Chapter 76: What If the Child Returns Someday
——
Caroline Whitman came out after her afternoon nap and saw the little guy running back inside, bare-chested. His hair was soaking wet; he had clearly just gotten out of the water.
"Instead of napping, you were playing in the pool?"
"Yeah, Mommy! I couldn’t sleep, so I asked Daddy to take me swimming."
Hearing this, Caroline Whitman glanced outside. Adrian Grant was dressed in casual clothes, not a swimsuit, and was on the phone under a poolside parasol.
’Was the kid the only one who went in the water?’
She pulled her gaze back, slightly disappointed, and walked to the table. She picked up the child’s cup and handed it to Ryan Grant. "Have some water first. Then go to your room and change into some dry clothes."
"Okay," Ryan Grant replied obediently. He reached out with his chubby little hands to take the cup. Tilting his head back, he guzzled down a few mouthfuls, GLUG, GLUG, GLUG, then set the cup down and ran to his room to change into a fresh, dry outfit.
Just then, Adrian Grant finished his call as Caroline Whitman stepped out of the house.
As if sensing her intention, Adrian Grant spoke up as she approached. "My parents got the DNA test results."
Caroline Whitman’s heart tightened. "So... what’s the situation now?"
Adrian Grant said, "I’ve told them the truth. I also promised them they won’t interfere in our affairs, and they won’t disturb your parents."
Caroline Whitman’s feelings were a complicated mix. She asked, "You told your parents that the child time-traveled from the future?"
Adrian Grant nodded. Caroline Whitman hesitated, then said, "And they believed you?"
"All they had to do was investigate our lives over the past few years to know that the child appeared out of thin air. It’s a fact."
"..."
’Well, when you put it that way, he’s not wrong.’
’If they really investigated, they’d find out that my relationship with Adrian Grant has been completely platonic.’
Caroline Whitman asked, "What about the child?"
"Hm?"
"What if he goes back one day?" Caroline Whitman asked.
Adrian Grant seemed to have considered this possibility, as his answer was surprisingly direct:
"There’s no need to hide it. Since I’ve already told them he’s from the future, if he ever goes back, I’ll tell them the truth—that he’s returned to his original timeline."
"...They’re getting older. Can they handle being separated from him?"
It wasn’t that Caroline Whitman hadn’t considered this idea herself. She was just worried that after laying everything out in the open, the child’s sudden departure would be a devastating blow to the elderly couple.
Adrian Grant, however, was calm. "That’s why I mentally prepared them for it when I laid my cards on the table."
"Consider it a piece of advice from my experience. If your parents ever find out that Ryan is our biological son, you might want to consider doing the same."
Adrian Grant generously shared his experience in communicating with elders.
Caroline Whitman said, "...Oh, well, thank you so much."
Adrian Grant replied, "You’re welcome."
"..."
She glanced at Adrian Grant. For some reason, he seemed somewhat relieved.
’Is this the benefit of coming clean?’
A thought stirred in Caroline Whitman’s mind, and she imagined the scene of coming clean to Franklin Whitman and Yolanda Young.
’Honestly, I can’t even picture it.’
Coming clean would mean her relationship with Adrian Grant would be out in the open.
Under the scrutiny and pressure from both families, it might even lead to an "arranged marriage" situation.
Since Caroline Whitman was determined to win him over legitimately, she naturally wanted him to do so of his own free will.
She had no desire to spend her life with a man who was just an empty shell.
Just then, Caroline Whitman’s phone rang.
It was Franklin Whitman.
Ever since Adrian Grant had come clean to his family, her heart would start racing whenever she saw a call from one of her own family members.
She took a deep breath and answered, "Hello? Dad, what’s up?"
At that moment, the boy, having just finished changing in his room, saw the two adults outside enjoying the breeze and ran out to join them.
"Daddy, I’m hungry."
The little guy had eaten at noon, but with all his activity, he digested his food quickly. Now his stomach was rumbling.
"Let’s wait for Mommy to finish her call, then we’ll go out to eat together." Adrian Grant tactfully picked up the child and carried him into the living room.
Franklin Whitman’s voice came through the phone:
"Oh, it’s nothing much. Just calling to see if you’re at the office."
"No, I’m on vacation."
"Oh, oh, you’re on vacation too?"
That question made Caroline Whitman’s brow twitch. She feigned calmness and asked, "Why?"
Franklin Whitman suddenly changed the subject. "Huh? Why do I hear a child’s voice on your end? I think I heard Ryan and Adrian Grant."
Caroline Whitman gave a dry laugh. "I’m outside right now. It’s crowded and noisy, you must have misheard."
Franklin Whitman said "Oh, oh" again but still didn’t get to the point. Growing nervous, Caroline Whitman pressed him, "Dad, what is it, really? If it’s nothing, I’m going to hang up."
"It’s nothing, really. I just wanted to ask about that tourism project you invested in over in Norcaster. What was the name of that resort? I seem to recall you saying there was a shareholder benefit, a villa for each of you, right?"
"..."
Caroline Whitman broke into a cold sweat. She felt like the heavens were playing a cruel joke on her; she had never felt so guilty and nervous in her life.
She asked calmly, "Why do you ask?"
Franklin Whitman said, "No reason. I’m on my annual leave too, you see. Your mother and I went on a trip today. We’re planning to spend a few days in Norcaster and thought of that resort you mentioned."
"You want to come now?"
"Your mom and I are already in Norcaster. We figured we’d ask you for directions first."
"Alright, let me make the arrangements for you."
"No need to rush. We’re planning to visit the resort in a couple of days, after we check out another spot first. You can arrange it for the day after tomorrow."
"Okay..."
"Oh, right, where are you going for your long vacation? I heard..." Franklin Whitman wanted to pry for more gossip, but the call was abruptly disconnected from the other end.
"That girl... her speed at hanging up the phone is getting faster and faster these days," Franklin Whitman grumbled at his phone.
Yolanda Young shot him a sidelong glance. "Every time you call, you try to ask about her and Adrian Grant. Your intentions are way too obvious. If she doesn’t hang up on you, who will?"
"..."
Yolanda Young then added, "But our daughter is on annual leave too?"
Franklin Whitman said, "Yeah."
Yolanda Young said, "Well, there you have it. They’re probably trying to nurture their relationship. If you disturb them now, aren’t you just ruining her chances? In my opinion, we should just enjoy our own trip. It doesn’t matter if we go to the resort or not. If it’s on the way, we can just find a place to stay for the night ourselves. No need to make it so complicated."
Hearing this, Franklin Whitman thought it made a lot of sense. He dialed her number again. "Hey, sweetie. Your mom and I talked it over. We’ll only check out the resort if it’s on our way. If not, we’ll skip it. So don’t you worry about it, okay?"
After hanging up, he said to his wife, "There. Happy now?"