Chapter 417: Chapter 417: You’re Mommy’s Most Handsome Boy
"Okay."
The little boy’s "Okay" came without any hesitation.
It was clear that he trusted Ivana Monroe very much.
Ian Keane slowly relaxed his body, while Ivana supported his waist, gently instructing him to let his feet leave the pool floor, stretching his arms straight and slowly sweeping them to the sides.
This was the same way Leon Keane initially taught Ian how to swim.
However, Ian still hadn’t learned how to swim.
When he heard Ivana say this, Ian didn’t tell her out loud. Instead, he followed her instructions, slowly moving forward.
Ivana’s hands held Ian’s waist, ensuring he couldn’t sink.
"Great, yes, Ian, just like this, your posture is very standard. Mom taught you once, and you could swim so well; it shows you have a talent for swimming."
Ivana exclaimed repeatedly, praising Ian.
Ian’s small mouth gradually turned up; everyone loves praise, especially when it comes from his favorite mommy.
Favorite?
Ian was taken aback. Unconsciously, he had placed Ivana at the top of his heart.
"Ian, you’re amazing. If you could increase your swimming speed a bit, you’d be even more amazing."
Ivana’s words of encouragement were very effective.
Ian’s little arms paddled vigorously, increasing his speed by twice what it was before.
However, he hadn’t noticed that Ivana was still standing in place.
It wasn’t until he swam a long way and smugly asked Ivana, "Mommy, how’s my speed?"
Ivana shouted, "Great, keep swimming forward. You’re mommy’s brightest star."
Ivana’s voice came from a distance.
Ian realized Ivana wasn’t by his side, and his body started to stiffen, almost sinking, but because of that shout, "You’re mommy’s brightest star."
The brightest star couldn’t disappoint mommy?
No, he couldn’t.
He wanted mommy’s praise, to make mommy proud.
Ian closed his eyes, trying hard to overcome his fear of water. He paddled his arms vigorously, and moments later, he reached the pool’s edge, gripping the tiles above with his hands.
Ian opened his eyes and turned around, seeing Ivana swimming towards him like a mermaid.
Ian had no time to fear; he was captivated by Ivana’s graceful swimming.
Ivana swam to his side, and as she emerged from the water, her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, breathtakingly beautiful.
Ivana wiped the water from her face and saw Ian staring at her dumbfounded. She smiled, "What’s the matter? Are you staring at mommy?"
Ian said, "Mommy, you’re so beautiful!"
Hearing her son’s praise,
Ivana felt even more beautiful inside: "Ian, you’re also great. You learned to swim so quickly."
Ian blushed from the praise.
Ivana sensed a gaze in the darkness, hotly staring at her.
A shiver ran through her pores instantly.
Ivana looked towards the top of the pool but didn’t see anyone.
What’s going on?
Ivana guessed at a person but quickly dismissed it; Leon Keane went to accompany Timmy to sleep. He couldn’t be here.
Even if Timmy had already fallen asleep and he came here, there was no need to hide secretly in the dark.
"Mommy, what are you looking at?" Ian asked curiously.
"Nothing... come, mommy will swim with you and see who can reach the other side first."
Ivana pointed to the other side of the pool, about 100 meters away.
"Okay, I want to try and swim there before mommy."
Ivana’s encouragement through companionship was very effective, especially since Ian experienced the taste of success; he suddenly wasn’t as afraid of water anymore. Swimming didn’t seem as difficult as he imagined.
"Yes, mommy likes confident kids like you."
Ivana gave him a "you’re awesome" look.
One, two, three.
The mother and son both plunged into the water, swimming forward with effort.
Ivana intentionally slowed her swimming speed, sneakingly letting Ian swim ahead, and when they reached the end, she sighed, "I lost."
Ian felt extremely proud; he actually beat mommy in a swim.
Ian was delighted, yet suspiciously looked at Ivana, "Mommy, did you lose to me on purpose?"
Ivana’s eyes widened instantly, "How could that be? Ahem... I don’t mean that. Actually, I lost to you on purpose to give you some confidence since you just learned to swim. Let’s swim again, this time I won’t hold back. Ian, do you dare to race with mommy again?"
Ian suspiciously looked at Ivana. Mommy’s words were filled with both truth and fiction, leaving him confused.
"Why wouldn’t I dare? Ian dares."
The mother and son began racing again.
After about half an hour of racing, it was already nine o’clock. Ian, tired but unsatisfied, felt he had made flying progress in swimming.
This made him thrilled.
Ian wanted to continue competing and swimming because Ivana lost once, won once, making him itch inside. Every time he thought he was the best, mommy would knock him down a peg, successfully stirring his competitive spirit.
This feeling was the most agonizing.
But Ivana wouldn’t allow it.
"No! We agreed on nine, and it’s nine. Don’t you remember what mommy told you? Children who sleep late and lack sleep will have bad skin, won’t grow tall, and won’t look handsome in the future. Does Ian want to become that kind of child?"
"No, no, Ian will be good, Ian will go to sleep."
Ian shook his head vigorously as he exited the pool.
Aunt Golding took a large towel, wrapping Timmy Monroe’s wet little body. She said to Ivana, who was in the pool, "Ma’am, please don’t come up yet; Auntie Chapman went to get you a towel."
The night was very cool, and coming out like this would surely catch a cold.
"Okay."
Ivana returned to the pool.
"Then I’ll take the young master for a bath and to change into pajamas," Aunt Golding said again.
"Okay," Ivana paused and then said, "Aunt Golding, please let other maids handle these things in the future."
Aunt Golding laughed, "No need, I enjoy taking care of both young masters."
Ian suddenly said, "Grandma Golding, you said it, you can’t go back on your word."
Grandma... Golding?
Aunt Golding was taken aback, and her eyes turned red instantly. Timmy had always called her Grandma Golding; Ian was a child hard to get close to, and now not only did he call her Grandma Golding, but also insisted she couldn’t break her promise.
Had he... accepted her?
"Okay, okay, Grandma Golding will never break her promise."
Aunt Golding sniffed, quietly cursing herself for being useless; at her age, her eyes still easily watered and she felt like crying.
Ivana watched from the pool as Aunt Golding and Ian’s figures moved away and disappeared.
Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed her ankle from the water.
Ivana’s exquisite face instantly lost color, wanting to scream. Her body suddenly sank, being pulled into the pool.