Chapter 40: He’s Drunk, I’ll Go Pick Him Up
Adrian Grant was a smart man; he understood what she meant from that single sentence.
He asked, "Did they ask you where you were last night?"
Caroline Whitman nodded. "I told them I moved to Brocade Bay. Just in case, I had my assistant rent an apartment in Brocade Bay a while ago."
Adrian Grant said, "I was just about to tell you, we can’t stay in this house anymore.
My parents ran into us when we were having dinner with Ryan the other day. They might show up at Brocade Bay unexpectedly."
Caroline Whitman fell silent.
"You should have said something sooner."
"I didn’t expect you to act so quickly either."
"So where do you want to move?"
Adrian Grant mused, "At the very least, we can’t live in any of the properties under my name."
To put it bluntly, even if they moved to another house, Jonathan Grant and Gregory Grant might get it in their heads one day to launch a guerrilla campaign of surprise inspections, visiting one property after another.
If they were only caught together in the villa, like what happened earlier, it would be manageable. But if Tiny was with them, it would be impossible to clear their names.
Caroline Whitman nodded. "Okay, leave finding a new place to me. Do you have any requirements for the location?"
"I’m fine with anything."
And so, Caroline Whitman once again rented a large, single-floor apartment of over two hundred square meters in her own name.
Adrian Grant, meanwhile, was in charge of the move.
To avoid any complications, they moved on Wednesday.
They moved all of Ryan Grant’s things out of the Brocade Bay house—his daily necessities, clothes, toys, books, and anything else child-related.
It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford to buy new things, but rather that none of it could be left in Adrian Grant’s house.
"Mommy, why are we moving again?" Ryan Grant asked, looking around the unfamiliar environment with curiosity.
"It’s closer to your school," Caroline Whitman said, her expression unchanging.
"Oh."
After arriving at the new apartment, Ryan Grant curiously looked here and there.
There were more rooms here. Five in total: besides a study, there was a dedicated playroom and his own small bedroom.
The other two were bedrooms.
"For our first night in the new house, I want to sleep with Mommy and Daddy!" Ryan Grant exclaimed happily, running around the living room.
"But when is Daddy coming home tonight? Does he know we moved?"
Caroline Whitman glanced at the time. It was already ten o’clock at night, and Adrian Grant still wasn’t back.
Before leaving for the company that morning, he had given her a heads-up that he had a family cocktail party to attend that evening.
She patted the little one’s back. "Daddy knows. He’s working late right now. Go take a bath first. By the time you’re done, Daddy should be almost home."
"Oh."
The little guy obediently went to take his bath.
In reality, by the time Ryan Grant had finished his bath, yawned several times, and could no longer fight off the sleepiness in his eyes, Adrian Grant still hadn’t returned.
Ryan Grant rubbed his drowsy eyes. "Did Daddy get lost?"
For the first time, Caroline Whitman experienced what it was like to wait at home with her child for her husband to return.
"Daddy’s a grown-up; he won’t get lost. If Ryan is sleepy, you can go to bed first."
"Mommy, can you call Daddy and ask when he’s coming home?"
Ryan Grant pleaded, shaking Caroline Whitman’s hand coaxingly.
Caroline Whitman couldn’t refuse him. Seeing how he was, she knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight without hearing Adrian Grant’s voice.
She took out her phone, found Adrian Grant’s number, and dialed.
After a dozen rings or so, the call was finally answered. "Hello?"
The call was on speaker. The moment Adrian Grant’s low voice came through the receiver, Ryan Grant perked up and shouted into the phone:
"Daddy, when are you coming home?"
Adrian Grant’s voice was even lower and more tired than usual. "I’ll be back soon. Put her on the phone."
Hearing this, Caroline Whitman turned off the speakerphone and took the call. "What’s wrong?"
Adrian Grant said, "It’s not convenient for me right now. Come to The Seraphic."
"..."
Before she could ask what was going on, the line went dead. Caroline Whitman had no choice but to ask Miss King to come over and watch the child.
Seeing Caroline Whitman about to leave, Ryan Grant asked worriedly, "What’s wrong with Daddy?"
"He’s drunk. I’m going to pick him up. You be good at home. I’ll have Miss King come stay with you for a bit."
Ryan Grant’s little face scrunched up. To be honest, they had just moved to a new place, and on the very first night, his parent was heading out late. He didn’t feel very secure.
He put on a pitiful expression and said, "Mommy, you will come back, right?"
"Of course I’ll be back. Go to sleep now. Miss King will be here, so don’t be scared."
Ryan Grant nodded his little head. "If Mommy and Daddy don’t come back, I’ll have Miss King take me to the old house to find my grandparents."
"..."
’You’re a little too clever.’
Caroline Whitman instantly changed her mind and decided to take the child with her to The Seraphic.
「...」
After hanging up, Adrian Grant leaned back against the seat, his eyes shut tight.
The car came to a smooth stop in front of The Seraphic.
"Sir, we’ve arrived."
The driver got out and opened the car door. A weary Adrian Grant exited the car and went into the villa.
Only after watching Adrian Grant safely inside did the driver start the car and leave.
Half an hour later, Caroline Whitman’s car arrived at The Seraphic.
The child was lying asleep in the back seat.
Caroline Whitman knew Tiny would fall asleep in the car. As she got out, opened the back door, and lifted the child out, she felt a pang of bitterness.
’These days of having to take the child with me everywhere...’
’Why does my life feel so hard?’
Holding the sleeping Tiny, Caroline Whitman entered the password and successfully opened the door.
The lights were on. Adrian Grant was leaning against the sofa, his eyes closed.
The sound of her entering didn’t even make him open his eyes, which was enough to prove he was most likely asleep.
Caroline Whitman went over and shook Adrian Grant’s shoulder, trying to wake him.
After half a minute, hearing the man’s steady breathing, Caroline Whitman fell silent.
She knew it would be like this.
’It’s a good thing I brought the child. Otherwise, it would have been a real struggle to carry a sleeping Adrian Grant to the car by myself.’
Fortunately, she could first take the child to a room on the first floor and get him settled.
When she came back out, she walked straight to the sofa, stopping in front of Adrian Grant. She leaned over slightly, quietly gazing at the defenseless man before her.
A faint, alcohol-induced flush colored his fair, jade-like cheeks. The light scent of liquor tinged his breath. As she drew closer, it wafted around her nose—not pungent, but instead adding a languid, alluring quality he didn’t usually possess.
Unable to resist, Caroline Whitman reached out a fingertip to gently touch his warm cheek. The instant her finger met his smooth skin, she quickly pulled it back, muttering, "How much did you drink to be this dead asleep?"
She frowned and gently shook his shoulder, wanting to wake him up—or at least get him to move to a bed to sleep.
After a moment’s hesitation, Caroline Whitman raised her hand, intending to take off his glasses first.
But the instant she touched the arm of his glasses, her wrist was suddenly seized in a firm, warm grip.