Chapter 651

Natalie wasn’t foolish enough to let her pride get the better of her and leave her and her daughter stranded. Without much hesitation, she got back in the car with Kristin.

Marico was smug. “You know, at first, I was being charitable. But then I thought, I’m not a good guy, so why act like one? Since you’re riding in my car, you should pay me for it.”

Natalie pulled a hundred-dollar bill from her purse. “Take us to our hotel. The rest is your tip.”

“You think I’m that cheap?”

“Dirt cheap.”

Marico sneered. “Nope. You have to buy me dinner!”

The car finally stopped in front of a stall near the film studio, a popular spot for crew members and extras after a shoot. Worried about being recognized, Natalie put on a large pair of sunglasses.

After ordering, Marico looked at Natalie across the table with a complicated expression.

“Wearing sunglasses at night? Are you afraid people won’t notice you?”

Natalie opened a soda and took a sip. “It doesn’t matter if they notice me. I’m a

beautiful woman, I’m used to drawing attention. As long as they don’t recognize who I am.”

“You say I’m self-aware, but you clearly aren’t.”

“Shut up, your breath stinks.”

At Natalie’s retort, Kristin giggled.

Marico’s expression softened instantly when he looked at Kristin.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Mister, are you like me? Do you get lazy and not brush your teeth in the morning? Is that why your mouth is stinky?”

Marico pouted. “I brush my teeth morning and night, thank you very much. Your mom is just slandering me.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Let me smell.”

With that, Kristin got up, leaned close to Marico’s face, and gave him a sudden peck on the cheek.

The kiss stunned Marico. Natalie hadn’t expected her daughter to do that either.

“You don’t stink, mister. You smell very nice,” Kristin declared seriously.

In that moment, Marico’s heart melted completely. How sweet, adorable, and lovable girl she is!

“Hey, how about I be your godfather?”

Natalie kicked him under the table. “In your dreams!”

Marico feigned injury, and Kristin immediately rushed to comfort him, turning to scold Natalie: “Mommy, the mister has helped us so many umes! He’s not a bad person you’ can’t be so mean to him!”

Natalie’s mouth twitched. “He’s not a bad person? He’s the worst person in the world!”

“No he’s not! The mister is a good person!”

Marico hugged Kristin back. “See? She’s the only one in the whole world with good judgment. She’s my kindred spirit.”

Kristin blinked. “What’s a kindred spirit?”

“It means best friends.”

“Then we are best friends!”

“That’s right, we’re best friends!”

To seal their newfound friendship, they decided to have a toast. Kristin raised her juice, Marico raised his beer, they clinked their drinks seriously, and then both chugged, them down.

Natalie couldn’t be bothered with them and focused on her food.

Since Marico had been drinking, Natalie drove on the way back.

When they got to the hotel, Marico couldn’t drive back to the city, so he had to book

a room there as well.

In the elevator, Marico leaned in and whispered in Natalie’s ear, “I’m sleeping alone tonight. Want to come tuck me in?”

Natalie stomped on his foot. “Shut up!”

Marico winced. “If I hadn’t made a bad choice tonight, you wouldn’t even be getting the offer!”

Natalie seethed. It was true that

because Marico had helped her

twice tonight, her opinion of him had improved slightly. But with his own stupid mouth, he had managed to obliterate that tiny bit of goodwill.