Chapter 61

"No need, grandma. Her home now has a fingerprint-proof door. It's very safe" Melissa returned a look to Joseph, indicating that she was not going out, only because her house was secure, not because of any consideration towards him. She refused grandma's offer not just for his sake. Grandma Julia nodded in response. She heard some movement on the stairs, and stretched her neck to look towards the living room. Meanwhile, Melissa had already rushed to the bottom of the staircase. She gazed at the fluffy curls of Alvin's hair and the little face of Alvina that was pressed to turn one side red. She missed them immensely in her heart. Opening her arms wide, she gestured for the two children. In the next second, Alvin and Alvina dashed into Melissa's arms. With a wobble, Melissa sat down on the ground, laughing with the children. Alvina chuckled, getting up from Melissa's lap. She patted Alvin who was nearby. "Brother, let's quickly help mommy up!" "Oh, sorry mommy" Alvin smoothed back his curly hair, a mischievous smile flirting on his handsome little face. He had deliberately knocked his mom down, as it was a while since they had such fun. Each taking one side, Alvin and Alvina helped Melissa up from the ground. Taking the chance, Melissa planted a kiss on both of their foreheads. "You two little angels, did you miss me?" Melissa teased, raising an eyebrow as if in interrogation. "Yes, mommy, I even dreamt of you last night!" Alvina grasped her own face with her tiny hands, making a cute grimace. Alvin looked on, hands behind his back as the mother and daughter bantered, eventually shaking his head in resignation. He heard voices from the dining room, so he stretched his neck to sneak a peek. "Mommy, what are you up to?" Alvin looked up at Melissa's apron, his face full of curiosity. "I'm baking a chocolate cake for you!" Melissa affectionately pinched Alvin's little nose, leading the kids into the dining room by the hand. Alvina hopped about excitedly. She lightly pulled Melissa's arm, and said in a tender voice. "Mommy, I want to help bake the chocolate cake too, is that okay?" "Good, but first wash your little face clean" Melissa said. She had only been away from the children for one night and they were all so clingy to her. Grandma Julia watched the three of them together every day, their warm and happy appearance made the entire manor feel more homely. Half an hour later, the parent-child chocolate cake was ready. On top of it were a few crooked hearts, which were drawn by Alvina herself. Melissa had all the breakfast served at the table and specifically cut a piece of the chocolate cake for Grandma Julia's seat. But at this time, Joseph had to go to work and couldn't have breakfast with his grandmother. Grandma Julia tasted a bite of the cake. The fluffy, soft texture was very good, so she also had a piece packed in a sealed plastic box for Joseph. Joseph couldn't refuse his grandmother's kind gesture and had to accept the cake. He noticed the deep color of the cake and that some cocoa powder had clumped together. Joseph should have shown a face of disgust, but when he saw the heart on the cake, his eyes immediately softened. Before going to work, he turned his head and complimented, "The pink heart is very cute, thank you Alvina." "You're welcome, goodbye dad." Alvina happily took a big bite of the cake, her cheeks pushed out by the cake in her mouth, and she waved to Joseph as he left the dining room. Everyone was happily eating breakfast, only Alvin was unhappy. Melissa noticed her son's unusual behavior and asked him gently. "Alvina, what's wrong?" Alvin picked up his glass and took a sip of milk, remaining silent. Grandma Julia, who always spoiled the two siblings, felt suddenly worried when she saw Alvin unhappy. "Alvin, if you have anything to say just tell your great-grandmother. I'll fulfill any promise to you." Said Grandma Julia, she put down her pastry, moved her head closer, and waited very earnestly for Alvin to speak. Alvin glanced at his mother, pouted, and said to Grandma Julia. "Great-grandmother, a new Transformers movie was released yesterday. I wanted to see it last night with my mother and sister, but mother had to go out. Today I want to go to the cinema and also want to go shopping at the mall." Hearing this, Grandma Julia's face broke into a smile and the eyebrows that had been furrowed in worry were finally relaxed. "I thought it was something serious. Melissa, after finish eating breakfast, take the children out for fun. Staying at the manor all the time will bore them too." "Alright, grandma." Melissa replied. It had been long since she last went shopping. It was a good opportunity to buy Alvin and Alvina a pair of autumn clothes for the coming season. In the afternoon, Melissa took Alvin and Alvina to a movie and they spent an hour at the mall afterward. The kids were getting a bit tired, so Melissa bought them a couple of doughnuts at a dessert shop, giving them some energy replenishment. Melissa perceived a gaze on her when buying the doughnuts. It was from a tall, thin figure, a man who wore a baseball cap. Melissa felt this silhouette was somewhat familiar, but couldn’t recall who he was. "Who wants the strawberry-flavored one?" Melissa asked, lifting a doughnut. Alvina stretched out her hand immediately "Me!" "Alvin, here's the banana-flavored for you." As Melissa distributed the doughnuts, she still noticed the shadow of that man. She guided the children towards the indoor playground in the mall. Alvin was still immersed in the Transformers movie's excitement. He waved his arms, continuously shouting excitedly. "Bumblebee, transform!" His arm shot out at high-speed and accidentally hit Alvina's head. "Ouch, big brother, you hit me." Alvina pouted and rolled her eyes, rubbing her head with a displeased mood. "It wasn't on purpose, you blocked my Bumblebee from transforming!" Alvin span in a circle on the spot, then darted towards the indoor playground. "Alvin, where are you going?" Melissa, leading Alvina, rushed after him. Seeing Alvina also not in the best of spirits prompted her to suggest. "Alvina, would you like to play in the ball pit and jump on the trampoline with your brother?" "Alright." Alvina, with her resentful little eyes gazing towards her playmates who were enjoying the trampoline, broke into a smile all of a sudden. Melissa got all-day passes for both children. They took off their shoes and entered the activity area, and began to enjoy themselves within seconds. "Alvin, Alvina, be careful not to collide with anyone!" Melissa warned them in a hoarse voice. After she coughed lightly a couple of times, she felt her throat getting a bit dry. Like all the other parents, she waited outside the play area. But guessing that these two kids wouldn’t exit for at least a couple of hours, she headed towards a temporary resting area with a clear view of the children's playground and sat down. Just as Melissa sat down, a person placed a bottle of mineral water in front of her. "Have some water." Surprised and taken unaware, she lifted her head towards the source of this deep, raspy sound, and exclaimed. "You're that guy!"