Chapter 38: He Remembers It’s Not 2030
"Mommy’s here."
Seeing this, Caroline Whitman didn’t have a chance to reply to Adrian Grant and quickly went to pick up the child.
"Why did you run out without your shoes again?"
"I woke up and didn’t see you, so I thought you didn’t want me anymore."
"..."
"..."
Caroline Whitman suddenly realized something: their constant hiding, their avoidance of appearing in public with their son, and her awkward interactions with Adrian Grant—had it all left a psychological scar on the child?
After all, a normal child’s reaction to not seeing their parents after waking up from a nap shouldn’t be to think they’ve been abandoned.
Adrian Grant’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. It was clear he had realized the same thing.
He walked over, placed the takeout on the table, and went to the mother and son’s side, stroking the little one’s head. "What are you thinking? How could Mommy and Daddy ever leave you?"
Adrian Grant even began to wonder, ’Is it the influence of this world, or were the parents in Ryan Grant’s original parallel world—the ones just like us—already irresponsible toward their child?’
So he asked, "Have Mommy and I ever left you behind before?"
Ryan Grant replied, "Yes."
Both Caroline Whitman and Adrian Grant froze, exchanging a glance. ’So there really is a problem?’
"Last time, Daddy was on a business trip for so long. He was clearly in Kingsport, but he didn’t answer my calls or texts. And Mommy, too. Last time, you saw me and Daddy at the police station, but you pretended you didn’t and just drove away."
Ryan Grant recounted the events, ticking them off on his fingers.
"Daddy and Mommy are always taking turns going on business trips so often. It’s like you don’t want to see me."
"Mommy and Daddy seem different, too. You’ve become like strangers. You don’t kiss anymore."
"..."
"..."
The two of them fell silent.
Well, then.
They’d found the reason for their child’s sensitivity.
It was their fault.
Ryan Grant was still counting on his fingers, enumerating every last detail.
"Stop, stop, stop," Caroline Whitman cut in, halting her son’s accusations.
’If he keeps going, we’ll really be painted as villains who abandon their child.’
Amidst the many accusations, Adrian Grant found the one that was easiest to explain away:
"Mommy and Daddy haven’t changed. There are many kinds of love, and we don’t necessarily need to kiss to express how much we love you.
We’ve been too busy with work lately and have been neglecting you. That’s our fault, but we truly don’t want to leave you."
He placated the child in a slow, measured, and deep voice.
Caroline Whitman shot him a surprised look.
’This guy’s pretty good at this.’
No matter how clever and smart Ryan Grant was, faced with an adult more than twenty years his senior, he was still coaxed into a state of bewilderment.
He blinked his eyes, which were the spitting image of Adrian Grant’s. "Really? You really won’t leave me all alone?"
"Of course not. How could we ever leave our baby all alone?" Caroline Whitman chimed in, calmly stating her position.
For the next while, the two continued to spin tales around the details Ryan Grant had brought up, finally convincing the suspicious little boy.
The whole time, Caroline Whitman was on tenterhooks, afraid Gavin Grant would suddenly return. Thankfully, he didn’t.
After lunch.
It was still overcast outside. A light rain had fallen while they were eating, and the weather was finally less muggy.
Having had a nap earlier, Ryan Grant was now exceptionally energetic.
Now that the rain had stopped, Ryan Grant was clamoring to go to the children’s playground in the mall to play with other kids.
Ryan Grant had discovered that many things had changed. The friends he had made were gone.
The time had changed, too. He remembered that it wasn’t 2030 right now.
’Following Miss King to those private lessons every day without any familiar friends to play with is so boring.’
Faced with Ryan Grant’s request, the two of them fell silent again for a moment.
They suddenly realized that they had been so focused on Ryan Grant’s family situation that they had neglected the child’s social life.
Socializing was a crucial part of childhood.
Adrian Grant picked up his phone and searched for the best indoor family play center in Kingsport.
He ended up choosing an indoor play center with a high safety rating.
"How about tomorrow?" Adrian Grant said, putting his phone away.
’Then again,’ he thought, ’it’s too dangerous to be going to these places in Kingsport.’
Ryan Grant asked doubtfully, "Why?"
In that moment, Caroline Whitman and Adrian Grant’s unspoken understanding reached its peak.
She stepped in with a slight smile and explained, "Mommy still has something to take care of this afternoon, so I can only go with Daddy to accompany you tomorrow."
Ryan Grant asked, "Are you going back to the office this afternoon, Mommy?"
The eager anticipation in his voice was all too obvious.
’If I say yes, he’ll definitely ask to come with me to the office to work overtime.’
Caroline Whitman said, "No, I’m going to see a client."
’If I’d said I was going back to the family estate,’ she believed, ’this little guy would have insisted on tagging along.’
’Adrian Grant mentioned last time that the little guy had started asking for his grandparents on both sides.’
’This child... He’s a good boy, but this habit of seeking out the elders is just so troublesome.’
After reassuring the child, Caroline Whitman stayed at the villa for a while longer, playing with Ryan Grant.
Adrian Grant, meanwhile, returned to his study to handle some business and contact a design company to create a bedroom and play area for the little one.
「Outside the villa.」
Gavin Grant’s car hadn’t actually left; it was still parked outside.
It had been nearly an hour since he’d left, but Caroline Whitman still hadn’t come out. He knew then that there was definitely something going on between those two.
"King, do you think Adrian would hire someone to put on a show for me?" Gavin Grant asked, though his thoughts immediately turned in another direction. ’No, that can’t be right.’
’But, given his grandson’s circumstances, there was no need to specifically hire someone to fool him.’
’However, Caroline Whitman’s earlier reaction—like she couldn’t wait to leave and sever all ties—seemed like she was afraid I would misunderstand her relationship with Adrian Grant.’
Special Assistant King had been waiting outside the villa the whole time and didn’t know what had transpired inside. He was rather surprised to see Caroline Whitman at Adrian Grant’s villa in the first place.
He thought for a moment before quickly replying, "Mr. Adrian Grant didn’t know you were coming today, sir, so I think it’s highly unlikely he would have specifically hired someone to put on an act for you today."
When Gavin Grant heard that, he realized it was true. He had almost overlooked that crucial point.
He had, after all, shown up unannounced today.
He had learned that Adrian Grant had spent the entire previous night at Brocade Bay, and he had come to the villa specifically to confirm it.
After some thought, Gavin Grant said, "Alright, let’s drive back."
...
「Inside the villa.」
Having spent the afternoon cultivating her parent-child bond, Caroline Whitman beat a graceful retreat, leaving the rest to Adrian Grant.
When she returned to the family estate, Franklin Whitman and Yolanda Young were both waiting at home.
As soon as she walked in, Franklin Whitman said with a grin, "You didn’t come back to Azure Heights last night, did you."
"..."
Caroline Whitman asked, "You went to my place last night?"
"Your mother and I were both at Azure Heights yesterday."
"..."
’I almost forgot. Franklin Whitman saw me get into Adrian Grant’s car with his own two eyes last night.’
The next second, Franklin Whitman continued with a gossipy expression, "Adrian Grant didn’t take you home?"
Yolanda Young, however, shot her a cool glance and demanded, "Things are moving that fast? Are you two living together now?"