“Granddad never wanted us, no? I don’t want to meet him!” Archie and Benny’s aversion was still as candid as ever. They understood many things and had never seen their maternal grandfather all these years, making it clear that the man did not care about them at all. Looking at her brothers, Estella followed their lead. “Since Archie and Benny don’t want to go, neither do I.”
Roxanne overheard the conversation and could only come over and explain things to them, pointing out that it was just a brief meeting that would not take long. Elias likewise coaxed, “If you all don’t like it, just have a look at him from afar. This is basic courtesy.”
At long last, the triplets relented. With Lucian driving, they all headed to the park. Right then, Grant was busy packing everything up at a dilapidated residential area in the suburbs. He had bought a lot of branded. children’s clothes and even had three emerald pendants made for the triplets.
Behind him, Winnie wore a chagrined expression. “Why did you spend so much. money? Those three brats might not necessarily acknowledge you. Your plan this time had better succeed. Otherwise, you’ll be getting it from me. How dare you ask me to play along with you, even getting a divorce with me for real!”
“What do you know? I only did so to show her in a show of sincerity. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to approach Roxanne at all. Aren’t I doing all this for the sake of our future? If you’ve got nothing to do, Winnie, take some. money and look for that son of yours!”
Wrath lined Grant’s features, and he knew all too well that she had no control over him at the moment. After all, the divorce certificate was real though the divorce itself was bogus.
He had finally convinced the woman to play along with him after much difficulty, and it was all for the sake of obtaining perpetual financial support from the heir of the Crawford family.
At the park, Roxanne and Lucian set up a simple campsite by pitching a tent and spreading out a waterproof mat. Once they were done, Lucian cooked a meal with the kids using some simple utensils..
The sight warmed Roxanne’s heart. How thoughtful of Lucian. By doing this, the kids won’t resent him so much. With that, she extended a hand to help. Once the food was ready, she held up a plate for the children to try. Meanwhile, Grant arrived at the appointed time. Dressed shabbily, he walked with an unsteady gait..
He had a bag in his hand that contained newly bought branded clothes and three emerald pendants. Standing at a distance, he quietly watched the children enjoy their parents’ company. A complicated look flashed across his eyes in the midst of doing so.
“I have no choice but to comply with Mr. Crawford’s demand. The five million I previously had was taken away by the creditors. I have no way of paying it back, and I don’t want to stay poor forever!”
Grant steeled his resolve and gave Roxanne a call. In reality, Lucian had already noticed Grant’s presence and would look in the latter’s direction intermittently. He wanted to determine if Grant’s concern for the children was sincere.
If he approaches the children quickly the moment he sees them, he probably wants to ingratiate himself with them and doesn’t really miss them. Upon receiving the call, Roxanne looked around before finally spotting her father. Grant’s hunch seemed to have worsened from the last time, cutting a pitiful and desolate- looking figure.
“Lucian, Grant is here. What do you plan to do?” Roxanne inquired. Lucian responded calmly, “Don’t worry. Let him come over and see the children. He does deserve it as their granddad.”
Thereafter, Grant approached them meekly upon receiving permission to do so. A faint smile broke out across his weathered face, while gentleness settled into his eyes. Even though he knew that he was acting according to plan, the sight of his energetic grandchildren triggered a sudden sense of warmth within him.
Mr. Crawford promised that all I needed to do was to get close to them and feed him information. He probably won’t get me to harm them. “Roxanne, is this Archie? Is he Benny? Both of them look so alike that I can’t tell them apart.”
While mumbling, Grant’s gaze fell upon Estella, and he broadened his smile. “Essie, don’t be shy. I’m your granddad!”
At that moment, Archie and Benny maintained an indifferent look in their eyes, a testament to their taking after Lucian. As for Estella, she blinked curiously before turning to ask Roxanne, “Mommy, is he our granddad?”
After Roxanne and Lucian nodded in unison, Estella gave Grant a polite nod. “Nice to meet you, Granddad!” Estella’s warmth took Grant by surprise. He hadn’t expected her to acknowledge him as her grandfather on such short notice.
Meanwhile, Archie and Benny exchange glances before joining in to greet him, “Hello, Granddad,” Nonetheless, their expression remained just as distant. As they were more sensible than Estella, they were aware of how badly Grant had treated Roxanne.
After acknowledging their greeting with a hum, Grant frantically brought out the new clothes and three exquisite-looking boxes.
“Roxanne, Mr. Farwell, I’ve bought some outfits for the children. It should fit them perfectly. Also, here are three emerald pendants. They aren’t expensive, so it’s not necessary to wear them. I just wanted to get them something to remember me by.”
When she saw the approving look Lucian gave her, Roxanne walked over to accept the gifts. Heartened by her gesture, Grant broke into a slight smile.
He subsequently gave the children a nod. “Kids, thank you. I’m really happy to be able to see all of you. Well, I think I should go now. You guys continue to have fun.”
As Grant departed, the three children stared at his leaving silhouette. The silence was quickly broken by Estella’s question. “Daddy, Mommy, isn’t Granddad pitiful?”
Archie and Benny corrected their sister immediately. “No, Essie. Granddad isn’t pitiful because he has always treated Mommy badly.”
Estella responded with a thoughtful nod. Lucian and Roxanne didn’t comment on the children’s conversation, for they didn’t feel the need to lecture them or shape their minds about the matter. Instead, they respected the children’s freedom to follow their gut feeling.
With that, the family continued playing camping games before leaving the park when darkness fell. When Grant returned to his suffocatingly small apartment in a dilapidated neighborhood, he found Winnie playing on her phone and that she hadn’t cooked dinner.
The sight triggered within him a sense of hatred for her. His temper flared immediately. “What’s the matter with you? Why didn’t you prepare dinner? Do you think you’re some rich housewife?” His words elicited a vicious glower from Winnie.
“Why should I? I’m no longer your wife. Despite having five million in your hands, you didn’t even save a single penny. How thick is that skull of yours? And what’s this about me being a rich housewife? You’re well aware of how I suffered together with you all these years. Now that your daughter is doing well, it’s really ironic that you have fallen into such pathetic circumstances!”
Rage swelled within Grant after he was given a good round of tongue-lashing by Winnie. “Why are you blaming me? Roxanne wouldn’t have severed ties with us if you hadn’t bullied her back then. Since you’re in so much suffering, you’re more than welcome to leave!”
“D*mn it, Grant! How can you kick me out after we’re divorced? Do you even have a conscience? Let me tell you. Your son and daughter are on their way here right now, and they won’t forgive you once they learn that your have divorced me. How dare you still want me to cook for you?”
The more Winnie thought about it, the more enraged she became. She had assumed that. she would live a life of luxury after getting married to Grant. Little did she imagine that he would turn out to be a coward who was saddled with debt. In a fit of rage, Winnie grabbed her phone, put on a pair of new high heels, and stormed into her room to start packing.
“Fine. I’ll leave. Go ahead and have your father- daughter reunion with Roxanne. You can get some money and enjoy yourself with it!” Winnie’s rants became increasingly aggressive. Cowed into silence, Grant stopped her from leaving in the end.
“I told you that this is part of the plan. I have to make myself look pitiful, as this is what Mr. Crawford wants. That’s how I’m going to get close to Roxanne. When I strike it rich after this, you’ll be able to live the life you dream of, so please don’t leave. I’ll go get a personal loan for you to buy a new phone and some clothes, all right?”
Winnie’s anger gradually dissipated after being assuaged by Grant. At that moment, their old and broken gate let out a piercing screech, heralding the arrival of a female figure.
She wore a frosty expression on her face and was dressed in white office wear as she walked right up to Grant and Winnie. The couple was briefly stunned before their eyes lit up in joy.
“Yuliana, you’re back! My precious daughter, you’re finally back!” Winnie scrutinized her daughter’s outfit and quickly noticed the expensive necklace she was wearing. It looks like her life has taken a turn for the better.
As for Grant, he quickly averted his gaze, worried that Yuliana who ask about the divorce. “Dad, Mom, have you seen Roxanne? That b*tch seems to have done well for herself. Yet, she didn’t invite both of you to her wedding?” The anger on Yuliana’s face was unmistakable.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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