Chapter 48 If Only
Autumn stopped crying and looked at Xander with her doe eyes.
"Ok." she said.
Everyone was staring at Xander, surprised that he offered Autumn a piggyback. Xander, on the other hand, looked at the girl as he realized what he had done. Now, he would have to give her a piggyback. He didn't expect her to stop crying right away and accept his offer. He looked at the audience, who were clearly enjoying the show. He noticed a faint smirk on William's face and raised his brow with suspicion. He began to wonder, had he fallen into a trap?
William actually played Xander. He was informed about his arrival yesterday. He knew the kids would come as well, as it was the weekend. He deliberatly didn't inform Ariadne of Xander's arrival and asked Xander to come in the morning. He pretended to give Autumn a piggyback as well. After all, he knew he wouldn't be able to piggyback anyone due to his current health. As he expected, Xander fell right into his trap. He wanted him to get closer to his children.
"What? You're not going to back down from your word and break a little girl's heart. Will you?" William taunted.
Xander rolled his eyes. Even the little girl looked at him with anticipation and a challenge that if he backed down from his words, she would show him what crying was.
'Great' Xander sighed with frustration and crouched down.
Autumn smiled broadly as she climbed onto his back. He had never given a piggyback ride before. He quickly lifted her and made her sit on his shoulder. When he stood up, Autumn was frightened by the height.
"Aah." she hugged his head tightly for dear life.
"Careful." William shouted, concerned.
Xander paused for a moment.
"Calm down and grab my hands." he instructed her, as he slowly released one hand and raised it for her to hold.
Autumn trembled but gradually took his hand. Xander extended his other hand, which Autumn grabbed tightly.
"Relax. I'll not let you fall." he assured her.
Autumn slowly relaxed and Xander started walking. She looked at the ground, which was quite low due to Xander's height.
"It's so high." she exclaimed.
"Of course, my dear." William smiled at her.
Autumn started to laugh after a while.
"Yeeee," she exclaimed excitedly.
"Let's go there." She commanded him.
Xander followed her instructions as she roamed around the garden, sitting on his shoulder. While Jose hid his laughter, William watched them with emotion. After a while, Xander put her down.
"Wow, that was amazing. It was my best piggyback." Autumn clapped her hands and jumped with delight.
"Thank you for the compliment," Xander replied as he stretched his hands.
"Now, it's your turn. Go give her a piggyback." Xander instructed Jose.
"Me?" he pointed at himself, dumbfounded.
"Yes, you fool." Xander glared at him, causing Jose to swallow.
He saw Jose enjoying and laughing with William when he was following Autmn's instructions like a servant. While he couldn't do anything to William, this was his way of getting revenge on Jose. Jose immediately understood the message. Though he had no objections to giving Autumn a piggyback, he was concerned that Xander would punish him again later. Nonetheless, he eagerly went to give Autumn a piggyback. William sat down in the garden chair, and Xander joined him. They watched Autumn enjoy the ride. After a while, Jose put her down, and Autumn ran to William for a hug. Autumn, being the chatterbox she was, began chatting with William. Xander silently watched them as they talked. The little girl was full of energy and exuded a fresh aura, like a rising sun. She showed them her drawings. Xander realized that both of the siblings had artistic talents.
"The lunch is ready." a maid came to inform them.
They all went to the dining area and saw Adrian was already seated, cleaned and dressed in new clothes. Autumn sat next to Adrian, while William took the front seat. Xander and Jose sat opposite the children.
William noticed how Xander's mood had improved after spending time with the kids.
As the food was served, they began eating. It was almost quite as Autumn didn't talk much during lunch. It appeared that the girl loved food. After the luch, they all sat in the living area. Autumn sat with his brother, showing him her drawings. Jose sat with them. Xander looked at the siblings with a warm expression.
"They are adorable... You all could have sat together as a family right now... if only..." William commented as he sat next to Xander on the couch.
Xander clenched his jaw and looked at William. "If only your dear Ariadne hadn't ruined it for me." he stated.
William sighed and shook his head. He didn't say anything further. However, Xander's mood soured. The image of Ariadne with Zidane flashed through his mind, and he was irritated that she had left the kids here to hang out with a man.
"Where's your mommy?" he asked the kids unexpectedly, despite knowing the answer perfectly well.
"She has gone on a date with uncle Zidane." Autumn blurted out, excitedly.
Xander frowned, his face darkened.
"It's not a date, silly. They have some work." Adrian corrected his sister.
"But they will go shopping as well." Autumn pouted in protest.
"Shopping isn't a date." Adrian said.
"Then what's a date?" Autumn asked angrily, causing Adrian to sigh.
"Stop arguing, kids. You're both too young to understand what a date is." William said, interrupting the siblings.
Autumn pouted and stopped speaking with Adrian. She was highly emotional and harbored grudges.
"Great-grandpa, let's go to the garden." Autumn said.
"Ok, let's go." William smiled as he accompanied her to the garden.
Autumn dragged Jose along as well. Xander and Adrian remained alone in the living room. As their eyes met, Xander felt awkward. Adrian averted his gaze and focused on Autumn's drawing book, which she had left there. Xander took his phone and started scrolling. Silence fell as they both remained silent.
"Who're you in relation to Great-grandpa?" Adrian asked abruptly, after a while.
Xander lifted his gaze from the phone to see the boy staring at him intently.
"I'm his grandson." he replied.
Adrian's expression slightly changed as he continued to look at him. He already assumed Xander was William's grandson, but he still asked for confirmation. He fell silent, thinking something in his mind. Xander assumed he wouldn't say anything and was about to return his attention to his phone. However, he stiffened when Adrian asked his next question.
"Are you my mommy's ex-husband?"
Silence fell.
"Yes... did your mother tell you this?" he asked the boy.
He didn't expect a child to know these things. However, Adrian's school friend's parents had recently divorced, and they discussed it. He learned about it there.
"No." Adrian shook his head. "I guess so." he added.
Xander was surprised and impressed by the boy's intelligence.
"Did you leave my mother for your girlfriend?" Adrian asked without hesitation, which caught Xander off guard.
He looked at Xander with a frown, as if accusing him. Xander became speechless as to what to say. He was just a child.
"It's complicated. You're too young to understand this. Just focus on your studies." he replied after some thought.
Adrian didn't say anything to him and returned to the drawing book. However, Xander was nervous sitting alone with the boy.
"Let's go to the garden." He proposed, after a while.
Adrian raised his head and looked at him. He nodded his head, causing Xander to sigh with relief. They went to the garden to join the others. William was giving the birds food. Adrian ran up to him. Jose was beside them and Autumn played with flowers. Xander approached the bench and sat down. Autumn saw him and approached him before taking a seat next to him. Xander focused on his phone, ignoring the girl. However, he noticed the girl was constantly staring at him.
"Why are you looking at me like this?" he finally asked.
"You look like my brother." Autumn exclaimed, making him frown.
"Oh, really?" he looked at her.
"Yes, everything is the same." she said excitedly. "I will take you to meet..."
"Hello, kids," a voice interrupted Autumn, and she looked at the person who had just arrived.
"Tia..." Autumn jumped off the bench and dashed towards her, leaving Xander stunned.
He looked at Adrian and examined his facial features. He looked exactly like his mother. Xander couldn't understand why the little girl thought they looked alike. The only thing they had in common was their hair color. They both had dark brown hair but Ariadne also had dark brown hair. His eyes, nose, and lips all resembled his mother's. He shook his head, assuming it was simply her childish nature. After all she was only a child. However, he didn't know that Autumn was referring to Alex, not Adrian.
"How are you Mr. Blake?" Tiara's voice jolted Xander out of his thoughts.
"I heard what happened in the festival. I hope everything's fine now." she added.
"What did happen to him?" William asked with concern as he approached them.
Xander glared at Tiara. He hadn't given it much thought before, but after Tiara mentioned it, he realized it had been a humiliating incident for him. He clenched his jaw.
"Oh, it's nothing serious. Mr. Blake just got a little too drunk and caused a scene. It's nothing big. It happens at parties like this." Tiara said, concealing the fact that Xander had been drugged.
If Xander hadn't told William, it implied he didn't want him to know. She wouldn't make Xander an enemy by telling William about it. After all, the issue had been resolved.
"Oh." William relaxed after hearing her explanation.
They started talking, and Xander realized it was time to leave. Tiara spoke with Jose for a while, and Xander noticed that they had grown quite familiar with each other.
"We should leave now." he said as he approached William.
"I know you will not be able to attend the engagement with your current health. I'll bring Crystal to meet with you someday. Just don't hold any grudges against her. She's a nice girl." he added.
William hugged him.
"Now that I have such adorable great-grandchildren, I hold no grudges against anyone." he said, causing Xander to shake his head.
"My only wish is to see you happy." he patted his shoulder.
The kids, particularly Autumn, said their goodbyes to them as they left the old mansion shortly after.