My Secret Billionaire Husband Chapter 2791 - 2799: Besides him, no one else is worthy!

The child shoved her aside, sobbing loudly, "I don’t want you to be my mommy, wu wu wu, I want my own mommy. I don’t want to be here, I want to go home, I want to go home..."

Annie Lawrence never saw the push from the little boy coming.

Despite being only four years old, his shove almost sent her tumbling down.

Her expression shifted in an instant.

She felt like exploding, yet with cameras rolling on the show, she forced down her fury.

Inside, though, she boiled with rage.

Damn it.

What sort of bratty kid did they pair her with? He was anything but obedient.

That piercing cry grated on her nerves; she itched to stuff something in his mouth to silence him.

Edward Cooper hadn't foreseen the boy's outburst either. Witnessing the heartbreaking tears, he knelt quickly to soothe him, "Lucus, why the tears? Nobody's picking on you. Remember what you told your parents before joining the show? You'd be good and not cry easily, right?"

"Mr. Cooper, take me home," the boy whimpered, eyes brimming with tears.

Edward Cooper felt a bit helpless, "Little one, we're here for the show. We stay till it's done, then Mr. Cooper will bring you back. We explained it all beforehand, and you said yes. Why the sudden wish to leave?"

"Don't fear."

Edward Cooper drew the boy from his embrace, gesturing toward Annie Lawrence, "She's your new mommy now. For the coming half month, you'll stay with her, and she'll look after you well."

"Yes, Lucus, come to Mommy?" Annie Lawrence feigned sweetness, extending a hand to pat the boy's head, aiming to salvage her image, "Lucus, no need to be scared. Mommy's not mean; Mommy will cherish you."

Who could have guessed.

Her hand barely neared his head when he jerked away.

The boy recoiled like from a monster, wriggling deeper into Edward Cooper’s hold, "No way! Mr. Cooper, I refuse her as my mom. I won’t go with her, I won’t!"

Rejected once more, Annie Lawrence’s forced smile started crumbling.

Even Edward Cooper sensed the growing awkwardness.

No prior kid on the show had caused such trouble, insisting on leaving.

And Lucus was typically so compliant.

Why this meltdown now?

He was only a kid, after all. Comforting was their sole option.

Edward Cooper asked gently, "Lucus, you're always the best-behaved boy. Tell Mr. Cooper, why reject your new mom? You don't like her?"

The boy peeked timidly at Annie Lawrence, spotting a dark glint in her gaze that scared him; he hid his face in Edward’s chest, clutching tight and bursting into fresh sobs.

Edward Cooper panicked fully now.

He managed plenty else, but kids were a different challenge.

Lucus puzzled him—no usual misbehavior, yet today he acted totally off.

Viewers in the live stream buzzed with chatter.

"Lucus sure is tricky; even Edward Cooper seems stumped."

"The other kids act perfectly; Lucus isn't the littlest, so why so fussy? Such a scaredy-cat—if he hated the show, don't bring him."

"Lucus is merely four; missing parents and craving home is natural. Haters expect too much. He was calm when staff brought him from the elevator, only fussing after spotting Omega Huntley, yeah?"

"I caught that too. No tears initially from Lucus. But Omega Huntley appears, and he freaks, crying and rejecting her as mom. Clear dislike."

"Kids sense vibes keenly, friend or foe. Lucus probably detected something off, explaining his fit."

The boy gripped Edward Cooper tightly, refusing release. Comfort efforts failed; Edward was stumped. Then Porter Rushbrook, who’d watched quietly, piped up, "Lucus, fancy a game with me?"

Porter’s words dropped, and the sniffling boy in Edward’s arms hushed abruptly.

Porter pulled out his phone casually, launching King of Glory, "Quit crying, follow my lead, and you get one round. Deal? Wanna play? Obey me?"

Porter dangled the phone before the boy post-speech.

The crier from moments before eyed the screen, gaze sparkling.

Porter smirked, sauntered close, crouched down, "Lucus, game time?" The boy batted his eyes, tears vanishing, fuss gone, fixated hungrily on the phone. "Yes!"

"Good. Obey, and you play." Porter lifted the boy smoothly from Edward’s arms into his own. "No more waterworks. You got a real dad, sure, but I'm dad now. We'll tough out these two weeks as father and son, like it or not, got it?"

"Two weeks done, do as you please, go home or whatever. Till then, heed your dad—me. Clear?" Porter passed the phone to the boy, holding him secure as he headed to the back room.

Onlookers gawked as Porter tamed the tantrum-thrower in moments.

Snug in Porter’s arms, the boy settled, letting himself be carried off meekly.

Edward paused, then lauded Porter: "Who knew Porter, the youngster, excels at calming kids."

A crew hand nearby bobbed his head, "True, Lucus straightened up instantly around him."

Annie caught the exchange, her face darkening further.

She took it as digs at her kid-handling fails.

And that pesky Porter—what scheme?

Team supposed to be.

He snatched the kid and bolted, ignoring her completely!

What message was that?

Snubbing her over that wench Joanna?

The vixen stayed true to form.

Men flocked wherever she strutted.

Wasn't elite Ashton Heath sufficient?

She'd snared the world's top catch, sparking envy galore, lighting her world bright.

Still, her lust endless.

Flirting nonstop.

Back then, loose types like her faced pig-cage drownings.

Annie truly baffled.

How did such a flaky flirt reel in men wholesale? Smart Ashton Heath blind to her? Now Porter too...

He knew her married status, yet championed the wedded tramp.

Joanna, utter hussy!

She'd rip off that fake facade, reveal the slut to all!

*

Back in the room with their "daughter", Joanna tasked Kelvin with Olivia, "Watch Olivia. I'll scout the fridge. Four dishes, one soup suits us three."

Kelvin nodded without fuss, "Okay. Holler if you need aid. Cooking ain't my forte, but happy to assist."

"Will do if needed." Joanna neared, tweaked Olivia’s plump cheeks tenderly, "Olivia, Mom cooks while Dad plays?"

"Any faves to eat? Tell Mom."

Olivia’s cherubic face flushed pink, piping cutely, "Mom, Olivia craves ice cream. Possible?"

"Ice cream?" Joanna hesitated.

No parenting experience, but she knew sweets spelled tooth trouble for kids.

Doubted fridge stocked any.

She pondered, stroked Olivia’s head, "Darling, pick another? Too much sugar means cavities. Can't mar our lovely Olivia's smile."

Girls love beauty young—even at three.

Cavities ruining looks? Olivia shook head wildly, "No ice cream then for Olivia."

"Olivia's the best girl." Joanna smooshed her cheeks, planted a kiss, "Steamed egg instead? Bright, beautiful kids adore it."

The cutie gazed up, big eyes twinkling curious, "Eating steamed egg makes Olivia smarter, prettier?"

"Absolutely." Joanna grinned, "Olivia's smart and pretty now. Steamed eggs boost it more; uncles, aunts, kids will adore you.""Olivia wants steamed eggs! Olivia wants steamed eggs!"

Kids please easy.

Hit pretty-smart notes, they nod to all.

Aria Rowlett's tip to Joanna Lawrence.

Handy quicker than thought.

With kids settled, "daughter" to Kelvin Norman, Joanna pivoted to kitchen.

*

In Joanna Lawrence and Kelvin Norman's live stream room.

Desk-side, the striking man scowled frostily, mood souring at the cozy scene onscreen.

Cody Aberton reporting sensed the heavy vibe. Unclear on the mood flip, he held breath.

Long since facing President Ashton's ire.

President Ashton and Ms. Joanna meshed perfectly, cozy bond—no clashes, no grumps.

Work woes bugged him before.

Now? Just Ms. Joanna swayed him.

Thus...

Ms. Joanna-triggered face change?

Variety show trip, no?

Cody brimmed with queries, lips sealed.

Boss pressure mounting, Cody pressed on shakily: "Heath Group sealed Pistachio partnership. Smooth sailing, deal inks this week."

"Duneside subsidiary team picked. Sent branch management list to your email, President Ashton. No issues? I'll alert..."

The low-aura man, head bowed, raised it gradually.

Unveiling a stormy visage.

Cody choked on Ashton Heath’s stare, speech stalled.

Heart iced by boss’s chill glare.

Couldn't thump.

Yikes.

President Ashton... scary.

Ms. Joanna irk him anew?

"President Ashton, you..." Cody eked out.

"I regret," Ashton Heath dropped the baffler.

Cody Aberton:"???"

Befuddled: "President Ashton, regret... what?"

The elegant nobleman thinned lips, eyes blazing. Long pause, then groused, "Shouldn't have okayed that cursed variety show."

He'd deemed such no-touch shows safe.

Greenlit worry-free.

But stream glimpses fueled urge to yank her back.

Blasted program room-sharing with a guy?

Playing spouses?

Even a kid together?

No flirty bits yet, but setup enraged.

Knew it was this cozy? No clearance for Joanna Lawrence.

"President Ashton, Ms. Joanna's variety show?" Cody Aberton dawned.

Only Ms. Joanna provoked such fury.

Ashton Heath icily, "She hid the show's setup. Cody, task now."

Cody snapped, "Orders, President Ashton."

Ashton’s cool eyes hit laptop again. Broadcast beamed sweet domestic bliss.

His wife cooked for another dude.

Kelvin Norman held their fake "kid", kitchen-helping Joanna.

Girl dubbed Kelvin "Dad", Joanna "Mom" interchangeably.

Worse: chat raved "Adorable trio", "Stunning family", pairing Joanna-Kelvin.

Some mused unmarried Joanna-Kelvin ideal.

Ashton’s face shadowed deeper, frost veiling beauty. Craved shutdown.

Netizens blind—eyes, hearts.

Hence the mismatch call.

Joanna's sole match: him. None else worthy!

Joanna his forever.

Unalterable.

Comments fueled ire; Ashton inhaled deep, curbed wrath, "Reach Vision Prime's Station Director. Heath Group funds ’My Internship Parents’, 500 million."

"More post-prod if needed."

Cody stunned.

’My Internship Parents’—Ms. Joanna's gig?

Why fund? Her hype secured invites; no buy-in required.

Cody slipped, "President Ashton, Ms. Joanna's show?"

Ashton Heath eyed coldly, "Question knowns?"

"Yes sir, on it." Cody jolted quiet.

President Ashton sour clear.

Extra words? Fronterra coal duty likely.

"Inform Director: alter Ms. Joanna's show rules." Ashton Heath’s dark eyes narrowed thoughtfully, voice low, "Scratch that—have Director call me direct."

"Clear my day after tomorrow. Personal matter."

*

Program ingredients in hand, Joanna Lawrence whipped up lunch easy.

Four dishes, one soup.

Shrimp Custard Steamed Egg for Olivia chief.

Nutritious, yummy—kid growth ideal.

Plus Tomato Meatballs, steamed perch, asparagus lettuce stir-fry, cabbage-tofu soup.

Basic home fare, simple.

Hour for the spread.

This show unlike prior "The Meaning of Travel".

"The Meaning of Travel" tormented celebs nonstop, hook being stars ditching luxury for grit.