Chapter 330 Returning to the Country

Chapter 330 Returning to the Country

Frederick's breathing was heavy as he got off her and reached into her purse to get her phone.

It was indeed Harper calling.

He handed the phone to Xandra.

Xandra straightened her clothes and answered the call.

"Mom."

"Xandy, you and Fred are coming back tomorrow, right?" Harper asked.

"Yes, what's up?"

"Nothing, just wondering what time you'll be back."

Xandra glanced at Frederick.

He thought for a moment, "We should arrive home early morning, domestic time."

Harper nodded, "Good, then Xandy will have time to help me pick out a gift for Richard."

Tomorrow was Richard's eightieth birthday, and Harper had received an invitation.

"Mom, you don't need to buy anything. I'll take care of it for you," Frederick said.

Harper laughed, "No need, how could I let you do that?"

He replied, "We're all family. My gift is Xandy's gift. It makes sense for you to be formal with me, but you don't need to be formal with her, right?"

This son-in-law was getting better and better at sweet-talking.

Xandra beamed with joy.

She asked, "Mom, what about Chuck and the others? Are they playing upstairs?"

It was Saturday back home, should be around 9 o'clock now.

The kids didn't have to go to kindergarten .

"Oh, Mr. Lucas just picked up the kids," Harper said.

The smile on Xandra's face froze, "Where did he take them?"

"He said he was taking them to an amusement park."

Harper instinctively glanced at Frederick, hesitating to speak.

The three kids had been separated from the couple for nearly half a month.

During that period, Lucas had been picking them up and dropping them off at school every day, being especially patient with them.

She wondered if the scales in the children's hearts were tipping more toward Lucas.

"Got it, Mom. We'll hang up now and talk more when we get back," Xandra said.

"Okay."

After hanging up, the room fell silent.

Xandra looked at Frederick, whose expression was unreadable, and asked tentatively, "Honey, what are you thinking?"

He said, "I'm wondering if the kids will feel distant from me when we go back tomorrow."

Xandra was worried about the same thing.

Because Lucas was very good at winning children over, and even Elizabeth and Margaret clearly liked him a lot.
But she definitely couldn't show it now.

Xandra held his hand and blurted out, "No way, you're so charming, no one can compete with you."

Frederick raised an eyebrow, met her bright gaze, curved his lips, and pulled her into his arms.

"Trying to make me feel better?"

"Yes."

She just wanted to cheer him up.

"Just with words?" Frederick's eyes darkened.

Xandra understood what he meant. She slipped her arms around his neck and leaned in, pressing a soft, sweet kiss to his lips.

Frederick's eyes deepened as he took control, continuing what they had left unfinished.

The next afternoon.

The couple prepared to return home.

Because of Richard's eightieth birthday, Rachel would be returning home with them for the celebration.

Xandra looked at the place where she had stayed for half a month, feeling unexpectedly reluctant to leave.

It could be said that these past two weeks had been the most relaxed and happiest she’d felt since giving birth.

She hadn't even left yet and was already missing it.

Frederick noticed the reluctance in her eyes and curved his lips.

"Honey, how about after we go back, we move the whole family here permanently?"

Xandra thought about it and said, "Maybe not, but we can come here often for short stays."

She liked it here because for the past half month, it had just been the three of them—her, Rachel, and him.

That feeling of being in love was different.

It was like a dream, and when you wake up, you eventually have to return to reality.

Her roots were back home, and she had no plans to settle abroad for now.

"Okay, whatever you say."

Although Frederick really hoped Xandra would settle in Valcouraine with him, he wouldn't force her.

It didn't matter where they lived—wherever she was, that's where home was.

The three of them took a private jet back.

They arrived home at exactly 5 a.m.

The three returned to Xandra's villa together.

Harper was already awake, sitting on the sofa waiting for their arrival.

"Harper, why are you up so early?" Rachel greeted her.

She beamed, "Can't help it. Knowing you were coming back, I was too excited to sleep."

Rachel smiled too.

The two chatted downstairs while Frederick and Xandra went upstairs to put away their luggage.

"Honey, I'm going to check on the kids," Xandra said.

"Let's go together," Frederick said.

Xandra agreed, and they tiptoed to the children's room.

The kids were all sleeping soundly and hadn't woken up.

Xandra hadn't seen them in days. Even though they video-called every day, she still missed them terribly.

She kissed each of the children's sweet little faces one by one, then left the room.

Frederick followed closely behind and said, "After half a month, they seem to have changed."

Xandra looked at him, "What changed?"

"They've gotten even cuter."

She thought he was going to say the kids had become distant from him.

She didn't expect him to say they'd gotten cuter.

She laughed, "They're all asleep, and you can still tell?"

Frederick raised an eyebrow, "Don't you think they're cute?"

Xandra smiled and reached out to link her arm with his, "Not as cute as you."

There was an element of flattery in those words.

Frederick curved his lips, contentedly enjoying the tenderness from his wife.

The little ones woke up at seven o'clock.

After washing up, they came downstairs and first saw Xandra.

Immediately, each of them became very happy.

Calling out "Mommy" this and "Mommy" that.

Rachel, standing nearby, watched the three children with mixed feelings.

She really liked the kids, but why did they have to be Lucas's children?

Today was Richard's 80th birthday, and she wondered if the guests would look at her son through colored glasses.

Fortunately, her son had a strong character and was never affected by outside opinions.

If it were someone else, things probably wouldn't be so peaceful.

Frederick had just come out of the bathroom when the children’s excited voices reached him. His lips curved slightly as he turned and called out to the three of them.

They looked up, and Elizabeth and Margaret immediately ran happily toward him.

"Daddy Fred."

Ever since Lucas came into the picture, they had been calling Frederick "Daddy Fred."

This made Frederick feel uncomfortable.

After all, they used to just call him "Dad."

Now they had to add a qualifier.

He crouched down, touched Elizabeth and Margaret's little faces, then glanced at Charles who had followed over, and asked, "Did you miss me while I was away?"

"Yes."

Elizabeth and Margaret answered crisply.

"Really?"

Frederick deliberately asked, "You didn't forget about me?"

Elizabeth and Margaret understood and both broke into smiles.

Beth said, "No way, we like both daddies."

Maggie nodded vigorously.

Charles maintained his usual cool demeanor and didn't say anything.

Frederick felt somewhat emotional.

He remembered Xandra telling him that the kids had said they liked him more than Lucas.

Now it had changed to liking both of them.

It seemed that during his absence, Lucas had put a lot of effort into the children, gradually making them like him.

"You must all be hungry, let's have breakfast first," Harper called out.

Everyone headed to the dining room.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Harper went to answer it and saw it was Lucas.