The Heart Left Behind (Cole and Yvonne) novel Chapter 52

Lorraine remained calm and composed. When she woke up and didn't see me, Jonas quickly told her that I had probably gone downstairs to get breakfast.

Jonas explained that I always brought breakfast to the room during their previous outings so that they could sleep in a little longer. As Lorraine listened to him, a faint smile tugged at her lips.

She was probably wondering how Yvonne failed to appreciate me when I was such a good man as she watched me set the breakfast on the table and usher the kids to the bathroom to wash up.

Seeing me juggling breakfast and two kids with ease made her smile.

Washing up with Xavier was no easy task. By the time we finished, his shirt was soaked from collar to hem.

"How do you even manage to make such a mess just washing your face?" I sighed, shaking my head as I grabbed a towel.

"You did it so horribly," Xavier shot back, already moving toward the table, his hunger overriding any further complaints.

The moment he saw the spread of food, his eyes lit up with excitement.

"Xavier," I said, catching his attention. "Take only what you can eat. Don't waste anything."

Before I could finish, he grabbed a slice of bread, took a single bite, and immediately threw it back on the plate.

"What is this? It tastes awful!"

"Xavier!" I snapped, my patience wearing thin. "Do you realize where we are? This is someone else's room! Do you have any manners at all?" I grabbed him by the arm, lifting him slightly off the ground.

"Hey! I'm not done eating!" Xavier protested, his hands and feet flailing in the air. "Put me down, you jerk!"

My hand landed firmly on his backside.

"Who taught you to talk like this?" I demanded, my frustration boiling over.

Xavier continued to mutter something under his breath, his defiance faltering.

"Cole, let it go," Lorraine interjected gently. "Xavier is still a child. Yvonne won't be happy if she finds out he got scolded here."

"No. He needs discipline," I replied, shaking my head. "He can't keep acting this way. Someone has to teach him."

"You're not my dad! Stop trying to control me! All you care about is Jonas!" Xavier yelled, his voice cracking as his eyes filled with tears. "You're crazy! Put me down!"