“Damian, that is one sweet painting! I want it. Would you give it to me? I’m serious. I’ll pay you for it,” Boswell offered. He really liked the painting on the easel. It depicted a pleasant memory of the kids with their dad. Damian had just put the finishing touches on it, and was standing back, admiring his work.

“Hey, I like it too. A lot. Maybe you should give it to me. I’ll double whatever Boswell offers you,” Colman said with a wicked grin. Of course he liked it. He thought he looked quite handsome in it. The painting would look nice hanging on his wall.

When he heard his brothers discussing this, Adkins’ spirits fell. He also wanted it. He had cash, but he lost half of his money when he adopted a panda. Pandas were not cheap. He was sure he didn’t have as much as his brothers did. He had to use his wits to acquire the painting, not his wallet. “We all want it, but there’s only one. Why don’t we go in on it? Say, five hundred thou each?” he offered.

With an offer like that, Damian’s mind was blown. He almost dropped the oil pastel in his hand. The boy had resigned himself to just buying a single panda. But now he’d have the money to buy more than one.

As their dad, Matthew felt left out. Shouldn’t he have some kind of say in this? He cleared his throat and said, “What about me, boys? I saw it first.”

Boswell craned his neck to look up at his father. Matthew towered over all of his sons, because they were so young. “So? Stay out of it, Dad. You’ve got too much money. There’s no way we could match up. Besides, you like Mom the most, huh? Just get Damian to paint a picture of Mom. Then you can drop as much cash as you want on it.”

Matthew was floored by this. He didn’t know exactly what to say. ‘Rika’s my wife. I see her every day. Why should I spend any money at all on a portrait of her? Never mind. As long as the boys are happy, I’m good.’

He decided to give in and said, “Yeah, Boswell’s right. Damian, after you finish up here, take a good look at your mom. I want to see how true to life you can paint her. Deal?”

Damian was on cloud nine, since his brothers and even his father liked his work. He was so excited he couldn’t contain it. He nodded his head like a chicken pecking rice. “You got it, Dad,” he said with a sweet smile.

“I knew you’d come through!” Matthew patted his head.

The four kids were too young to have bank accounts, so they asked Carlos to apply for four exclusive VIP bank cards in the bank owned by ZL Group.

As soon as they got their money, they couldn’t wait to ask Matthew if th

n she’d sit there and drool over his manly chest.

A smile curling the corners of his mouth, Matthew didn’t take her threats seriously. Instead, he moved on top of her. She could feel his interest in his pants. “Honey, I just wanted to say I need a lover in my life…”

Erica’s face changed dramatically. “Okay?” she teased. “What does this have to do with me?” ‘So is he involved with this mystery woman? He didn’t seem happy to hear from her, though, ‘ she thought.

“Listen to me. I need a little lover… Don’t they say a daughter is her father’s lover in a previous life?”

Matthew asked. Erica glared at him, patted her chest and said decisively, “Gross. Don’t go there. Besides, no. And hell no. I was scared to death when I gave birth to four boys! But you want another kid?”

They were born early. She had a C-section so every child would have a chance at life. If it weren’t for Chantel and Tessie keeping her company, she wouldn’t even have had the courage to do that.

Matthew stretched out his arm, his big palm gripping her pajama top. He touched the light scar on her lower abdomen, and kissed her lips lovingly. “Okay, we don’t need a baby!”

His quick promise made Erica a little uneasy. She whispered, “If you really want a daughter, let’s have another baby. I just don’t want four more of them.”

The man was amused by her. “I don’t think I have the power to control that.” Having her get pregnant with four children was already quite the achievement. But another four kids? They’d hear the laughter of their kids all day long.

“I’m just putting it out there!” ‘What if I did have another four? Oh my God! That would be something to tell the grandkids!’ she thought to herself.