Chapter 388 Make A Bet


    Jonathan and Martha arrived, too.


    Martha immediately rushed to Elliot’s side. “My baby, where did he hit you?” she demanded, her voice trembling with anger as her chest heaved with each breath.


    Jonathan shot Elliot a quick look, and Elliot quickly exined, “I was just joking with you guys.”


    “Joking?” Martha eyed Nathaniel suspiciously.


    Nathaniel, keeping hisposure, yed along. “Eli and I made a little bet. He said you’d all believe him if he pretended I hit him.”


    Elliot and Jonathan were stunned into silence, both thinking the same thing. We’ve got to hand it to our sc “mbag daddy.


    At this moment, Elliot was filled with deep regret.


    Martha, now relieved, sighed. “Silly child, how could you make such a bet? We must always be honest and never lie, do you understand?”


    “Understood. I’m sorry, Granny Martha,” Elliot quickly apologized, his voice tinged with genuine remorse.


    Cecilia, upset, added, “Eli, you can’t make jokes like that in the future. Do you understand? Grandma Martha and I were worried sick.”


    Elliot had never found himself at such a disadvantage before. He was the apple of the family’s eye, yet here he was, outmaneuvered by the very father he held in contempt. It was a bitter pill to swallow.


    With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Elliot clung to Nathaniel’s leg. “Mr. Rainsworth, didn’t you promise me a lollipop if I won?”


    Jonathan couldn’t help but smirk slightly. As expected, Eli really is quite the schemer


    Martha shot Nathaniel a frosty look. “Eli has always been well–behaved. Don’t you dare lead him astray.”


    Turning to Elliot, she added, “Eli,e along. Let’s go upstairs and get some rest.”


    Elliot shed Nathaniel a smug smile before turning to Martha, nodding innocently. “All right.”


    Jonathan was also led away by Martha.


    Martha, preupied with her concern for Elliot, didn’t notice his lie this time, but Cecilia saw right through it.


    She sensed that Elliot had concocted the story out of worry about getting scolded.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Suddenly, Nathaniel spoke up. “Ceci.”


    Cecilia, startled, turned to him. “How did you know I hadn’t left yet?


    “I have a feeling,” Nathaniel replied with a calm demeanor.


    Cecilia was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained herposure. “You didn’t actually make a bet with Elliot, did you?”


    “Yes, I gave him a light smack on his bottom–just a small punishment,” Nathaniel admitted candidly.


    Cecilia’s face paled with panic. “How could you actually hit him? Didn’t I tell you he’s sick?”


    She had always been protective of Elliot due to his condition, never allowing anyone to touch him, let alone smack him.


    Nathaniel was taken aback by her intense reaction. “Indulgence can be as harmful as harshness. You can’t be excessively lenient with Elliot just because he’s sick. In the real world, no one will coddle him.”


    Nathaniel continued, “If you coddle him too much, others might just bully him more because they see him as weak.”


    Cecilia’s gaze softened as she absorbed Nathaniel’s words. She recognized that there were indeed. issues with her approach to disciplining the children. She was usually stricter with Jonathan, yet notably lenient with Elliot. A wave of self–doubt washed over her, making her feel as though she had failed as a mother. She wondered if the children truly needed their father’s guidance.


    As Cecilia was lost in her thoughts, a sharp twinge of pain suddenly jolted through her calf. “Quick, help me sit down,” she said.


    Nathaniel immediately helped her sit down. “What’s wrong?”


    “My leg is cramping. It hurts,” Cecilia exined, wincing.


    “Let’s head to the hospital,” Nathaniel said, preparing to lift her into his arms.


    Cecilia quickly shook her head. “No need, I’ll be fine in a moment”


    Nathaniel lifted her with one arm, gripping her leg with another. Cecilia tried to pull away, but the cramp made it impossible for her to resist his touch.


    Nathaniel held Cecilia firmly, his voice dropping to a low, reassuring tone. “Don’t move. I can’t see anything, and I promise I won’t have any improper thoughts. But if you move recklessly, It might identally touch somewhere I shouldn’t.”


    Somewhere he shouldn’t…


    Cecilia’s eyes followed his hand resting on her leg, and she realized that if it shifted even slightly, it might touch somewhere suggestive.