Chapter 81

Melissa thought if she always gave the children what they asked for, it could spoil them, so she ignored the words of Alvina. Holding her little hand, they headed to the Sleepless City. "Mama! Mama! I want those colorful lanterns." Alvina pouted, yelling with a discontent expression. "Melissa, didn't you hear what Alvina said?" Joseph was following behind the mother and her two children, reminding Melissa. "Alvina, you've already bought too many things today. Let's stop here." Melissa stopped, looking down at Alvina, speaking earnestly. "No, mama, it's the last one!" Alvina was disgruntled, struggling to get a colorful lantern. Melissa couldn't keep spoiling her like this. Looking at Alvina for a moment, she patiently said to Alvina. "Look at your brother, he doesn't buy such things. You always play with it for a few days and then leave it aside, right?" "Humph, you won't understand, Mama is stingy. I will ask Papa to buy it for me!" Alvina twisted her little arm, trying to break free from Melissa. "Alvina, you are not allowed to go. Are you being disobedient again?" Melissa’s expression grew serious, as she stared at Alvina, silently watching her. Alvina's eyes became teary, and she looked at Joseph helplessly, asking for help. Upon seeing his mother really getting angry, Alvin didn't dare to say anything on behalf of Alvina, although he also wanted the colorful lantern badly. "You're not allowed to look at him, let's go." Melissa pulled her daughter and swiftly walked towards the Sleepless City. Alvina walked with twists and turns, wiping her tears, quietly sobbing. While walking, she muttered. "Bad Mama, you're a bad mama..." Joseph couldn't bear it any longer, he instructed Tony to go and buy two lanterns. With a troubled expression on his face, Tony hesitated "Young master, is this alright?" "Just go and buy them. Who are you listening to, that woman or me?" Joseph said impatiently, he couldn't stand to see Alvina crying. A few minutes later, Tony bought two beautiful lotus lanterns and intended to hand them over to the second young master, but Joseph waved his hand, gesturing him to say "You deliver the lanterns yourself." "This..." Tony's expression became even more troubled. He was afraid that Melissa would scold him from head to toe. Although Melissa hadn't made things difficult for the Clarkson family's servants yet, Tony always felt this woman was someone not to mess with. "If I tell you to go, you go." Joseph kicked Tony's butt, so Tony had no choice but to obey. "Yes, Second Young Master!" Tony, rubbing his butt, cautiously approached Melissa. He lowered his voice to call for her. "Miss Austin, Miss Austin?" Melissa suspiciously turned her head. At this time, Tony hadn't yet brought out the lanterns; he kept them hidden behind him. "Speak," she said. Melissa looked forward at the bustling city that never sleeps, her face devoid of any joy. "The Second Young Master said... said to give you the lanterns." Tony hesitated, took out the lanterns from behind him; just as Alvina was about to take them, Melissa slapped her hand, "Alvina!" Alvina quickly withdrew her hand, her eyes filling with aggrieved tears. Joseph couldn’t stand it anymore. He thought this woman was too arrogant and domineering, always having the final say in everything. She couldn't even fulfill such a small request from her daughter - truly too overbearing! "Melissa, it's just a lantern. Is this really necessary?" Joseph walked up and said confrontationally. He was already a full head taller than Melissa. His dark gaze bore into hers, and Tony didn’t dare come any closer to them. "You came at the right time. Didn't you see I was disciplining my daughter?" Melissa said calmly, but anger filled her eyes as she pointed to the colorful lanterns in Tony's hand. "What is the meaning of this?" "I just don't want Alvina to cry." Joseph lowered his gaze to this hard-hearted woman. He couldn't understand how such a mother who seemed to enjoy making her child cried existed in this world. Melissa took a deep breath, snatching the lantern from Tony's hand and tossing it directly into the rubbish bin on the side of the road. She looked up at Joseph, her gaze firm. "I also don't want my child to become spoiled because of indulgence." "So what? I am spoiling Alvina." Joseph thought of this woman's actions just now, and the fire in his heart was even greater. "Tony, go and buy two more lanterns!" "Don't go!" Melissa stopped Tony, she turned her head and looked at Joseph, calling his full name "Joseph, you can spoil Alvina for a while, can you spoil her for a lifetime?" Joseph was left speechless by the question. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word. Because he knew, sooner or later, Alvin and Alvina would leave the Clarkson's family. Thinking about this, Joseph's heart clenched into a ball. Like a gust of wind, he bypassed the mother and her two children, and headed straight for the Never-Night City. The majority of people in the Never-Night City were dressed as ethnic minorities. Alvin led the crying Alvina into the city. Melissa followed them, always watching her two precious children. "Alvina, slow down, don't take your sister too far away." Melissa took a few quick steps and cautioned them. "Okay mom, we won't be more than ten steps away from you." Alvin agreed. He and Alvina played alone for a while, which cheered Alvina up a lot. By the time the performances began, Alvina had already forgotten about the lanterns. "Brother! There's an old man over there who can spit fire!" Alvina widened her eyes, as though she had seen a dragon quest warrior. "Ah! Alvina, look quickly, there is a flying man over there!" Alvin held Alvina's hand and marched into the crowd, with Melissa closely behind. Seeing Joseph and Tony at the front row of the audience, and her children between herself and Joseph, she felt at ease. "Huh? Where's Mom? Brother, did we lose our mom?" Worry filled Alvina's eyes. Even though Alvina just had a fight with her mom, she was still very concerned about her. "Mom is behind us, look." Alvin pointed behind, his eyes gleaming with wisdom. "Oh, I thought we lost Mom. That scared me." The worry in Alvina's look faded after seeing her mom. She took her brother's hand. "Let's go find Dad!" "Okay!" Alvin high-five Alvina then agreed by nodding. They quietly went behind Joseph; Tony noticed them and Alvin gestured "Shush" towards Tony, who understood and casually continued watching the performance with Joseph. Alvin and Alvina stood on either side of Joseph, they privately agreed to test Joseph's reaction ability - whether he could detect that they were "stealing". Alvin and Alvina one hand each, reached into Joseph's pocket. They quietly fumbled for a while and found nothing in it. Just when the two were about to leave disappointed, Joseph caught both of their hands.