The Billionaire And His Son Want Me Back (Paisley)

Chapter

207

At first, Maria thought it was a friend Serena knew, but when she saw it was that little ingrate, she immediately lost her good. mood.

Just then, another woman approached, pulling Grayson away with a look of disgust.

"Sonny, what are you doing here? You shouldn't be in places like this. You'll get sick from the food."

Maria's face turned even darker with that remark: "Yeah, better take your little boy away before the air here makes him sick." Hearing Maria's sarcastic tone, Claire showed even more disdain. "Let's go, Sonny, the driver is waiting for us." Grayson shook his head, refusing to leave. I want to eat here.

"No, the food here isn't clean, Claire insisted. In truth, if Grayson had wanted to eat here from the start, she would have agreed. But now, seeing that middle- aged woman's sarcastic face, she stubbornly refused to let Grayson stay.

Grayson's stubbornness surfaced, and he yanked Claire's hand away. "I said I'm eating here, so I am. If you don't listen to me, I have Grandma fire you."

That statement hit Claire like a blow. She knew Lauren would always do anything Grayson asked. If Grayson spoke up. Lauren would definitely fire her. Claire's face stiffened, but she had no choice but to agree, "Fine, then." Grayson happily sat down next to Serena. Claire glanced at Maria, then chose to sit alone at the table next door.

Maria shot her a glare, then

looked at Grayson! Considering that he was Paisley's son and seeing that Serena didn't mind him, she decided to let him be.

After sitting down, Grayson looked around but couldn't spot Paisley anywhere.

"Where is she?" he asked Serena. Although he had already started calling Paisley "Mom," he couldn't bring himself to say it in front of Serena.

"Who?" Serena asked, confused.

Grayson hesitated for a few seconds, then replied awkwardly, Your mom."

Serena had been in a good mood until then, but upon hearing Grayson ask about her mother, her

little face fell again. "I haven't seen Mom in days.'

In reality, Paisley had been coming home every night, but by the time she arrived, Serena was already asleep.

In the mornings, when Paisley left, Serena was still asleep.

Grayson felt a bit disappointed, as he had hoped to see her. But at the same time, a part of him felstrangely happy deep inside. It turned out that Crayson wasn't the only one who couldn't see his mom.

Not wanting Serena to stay sad, Maria pointed to the children's pay area in the restaurant. "Rena, do you want to go play there

Children's emotions come and go

quickly, and Serena was no exception. Her attention was immediately captured by the play area, and she nodded eagerly. "Yes, I want to gol

Maria carried Serena over, with Grayson instinctively following behind them. Claire, seeing this, reluctantly followed as well.

Standing next to Maria, Claire looked at the simple play equipment with a sneer. "He has a private playground at home. that's

Statuch more fun and twice as big as this one. I don't know what's wrong with him today, so disobedient!"

Maria rolled her eyes. "You say that as if you're his mother. Are you the same as me, just a nanny?" Claire scoffed. I'm not like you. I'm Sonny Vanderbilt's private tor, hired by the family to provide full- scale care and scientific guidance for his growth. I'm high-level talent.

She gave Maria a condescending glance. "Unlike you, who's just anaid cooking, cleaning, and babysitting

Maria wasn't fazed at all. Mimicking Claire's exaggerated sneer, the retorted, "No matter how high-

level you are, you're still just an employee. They can fire you whenever they want. What's the difference between us?"

Claire was momentarily stunned, unable to come up with a rebuttal. She blamed Grayson for mentioning her potential dismissal in front of Maria earlier, giving this old woman a reason to mock her. "Hmph, I won't stoop to your level." Maria ignored her and continued watching Serena until the food they had ordered was served. Then she called Serena over

When Serena stopped playing, Grayson followed her out as well and sat at her table again. Maria noticed but said nothing. Although she disliked Grayson, she was an adult and wouldn't stoop to the level of a child. Grayson was used to being the center of attention at home and rarely restrained himself, except in front of his father and grandfather.

But since they weren't always home, and his grandmother indulged him in everything, he had little reason to behave even

outside.

Now, seeing Serena's kids' meal, he didn't bother asking and simply helped himself. After taking a bite, he made a face and tossed it back onto the plate in disgust

Maria couldn't hold back. "Why are you wasting food like this?"

"But it tastes bad, Grayson said, not feeling he'd done anything wrong. At home, anything he didn't like was immediately replaced or remade to his liking by the servants.

Maria was furious. Is this really how the Vanderbilt family raise their kids? No wonder this boy treated Paisley the way he did before. If Paisley were here, she would never have allowed such wastefulness. Worried that Serena might follow his example, Maria said, "Ren, let's eat. Do you remember what Mommy told you?"

Serena thought for a moment. "Mommy said wasting food is shameful

"That's right, Rena. You're such a good girl,"

Grayson froze, looking visibly uncomfortable at the exchange.

Claire noticed and, displeased, snapped at Maria, "Hey, lady, why don't you just worry about your own kid? Sonny is the Vanderbilt family's child. He doesn't need your moral lectures.

Maria glanced at Claire but didn't respond. However, to everyone's surprise, Grayson quietly picked up the food he had rejected earlier and began eating it in small bites.

"Sonny, if it's not good, don't eat it. You might get sick, Claire said, shocked that Grayson was openly defying her. At home, he had never behaved like this.

At

that moment, a man wearing a thick coat walked into the restaurant. Maria noticed him and found it odd.

Although the weather had turned cooler, it wasn't cold enough to warrant such a heavy coat. Wouldn't he feel hot? Still, she only gave him a passing glance, assuming he was just another parent. The restaurant was full of children and their families, so it wasn't unusual for a father to be

there alone. But as the man passed her, Maria suddenly sensed something was wrong.

Though he was bundled up, she caught a faint whiff of sulfur and gasoline.