Spoiled by Eight Uncles (Lily)

Blake trembled all over. He sped up his footsteps with Lilly in his arms, reaching the elevator within three quick strides.

"Let's go, we've seen a ghost!" He said in a low voice.

Cloud held Blake back.

Stop running.

The enemy had already arrived at the scene of battle.

Blake mustered up all his courage. "Old Mrs. Crawford? What are you doing here!" Bettany smirked. "I wouldn't have known that you brought Lilly drinking if I didn't come!" Blake and Cloud had been drinking flower wine, which still smelt like alcohol and Bettany caught a whiff of it at once.

Cloud hurriedly said, "Mom, let me explain!" Bettany said, " Margaret, get me my skillet! What? Had she actually brought her skillet all the way here? That was a little too much, wasn't it? Blake coughed once. "We drank, but Lilly didn't! She just drank milk." Bettany said, "You went drinking, and brought a child with you?" Blake and Cloud was speechless.

Hell, it was like nothing they said was right! Blake said, "Let me take Lilly to bed first... she's tired!" Bettany could not help but say, "Oh, so you remembered that after all!" Lilly looked so thin now! The kid must have not had enough to eat in the days she was not around.

How much hope could she have in letting two men take care of her baby? "Take her to bed!" Bettany held back her anger, lowering her voice as she hissed. "Don't wake my sweet baby up!" Blake let out a breath of relief. Sure enough, Lilly was the best human shield there was.

He carried Lilly away, exiting at top speed.

Cloud, with nowhere to run to was speechless.

How dare Blake ditch a fellow soldier just like that! What a man of zero honor! Cloud forced out a smile. "Mom..." Bettany's hand came slicing over.

She had just finished a surgery, and did not have much energy. Bettany did not go too far either... she only properly hit the old man and no one else.

Cloud rubbed his head, taking her suitcase from her. "Have you booked a room? I'll get your bags." Bettany scoffed. "I've booked them." She handed her room card over. Cloud took a glance at it, and realized that Bettany's room was just across theirs.

To think that the kid had actually snitched on them.

The next day.

Lilly slept all the way till it was ten in the morning.

Her stomach was rumbling loudly.

She yawned, getting out of her bed and padding around barefoot. She opened the door and shouted, "Grandma... I'm hungry." She was still in a post-slumber daze, thinking she was still at the Crawford household.

Upon saying so she returned to her senses. This was a hotel, how could her grandma be here? Lilly ran a hand through her messy hair, when a delicious smell filled her nostrils.

She was staying in a suite with her father and Uncle Cloud. The bedroom opened to the living room, with a kitchen across it.

Lilly stopped short. Was Dad cooking? Yet it was Bettany who walked out, holding a plate with a steamed bun on it.

"Lilly, you're awake! Come on, go brush your teeth and get ready for breakfast!" The kid was in a confused daze.

"Grandma, are you in my dreams?" She thought she was dreaming.

Bettany smiled at Lilly fondly, walking over and pinching Lilly's cheeks. "You're not dreaming. I'm really here." "Didn't you say that you wanted to see the flowers with me? That's why | came.” She had not fully recovered from her surgery, or would have lifted Lilly into a huge hug.

Lilly finally realized what was going on, and threw her arms around Bettany joyously. "You're the best, Grandma! I'm going to brush my teeth, I'm so hungry!" She flitted off to get ready like a little bird.

It had been a long time since she had had her grandmother's cooking. Lilly was especially ravenous, eating up a storm.

The sight only made Bettany's heart ache more. It felt like Lilly hadn't eaten a proper meal at all in the past few days.

Bettany chatted with Lilly, casually mentioning, "Lilly, where'd you and your Dad and Uncle Cloud go yesterday?" Lilly garbled through stuffed cheeks, "We went drinking wine!" In Lilly's head said, " she had indeed been out, and her dad and Uncle Cloud had been drinking wine.

In Bettany's head said, " Blake and Cloud brought her darling to a rowdy bar...

Blake and Cloud had just come out of their rooms then, and heard Lilly's words was speechless.

"Mom, let me explain!" Cloud said Duang... duang...

It was unclear what sound that was, but a moment later Blake and Cloud were obediently sat at the dining table.

Blake said, "You still make the best breakfast, Old Mrs. Crawford! I've been having Michelin star chefs send breakfast over these days, but it still can't compare to what you make." Cloud said, "That's right, that's right!" Bettany smiled. "Is that so? Which Michelin star chef was this?" Blake's mouth was stuffed full of food, and he mumbled a response.

Bettany did not look into it too much.

Sometimes there was not much point in insisting on finding fault with some things.

"Are you going to work tomorrow, Cloud?" Bettany asked.

Cloud nodded. "Mmmhmm." Bettany was about to ask where he was going this time, but the thought of the nature of his work made her heart ache. Thus she did not ask any further, and merely said, "Be safe, and don't go hungry." Cloud nodded. "Alright." Bettany nagged a little more. "It's spring now, the weather's different all around the world. It's still a little cold up north, and some places are actually even colder this time of the year. Bring an extra coat with you, don't forget to stay warm." "The south would be a little hot, you're going to have to wear short sleeves over there!" Cloud understood that she was only bringing up the different weathers to remind him said, " If you go up North, wear thicker clothing and keep yourself warm. If you go down South, don't catch heatstroke.

With the nature of his job, there really was no knowing where he would go next.

"I know, Mom," Cloud said. "You take care too." Hugh asked, "Are you still coming back to the Crawford household?" Bettany said as well, "You only come home once a year, you're always so busy." Cloud's heart warmed slightly. "I can’t go home this time. I'll be leaving from here, it'd be a hassle to move to and fro." The sight of his parents" graying hair made Cloud's chest ache, and the image of them wiping away tears the second he turned his back to leave popped into his head...

These two old folks must have missed him so much...

The thought filled his head, and a lump formed in Cloud's throat.

Yet Bettany nodded "Well, that's good. You have a safe trip. We're taking Lilly to Bondee Beach a little later, we won't be seeing you off." Cloud was speechless.? The lump in his throat disappeared at once.

A thought seemed to come to Lilly, and she raised her head. "Oh, Uncle Cloud! Where's that black bracelet | gave you?" Cloud did not understand the upcoming attack that would hit him, and lifted his hand. "It's right here! I've been keeping it safe, don't worry!" Lilly truly cared about him the most! Lilly stopped short. She stared at the bracelet on Cloud's wrist, her expression uncomfortable...