The old man of the Powells was named Linus.
The man nodded.
"That is the old man's name.
"Miss Lane, Mr. Simpson, the car is ready. Can you leave now? The old man has heard that your two children are here, and there are toys for children in the house. If there are no issues, I will notify the old man."
The middle-aged man was attentive and polite, but the meaning behind his words was just to rush them onto the car.
"What do we call you, sir? Robert and I have only just arrived home, and we still need to pack. The kids are home too, and today's cold, so they have to change before they leave. Please wait a moment."
"You may simply call me Mr. Smythe."
Finally, Georgia, Robert and Ivan made their way back inside the house.
They'd invited Mr. Smythe to come in and sit, but he insisted on waiting outside.
Georgia didn't press.
"What is this about?"
Coming in, Ivan asked curiously.
He wasn't too sure what the relationship between the Powells and Georgia was like.
The two sides didn't seem familiar and there had to be some reason for coming up all of a sudden.
"You know that my mother is a daughter of the Powell family, so the old man of the Powells wants to meet me. I didn't want to go, but Aston's parents told me about this while in the country. Apparently the old man has a stubborn personality and might take extraordinary measures if we don't meet him. Plus, now that Wesley's situation might have something to do with old man Powell, Robert and I have to go see him and figure this out."
Georgia explained the basic goings-on, and Ivan grew slightly worried.
"You know that we're on foreign soil right now. Would it be dangerous going to the Powell family?"
"It won't."
Robert replied.
"I investigated the Powell family before coming here and know their internal workings and financial operation pretty well. They won't present a threat to us. Even if something happens, I have my own preparations. No need to worry."
As Robert said that, Ivan relaxed slightly.
Georgia and Robert changed their clothes. Even though they could get in a car just going out, she still wrapped Annie and Wesley in tight clothes, scarves, and furry hats.
It was snowing, after all, and really cold.
At past five in the afternoon, the family of four sat in the limo.
Ivan waited in the mansion for them to get back.
"Mommy, that's your Grandpa, so what should I call him?"
Annie asked curiously.
Georgia floundered for a while before explaining.
"You can just call him Great-grandpa. If he smiles at you after going in, just call him politely. Great-grandpa might not be as kind as Grandma, and I don't know how he'll treat children. Annie, Wesley, be good and stay by our side. I haven't been here before and I don't know what their attitude will be like. But don't worry, Daddy and I will protect you."
Georgia didn't pretend like everything was fine before the kids. She felt that the Powells might not have friendly intentions, so she put the children on guard and didn't raise their expectations, just in case Annie and Wesley hoped to get a welcome like their Grandma's from this old man Powell.
From her understanding, that wasn't too possible.
After all, the old man's personality was out there. An iron-gripped old man who stood by the patriarchy and only looked at a person for how useful they were. There was no way he was going to get intimate with the kids.
As Georgia said that, Annie reflexively asked another question.
"Is Great-grandpa even scarier than Grandma Maisie? Will he hate me and Wesley? Then why are you taking us to see him, Mommy?"
Georgia didn't know how to answer that. Annie had brought up Robert's mother, and describing what Maisie was like in front of Robert wasn't too suitable.
Georgia looked at Robert, who turned to the children.
"Annie, Grandma Maisie is just too hurt, so she hates everyone around her. Daddy had a sister once, your aunt. Didn't Daddy chase a woman who looked like her before? Your aunt passed away a few years ago, and your Grandma Maisie has always been hurting over this. She doesn't mean to hurt people around her. Don't hate her back, okay, Annie? As for your Great-grandpa, Daddy and Mommy haven't gotten in contact with him before, but he probably won't do anything to hurt you. So just follow your mother and I, and go over and have fun,"
"Is Grandma Maisie so hurt because Auntie died?"
Annie said thoughtfully.
"Then why do we have to see Great-grandpa, Daddy, Mommy?"
"Your father and I have something important to ask your Great-grandpa, and he might be the only one who knows the truth, so we have to see him. Wesley, you and your sister wait by my side and Daddy's. They'll have toys and snacks, so just have fun."
Wesley nodded and gripped Annie's hand.
"We need to keep holding hands, Annie, and not leave Daddy and Auntie Georgia's side."
While they patiently explained what was going on with them heading to the Powell family, the car rolled on for over an hour.
As the sky almost turned completely dark, they stopped before a luxury manor of extreme size.
The iron gates opened and the car continued to roll in.
After almost ten minutes did their car stop before a veritable palace.
The mansion was enormous. The Powell family had come to this country in the last century.
The family had been in business for almost a hundred years.
With this castle of a house, they really were rich.
Georgia and Robert didn't like big houses. It felt lonely, and they had to hire a lot of people.
So they only lived in a garden mansion a few stories high, just enough for a family, and didn't hire too many servants to come in and clean. The house wasn't too big to the point of feeling like empty space.
After getting off, an old man in a tuxedo came before them.
He was getting on in years with a white beard. The old man smiled kindly.
"Sir, madam, young master, young lady. Hello. I'm the current butler of the Powell family. You may call me Wilhelm.
"The old man is waiting for you inside. Please follow me."
Wilhelm gestured, his posture pleasant to look at, and his tones and voice gave off a gentle, kind aura.
Wilhelm was also using titles like sir and madam. Seemed like the Powells wanted to get close to them and counted them as relatives.
Georgia didn't quite understand. Was it really like her mother said, that they were taking a shine to their status now, and deciding to establish a good relationship?
As she pondered, she and Robert led one child each. Georgia with Annie, Robert with Wesley.
Under the butler's guidance, the family of four walked to the central living room of the palace.