# Chapter 288: The Little Matchmaker's Bargain
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 288 of "The Untouchable Ex Wife" — a chapter where a little boy proves he's the sharpest negotiator in the entire room, and a grown, powerful man willingly walks right into his trap without even realizing it!
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The sun cast long shadows across the hospital corridor as Adie stood face to face with Justin, a mysterious smile playing on his young lips that somehow looked far too clever for a child his age. There was a glint of mischief in his eyes — the kind that usually meant trouble for whoever was on the receiving end of his schemes.
Justin, ever the confident businessman, found himself completely captivated by this interchange. He watched as Adie tossed the conversational bait into the water, waiting patiently for the hook to set.
"Since you like my mommy so much, you should know her well, shouldn't you?" Adie said, deliberately keeping Justin guessing. "Why don't you try and figure out what she needs the most?"
Justin's eyebrows knitted together as he pondered the question. He hadn't actually gotten the chance to personally get to know Renee, regardless of how deep his feelings had grown for her. But there was another side of this that perplexed him greatly.
Why do you want to collect this information?" he asked. "Are you planning on helping your mommy find a boyfriend?"
Adie was not the least affected by the question. The smile on his lips only grew wider and more baffling. "That's right, Mr. Baldwin. My mommy looked very tired when she came back, and I thought she might need some help. She can't love anyone for now, but that doesn't mean someone can't be good to her."
Justin's heart gave an involuntary lurch at the words. He was getting nearer. He was fully convinced that this entire interrogation was a test and if he could pass it, he would finally be able to get Adie's support — which was equivalent to receiving a shot at Renee's heart.
Rubbing his chin, Justin nodded with a contemplative expression — the same look he used when he was closing multi-million dollar deals in his boardroom. Then he spoke with absolute certainty, as if he had just unlocked the secret of the universe: "I guess the thing your mommy needs the most is the sincerity of an excellent man like me. It's the reason why I've appeared in her life, because I'm just the thing she needs."
There was a beat of silence.
And then — "Ugh!"
Adie pretended to vomit, making gagging sounds so exaggerated that it bordered on theatrical comedy. He wrinkled his little nose and shook his head in dramatic disappointment.
"You're so cheesy, Mr. Baldwin. No wonder my mommy doesn't like you."
The words struck Justin like a dart to the heart, but Adie wasn't finished yet. He pressed on, turning the knife with a child's ruthless honesty.
"You say you're sincere, but isn't that just an empty promise? You should let your actions do the talking."
Justin let out a hearty laugh, thoroughly entertained by this tiny philosopher. "Haha! You're so young. Do you even know what empty promises are?"
"Yes, I do." Adie's voice turned serious and his narrow eyes locked onto Justin's like two little daggers. "Empty promises are promises that are never kept, while sincerity is the exact opposite." Then came the deadly follow-up: "Do you want to make empty promises or let your actions speak for you?"
Justin blinked. He was just played by a preschooler?
He had to admit — the kid was sharp, a fact that both impressed and amused the powerful CEO. Justin realized he had been neatly boxed into a corner, and Adie had masterfully circled the conversation right back to the same point: for Justin to prove his worth, he needed to offer something concrete — something that went beyond sweet words and flashy gestures.
"Okay, stop beating around the bush," Justin conceded with a shake of his head, a grin of defeat on his lips. "Just tell me what you want me to do."
And just like that, the negotiation was back on the table.
But Adie wasn't done yet. He had played the first card, and now came the moment he had been waiting for all along.
"Well..." Adie paused, as if testing the waters before diving in completely. "My mommy doesn't need love... but she does need money."
Justin's brow furrowed slightly. "Money?"
"Yes. Money to revive the Everheart family." Adie's voice carried the weight of someone much older than his years. The little boy had overheard enough conversations to understand the struggle his mother faced. He had seen the tiredness in her eyes, the weight on her shoulders, and the urgency with which she fought for her family's legacy. If money could make her life just a little easier, then that was exactly what she needed.
"Isn't your family very rich?" Adie tilted his head innocently, but his business-minded cunning was unmistakable. "Can't you give my mommy some? I'm sure a few billion isn't a lot for you."
He said it so casually — as if asking for spare change rather than billions of dollars — that Justin almost choked on his own laughter. The sheer audacity of this kid was breathtaking. First, he interrogated Justin. Then he made Justin feel like an empty promise. And now he was demanding capital investment like a seasoned venture capitalist.
"So, that's what you want?" Justin chuckled, genuinely amused. He didn't even hesitate before agreeing. "Yes, you're right. I'm the sole heir of my family, and I do have a lot of money. I can always give your mommy money if she needs it."
"Really?" Adie's eyes sparkled with satisfaction. He nodded approvingly, looking Justin up and down as if he were inspecting a prized stallion at a market. "Sir, you're pretty reliable. I think it'll be good if my mommy dates you. She can just make herself happier by buying things."
Justin couldn't believe his ears. Was this really happening? After all his careful courting, all his calculated attempts to get closer to Renee, it was a child who had just given him the green light?
Then came the final nail in the coffin of Adie's own argument. "Well, I've made up my mind to pick you as my new daddy because you're so much better than my dumb scumbag daddy!"
At that moment, Justin felt like he had just won the lottery. His chest swelled with pride and victory. Finally! He had gained the approval of Renee's most difficult child! The first step to winning Renee's heart — getting through to her children — was officially underway.
"You said it! Oh, I'm going to record this."
With lightning speed, Justin fished out his phone and hit the record button before Adie could object. His fingers trembled slightly with excitement as he captured the moment for posterity — this was proof of his victory, a recording he would one day play at his and Renee's wedding, no doubt.
In Justin's mind, the strategy was crystal clear. The first step to winning Renee's heart was to win over her two children. Abby would likely be the easier target — she mostly cared about handsome looks and charming presences. As long as he dressed sharply and flashed his most dazzling smile, the little princess would be eating out of his hand.
No, the truly troublesome one was Adie.
That boy was a mini version of Stefan — cunning, sharp-witted, and dangerously intelligent. Deviousness ran through that child's veins as if it were his birthright. Adie could read people like open books, and he had placed Justin in a corner of strategic negotiation that many adult businessmen had failed to do. Justin never even saw the trap coming until he was already standing in the middle of it.
One moment he was offering his heart.
The next moment, he had willingly promised to give up a few billion dollars — for absolutely nothing in return but a recorded statement of approval.
That was how smart little Adie was.
Yet somehow, Justin couldn't bring himself to be upset about it. In fact, he felt strangely victorious too. He had gotten something far more valuable than money — he had received Adie's blessing. And in the game of love, that was worth far more than any number could measure.
So the odd pair — a grown billionaire and a pint-sized negotiator — returned to the ward in triumph, both wearing matching expressions of having gained something precious from their exchange. Justin held the flowers in his arms, while Adie walked beside him with an air of satisfaction, looking like a conquering general returning from battle.
The moment they stepped through the door, Renee's worried face flooded with relief.
"Where did you go, Adie? I was worried about you."
There was genuine concern in her voice — the kind that only a mother could feel. She had been pacing the room for what felt like an eternity, and she had half a mind to go searching for them when they finally appeared.
But Adie skipped forward with all the confidence in the world, beaming from ear to ear.
"I picked your favorite flowers for you, Mommy, and I got you something really good!"
Renee blinked at him, unaware that her little boy had just secured a multi-billion dollar arrangement with a man determined to win her heart.
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And that's where this delightful chapter comes to a close! It's a mesmerizing showcase of a child outsmarting a grown man, and witnessing Justin so helplessly wrapped around Adie's little finger filled me with so much satisfaction. The way Justin realized he had been tricked but couldn't even be mad about it? That's true masterclass in manipulation by a toddler. The playful banter, the clever negotiation tactics, and the wholesome family warmth at the end worked beautifully together, giving readers equal parts of laughter, entertainment, and anticipation.
The question on everyone's mind now is: what precisely has Adie gotten Renee? A bouquet of flowers alone wouldn't qualify as "something really good" in a kid's calculated plan. How will Justin's promised billions change Renee's circumstances, and what will be her reaction when she eventually discovers the strings attached to this generosity? And just how much progress has Adie unknowingly made towards paving Justin's path to his mother's heart?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars
The blend of comedy and strategic maneuvering left me in absolute stitches. Justin going from "an excellent man's sincerity" to willingly donating billions in under five minutes, all while being brazenly insulted and negotiated with by a child, is comedy gold.
**Next Chapter Prediction:** When Renee discovers what Adie managed to secure from Justin — likely in the form of a massive investment to resurrect the Everheart family — she will confront Justin about his involvement with her children. But rather than reject his help completely, she'll be caught in an emotional dilemma between her pride and her desperate need to rebuild her family's legacy. Meanwhile, when Stefan catches wind of Justin's mounting influence over his children, the rivalry between them will explode into an all-out battle for Renee's heart and her children's loyalty!
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