Chapter 21 Not Going Back Without Getting Pregnant
Upon hearing Philip's question, Frederick paused for a moment. "No need."
This was Xandra's personal matter. If she didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't push her. As long as the biological father of the triplets didn't cause trouble in the future, it was fine.
"Fred, come to think of it, those three kids do kinda look like you," Philip teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Frederick shot him a sharp glance. "Keep going."
That look was pretty intense. Philip initially wanted to joke around but decided to change his approach.
"Maybe it's just fate. You and the kids are connected somehow."
He shared the same sentiment as Richard. If he didn't know Frederick was a man of integrity, he might have thought Xandra's three children were Frederick's.
The information they found showed that four years ago, Xandra returned from Valcouraine and soon after, she was pregnant and gave birth. Coincidentally, four years ago, Frederick also lived in Valcouraine. Quite the coincidence.
"Yeah, it's fate," Frederick thought of those adorable kids and couldn't help but smile faintly. Xandra gave him a familiar feeling from the first glance.
And the kids, likewise, gave him a sense of warmth, making him inexplicably want to protect them.
---
Riverside Estates.
Xandra was flipping through a cookbook, discussing cooking techniques with the household chef.
When she received a message from Frederick, her heart skipped a beat with joy.
After replying with an "OK," she quickly logged onto the Russell Jewelry website and submitted her resume according to the official requirements.
The application required a recent jewelry design work, so she selected one of her favorite designs and sent it.
Just as she finished applying, she received a call from the hospital nurse.
"Ms. Cavendish, you need to come to the hospital right away! There are some men blocking your mother's room, claiming they are here to collect a debt."
What!
Xandra's face turned pale as she jumped to her feet. "I'm coming right away! Tell them not to do anything rash! If they harm my mother even a little, I'll fight them to the end!"
Her family had gone bankrupt, and although she sold the house, car, and stocks to pay off debts, she wasn't sure if her father still owed money elsewhere.
It seemed there were still some debts left unpaid. Those people must have been unable to find her and went to the hospital instead.
Xandra hung up the phone, grabbed her bag, and rushed out the door.
Downstairs at the community playground, Richard was standing nearby, watching the three kids play. Xandra hurried over and greeted him.
"Grandpa, could you please watch the kids for me? I have to go out for a bit."
Seeing her distressed look, Richard asked, "Don't rush. Tell me, what's wrong?"
His concerned tone made Xandra's eyes well up. "To be honest, my family went bankrupt, and my dad might still owe some debts. My mom is in a vegetative state, currently being treated in the hospital. Now the creditors can't find me, so they've gone to the hospital to demand payment. Grandpa, I have to go now."
Watching Xandra leave in a hurry, Richard squinted his eyes. He was aware of Xandra's family situation.
If it weren't for the Cavendish family's bankruptcy, Xandra probably wouldn't have ended up marrying his grandson by chance. The Russell family had no shortage of money, and he needed to make sure his grandson helped his granddaughter-in-law.
Thinking of this, he took out his phone and dialed Frederick's number.
The call connected quickly.
"Fred, are you at the office?"
"Yeah. Are you heading back?"
Richard was silent for a moment. He ground his teeth and squeezed out a sentence. "Fred, I won't go back until I see my granddaughter-in-law pregnant."
Frederick snorted. "What's the matter?"
Getting to the point, Richard's expression turned serious. "Your wife just left, saying creditors have gone to the hospital to demand payment from your mother-in-law. You have plenty of money, so hurry up and pay off the debts. Don't let your wife cry over a little money all the time; it's bad for getting pregnant!"
The last sentence was the key point. He was eager to have great-grandchildren!
On the other end, Frederick's handsome face remained expressionless. He said one word and hung up the phone.
Philip, who was nearby, vaguely heard Richard's voice. He asked, "Was that Grandpa?"
"Yeah."
Philip's curiosity piqued. "Does he know you're married?"
"Yeah."
"Is he unhappy with Xandra?"
Frederick's face remained calm as he stood up and grabbed his coat. "Unhappy? Then I'll stay single."
"Where are you going?"
"To visit my mother-in-law."
---
Hospital.
Xandra hurried over. She pushed open the door to her mother's room and saw several men inside. One of them was a familiar face: Lucius.
Why was he here too?
Xandra's lips pressed into a thin line. Considering she used to be his fiancée, these people probably couldn't find her and went to Lucius.
"Ms. Cavendish, you're here," the nurse breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Xandra. Xandra gave her an apologetic smile before turning to the men sitting there.
"Let's talk outside, I don't want to disturb my mother's rest."
The men didn't move.
"Your mom is practically a vegetable now. What rest are you worried about?"
"Exactly! Ms. Cavendish, let's not beat around the bush. Just because your dad jumped off a building doesn't mean his debts are wiped clean. When he was alive, you and your mom enjoyed a good life. Now that he's gone, you two should take responsibility for his debts."
"That's right, Ms. Cavendish. Today you must give us an answer. When will you pay back the money your dad owes us?"
They spoke one after another, their tone harsh. Xandra's gaze turned cold, and her voice carried a hint of firmness.
"I'll say it again, if you want to talk about money, please step outside with me!"
With that, she turned and walked out of the room.
Lucius had been watching Xandra since she entered. Seeing her still maintaining an air of dignity, a glint appeared in his eyes. He stood up and followed the creditors outside.
Xandra stood at the door, waiting for them to come out, then closed the door behind them. "Alright, we're outside now."
The five men took out their bills.
"This is the remaining balance your dad owes me, thirty thousand dollars."
"Your dad still owes our company twenty-five thousand dollars."
"I have thirty thousand dollars owed here too."
Xandra took the bills and checked them one by one. Her father owed them a total of over one hundred forty thousand dollars. But upon closer inspection, her brows furrowed. The bills were legitimate, but they were all over three years old and had specified repayment dates.
Although she hadn't been involved in her father's business, she knew enough about the industry to be aware of some gray areas.
For instance, these remaining balances might have been part of some agreement her father made with them. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been possible to delay payment for over three years. These people were taking advantage of her father's death, thinking she and her mother were vulnerable and trying to extort money from her!
Xandra's fingers curled slightly. "These bills are past their repayment dates. You know whether the money should still be paid. You are all business people; please don't bully us."
Hearing this, the men began to shout.
"Ms. Cavendish, don't play the victim here, making us look like bullies."
"Exactly! The bills have your dad's signature in black and white. Paying off debts is a natural duty!"
"Ms. Cavendish, we run small businesses too. Your dad owed us money for years without paying, and we didn't even charge interest. We've been quite generous!"
"Ms. Cavendish, if you don't give us an answer today, we'll remove your mom's oxygen mask!"
They were aggressive and relentless. Xandra's fingers tightened, her face pale. At this moment, Lucius stepped in front of her.
"Everyone, please calm down. Let me discuss this with Xandra."