Chapter 237

Chapter 237

But what came out of Liam's mouth was a heartfelt, utterly idiotic question: "Are you... planning a career change?"

Frederick's eyebrow lifted almost imperceptibly, shooting him a 'have you lost your mind' look.

Liam wanted to bite off his own tongue.

"Get it done. Fast." Frederick had zero interest in explaining his thought process.

He turned back to his chair, putting the black-framed glasses back on, transforming once more into that weary, down-on-his-luck David.

"I want to see someone here before sunrise tomorrow."

An order. Non-negotiable.

Liam stood there, shell-shocked.

Before sunrise tomorrow? The drive to Silverwave City and back alone was seven or eight hours, not counting the time to find someone and bring them here.

This wasn't a task anymore. This was an Ironman triathlon.

But what choice did he have? He could only summon every ounce of professional composure and force out through gritted teeth: "Yes, Mr. Stuart."

With that, he bolted like his life depended on it. Another second in that cottage and he'd drop dead in this scenic forest.

Dawn hadn't fully broken when Liam returned.

Dark circles hung heavy under his eyes, his expression haggard. Behind him followed a woman in her fifties, slightly plump with a stern face, lugging a massive suitcase. Her sharp eyes swept over the humble cottage with critical assessment.

"Mr. Stuart, this is Maddy." Liam's voice was audibly exhausted.

"She's one of Silverwave City's top newborn care specialists. Over twenty years in the field, cared for more than three hundred infants. Industry-recognized as the most reliable and technically sound in the business."

Maddy pushed up her glasses, her gaze landing on Frederick. She studied him from his wrinkled jacket down to his mud-spotted canvas shoes, her brow furrowing.

"You're the client?"

Frederick nodded.

"Don't look like a first-timer to me." Maddy's voice boomed with undeniable authority. "Look more like someone who's raised a few kids already. Each one worse than the last."

Liam nearly passed out on the spot. This Maddy was the first person to ever speak to Frederick like that.

Frederick's face betrayed no emotion. He simply unbuttoned his jacket to reveal a clean shirt underneath, then rolled up his sleeves.

"Let's begin."

Maddy pulled out a lifelike infant doll from her suitcase and slammed it onto the table with a thud.

"First, we're learning to prepare a formula. Water temperature needs to be around one hundred thirteen degrees Fahrenheit. Test a drop on your inner wrist—can't be too hot or too cold. The order matters: water first, then powder. One scoop of powder per ounce of water. Not more, not less. When you shake it, don't pump it up and down—that creates bubbles and the baby will get gas. Do it like this: horizontal, slow circular motions."

She demonstrated as she spoke.

Frederick picked up the bottle, mimicking her movements. Those hands that had reviewed countless classified documents and signed billion-dollar deals now gripped a tiny baby bottle, looking absurdly clumsy.

Too much water. Powder spilled everywhere. His shaking motion looked more like he was mixing a martini.

"Are your wrists broken or something?" Maddy barked mercilessly. "I said horizontal circles, not slow-motion tai chi in the park!"

Liam watched from the sidelines, heart in his throat, silently retreating to the doorway, ready to call an ambulance at a moment's notice.

Next came diaper changing.

Maddy slapped the infant doll onto the table. "Lift the butt. Wipe front to back. Boys and girls are different—don't mix it up. Diaper cream, thin layer. You're not spackling drywall here..."

Frederick stared at the naked plastic baby, silent for a moment, then got to work.

The result? Either the velcro tabs went on crooked, or the diaper was on backwards.

"You trying to give this kid split pants or something?" Maddy's voice shot up an octave.

Then came burping.

"Hold upright, head on your shoulder, don't block the nose. Hand cupped—not flat—pat from bottom to top. Gentle but rhythmic!"

Frederick held the rigid doll like he was cradling a live bomb, his posture stiff as a board. He attempted a few pats. The sound came out heavy and awkward.

"Stop!" Maddy finally lost it.

"That's not burping—you're trying to knock out everything the kid ate yesterday! At this rate, the baby's either gonna starve to death or get shaken to death!"

Liam covered his face outside the door. He couldn't watch anymore.

His boss's twenty-nine years of carefully cultivated commanding presence had shattered into dust in a single morning.

The entire morning, that small cottage echoed with Maddy's full-throated bellowing and Frederick's silent practice sessions.

He struggled immensely but remained intensely focused. Every corrected movement, he'd repeat hundreds of times until Maddy grudgingly grunted an "acceptable" through her nose.

Liam figured Frederick hadn't worked this hard even when he'd first taken over the Stuart Group.

Days in the mountains passed quietly and slowly.

Beatrice gradually noticed things were off.

A few days ago, when it rained, the southeast corner of the roof had leaked. She'd been debating whether to call a repairman when, the day after the rain stopped, the leak had been fixed.

The tiles were neatly relaid, the seams freshly sealed with mud. Professional-quality work.

The vegetable patch in the corner of the yard, abandoned for half the winter, had somehow been turned over. The soil was loose, the rows perfectly straight, with a small bag of organic fertilizer stacked nearby.

Then there was the loose threshold at the gate. Walking over it had always created a sound that disturbed Ray's sleep. But yesterday, the noise had vanished—the threshold secured with invisible nails.

One thing after another. Small tasks she'd wanted to handle but couldn't manage. All mysteriously taken care of.

"Bella, you think... could it be like one of those mysterious people who comes at night and fixes everything?" Nina held Ray, face full of curiosity. "No, wait—doing all this manual labor sounds more like a 'Mystery Man.'"

Beatrice laughed, but her gaze drifted involuntarily toward the cottage next door.

She thought of David. He'd said if she needed anything, just ask.

That silent kindness felt warmer and more solid than any words.

"Nina, let's make a few extra dishes tonight." Beatrice rinsed rice as she spoke.

"Sure! Ray's appetite is good lately. You need to eat more, too, Bella."

"I meant," Beatrice paused, "let's invite Mr. Johnson from next door to join us."

Nina blinked, then caught on. "Oh, right! He must've done all that work! Mr. Johnson really is a good guy. Just seems so lonely."

A man wounded in service, who'd lost his child, living alone in these deep mountains with no one to talk to.

Beatrice felt a home-cooked meal might bring him some comfort.

That evening, sunset gilded the forest in gold.

Beatrice left the sleeping Ray with Nina and walked to the neighboring gate.

The gate stood slightly ajar. She knocked gently.

"Mr. Johnson, are you home?"

A slight sound came from inside—like something dropping to the floor. After a long moment, the door finally opened.

Frederick wore his worn jacket and black-framed glasses, his hair somewhat disheveled, his forehead gleaming with a faint sheen of sweat.

Seeing Beatrice, something flickered in his eyes before settling back into that gentle, slightly weary expression.

"Ms. Jenner, is something wrong?" His voice came out raspy.

"Nothing major." Beatrice smiled. "I just wanted to thank you. The roof and the vegetable patch—that was you, wasn't it?"

Frederick neither confirmed nor denied, just smiled bashfully. "It was nothing. You and the little one have it hard enough."

That was as good as admitting it.

Beatrice's gratitude deepened.

"Nina and I made some home cooking—not sure if it's to your taste. If you don't mind, we'd like to invite you over for a simple meal."

Frederick went completely still.

He looked at her. The sunset's glow softly outlined her profile, her clear eyes filled with genuine warmth.

He'd imagined countless ways to get close to her. Never expected she'd be the one to knock on his door first.

Overwhelming joy crashed through his chest, nearly breaking through the downtrodden expression on his face. It took enormous effort to suppress the urge to pull her into his arms.

"I... I couldn't impose." He rubbed his hands together, displaying the awkwardness of an honest, simple man.

Beatrice smiled. "Just home cooking. Please don't judge it too harshly. Is now a good time?"

"Yes, yes, of course," Frederick responded eagerly, as if afraid she'd change her mind.

He turned back into the house, hastily gesturing to Liam and Maddy in the corner to stay silent, then grabbed the fruit basket by the door and followed Beatrice next door.