Chapter 606: Epilogue (33)

“Tanya, you should bring your boyfriend over for everyone to meet someday.”

Tanya Grant replied unhappily, “You can meet him when we’re getting married.”

“Fair enough,” Aunt Grant replied with a bright smile.

「The Lynch Residence.」

Early in the morning, Mrs. Lynch put on her new clothes and headed out.

Leon Lynch got up, had dumplings with Holly Wood, and then went to Nora’s home to pay a New Year’s visit.

When they first arrived, Nora’s family hadn’t yet returned from the Grant Residence.

They didn’t have to wait long before the family of four returned.

Holly Wood gave the two boys red envelopes, and then everyone went out for fun.

The square was crowded with people, and the two boys were ecstatic.

Holly Wood and Nora Ainsworth walked hand in hand. The two pregnant women were the center of attention for their husbands.

They feared they might accidentally slip and fall.

They had just walked a bit further when Dylan Grant ran back. “Mommy,” he said, “Melody White is over there.”

Nora Ainsworth craned her neck to see. Sure enough, there she was, seemingly with her mother and stepfather.

Then she glanced at Elmer Grant. He stood there watching for a moment, and when he saw that Melody White hadn’t noticed him, he returned as well.

Nora Ainsworth walked up to him. “Elmer, sweetie,” she said, “today is the first day of the New Year. Whatever you and your brother want to do, Mommy will make it happen.”

Elmer Grant nodded. “Mommy, but I…”

“Do you want to go play with Melody White?”

But Elmer Grant shook his head. “No.”

“Then what is it?”

“Mommy, I just want to tell her that I have a real dad, and that our family isn’t as poor as she thinks. That’s all.”

“But what good will saying that do?”

Elmer Grant said firmly, “I want her to know that not playing with me is her loss.”

Quentin Grant burst out laughing. “Alright, you got it.”

The group walked forward together.

When Melody White saw them, the little girl froze.

“Elmer.” Her voice was clear and bright.

“Melody White, didn’t you say I didn’t have a dad? Well, look.” He grabbed Quentin Grant’s hand. “Don’t I look just like my dad? He is my real father.”

Melody White’s parents were instantly stunned. “Quentin… Grant?”

Quentin Grant smiled faintly. “Yes, it’s me.”

Elmer Grant huffed. “You’re just a little kid and you’re already a snob! You won’t play with me, so I don’t want to play with you anymore! And to think I wanted to play at being married to you forever! Now I’m telling you, it’s not that you won’t play with me, it’s that I’m out of your league! Hmph.”

With that, Elmer Grant turned and walked away. Such a proud, difficult child.

Only after the group was far in the distance did Melody White’s mother ask, “Melody, is that the boy you said didn’t have a father?”

“Yes. He and his mom used to live in a run-down old apartment building. He just suddenly has a dad now. Do you think they paid someone to be him?”

Thinking about how such a huge cash cow had just slipped through her fingers, Melody White’s mother, in a fit of rage, slapped her daughter across the face. “Do you have any idea who that boy’s father is? Melody, his family is super, super rich!”

Melody White was incredulous. “Mom, but their home…”

“Go chase after them and apologize right now!”

“But, I…”

Melody White’s mother raised her hand to strike again, stamping her foot. “Hurry up and go!”

Her small face deathly pale, the four-year-old girl ran as fast as she could, quickly catching up to Nora Ainsworth and the others.

“Elmer!”

Elmer Grant stopped and asked coolly, “What is it?”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things about you…”

“Mm, I know.”

“So you forgive me?”

“This has nothing to do with forgiving you or not. I’m just not going to play with you anymore.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Melody White stood there alone, her little face flushed red from the cold.

They walked on for a good while, and no one brought up the incident again. For the adults, it was a thought-provoking matter. As for Elmer Grant, he would probably despise girls like that for the rest of his life.

They spent the morning having fun. Around noon, as they were driving back, Holly Wood suddenly shouted, “Leon, stop the car!”

Leon Lynch immediately stopped the car and asked nervously, “What’s wrong?”

Holly Wood pointed ahead. “Leon, isn’t that your dad?”

Leon Lynch and the others in the car looked over. It was indeed Mr. Lynch. Sitting beside him was a woman they all recognized instantly: Maeve Sutton.

Leon Lynch turned to the back of the car. “Nora, can we pull over for a minute?”

“No problem.”

Everyone stayed in the car, watching Mr. Lynch and Maeve Sutton sitting together on a park bench. They were both wearing thick clothes and bundled up tightly, but they were still recognizable.

After waiting quietly for a while, they saw the pair get up and walk away side by side. The car followed slowly behind them.

They followed them to the entrance of a hotel. Maeve Sutton went inside first, and a moment later, Mr. Lynch followed.

Leon Lynch told Holly Wood to stay in the car, then hurriedly got out by himself.

Mr. Lynch got into the elevator, so Leon sprinted up the stairs. He managed to keep up.

A short while after Mr. Lynch entered the hotel room, Leon Lynch knocked on the door, pretending to be a member of the hotel staff. The moment the door opened, he barged straight inside.

Mr. Lynch and Maeve Sutton both jumped in shock.

Seeing the dark look on his son’s face, Mr. Lynch’s own face turned ashen.

“Maeve Sutton?” he sneered. “I’ll make you regret getting involved with my father.”

Maeve Sutton hastily threw on her clothes and fled.

Leon Lynch immediately walked out, dialing the Chapman family’s number as he went.

Outside, Leon Lynch stood at the hotel entrance, watching the heavy snow begin to fall again. His expression was grim.

The winter suddenly felt much, much colder.

In the car, Holly Wood watched him stand motionless for a long time. She carefully got out and walked over to his side. “Leon,” she asked worriedly, “let’s go home.”

He gripped her hand tightly, finding a sliver of warmth. “Okay. Let’s go home.”

Once they were back in the car, no one asked any questions, but everyone understood what had happened.

Leon Lynch drove to the upscale residential complex. After the four members of the Grant family got out, he drove off with Holly Wood.

The car pulled up to the Lynch residence.

Mr. Lynch was already home, as was Mrs. Lynch.

Seeing them return, Mrs. Lynch started in. “Leon, I don’t mean to nag, but Holly is heavily pregnant. You shouldn’t be dragging her all over town. What if…”

Before she could finish, Leon Lynch shot her a cold glare, and Mrs. Lynch trailed off.

“The two of you… you really live up to your title as my parents,” he said. “My mother keeps a boy toy on the side, and my father is fooling around with Maeve Sutton. You’re quite a pair, aren’t you?”

Leon Lynch’s words left Mrs. Lynch both mortified and furious. She turned on Mr. Lynch. “What! You’re with Maeve Sutton…? You…!”

Mr. Lynch shot back, “And aren’t you keeping a boy toy of your own? I’ve known for a long time. I found out that night we were playing mahjong…”

“How dare you say that to me! You’re an animal!” Mrs. Lynch shrieked, flying into a rage and lunging at Mr. Lynch’s face.

Her nails instantly raked several bloody scratches across his face.

Mr. Lynch, now furious as well, sent her sprawling onto the sofa with a hard slap. The two of them began to brawl.