Chapter 44 Call Him Mr. Russell
Xandra couldn't help but grumble internally—Again!
Were all men who seemed so aloof and refined on the surface actually this suggestive underneath? Looking all proper and serious, but actually quite wicked at heart!
Xandra's ears burned as she turned her head to look at the scenery outside, ignoring him.
Her shy appearance was rather alluring.
Frederick thought about how in a few days they could make love, and his mood instantly improved.
"Should I take you home?"
"Okay."
Frederick turned on his signal and drove toward Riverside Estates.
Passing through downtown, something occurred to him. He turned the wheel and stopped in front of a shopping mall.
"Get out."
Xandra froze. "What's wrong?"
Frederick glanced at her bare finger. "We're married. I don't want people mistaking me for your boy toy again."
Her boy toy?
Xandra immediately understood. "You want to buy me a ring?"
"Yes."
"No need!"
She didn't want a wedding ring?
Frederick's eyes narrowed, his aura turning cold.
"Why not?"
Not wanting a wedding ring meant she wasn't taking this marriage seriously and wasn't planning to stay with him long-term!
"Why waste the money? I'm a jewelry designer—I want to design our wedding rings myself," Xandra said.
So that was it!
Frederick's icy demeanor melted as he looked at Xandra's delicate features and made a joke.
"You mean you want me to just give you the money I would've spent on rings?"
Xandra hadn't actually been thinking along those lines, but meeting Frederick's teasing gaze, her eyes rolled.
"That's not out of the question."
Frederick laughed. "I thought you'd at least pretend to be polite."
Xandra: "Wouldn't that be too formal between us?"
A ray of sunlight streamed through the car window, illuminating her face.
Her skin was like cream, her lips crimson and tender, as if water could be squeezed from them.
Her eyes blinked lightly, carrying a hint of playfulness that made his heart skip.
Frederick's gaze deepened as he leaned closer, his voice low and slow.
"So you're saying I'm already your husband?"
When his voice softened like this, it was especially pleasant, carrying a hint of intimacy, exactly like lovers whispering to each other.
Xandra's heart gave an uncontrolled thump. This Raymond was definitely a master at flirting.
He was way too good at this!
She quickly looked away and changed the subject.
"What style of wedding ring do you like?"
Frederick raised an eyebrow. "You're going to design a wedding ring for me?"
"Of course—aren't wedding rings supposed to be a pair?"
Xandra gave him a teasing look as if he were being dense.
Frederick didn't argue with her. "Whatever you think is best. I trust your taste."
Though this Raymond wasn't wealthy, he had an outstanding presence.
The accessories he wore should match his temperament.
Xandra's eyes flickered, but she said deliberately, "I think a gold ring would be nice—holds its value and looks impressive. What do you think?"
Frederick paused, catching the mischief in her eyes, and narrowed his own.
"Are you saying I look like a nouveau riche?"
Xandra burst out laughing. "So in your eyes, wearing a gold ring makes you nouveau riche? It's clearly meant to symbolize love stronger than gold and eternal devotion, okay?"
Love stronger than gold, eternal devotion?
Frederick gazed at her radiant smile, his heart feeling like something had tugged at it.
"Is that your wish? Fine, as you wish!"
Xandra had only meant to tease him, but he'd turned it around on her, leaving her speechless.
Yet her heart rippled with emotion.
As the car approached the neighborhood, Xandra instinctively checked the time—almost four o'clock.
She suddenly thought about the children not being home, and her heart felt empty.
Had the kids arrived safely with Raymond's grandfather?
"What's wrong?"
Frederick pulled the car to the side, noticing her unusual expression.
"It's nothing."
Xandra came back to herself. "Grandpa and the kids should have arrived by now, right?"
Frederick immediately understood—she was worried about the children's safety.
"I'll call Grandpa."
He directly initiated a video call with Richard.
This way Xandra could also see where Richard had taken the children, so she wouldn't worry.
The call connected quickly.
Richard's face appeared on the screen.
"Grandpa," Xandra greeted him.
"Well, well. Suddenly video calling me—worried about this old man, are you?" Richard asked.
Xandra smiled faintly, tacitly agreeing.
Frederick's lips curved slightly. "Don't flatter yourself. Where are the kids?"
Meaning—we're not worried about you, just the children.
Richard glared at him. "They're outside playing. Chuck, Beth, Maggie, come here!"
He called out as he walked.
The camera shook a bit.
Before long, children's laughter came through.
Soon the three children appeared on screen.
"Mommy, Daddy."
"Mr. Flores!"
Elizabeth and Margaret had already started calling him Daddy.
But Charles still hadn't changed how he addressed him, continuing to call him Mr. Flores.
Frederick didn't mind his form of address and smiled slightly at the three children.
Beside him, Xandra looked at the children's adorable little faces, and what Edith had said at the car show suddenly flashed through her mind.
Though Frederick had told her not to overthink things.
But people were like that—once something was on your mind, it was hard not to dwell on it.
Still, Xandra quickly masked her emotions.
"Sweethearts, you need to behave there, listen to your great-grandfather, and don't be naughty, okay?"
"We know!"
All three children responded in unison.
"Mommy, this place is so big—as big as the villa we used to live in!"
"Yeah, there's so much good food here, and so many fun things to do!"
Elizabeth and Margaret chattered away, their little faces full of excitement.
Xandra couldn't see the full view of the place, but she could see a very blue sky.
And the garden's expansive flowers, grass, and trees.
A refreshing pastoral scene.
"This is Grandpa's old friend Mr. Blake Brown's hometown. It's in a small village outside Seaside City. Beautiful scenery, great environment—Mr. Brown retired there to enjoy his golden years."
Frederick explained the situation to Xandra.
As he was speaking, Richard's voice came through talking to someone.
Then someone else entered the video frame.
"Children, you have a playmate now! This is Mr. Brown's great-grandson Sam Brown. Come say hello."
"Hello, Sam."
The three children called out in sweet childlike voices.
Xandra's gaze fell on the screen.
The little boy wore a gray T-shirt and black pants, looking very clean and handsome.
"This is Mr. Brown's great-grandson—he's ten years old. He's probably spending summer vacation at Mr. Brown's place."
Frederick continued explaining the situation to Xandra.
In the video, the little boy first greeted the three children.
When he looked up and saw Frederick, he instinctively called out, "Hello, Mr. Russell."
Mr. Russell!
Frederick's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
His current identity was just a little assistant named Raymond Flores.
Had Richard gone there without coordinating their story with Blake and the others in advance?
"Sam, he's Mr. Flores, not Mr. Russell. Why are you calling him Mr. Russell?"
Margaret asked in her sweet childlike voice.