The CEO's Mischievous Little Bride
Chapter 611 Father and Son

Vera was fuming as she yanked open the car door. "Fine, I'll remember that," she snapped at Patrick. "Make sure Theodore's bundled up so he doesn't catch a cold." With that, she bolted towards the school building. She zipped past the old professor and slid into her seat like a ninja.

"Vera, you wanna sign up for the school's marathon race?" the old professor asked.

Everyone turned to look at her, sitting in the back row. Vera was busy texting Patrick. [Babe, wake Theodore up soon. If he naps too long, he won't sleep tonight, and we'll all be up.] Someone nudged her, and she finally looked up, confused. "Huh? What was that?"

The old professor took her response as a yes. "Alright, let's give Vera a round of applause for joining the marathon!"

Vera was even more puzzled. "Wait, what?" It took her the whole class to figure out what she'd just agreed to. She was kicking herself and couldn't focus on the lesson.

After school, she rushed to the car and saw Theodore still snoozing, with Patrick looking defeated. "Didn't I tell you to wake him up?"

Patrick sighed. "I tried, but I couldn't wake him. I almost had to smack him."

Vera rolled her eyes. "Then smack him!"

Patrick handed Theodore over to her. "You do it."

Vera looked at Theodore's soft, pink cheeks. He looked so peaceful and adorable in his sleep. She couldn't do it. "Babe, I got tricked into signing up for the marathon by the professor. It's a disaster."

She recounted her ordeal to Patrick, holding Theodore with a pout. "I don't wanna do it. Can you get me a doctor's note or something?"

Patrick grinned. "You can cancel the marathon this year."Vera's frown vanished, and she stared at Patrick in disbelief. Patrick started driving towards the barbershop. "With a name like Vera, you can cancel marathons." Vera's smile returned. "Damn right!" For the first time, she felt a rush of power.

Vera beamed in the car. "Babe, you're a genius. I love you. But we still have another problem."

Patrick asked, "Where's the barbershop?"

"Turn left at the next intersection, then right at the third light. It's just past two more intersections," Vera directed.

When they got to the barbershop, the lights were bright. The two-story salon had a chic exterior. The white walls had the shop's name in black letters and a cool logo.

Vera casually mentioned, "I got my hair cut here before. Saw some kids getting their hair done, looked pretty good."

As soon as the car stopped, Theodore started to stir, his little body wriggling awake. Patrick parked and took Theodore from Vera.

Theodore woke up fully. He made a few noises in the car, but when he saw Patrick and Vera, he stopped crying and snuggled into Patrick's shoulder, his face turned towards Vera.

"Let's get this over with," Patrick said.

The lights inside the shop were super bright, and Theodore buried his face into Patrick's shoulder as they walked in.

Vera chatted with the stylist, "My son's got a photo shoot this weekend. We need to shave his head today."

"Mrs. Olteran, has he had his hair shaved before?" the stylist asked.

Vera shook her head. "First time for him. Who's the best you got? My son's a handful."

Everyone glanced at Patrick holding Theodore. "Mrs. Olteran, even if you hadn't mentioned it, we'd have given you our top stylist."

Vera smiled. "Thanks."

Soon, the experienced stylist showed up. Patrick and Vera discussed the haircut while Theodore watched them suspiciously from Patrick's arms, not sure what was going on. Vera touched Theodore's ear and asked the stylist, "You're not gonna nick his skin, right?"

Theodore looked at Vera, stuck out his tongue, and snuggled into Patrick's arms.

For baby haircuts, parents usually hold the kid, and it was typically the mom. As Vera held Theodore and laid him down, he saw a bunch of adults with tools coming at him. His danger radar went off, and he started crying, flailing his limbs. An assistant tried to distract Theodore with toys and noises, but it didn't work. The buzzing clippers made him even more upset. Every time the stylist tried to start, Theodore's squirming made it impossible. "Hey, look, a teddy bear," even the stylist tried to distract him.

Vera gently held Theodore. "Theodore, I'm right here. Don't be scared. Look, Daddy's here too."

Patrick watched as tears streamed from Theodore's eyes to his ears. Since becoming a dad, Patrick's heart had softened. He used to be strict with Randall, thinking he'd be a tough dad, immune to his son's tears.

Now, Patrick's face stayed stern, but his heart melted at Theodore's crying face. "Come on, be brave. Don't cry. Want me to tell you a story?" Patrick coaxed.

Theodore looked around at the unfamiliar faces, still resisting. He looked at Patrick, crying non-stop, tears rolling down.

Patrick sighed, bent down, and took off the cape from Theodore, lifting the sweaty, crying boy. He gently wiped Theodore's tears with his hand. "Theodore, don't cry. I'm right here."

Vera stood up, her heart melting. "Honey, I can't hold his head still."

Patrick sat back down with Theodore. He told the stylist, "Forget the cape. I'll hold him and let him lie on my shoulder for the haircut."

The stylist said, "Mr. Olteran, the hair will get all over you."

Patrick didn't care. "Doesn't matter. How could a dad be bothered by his own son's hair?"

Without the scary cape, Theodore didn't have to face the intimidating people. His little mouth pouted, but he stopped crying.