckled softly, staying out of their usual bickering.
The forest is veryrge, gradually emptied out behind them, leaving just the three of them.
Ka led the way, Oliver shielded in the middle, and Ethaniel brought up the rear.
Although the area was deemed safe for the school activity, Ka suddenly felt as if someone was watching them.
She quickly turned, only to see dense trees and no one else.
“What’s wrong?” Oliver asked, noticing her movements.
“… Nothing,” Ka replied, not wanting to scare Oliver. She was sure someone was following them with hostile intent.
Ethaniel’s eyes darkened but he said nothing.
Years of training had honed Ka’s instincts. They now screamed that this ce was dangerous…
Cautiously, Ka moved a few steps forward. Suddenly, she heard a faint “swish” in the air.
“Watch out!” Instinctively, she hugged Oliver and rolled to the ground, then looked up to check on Ethaniel.
Ethaniel was crouching, half-kneeling on the ground. The tree behind him had a hole pierced through its trunk, shaking violently from the impact.
“Ethaniel!” Ka shouted, her heart nearly stopping.
“I’m fine.”
Ka breathed a sigh of relief, releasing Oliver and slowly approaching the tree.
The trunk had a finger-sized hole where Ethaniel had stood.
Ka’s face grew serious as she measured the diameter. “This is a sniper rifle shot. The gun was specially modified.”
Normally, a shot would leave powder traces on the trunk, but this hole had no such residue, just a damp feel.
Ka’s eyes narrowed. “It could be an American L7, or a Russian MI5, but most likely it’s an ice bullet.”