Chapter 166: Can You Rush Back for My Birthday?

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Can You Rush Back for My Birthday?

When it was time to get off work, Adrian Grant was there to pick her up, right on schedule.

Which meant the guy had skipped out of work early again.

As she got into the car, Caroline Whitman asked curiously, "Considering how busy you were just six months ago, how are you able to leave work early?"

Adrian Grant said, "Zoe is back, so she can share some of the workload."

After a pause, he added, "I have to go abroad for a few days on business next Wednesday to handle some matters with the overseas company."

"No wonder you agreed to pick up the kid today."

’If he didn’t spend some quality time with his son and nurture that fatherly love before his trip, Ryan would probably end up bombarding him with tearful, non-stop calls again.’

Caroline Whitman then asked, "You haven’t told him about this yet, have you? How many days will you be gone?"

"The trip was just decided this afternoon. I’m not sure how many days yet. I’ll come back as soon as I’ve handled the handover procedures over there."

"Oh. Well, you’re telling him. I’m not doing it for you," Caroline said, setting her boundaries in advance.

"No problem."

As the car pulled up to The Whitman Manor and came to a stop, Caroline spotted a small figure squatting on the steps of the villa’s entrance.

The moment he saw Adrian Grant’s car, Ryan Grant shot to his feet. His short legs moved like the wind, and he ran to the side of the car, shouting excitedly:

"Mommy! Daddy!"

The second Caroline pushed the door open, a little meatball hugged her leg. The little guy looked up, his eyes sparkling, and complained in a sweet, milky voice:

"You guys were so slow. I’ve been waiting for a long, long time."

Caroline had called Yolanda Young at noon to confirm they were picking Ryan up, so he knew they were coming for him today.

"Then why weren’t you waiting inside?"

Caroline bent down and picked him up. The little one instinctively wrapped his arms around her neck, buried his little head in the crook of her neck, and said in a soft voice, "Because I wanted to see Mommy and Daddy the very first second I could.

From upstairs, I can only see the top of the car, but from the front door, I can see Mommy right away!"

’Wow. What a sweet-talker. He’s making me feel guilty for leaving him at the manor.’

Franklin Whitman, who had taken the last two days off work to spend with his little grandson, saw them arrive and came over with a small backpack in hand. He handed them the bag and said with a grin:

"Ryan has been waiting at the door since five o’clock. The way he was gazing with such longing, it broke my heart to watch."

Seeing the child’s eager expression, he couldn’t bring himself to ask the boy to stay for a few more days.

Adrian Grant took the backpack and nodded to Franklin Whitman. "Thank you for taking care of Ryan these past two days."

Franklin Whitman waved his hand. "Oh, don’t mention it. Ryan is the easiest child I’ve ever looked after, much easier than Caroline was at his age."

Caroline Whitman was speechless.

"If you’re going to praise the kid, just praise the kid. Do you have to put your own daughter down like that?"

She mumbled to Franklin Whitman, slightly exasperated.

Franklin Whitman chuckled, bending down to pinch Tiny’s little cheek. "If you miss your grandpa, give him a call, alright?"

"I know, Grandpa. I’ll come see you and Grandma in a few days."

「After leaving the manor.」

Ryan Grant started chattering away in the car, telling them about all the fun things he did at Franklin Whitman’s place.

He also talked about how Franklin Whitman took him to buy a birthday present.

It was a huge, huge dinosaur.

Because it was so big, he couldn’t take it back to Azure Heights and had to leave it at the manor.

"Mommy, that dinosaur is taller than Daddy, and its teeth are this long!" Ryan gestured from the back seat, his little hands tracing an exaggerated size in the air.

"..."

Caroline felt like she needed to plug her ears.

’The kid’s birthday was still over ten days away. Buying the gift this early... it probably wasn’t really about his birthday at all. It was just an excuse for Franklin Whitman to indulge his own addiction to buying toys.’

On his actual birthday, he would surely buy him a huge pile of other things.

Ryan’s enthusiasm didn’t wane. He went on to talk about how his grandpa taught him to play chess, took him to the park to feed ducks, and the strawberry cake his grandma made for him...

Caroline responded intermittently.

The quiet car was filled with the little one’s chattering voice.

Even after they got home, the little chatterbox was still talking.

"Dad, what are we having for dinner?"

"What do you want to eat?"

"I want to eat at home. I want Dad’s steamed egg custard."

"Okay."

As a father, that was a request Adrian Grant could fulfill.

After coming inside, Adrian put his things down, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and headed for the kitchen.

Caroline took Ryan to wash his hands and change his clothes. When they came out, Adrian had already taken pork ribs, eggs, and a few vegetables out of the refrigerator.

After the last two times, Caroline had learned her lesson and no longer asked if he needed help.

Ryan, however, dragged a small stool to the kitchen entrance, sat down, and watched his father cook.

After a little while, he stood up, ran to his side, and the chatterbox started up again: "Daddy, do you need my help?"

"...The biggest help you can be is to quietly leave."

As he said this, Adrian Grant glanced in Caroline’s direction. Caroline took the hint and scooped the boy away.

"Don’t bother your dad."

"Oh. Then, Mommy, can you tell me a story?"

"Okay, okay. What do you want to hear?"

"I want to hear this one..." Ryan grabbed a picture book from the coffee table and shoved it into her hands.

Caroline’s storytelling only came to a halt when dinner was served.

She closed the picture book, stood up, and stretched. Smelling the aroma wafting from the kitchen, she sincerely felt that Adrian’s cooking was much easier than her babysitting.

Ryan was just so talkative. For a story plot that should have taken two minutes to tell, he would interrupt twenty times, and every single question he asked left her speechless.

She would rather be in the kitchen, cooking.

Ryan sat in his little chair, a small bowl of rice in front of him. He mixed the steamed egg custard into his rice and ate with his cheeks puffed out.

Adrian Grant sat across from him, while Caroline sat to the side, eating slowly from her bowl. The corner of her eye swept over the two similar faces, one large and one small, and her ears were finally blessed with some peace and quiet.

After they were full.

Adrian helped him with his studies as usual. Only after they were done did he leisurely bring up his business trip abroad for the following week.

Ryan, who had been about to go take a bath with great enthusiasm, saw his face fall. "Aw, how many days will you be gone? Is Mommy going too?"

"She’s not going. I’ll be by myself and back in a few days."

"How many days is a few days?"

"Three or four."

Since things were already decided, there was nothing Ryan could do. He could only pout and settle for the next best thing: "Then I want to sleep with Dad tonight."

"..."

Adrian Grant coldly and heartlessly refused. "You’ll be four in a few days. You’re a big boy now, you need to sleep by yourself."

"Then can you be back for my birthday, Dad?"

His birthday was the Wednesday after next, so it was very close.

"I definitely can."

Hearing Adrian Grant say that, Ryan was finally reassured. He obediently let his father pick him up and carry him into the bathroom for his bath.

However, just before bedtime, although Adrian had righteously refused his son’s request to sleep together, Caroline agreed to it.

And so, Adrian found himself in the guest bedroom, looking at the little rascal on the bed. Father and son had a stare-down for a good long while.