The hidden billionaire heiress (Lyra Melvin)

Chapter 1032 The Stricter, the More Love

He lifted his son's blanket and removed his sleeping pants.

Using the light from his flashlight, he checked his injuries again.

Fortunately, there was still a faint red mark that hadn't faded completely, slightly swollen but not too serious.

He didn't hit him too hard tonight, so he wouldn't even need medicine and would be fully recovered by tomorrow.

It was better than the rows of bite marks Alistair left on his leg that were so deep they turned blue.

His son loved revenge and couldn't take any losses, which wasn't a good thing. He'd have to find a way to change his son's behavior sooner or later.

Anthony sighed as he took out a box of moisturizer from his robe pocket and applied it to Alistair's little butt with gentle movements. Even though he moved softly, Alistair still grumbled and twisted his butt. "Daddy," he murmured in his sleep while moved his lips dreamily, "sleepy time... stay with me..."

"You're five years old but you still want someone to stay with you when you sleep? You've spoiled yourself."

Anthony joked as he dressed Alistair back up in pants, covered him with the blanket then turned around, ready to leave.

"Mommy..."

Alistair mumbled in his sleep, causing Anthony's footsteps to falter before slowly turning back around for one last glance at the sleeping child.

His eyes were complicated as he hesitated briefly before choosing another side of the bed instead.

Alistair's bed was small. It was only enough space for him to curl up while holding onto his son. Anthony had long legs that needed folding just so they could both fit under one blanket together. At weekend.

In Callahan Residence, piano music echoed throughout the grand hallways. The tune sounded inexperienced yet smooth enough for an amateur performer who played Horse Racing on piano keys. Paloma clapped her hands happily upon hearing it finish.

"My dear Alistair is amazing! You played so well! What's this song called?"

Alistair felt flattered by her praise as he continued speaking.

"This piece is called Horse Racing," replied Alistair proudly.

"I learned it two weeks ago from my vocal teacher. He said other kids would take at least one month just learning half of it but I managed within two weeks."

Paloma gasped in surprise and then exaggeratedly exclaimed, "Wow!"

She sat beside him on the bench seat, picking up strawberries using a fruit fork. Before she handed them over towards Ailstar's mouth, she said, "You're truly my pride! Other kids can't even learn half within a month but you've already mastered this piece perfectly within two weeks! You're definitely an exceptional musical genius!"

She smiled widely, feeling proud of her great-grandson while sitting beside him. Enjoying every moment spent together with him, she was listening intently towards each note played beautifully by such young talent like him without missing any keynotes along its melody line.

"Come on, reward you with some strawberries. Do you want a toy too? How about I reward you with a four-wheel drive car? Let's go buy it this afternoon!"

Alistair's chubby face lit up with joy as he ate the strawberries and hugged Paloma tightly, "Thank you, grandma!"

As they stood in the stairwell, they heard steady footsteps approaching.

Anthony adjusted his suit and shirt collar before walking down slowly and suddenly said, "Why buy a four-wheel drive car when his room is already overflowing with toys? Don't spoil him too much." Alistair immediately lowered his head in disappointment as if being discourage.

Paloma glared at Anthony and spoke softly but lovingly, "You don't understand anything! Alistair plays piano so well that he deserves to be praised for it. It's just a toy car. Don't exaggerate things like that! Every child has toys all over their room when they're young."

Anthony walked past them calmly without showing any emotion and said flatly, "I didn't have any toys when I was young."

Paloma's expression changed instantly, and she stopped talking.

"Alistair, great-grandma just said you've been doing well in your piano lessons lately. Play that piece again," he continued after an awkward silence.

Alistair swallowed hard as he felt his father standing next to him, and pressure mounted instantly within him.

His father never took homework lightly. There couldn't be any mistakes or else he would look down on him!

"Okay," he replied meekly before sitting on the piano bench and adjusting himself into position. Then he placed his small hands gently onto the keys.

The clear sound of music echoed through the hall once more. Paloma and Anthony watched silently as Alistair played.

After he finished playing half of Horse Racing, Anthony looked sternly at him, "How come you only played half of it? How long have you been learning Horse Racing?" "Half a month," replied Alistair sullenly while pouting.

"In just half a month, you can play this well? But even your scales are wrong. You're playing too slow. It sounds like donkeys trotting instead of horses racing." Paloma gave Anthony an angry glare. "Anthony, speak nicely."

But even Alistair muttered discontentedly, "I can't do horse racing yet. If you say I'm trotting donkeys, then let's trot. Donkeys are stupid anyway. They're perfect for me." "Alistair!" Anthony yelled.

And Paloma yelled too, "Alistair doesn't have piano lessons every day. He's only five years old and he's already doing great. Don't be too hard on him, you..." "Grandma," he interrupted, "five is the best age to learn piano. Strict requirements will make him more outstanding in the future. You don't need to worry about it." Paloma was angry and saw Alistair biting his lip from afar, feeling very depressed for him.

"It wasn't your time to check Alistair's piano lesson today. I just wanted him to play two songs for me and make me happy. What's your problem?" Anthony asked back, "Can't I check his homework?"

"Okay, you can check it but can you also praise Alistair more? When you were his age, you didn't even know how to play the piano yet he is much better than you."

Anthony chuckled softly, "I didn't have a chance to learn when I was his age. With such good living conditions and educational opportunities now available for him, he should cherish them and study well." When Anthony was five years old, Caitlin was still young with two sons of her own who she paid attention to, instead of Anthony.

Every time his father went out on business trips, Caitlin would take this opportunity to scold him.

At that time, the servants in the Callahan family knew that Caitlin did not like this illegitimate child, so they deliberately bullied him just to please her.

Not only could he not learn how to play the piano at that time, but when borrowing Shane's pen, it was considered stealing by Caitlin, which led her punishing Anthony severely in front of everyone else as an example.

If it weren't for enduring humiliation for many years, then having an opportunity entering into a secret investigation training camp, where he worked hard climbing up high positions, there would be no chance of turning things around. And if Caitlin had continued tormenting him, it would lead towards death without any hope of getting out alive.

The memories from before were triggered, causing Paloma's face looking unwell.

"Forget about it. Discipline your own son yourself, since I cannot do anything about it."

She knew that Anthony had high expectations for Alistair because as strict as he may be towards his son showed how much love was in his heart towards his child.

She couldn't interfere with raising children anymore since she was old enough.

"My head hurts a bit and I'm not feeling well, so I'll go rest in my room. Talk yourself."

With her cane supporting herself while being helped by the butler, she left after speaking those words, leaving behind Alistair looking timid without anyone backing him up anymore.

Just moments ago, his posture in front of Paloma was so lazy, but now in front of Anthony, he was perfectly upright with his back straightened.

Anthony walked around the piano stool and sat next to his son. "Keep going, play it again."