Chapter 71: So It Was a Mole in Her Family
"Grandpa took me to Great-Grandpa’s place to play chess today. They brought me back together."
Ryan Grant explained what had happened in a sweet, childish voice.
Caroline Whitman almost fainted.
’So there was a traitor in her own family.’
Her first thought was of Adrian Grant.
When Franklin Whitman had picked up the boy that morning, she had told Adrian Grant about it. He’d said he had to work late and would be home later than usual.
Otherwise, if he’d come home at his usual time, it would have turned into a massive family reunion scene right then and there.
For now, Caroline Whitman didn’t know if Gavin Grant had made the connection between the child and Adrian Grant.
"That’s right. We saw the boy’s parents weren’t home, so we waited for a bit." Gavin Grant nodded, taking over the conversation. "When do they get off work?"
Caroline Whitman replied, "In a little while. Not for a bit."
Franklin Whitman, likely sensing his daughter’s ’we’ll-settle-this-later’ aura, quickly stood up. "Well, since someone’s home now, we’ll be on our way."
Gavin Grant had no intention of making things awkward by overstaying his welcome, so he also got up and chuckled at the little one. "Little fella, come play at Great-Grandpa’s place again sometime, okay?"
He paused, then looked at Caroline Whitman. "When the time comes, please tell the boy’s parents for me to bring him over for a visit. I’ve really taken a liking to this child."
"Okay, I will, I definitely will."
After seeing the two bigwigs out, Miss King went to busy herself in the kitchen.
Caroline Whitman turned, crouched down, and gripped her son’s shoulders, her voice slightly agitated. "Grandpa took you to see Great-Grandpa today? Why didn’t you tell Mommy beforehand?"
Startled by Caroline Whitman’s sudden questioning, Ryan Grant’s lip quivered with grievance. "Am I not allowed to see Great-Grandpa?"
"It’s not that you can’t," Caroline Whitman said, realizing her tone was too harsh and softening it. "Mommy was just worried that you might frighten Great-Grandpa by showing up so unexpectedly."
"But Great-Grandpa wasn’t scared! He was really happy and played chess with me, and he gave me yummy things to eat and fun things to play with."
"Great-Grandpa even said he’d take me to buy toys, but I said no."
"Such a good boy. Did Grandpa take you to see anyone else?"
Caroline Whitman felt that something had definitely been hidden from her last time.
Adults lie, but children can lie, too.
Especially when adults teach them to.
Just like how she had taught the boy to call her "Godmother."
Ryan Grant shifted uncomfortably. Seeing his expression, Caroline Whitman’s heart skipped a beat.
’Damn it, there was someone else!’
"Mommy, promise you won’t get mad," Ryan Grant said guiltily.
Caroline Whitman smiled. "Mommy absolutely will not get mad!"
"Grandpa took me to see Grandpa and Grandma," Ryan Grant said cautiously, watching Caroline Whitman’s expression. When he saw she truly wasn’t angry, he happily continued, "Grandpa and Grandma were super happy. They didn’t dislike me, but just like Great-Grandpa, they forgot who I was."
At this, Ryan Grant actually sounded a little down.
"They’re sick, that’s why they don’t remember Ryan," Caroline Whitman said, noticing the little boy’s sadness and patting his head comfortingly.
"I know. That’s why I didn’t tell them who my mommy and daddy are when they asked."
After all, Great-Grandpa was older than Grandpa and Grandma, so his health was more fragile and he couldn’t handle any shocks.
Ryan Grant understood this much.
"You did the right thing."
"So, did Grandpa and Grandma say anything when they saw you? When did you meet them?"
"Last Sunday, the day you all came to pick me up."
"Aha! No wonder you were so well-behaved that day."
Ryan Grant felt that wasn’t right. "I’m always well-behaved."
Caroline Whitman pressed for a few more details about that day, as well as about his time with Gavin Grant today.
The child said they didn’t have much of a reaction, at most taking some pictures with him on their phones.
After hearing all this, Caroline Whitman broke out in a cold sweat.
With an outsider like Frederick Whitman present, the Grant Family naturally wouldn’t show a strong reaction to a matter concerning a secret child.
In reality, they had probably already arranged for a private investigation.
She went to the study and called Adrian Grant.
Adrian Grant was still at his desk poring over data. His phone rang three or four times before he picked it up to see who it was.
It was Caroline Whitman.
’Is something wrong for her to be calling at this hour?’ He had already told her that morning that he’d be working late.
He answered, "What’s up?"
"When you went back to the ancestral home the night before last, did your parents say anything to you?" Caroline Whitman asked tentatively.
She needed to know Jonathan Grant’s stance.
From Adrian Grant’s perspective, Caroline Whitman almost never brought up his family affairs on her own initiative.
His mind flashed back to when he’d laid his cards on the table with his parents, telling them he was going to pursue Caroline Whitman. "They didn’t say anything. What happened?"
"My dad took the boy to play chess with your grandfather today."
"..."
"Also, last Sunday, the day we went to pick up the boy, he spent most of the day at your family’s ancestral home."
"..."
Adrian Grant, still in the middle of working overtime, fell silent for a moment at this sudden news.
After a pause, he said grimly into the phone, "What did Grandfather say to you today?"
Caroline Whitman replied, "Nothing. He didn’t drag the boy off for a paternity test or ask me who his biological parents are, but they all, without exception, asked the boy those same questions. I have a feeling this is the calm before the storm."
Adrian Grant said, "Don’t be afraid. I’ll head back as soon as I finish up here."
After hanging up, he casually took off his glasses and gently massaged the bridge of his nose.
’Sooner or later, he wouldn’t be able to hide the truth about the child from Jonathan Grant and the others. He just hadn’t expected that day to come so soon.’
—
After Gavin Grant and Franklin Whitman went downstairs, Gavin suddenly remarked with a wry tone, "You know, that kid really looks a lot like your daughter. It makes sense she’s his godmother."
Franklin Whitman replied humbly, "If we’re talking about resemblance, your grandson Adrian Grant looks even more like him. I almost thought he was your grandson’s biological son."
Gavin Grant: "..."
After they both got into their respective cars, Gavin Grant told his driver, "Head to Jonathan’s place."
「The Grant Ancestral Home.」
Jonathan Grant had just gotten home and was surprised to see his father’s car parked in the courtyard.
When he entered the living room, he found his father there, just as he’d expected.
"Dad, what are you doing here?"
"I was just passing by and thought I’d drop in."
’Great. An answer like that meant something was up.’
In a large family like theirs, it was always the children who went to the estate to visit the old man. For him to "pass by" and visit them meant he wouldn’t have come without a specific reason.
"Alright, well, you’re here now. Perfect timing for dinner."
Gavin Grant glanced at the butler and maids. "Where’s King?"
"Adrian had him transferred over to his place."
"When did that happen?"
"About two months ago, I think."
Gavin Grant asked again, "How’s Adrian been lately? Made any progress with that daughter from the Whitman Family? The boy chose her for the blind date last time, and it’s been a while, but he hasn’t said a word to this old man. He’s not just stringing me along, is he?"
Jonathan Grant chuckled. "The boy told me last night. He said he’s going to formally pursue Caroline Whitman and that we should stay out of it."
Gavin Grant snorted. "That kid. I bet this was his plan all along, and he was just putting on a show for me."
Jonathan Grant thought of the paternity test results, his feelings complicated. "It’s rare for him to put his mind to something like this, so it couldn’t be better."
Gavin Grant glanced at Jonathan Grant, who was taking a sip of water, and said suddenly, "By the way, are there any prominent families in Kingsport with the surname Jing?"
Jonathan Grant, who had just taken a mouthful of water, nearly choked to death when he heard this.
He whipped his head around, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at Gavin Grant. "Dad, you..."
"I invited Franklin Whitman over for chess today, and he happened to bring that god-grandson of his along..."