Chapter 230 Unexpected Visitors
Hearing Connor's straightforward rejection, Harrison frowned slightly. He couldn't understand why the boy would refuse his invitation so bluntly.
Before Harrison could ask Connor why he'd declined, Connor pulled Lily and Mia aside, whispering cautiously to them.
"Just a few days ago, we were kidnapped by bad people and almost never saw Mom again," Connor reminded them. "What if you go with him and he sells you? What would you do then?"
Harrison overheard Connor's warning and felt a surge of irritation. Did he look like a criminal? Why was this child so suspicious of him?
Simon was equally shocked by Connor's comment. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. The kid's defensive mindset seemed excessive. Not only might Harrison potentially be his biological father, but with Harrison's distinguished appearance, he hardly resembled someone with malicious intent.
Lily felt uncomfortable hearing Connor speak about her father this way.
She defended Harrison. "Connor, my dad is a good person. How could he possibly sell us? He just wants to take us out to have fun."
Mia also spoke up for Harrison. "Connor, I've spent time with him before. He's really nice and has been good to me."
Connor remained firm in his position. He glanced warily at Harrison before warning Mia again.
"That's because he thought you were his biological daughter, so he didn't sell you," Connor insisted. "Now, nobody can confirm whether we're his children or not. What if he's up to something?"
"Besides," he continued, "I don't believe him. Think about how Lily was mistreated by Mandy, and he never even noticed. Now he wants to take us out? I'm not going. If you two want to go, that's your choice."
"But don't cry when you can't see Mom anymore."
Initially, both Mia and Lily had been eager to go out with Harrison. After Connor's persuasive warning, however, the two children immediately abandoned their enthusiasm for the outing.
It wasn't that they feared Harrison would abduct them; they were afraid that if he took them away, they might never see Elena again.
After making his point, Connor turned and headed back to his room.
Mia, after careful consideration, followed Connor's lead and returned to their room as well.
Only Lily remained, standing before Harrison, torn between wanting to go out with him and fearing she might never see Elena again.
Her indecision was evident.
"Dad, I'm sorry, but maybe you should wait until Mom comes back and discuss it with her before taking us out," she said. "I want to go with you, but I also want to stay with Mom. I'm sorry."
With that, Lily turned and followed Mia to Connor's room.
The children's behavior left Harrison feeling almost desperate with frustration.
He wasn't particularly upset about Connor and Mia's distance—after all, it had yet to be confirmed whether they were his biological children.
But Lily? She was his little princess. How could she choose Elena over him? Had Elena somehow manipulated Lily?
Harrison felt deeply troubled.
He decided that scheduling another paternity test with the children needed to be a priority.
Lily had already taken a paternity test with him previously. Given that Connor, Mia, and Lily were triplets, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the other two were almost certainly his biological children as well.
Seeing Harrison's darkening expression, Simon stepped forward to console his boss.
"Mr. Frost, please don't be upset," he said. "Look at these three children—they have strong protective instincts. It's admirable that they're concerned about their own safety."
He added with a smile, "And did you notice how Connor speaks? He's exactly like you—truly has the Frost family demeanor."
Harrison had initially been quite angry, but after hearing Simon's observations, his irritation gradually subsided.
Upon reflection, he had to admit that Connor's mannerisms did remind him of himself as a child.
Since the children had suggested that he discuss matters with Elena first, Harrison decided he couldn't leave now. He needed to stay at Elena's house until she returned so they could talk about arranging paternity tests. If Connor and Mia truly were his children, he would certainly find a way to bring the Frost family's children back where they belonged.
With this resolve, Harrison was comfortable on the living room sofa, settling in as if he were the man of the house.
Bronte, having finished her household chores, entered the living room. She was startled to find Harrison sitting there as if he owned the place.
Then she noticed Victoria in the kitchen wearing an apron and preparing soup.
Victoria and Harrison making themselves so at home alarmed Bronte considerably.
When Charlotte had recommended her for this job at Elena's house, she'd been told her responsibility was simply to take care of the children's meals and basic needs.
Now, two strangers had suddenly appeared in the house. What did they want? Were they trying to claim Elena's house? Or were they after the children?
As a nanny, she already felt guilty about the children's kidnapping incident a few days ago. If something happened to them again, she couldn't face Elena.
With these concerns, Bronte quietly turned away, took out her phone, and immediately called Elena.
As soon as the call connected, her urgent voice startled Elena.
"Elena, please come home quickly," Bronte said. "There are two people who've moved into our house. Could they be here to take the house? Please hurry back—I'm going upstairs to check on the children."
Elena, sitting in her office, frowned upon hearing that two people had moved into her house. Bronte suggested they might be after her property—could they be Christine's brother and his wife? Only they would have disputes with her regarding the house.
With this troubling thought, Elena set aside her work and hurried home.
Just as she was leaving, Elena received a text message on her phone.
The message was from the caretaker at the hospital responsible for Robert.
The caregiver informed her that Robert's condition had deteriorated significantly. The doctors said he wouldn't last much longer and asked what Elena wanted to do.
Without hesitation, Elena replied that they should proceed as medically appropriate. She had no desire to see Robert again, nor did she want to expend any more energy on his situation. The only thing she was willing to do for him now was to arrange his burial after his death.
Nothing more.
With mixed emotions, Elena returned home. Upon entering the living room, she immediately saw her unexpected visitors.