Chapter 15 You Got Married Because of the Children
After listening to Aiden's report, Frederick responded with a faint "Hmm" and continued to review the documents in front of him.
Aiden thought about the video he had recorded and said, "Mr. Russell, I ran into Mrs. Russell at the café while I was discussing some matters with Mr. Brown."
Frederick was still getting used to the title "Mrs. Russell."
"You mean Xandra?"
"Yeah."
"What was she doing at the café?"
"She seemed to be meeting a client, who also happened to be her friend."
Aiden hesitated for a moment, "She also ran into a bit of trouble."
Frederick's pen paused, and he looked up at Aiden.
Aiden quickly played the video he had recorded.
Frederick's gaze fell on the screen and immediately recognized Lucius.
So she ran into that jerk!
He listened closely to their conversation.
When he heard Xandra complimenting him as handsome and charming, his eyebrows raised slightly, and a faint smile touched his lips.
She sure knows how to flatter.
The video continued to play.
Xandra took out her phone and played a recording.
Frederick stared at the screen, his eyes narrowing.
No wonder she asked the jerk who his true love was at the time.
Turns out she was setting a trap for him?
Waiting for the right moment to embarrass him!
Xandra isn't just a naive sweetheart.
"Mr. Russell, Mrs. Russell seems gentle and kind, but she's definitely not weak," Aiden praised once the video finished.
Frederick glanced at him, "You seem to have a good impression of her?"
Aiden was startled. He was just a small assistant and wouldn't dare to casually comment on the boss's wife.
"Mr. Russell, I just wanted to remind you that Mrs. Russell is very smart. She might figure out your true identity soon."
Frederick leaned back slightly, "What are you trying to say?"
Aiden braced himself, "I mean, the worst thing in a marriage is deceit. I'm worried that if Mrs. Russell finds out you've been deceiving her, she'll be upset."
Frederick's lips curled into a half-smile.
"Who knew you'd understand marriage so well, despite being single?"
Aiden chuckled awkwardly, "The female secretaries in the office sometimes talk about family matters, and I've overheard some of it."
Frederick lowered his head and continued his work.
"If it's not your concern, don't worry about it."
His relationship with Xandra wasn't at the point where he needed to explain everything.
At that moment, his phone on the desk rang.
It was Xandra calling.
Frederick answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Are you busy? Your grandpa's here."
Frederick's hand holding the pen paused, his eyes narrowing.
"Who did you say is here?"
"He said he's your grandpa from the countryside."
Countryside!
His grandpa could have done anything, but he chose to follow in his footsteps, hiding his identity and causing trouble!
His grandpa knew he was married and couldn't wait to meet his granddaughter-in-law!
"I'll be right home!"
Riverside Estates.
Three children were sitting on the couch, staring at Richard.
Xandra poured Richard a glass of water and sat properly on the other side.
Meeting the family for the first time was nerve-wracking.
It wasn't about anything else, just the fear that Richard might not accept her having three kids.
After all, no one is a saint.
"Grandpa, I called Ray, and he said he's coming right back."
Richard was studying the three children.
He didn't expect them to be so good-looking.
Especially the boy, who had a side profile that reminded him of his grandson when he was young!
"Are these three kids my grandson's? Did you marry because of them?"
Richard tried to probe.
How he wished Xandra would say yes!
A hint of embarrassment crossed Xandra's face.
"Sorry, Grandpa, the kids aren't Ray's."
Richard knew this, but he still felt a twinge of disappointment.
"Then who is their biological father?"
"They don't have a father."
Xandra lowered her eyes slightly, her long lashes trembling.
Richard frowned.
How could the kids not have a father?
Was she unwilling to say?
"Sir, do you not like us?" Charles asked bluntly when he saw Richard frowning.
His eyes were bright, and Richard seemed to see a glimpse of his grandson as a child.
He didn't dislike them. It was just…
"Sir, we're very well-behaved. Please don't dislike us."
"Yeah, sir, I'll massage your legs!"
"Sir, I'll massage your back!"
Elizabeth and Margaret slid off the couch and ran over to Richard on their short legs.
One massaged his legs, the other his back.
They were doing it quite well.
If Richard had any reservations at first, they were now melted away by their actions.
Who could resist such adorable children?
Smelling their sweet scent and feeling their soft little hands, Richard was amused.
"Alright, alright, you're so well-behaved. How could I not like you?"
"Sir, we're lovable and charming babies!"
"Yeah, but raising us costs money!"
They even knew it costs money?
Richard was thoroughly entertained.
No wonder his grandson didn't mind Xandra having three kids.
Such cute and sensible children—who could turn them away?
"What are your names? How old are you?"
"My brother is Charles Cavendish, my sister is Elizabeth Cavendish, and I'm Margaret Cavendish. We're four years old!"
"Ha ha, who gave you your names?"
"Mommy did."
…
Listening to the conversation between the old man and the children, Xandra's heart alternated between relief and tension.
The rejection, anger, and storm she had imagined didn't happen.
It seemed the old man couldn't resist the children's adorable chatter.
He seemed to like them?
From the kitchen came the sounds of cooking.
That was the hourly worker her flash-marriage husband had hired.
Xandra felt a bit guilty.
Another unnecessary expense.
If she knew how to cook, she wouldn't need to hire help.
Seeing the four of them chatting happily, she quietly got up and went to the kitchen.
She wanted to learn how to cook from the hired help!
In the living room, Richard was chatting warmly with the children.
He learned that they originally wanted to find the richest man in Seaside City to be their dad, but ended up finding his grandson by chance.
Richard was both amused and annoyed.
That rascal sure knows how to pretend.
His grandson was indeed the richest man in Seaside City, yet he pretended to be a small assistant.
It was fortunate that he had kept up with the news and also pretended to be a poor man when he arrived, avoiding any slip-ups.
Richard glanced at the kitchen, seeing Xandra helping the hired cook.
This Xandra didn't know how to cook!
But that was a minor issue; the Russell family's matriarch didn't need to know how to cook.
The most important thing was whether she could stand by his grandson's side and be a supportive wife.
He had deliberately tested her when he arrived, and Xandra didn't seem to be a fool.
Soon, Frederick arrived home.
"Mr. Flores!"
Elizabeth and Margaret's cheerful voices rang out as they ran to greet him.
A hint of a smile flashed in Frederick's eyes, and he reached out to pat Elizabeth and Margaret's heads.
"Mr. Flores, the old man is here!"
"Yeah, the old man doesn't dislike us. He really likes us!"
Elizabeth and Margaret eagerly reported to him.
Frederick raised an eyebrow and glanced towards the living room.
Meeting Richard's gaze, he slowly walked over.
"What brings you here?"