Chapter 67: Do You Like Roses?
Franklin Whitman was shocked. "Wait, old buddy, did you really go get a physical?"
When he mentioned it to Gavin Grant, he had just been speaking off the cuff. He never imagined Gavin would actually get a physical just to play chess with him.
He could hardly believe it.
Gavin Grant said, "What’s wrong? You don’t need it anymore? Don’t tell me that grandson of yours was just a trick to mess with me."
In truth, Gavin Grant had only gone for the physical because it was time for his regular six-month check-up.
His report just happened to come back yesterday, and he suddenly recalled the absurd condition Franklin Whitman had mentioned a couple of days prior.
No one had ever dared to make such a demand of him before.
Plenty of people were begging for a chance to play chess with him.
But here was Franklin Whitman, doing the complete opposite. He was curious to see just how precious and impressive this so-called "god-grandson" really was.
"The boy went home to his birth parents. Where am I supposed to find him for you now?"
"And who are his birth parents?"
"I don’t know."
"Hey, are you kidding me? You’re the kid’s god-grandfather and you don’t even know?"
"So what? I wanted to."
"Alright, alright. Enough of that. Just tell me, are you free this afternoon or not?"
"Old buddy, I still have to work. The day after tomorrow. I’m off the day after tomorrow, so I’ll definitely be free then."
"Fine."
...
As she was leaving work, Caroline Whitman got a message saying Adrian Grant was going to the Grant Ancestral Home for dinner tonight.
Caroline Whitman: [Are you coming back tonight?]
Adrian Grant: [Yes.]
Caroline Whitman: [Don’t force yourself if you can’t make it back. Don’t be like last time, making me come pick you up because you were too drunk to get home.]
Adrian Grant: [...]
Caroline Whitman stared at the ellipsis.
’A man as frugal with his words as he is with gold actually sent six dots to express his silence?’
Caroline Whitman felt as if the sun had risen in the west.
When she got home, Miss King was already back at work and had picked up the child from his program.
"Mommy, starting the day after tomorrow, I don’t have to go to school! My program is on break!"
Seeing Caroline Whitman, Ryan Grant ran over happily to share the good news.
"..."
Caroline Whitman pulled out her phone and only then saw the break announcement the program had sent out after class that afternoon.
It was a ten-day break due to the heat wave.
It also listed several first-aid measures for children in case of accidental heatstroke.
"Mommy, when do you and Daddy get a break?"
"We only get breaks on the weekends."
"Aww, then I’ll have to stay in my room all day by myself. Can I go play with my friends?"
"Not right now. Mommy can’t take you out for the next few days."
"I’ll have Miss King go with me. Miss King knows the way."
"No, Mommy wouldn’t feel right about that."
"Then I’ll go to Grandma’s."
"They’re out of town for a few days."
Franklin Whitman had just recently made a fuss about Adrian Grant’s "illegitimate son," so Caroline hadn’t dared to leave the child with him and Yolanda Young lately.
’They watch him just once and already suspect he’s Adrian Grant’s illegitimate child.’
’If this keeps up, they’ll start saying he’s my child.’
"How about this? I’ll take annual leave in three days to spend time with you. Can you just stay home for one day? Okay?"
"Yay!"
Ryan Grant jumped for joy.
「Grant Ancestral Home.」
The family finished dinner in silence. Just as Adrian Grant set down his utensils, Jonathan Grant spoke up.
"How are things going with the Whitman family’s daughter?"
Grace Lawson chimed in from the side, backing him up. "If you two are a good match, we should settle on the engagement."
Adrian Grant: "..."
’I knew they’d bring this up.’
"As it happens, I have something to tell you both as well."
Hearing their son’s formal tone, the two elders suddenly sat up straight, their feelings a complicated mix.
’Is it finally happening?’
’Is this boy finally going to lay his cards on the table?’
"I plan to formally pursue Miss Whitman. Regardless of the outcome, I must ask you both not to interfere."
He felt it was necessary to be clear with his elders and give them a heads-up.
"..."
"..."
’After all that, this is it?’
’Wait, something’s not right.’
’So he hasn’t even won her over yet?’
’Then where in the world did that child come from?’
Jonathan Grant suppressed his urge to press further, his expression turning serious. "Is that all?"
Adrian Grant said, "That’s all."
Grace Lawson asked, "Nothing else?"
Adrian Grant replied, "If there is, I’ll update you later."
"..."
"..."
Seeing her son get up to leave, Grace Lawson quickly added, "Why don’t you stay the night?"
Adrian Grant was about to refuse without a moment’s hesitation.
But then he thought about crossing the line that morning. The little one would most likely ask them to sleep in his room again tonight, which would undoubtedly lead to a repeat of this morning’s situation.
Now that he had decided to formally pursue her, he couldn’t keep using these ambiguous situations to make her accept him or confirm her feelings.
So, Adrian Grant replied, "Okay."
Just as Jonathan Grant and his wife assumed he would make another excuse to refuse, the man actually nodded and agreed.
"..."
"..."
’Perfect.’
That evening, Caroline Whitman received news that Adrian Grant was staying at the ancestral home for the night. She didn’t question it.
Any parents who ask their child home for dinner miss them, and it’s normal to stay the night to keep them company.
At least, that’s how it was for Caroline Whitman.
But now that she had decided to pursue him, she found herself not wanting to see Adrian Grant so soon.
’Pursuing a man is easy in theory, but putting it into practice actually takes some guts.’
’At least with Adrian Grant, she wasn’t bold enough to launch a direct, no-holds-barred assault.’
’Such a move would be too risky.’
"Your dad isn’t coming back tonight. He’s away on a business trip."
As Caroline Whitman turned to tell Ryan Grant this, he had already used his smartwatch to dial his father’s number.
The call was answered almost instantly.
"Hello, Daddy? You’re not coming home to sleep tonight?"
"That’s right. Daddy’s on a business trip, so I won’t be back tonight."
"Oh. Will you still be on your trip tomorrow?"
"I’ll be back tomorrow."
"Yay! Daddy, we’re on break starting the day after tomorrow! Mommy said she’s taking her annual leave to spend time with me. What about you?"
"Okay, I’ll take time off to be with you both then, too."
Then, Adrian began his routine check from the other end of the line, asking about the boy’s classes and his social life, making sure he wasn’t being bullied or left out before hanging up.
「The next day at noon.」
Jonathan Grant got his hands on the paternity test report for Adrian Grant and the child.
They were at once surprised, delighted, and worried.
"That boy of ours... he really went and had a child."
「When she got off work that day.」
Caroline Whitman got home a little early.
She had just gotten home when Adrian Grant walked in right after her.
But today was different.
Adrian Grant was actually holding a bouquet of roses.
Caroline Whitman watched in confusion as Adrian Grant walked toward her with the roses and, with a slightly stiff movement, handed them to her.
Seeing her baffled expression, he said lightly, "Some flowers will liven up the house."
Caroline Whitman looked down at the beautiful flowers in her arms, their faint fragrance filling the air. She looked up at him. "You like roses?"
Adrian Grant asked in return, "You don’t?"
Caroline Whitman looked at the bouquet Adrian Grant had placed in her hands and thought to herself, ’Well, close enough. I guess this counts as the first bouquet of flowers he’s ever given me.’
So she said, "I like them."
Adrian Grant nodded and said nothing more.
As Caroline Whitman was about to arrange the flowers, she suddenly paused. She recalled what Adrian Grant had said that night about an "unnamed person of interest" and a realization dawned on her.
"Wait a minute. You didn’t just bring these home because you failed to give them to someone else, did you?"
Adrian Grant: "..."