Chapter 217 Andrew's Thoughts Are Hard to Guess
Andrew didn't say anything, his expression remained indifferent, as if he hadn't heard what Benjamin said at all.
For a moment, it was hard to tell what he was really thinking.
Benjamin and David, who was standing nearby, exchanged glances, both looking puzzled.
So did he like it or not?
Andrew's thoughts were really hard to figure out.
Olivia had no idea what they had talked about.
After she and Bianca came back with the juice, she gave everyone a cup.
The juice was sweet and refreshing. After everyone finished drinking, they continued on their way up the mountain.
There wasn't much sun today, and with the recent cool weather, the temperature during the hike was just right - not too cold, not too hot, quite comfortable actually.
Seeing Andrew still carrying Bianca, Olivia walked over, wanting to take the child from him. "You've been carrying her all morning, let me take her for a while."
Hiking was physically demanding, and she was worried Andrew would get too tired.
Recently, because of Bianca's condition, she had already troubled him quite a bit.
Andrew didn't let go, smiling gently. "It's fine, Bianca's weight is nothing."
Bianca also hugged her dad's neck and said sweetly, "Daddy, if you're tired, I can walk by myself."
Andrew smiled. "Really, it's fine!"
Olivia felt a bit bad about it.
She looked at Andrew - they were both hiking with the same amount of exercise, yet he was carrying a child, but throughout the journey, he wasn't even breathing hard.
The difference in people's stamina was quite significant.
Andrew understood what she meant, so he added, "Didn't we say we'd help Bianca win first place? Those two have probably forgotten, so we definitely can't lose."
Bianca covered her mouth and giggled, saying, "Yes! We're going to win first place!"
Olivia was helpless and could only let him have his way.
Around one in the afternoon, the group finally reached the summit, and Andrew and Bianca claimed victory as promised.
Bianca clapped happily, her little voice full of excitement. "Daddy and I won!"
Benjamin and Evelyn just remembered this bet.
The two graciously replied, "Alright, we lost. We need to give Bianca a reward. Bianca, what do you want?"
Bianca said, "I want Mr. White to make me a fan, and Godmother to give me a bouquet of flowers. Is that okay?"
In her innocent little voice, she stated her desired rewards. The two adults who lost readily agreed, "Sure, Bianca can have whatever she wants!"
So the two of them went off separately to find grass and leaves to weave a fan, and to pick flowers.
After a while, they both came back. Benjamin had several large leaves in his hands, and Evelyn had picked a bouquet of pretty wildflowers.
Benjamin wove the large leaves into a delicate fan. Bianca took it with a smile and gave everything to Andrew.
"These are rewards for Daddy. Daddy worked hard carrying me, the fan can cool you down."
Bianca's thoughtful and sweet manner was especially endearing.
Benjamin and Evelyn's hearts melted watching her.
Although they were the ones who gave the rewards, Bianca gave them to Andrew. Who wouldn't want such a thoughtful daughter?
Benjamin couldn't help but say, "Such a good kid, it makes me want to have one too!"
David quietly reminded him from the side, "Mr. White, as everyone knows, having a child by yourself isn't possible. First, you need to find a partner!"
Benjamin glared at him. "David, have you not gotten beaten up lately? Come on, let me spar with you."
Benjamin grabbed David by the neck, about to fight with him, making David dodge everywhere.
Andrew watched them fooling around and thought these people were too childish to bother with.
He took the opportunity to bring Bianca aside to look at the scenery, taking in the natural beauty from the mountaintop. He found a relatively quiet corner, took out his tools, and taught her to sketch, using this as a way to help with her condition.
Evelyn watched from the side and immediately understood Andrew's intention.
Not wanting to disturb them, she quietly walked away, but unexpectedly, Olivia followed along.
Evelyn looked at her questioningly. "Aren't you staying with them?"
Olivia shook her head. "I'd just be standing there watching anyway. When we were coming up, I noticed a lot of wild medicinal herbs along the path.
Since this mountain hasn't been developed, there are many natural plants.
Mr. Hamilton has helped me a lot, and I've never really had a way to repay him. I remember I once gave him a sandalwood bracelet with calming herbs inside, but the effects should be wearing off by now and need to be replenished.
This mountain should have herbs with even stronger effects than what I used before. I want to take this chance to look for some. These wild ones will be more potent."
After hearing her explanation, Evelyn was impressed with these two.
So the people involved were actually here to get things done, with the outing just being incidental.
She and Benjamin were the carefree ones who were really just here to have fun.
Evelyn had no reason to stop her, and since she had nothing else to do anyway, she said, "Tell me what the herbs look like, and since we're here, I'll help you look for them."
Olivia was about to say it wasn't necessary, but Evelyn insisted on going with her, so she had to pull out her phone and show her pictures.
After that, she emphasized, "This grass looks a lot like ordinary wild grass, so don't mix them up.
Remember, it must have nine leaves, and the veins on the leaves must be red!"
"Got it, I'll remember!" Evelyn agreed and saved the pictures to her phone. Looking at the pictures, she couldn't go wrong.
The two began searching the area together.
After a while, David and Benjamin noticed them and came over too.
Benjamin asked curiously, "What are you looking for?"
"Medicinal herbs." Evelyn didn't hide it from them. Seeing the two of them was like seeing two free laborers - might as well use them. "If you're not busy, help us look. We need this kind."
She showed them the pictures Olivia had shown her.
With this call to action, two people became four.
At that moment, in a café in the city, Aurelia was listening to a man in black report: "We followed them to the foot of the mountain but didn't go further, afraid of being discovered by Mr. Andrew Hamilton's people.
As you know, the kind of people around him - even though I was sent by Mr. Finnegan Hamilton, I can't overstep."
The man in black's tone carried some reverence for Andrew.
Aurelia nodded slightly. "I understand. Just tell me what you know."
Tom immediately said, "This time Mr. Hamilton went with Mr. White, looks like they went hiking.
Also with them were two women, a child, and the young master's assistant and bodyguard."
When Aurelia heard certain words, she frowned deeply. "Women? Hiking?"
She wondered if she had heard wrong.
How could Andrew take women hiking?
In her impression, Andrew wasn't the type to do such things.
He had been exceptional since childhood. Whatever he learned, whatever he did, had a purpose.
Even things like horseback riding and shooting, which seemed like leisure activities, were all for networking.
When did he have time for such leisurely pursuits?
Besides, he had never been interested in women. How could he possibly go hiking with women?
Aurelia felt this was something she had never heard of before.
A strange nervousness arose in her heart, and she immediately pressed, "What kind of women went with him?"
Tom briefly described them, saying, "One is a young woman who recently got divorced, with a single-parent child. The child seems to attend Mr. White's kindergarten. The child's mother is named Olivia.
Recently, a medical system developed by Olivia has become quite famous in the industry.
Worth mentioning is that she was originally the wife of the Johnson Group's CEO.
As for the other one, her name is Evelyn. She lives alone, single. Her family moved abroad years ago, originally from Harmony City.
Her family's Thomas Group is quite well-known overseas. Currently, she serves as general manager of the Emerald City branch - quite a capable businesswoman."
Aurelia's eyes narrowed.
Two women - one divorced with a child. She barely gave it any thought.
Her first instinct was to instruct Tom, "Look more into this Evelyn. Since she's originally from Harmony City, her background must be something. And now she's settled domestically - could she have known Andrew all along?
Look into it carefully - what's her relationship with Andrew!"
Thinking about what Finnegan said about Andrew frequently coming to Emerald City and staying here for so long, Aurelia became even more concerned about Evelyn's existence.
She continued asking, "Tell me again about their situation when they left this morning."
Tom didn't dare disobey and told her truthfully, "At the time, Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Smith, and the child were in one car.
As for Ms. Thomas, she was with Mr. White."
Aurelia's frown deepened.
Not because this cleared Evelyn of suspicion, but because she thought Andrew's arrangement seemed more like he was trying to cover something up, deliberately using that divorced woman to create confusion.
As for the idea of him being interested in Olivia, she wouldn't even consider it.
After all, in Aurelia's view, someone like Andrew was incomparably noble. In Harmony City, so many socialites and daughters of wealthy families desired him.
Even she herself had wanted to marry him but was dismissed without a second thought.
How could Andrew's standards allow him to be interested in a divorced woman with a child?
So Olivia was immediately removed from Aurelia's list of suspects!
She fixed her gaze on Tom and ordered, "Keep watching Andrew for me. Whenever he goes out, if there's any connection between him and that Evelyn, no matter how small, report it to me!"
She had to confirm whether this Evelyn posed a threat to her!
She would never easily give up Andrew!
"Yes!" After Tom agreed, he was about to leave.
Aurelia called him back again, her tone serious as she instructed, "One more thing - I don't want what I'm having you do for me to leak out. Don't let Mr. Finnegan Hamilton know about it either. I'll have the money transferred to your account."
Tom understood her meaning and immediately replied, "Understood."