Chapter 317: Spied On, Followed
Adrian Lancaster felt a sharp pang in his chest. He snapped his head up to look at the maid, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly. "Where did she go?"
Startled by his sudden tension, the maid hurried to answer, "The Young Madam took the children to her mother’s house."
Hearing the definitive answer, Adrian Lancaster felt the tightness in his chest, which had been squeezing his heart to the point of suffocation, finally begin to ease.
Still, he felt flustered and anxious, a profound sense of insecurity lingering.
A terrible thought surfaced in his mind. ’Could a day really come when Wren would quietly take Owen and Nina and leave him for good?’
Adrian didn’t dare to dwell on the thought. To him, that would be an absolute catastrophe.
"Alright, you can go," Adrian said, his spirits low as he waved his hand dismissively.
The maid cautiously handed him the thermometer. "Sir, you still haven’t taken your temperature."
Adrian didn’t take it, his expression cold and hard. "Put it down. I’ll do it later."
The maid didn’t dare say another word and quietly exited the room.
Adrian leaned against the headboard, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, his gaze filled with bewilderment and panic.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
But the fear lurking in the depths of his heart was like a deep-rooted weed, impossible to uproot.
...
Wren Sutton parked the car in a space in the residential complex’s lot.
"Owen, Nina, we’re at Grandma’s!"
The two little ones looked curiously out the window, not crying or fussing. They sat quietly, well-behaved, each clutching a small stuffed toy.
Wren got out of the car, took the folded double stroller from the trunk, placed Owen and Nina inside one after the other, and fastened their safety belts.
Just then, she bumped into an older neighbor who was out for a walk, carrying a reusable shopping bag and presumably on her way to the market.
The two exchanged a few pleasantries.
The woman couldn’t stop praising Owen and Nina, the adoration practically overflowing from her eyes.
"These two little darlings are so cute! They look just like angel dolls."
"Wren, you’re so fortunate, having one of each."
Wren smiled warmly. "Mrs. Zane, being so hale and hearty at your age is a wonderful blessing as well."
The woman’s face lit up with a delighted smile.
A moment later, Wren pushed the stroller out of the elevator and up to her family’s front door, then reached out and rang the bell.
The door opened quickly.
Seeing her daughter and the baby stroller outside, Mrs. Sutton was stunned for a moment before her face broke into a wide smile of surprise and delight.
"Oh, my precious grandbabies are here! Come in, come in, it’s drafty at the door. It’s only been a few days, but Grandma missed you so much."
Mrs. Sutton stepped aside as she spoke, clearing the way for Wren to push the stroller inside.
"Wren, you didn’t call ahead. I would have come downstairs to meet you."
Wren smiled. "I forgot. I’ll call next time."
Mrs. Sutton glanced away with playful reproach, her attention shifting completely to the children. She eagerly pushed the stroller over to the living room sofa.
"Owen, Nina, come let Grandma give you a cuddle."
Wren slipped on a pair of house slippers and glanced around. "Where’s Dad? Is he not home?" she asked.
"He went fishing."
Mrs. Sutton held one baby in each arm, her face glowing with grandmotherly affection, beaming from ear to ear.
"That new set of fishing gear Adrian gave him a while back? Your dad treasures it. He’s been taking it out every day to show it off, telling everyone he meets that his son-in-law bought it for him."
Wren just "oh"-ed in response, not saying anything more.
Speaking of her son-in-law, Mrs. Sutton glanced toward the door.
"Didn’t Adrian come with you and the children today?"
"He has a cold and a fever. He’s resting at home," Wren answered quietly.
Mrs. Sutton sounded quite concerned. "Is it serious?"
"He got a shot, and his fever’s down. There are maids at home to look after him, so don’t worry."
Wren sat on the sofa, feeling completely at ease as she watched TV and ate some fruit.
"I was worried he might pass the bug to Owen and Nina, so I brought them here. We’re planning to stay for a few days."
Mrs. Sutton nodded in agreement. "It’s a good idea to stay for a few days. Little children have weak immune systems. If they get sick, they’re the ones who suffer."
Wren scooted closer, leaned her head gently on her mother’s shoulder, and asked jokingly, "Mom, you’re not going to get tired of me, are you?"
"Of course not. This will always be your home. Come back whenever you want, for as long as you want."
A warmth spread through Wren’s chest—the feeling of being enveloped in love.
Just then, Mrs. Sutton asked with a puzzled look, "How did Adrian suddenly come down with a fever? What happened?"
Wren didn’t hide anything, concisely explaining the cause and events of the whole situation.
After she finished listening, the smile on Mrs. Sutton’s face vanished instantly, her eyes filling with heartache and sympathy for Isla Griffith.
"How could something like that happen? Sean Sterling’s mother went way too far."
"A sudden miscarriage takes a huge toll on a woman’s body. That poor girl Isla has really been through it."
"I was so happy for her just the other day, hearing she was pregnant with twins. And now, only a few days later, the two babies are..."
Mrs. Sutton sighed in dismay.
"She’s not from around here and has no family nearby to look after her. If she doesn’t rest and recover properly after this, she could be left with lifelong health issues."
Wren picked up the thread of conversation. "Sean is staying by her side at the hospital, and they have a professional caregiver. Because of all this, Sean cut ties with his family and left with nothing."
Hearing this, Mrs. Sutton’s opinion of Sean Sterling improved dramatically.
Very few people in this world would be willing to give up such wealth and status, especially from a top-tier family like the Sterlings.
"That young man is a good one. He knows right from wrong and who he ought to protect. That’s good. It must be a comfort for Isla, at least, to have a man who truly cares for her."
Wren nodded, her feelings a complicated mix, and didn’t say anything more.
After that brief interlude, Mrs. Sutton went back to playing with her grandchildren, reciting nursery rhymes, reading them poems, and telling them stories.
Owen and Nina listened intently, occasionally babbling along with their grandma. One moment they’d be cooing, the next they’d be laughing with delight, their little feet kicking back and forth.
The living room was filled with constant laughter, creating a warm and happy atmosphere.
As noon approached, Owen and Nina were getting tired and hungry from all the playing.
Wren prepared their formula, giving them each a bottle. After they finished, she put them down for their nap while Mrs. Sutton made noodles in the kitchen.
...
After lunch, while Owen and Nina were still sleeping, Wren decided to go to the nearby mall to buy some baby supplies.
"Mom, I’m going to pop out for a bit," she said. "We left in such a hurry that I didn’t pack everything for Owen and Nina. I need to go buy a few things."
"Go on. I’ll watch the children. Don’t you worry."
As she spoke, Mrs. Sutton immediately transferred 10,000 yuan to Wren via a messaging app.
"Mom, what’s this money for?"
Mrs. Sutton replied, "It’s not easy for me to get out, so you can buy something for the children from me. Just a little something from their grandma. Make sure to buy the good stuff, all right? Our Owen and Nina deserve the best."
Not wanting to spoil the gesture, Wren accepted the transfer. "Thanks, Mom. I’ll thank you for the kids."
"Don’t be long."
"Okay."
The sky was clear, and the afternoon sun felt wonderfully warm on her skin.
Wren exited the gates of the complex, strolling contentedly down the bustling street.
Suddenly, a strange chill ran up her spine. It wasn’t the touch of the wind, but the eerie, unsettling feeling of being watched intently.
The gaze was cloying and cold, filled with unconcealed malice. It stuck to her back like a viper’s flicking tongue, making her hair stand on end.
Wren took a deep breath, trying her best to remain calm. She kept walking, pretending she hadn’t felt a thing, then after a few more steps, she spun around abruptly.
’I’m going to see exactly who is following me.’
The sidewalk behind her was bustling with people: office workers hurrying by, parents holding their children’s hands, and seniors carrying market baskets.
Everything seemed normal. Not a single face held any malice, and no one’s gaze lingered on her.
’Am I just being paranoid?’
’There’s been so much going on lately, and I haven’t been sleeping well. All the stress must be getting to me. Am I starting to imagine things?’
Wren slowly pulled her gaze back, suppressing the panic rising in her heart.
But she had only taken a few more steps when the feeling of being watched came rushing back, even more intensely than before.
When she walked, the gaze moved with her.
When she quickened her pace, the gaze seemed to close in.
It remained a constant distance behind her, not too close, not too far, like a shadow she couldn’t shake, shrouding her in a sinister gloom.