Chapter 37 Ethan Is My Son

"Hello, Ethan." Lyman beamed brightly. "I want to be your mom's boyfriend and I'll be your dad."

"Dad..." Ethan murmured, lost in thoughts, the light in his eyes dimming.

Lyman thought it meant Ethan didn't like him and grew more nervous. "Ethan, am I too forward? Do you not like this? I really like Penelope and I hope you can approve of us."

Ethan realized that Lyman had the wrong idea and hurriedly said, "I like you. And I'll be thrilled if you can be my dad one day."

Suppressing his disappointment, Ethan beamed. He could tell that Lyman was a good person. Although he longed for Zackary's love, Zackary's harsh treatment of him and Penelope scared him and he thought he shouldn't stop wishing for it.

He couldn't stay with Penelope for long. Once he was gone, he wanted someone to take care of Penelope as she was the best mom in the world. It was the only way that he could rest in peace.

"Really?" Lyman was elated. Ethan nodded and he stuttered in joy, "Well...then...Ethan, you shall call me Dad from now on! I feel a connection with you and think you are my son as soon as I see you."

Penelope couldn't accept that. As she was about to stop Ethan, Ethan beat her to it. "Dad."

Penelope felt she must stop the mistake from going on and needed to clear it. "Ethan, Lyman is just a friend. You should just call him Lyman."

"Penelope, how could you say that? Ethan likes me and wants to call me Dad. You can't force him to change it. Even though he's a child, he can make decisions. You should respect him."

Dumbfounded, Penelope felt Lyman had a point and she was almost convinced.

Ethan was aware that it would be hard for Penelope to agree to be Lyman's girlfriend, so he decided to play matchmaker.

Although this was only the first time they met, he liked Lyman. And he felt Lyman was so much better than Zackary, who only bullied Penelope.

It would be nice if Lyman was his dad.

"Mom, I like him and want to call him Dad."

Ethan pouted and fluttered his eyelashes at Penelope. Penelope couldn't say the words anymore.

She could never reject Ethan. No matter how unwilling she was, she couldn't scold Ethan for calling Lyman Dad.

"Penelope, did you hear him? He likes me and wants to call me Dad," Lyman said smugly. If he had a tail, it would be waving frantically.

"Mom, let me call him Dad, OK? I want a dad so badly..."

Penelope didn't know what to say.

In fact, she couldn't say anything when they both asked her so sincerely.

Seeing that Penelope stopped resisting the idea, Lyman was overjoyed. He sat down on the bed and took Ethan's hand in his gently. "Don't worry, Ethan. I'll take care of you and your mom from now on. I'll protect you both."

Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he turned to Penelope. "Mom, I'm hungry and want the food from the canteen."

"Lyman, please look after Ethan for a while. I'm going to the canteen and will be back soon." Penelope took the meal card and hurriedly left.

Ethan had said to get Penelope away so that he could talk to Lyman in private.

"Dad, you like Mom very much, right?"

"Yes. I fell in love with Penelope at first sight. I want to marry her." Lyman dropped his smile and said seriously.

"Dad, would you please take care of Mom for me?

"I'm very sick and it'll cost a lot to cure me. Mom has had a hard life to earn money to save me. I don't want her to keep doing it. Once I'm gone, please treat her well."

"Ethan..." Sensing the tears in his eyes, Lyman quickly turned his face away. He wiped his eyes and said firmly, "Ethan, you're going to be fine. Although your mom is having a hard life now, I'm rich. I'll find a doctor to heal you and we're going to have a great life afterward."

"Dad, please don't make Mom cry. I don't like seeing her tears. My heart broke for her every time she cried."

Ethan was such a sweet boy. Lyman felt for him and ruffled his head softly. "Rest assured, Ethan. Penelope is my girl. Nobody can make my girl cry. If someone messes with her, I'll make sure that the person won't be able to cry."

"Dad, you're so nice," Ethan said seriously.

Lyman was easy to please and smiled widely when he heard Ethan's praise. If he could, he would show Ethan his heart and make him see how much he loved Penelope.

Soon, Penelope returned with food. She brought some for Lyman too. Having enough extravagant meals, Lyman felt the simple food tasted delicious.

Satisfied, Lyman thought, "The food tastes better when I'm eating with the right people. I can enjoy the cheapest meal as long as I'm with Penelope."

After lunch, Lyman invited Ethan and Penelope to have dinner that night before leaving with a spring in his steps.

Ethan didn't need to stay in bed anymore. The doctor said that he could leave the hospital for a few hours. Lyman planned to take him out for some fresh air. A boy at his age should be lively. Lyman didn't want Ethan to only breathe the scent of sterilized water all day.

Once he got in his car, Lyman started humming a song happily, but that wasn't enough to express his excitement.

He thought for a while before taking out his phone to call Zackary.

"Zackary, let's have dinner tonight. My treat.

"Yes, I'll bring my son over too. Remember to bring a gift. Don't you forget it."

After calling Zackary, he called Wilton and Devon too before putting his phone down, grinning.

Penelope was reluctant to have dinner with Lyman, but seeing how excited Ethan was about it, she didn't have the heart to let the boy down and agreed to let Lyman pick them up later.

Lyman helped her a lot. She wanted to buy him dinner.

She planned to go to an ordinary restaurant. But Lyman took her and Ethan to Delight Restaurant.

She had never eaten here, yet she heard about it. It was said that a drink in this place would cost about 1,000 dollars. A meal here would cost at least 16,000 dollars.

Penelope wanted to leave and asked Lyman to find a cheaper place. Before she could say something, she saw Zackary and Lola walk in.

Lyman took Ethan into his arms and said to Zackary cheerfully, "Zackary, there you are. Let me introduce my son. This is Ethan."