Chapter 21 Liam Wants to Leave with Her
Alexander frowned.
In the room, Grace had finished packing and changed clothes with Max before heading downstairs.
She saw that Alexander had returned home, but turned her face away, treating him as if he were invisible.
Liam was suddenly nowhere to be found.
Grace asked, "Where's Liam?" She wanted to say a proper goodbye to him before leaving.
Mary looked puzzled. "Liam was just in the living room."
Just as she finished speaking, sounds came from the second-floor staircase.
Grace looked up to see Liam, also dressed in a beautiful little suit with an adorable sailor hat, struggling to carry a heavy suitcase down the stairs step by step.
The suitcase was almost as tall as him—big, heavy, and unwieldy. Liam struggled with it, having to stop after each step, stick out his little bottom, look down at his feet, tentatively step onto the marble step, then bring down his other foot.
His clothes looked self-dressed—one sock high, one sock low, and his hat sat crooked on his head. But his outfit was relatively neat, and his bangs were combed tidily, showing he had tried to dress up carefully.
Grace found his adorable appearance both touching and amusing, though she couldn't understand what he was trying to do.
Where had this suitcase come from?
Mary was stunned. "Liam, what are you doing?"
She immediately walked over as the servants hurried to support her. "Mrs. Hayes, take it slow!"
Alexander said, "Liam, what are you doing?"
Liam set down the suitcase and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The suitcase beside him was packed full—he had found it in Alexander's room, the oversized suitcase Alexander used for business trips, big enough to fit two Liams inside.
Alexander walked over and opened the suitcase to find it filled with Liam's clothes and some of his favorite toys, even including his favorite snacks.
Liam came over, closed the suitcase, zipped it up, pushed it next to Grace, then ran upstairs again without looking back.
Just as everyone was puzzled, they heard cheerful footsteps, as Liam came downstairs happily carrying his Pikachu backpack.
He looked at Grace and suddenly walked over to her, his little hand grabbing the hem of her clothes as he looked up at her with hopeful eyes.
Max understood the eagerness in his eyes and said warily, "You're not planning to come with us, are you?"
Liam nodded seriously.
Grace was speechless, as well as Max.
Mary panicked. "My dear Liam, where are you planning to go? Don't you want your grandmother anymore?"
Liam glanced at Mary, then suddenly turned his body back around, staring intently at Grace.
It seemed he had truly decided to follow Grace.
His ruthless expression said it all.
Mary's heart was breaking—she never expected Liam would actually abandon her.
Alexander said, "Liam, stop being ridiculous."
Moving such a big suitcase—was he planning to run away from home?
Alexander looked suspiciously at Grace. "What did you say to him?"
Grace was completely bewildered. "I didn't say anything."
Alexander said, "You still claim you didn't seduce Liam? For no reason, why would he want to leave with you?"
Liam looked at Alexander, then at Grace, shuffling his feet closer to Grace's side, completely ignoring Alexander.
The situation became somewhat tense.
Grace took a step toward the door, and Liam followed like a little tail, afraid of being left behind, wanting to go home with her.
Max got a bit angry. "You can't come home with us."
Liam looked at Max with a bewildered, pleading expression.
Max felt this guy was clearly determined to cling to them.
Grace crouched down and gently placed her hands on Liam's shoulders, coaxing softly, "Liam, you can't come with me."
Liam pouted sadly, his eyes flickering as if asking why she didn't want him.
Alexander said, "Liam, are you not listening to Daddy anymore?"
Liam reluctantly shifted his body, clearly not hearing a word of Alexander's somewhat stern tone.
"Liam?" Alexander's voice grew a bit colder.
Liam had his back to him, his ears twitching, but remained unmoved.
Alexander called his full name, "Liam Hayes!"
Liam trembled and quickly hid behind Grace, clearly not wanting to be separated from her for even a day.
Max said, "Mommy, let's go!"
He took Grace's hand, ready to leave.
Liam panicked and quickly came over, spreading his arms to block their path.
Max said with disgust, "What are you trying to do?"
Liam walked over and grabbed his hand, holding it tightly.
Max's face reddened, feeling somewhat shy as he tried to pull his little hand free, but Liam proactively hugged him tightly, his face showing a pleasing expression as if saying, We're good friends, so please don't leave me behind.
Max wasn't a heartless child, and seeing Liam being so affectionate, he couldn't push him away.
Seeing that he seemed to have won over Max's heart, Liam tugged his hand and fumbled in his pocket for a long time before pulling out his palm, revealing two beautifully wrapped candies.
Max stared at Liam in a daze, seeing the undisguised hope in his eyes.
His heart softened momentarily as he looked at Grace. "Mommy, let's take Liam with us!"
"Absolutely not!" Mary found this completely unreasonable. "I don't agree!"
Max said, "He's the one who insists on coming with us!"
"Alexander!" Mary looked anxiously at Alexander. "If necessary, make her stay!"
She couldn't bear to be separated from Liam.
Alexander frowned, but saw Max say stubbornly, "I don't want to stay here."
Mary thought he was being unreasonable. "How has the Hayes family mistreated you? All this time, we've kept you and your mother at Hayes Manor, providing good food and drink, taking excellent care of you both. What are you dissatisfied with?"
Max said, "This isn't my home."
Alexander said to Grace, "We need to talk."
Grace asked back, "What is there for us to discuss?"
Alexander was already heading upstairs.
Grace hesitated for a moment, then followed him upstairs.
In the study.
As soon as Grace entered, Alexander turned around to face her. "I don't care what you promised Liam, but now that he can't bear to be separated from you, you'll stay at Hayes Manor and not go anywhere."
Grace said, "Are you planning to illegally detain me again?"
"Detain?" Alexander said, "I'm asking you to take care of Liam. You can name your conditions as compensation."
Grace said, "Are you asking me to be Liam's nanny?"