Yes, I Have a Child with the Villain

Caught off guard by his sudden stare, Caroline Whitman nearly faltered.

’He’s really playing dirty,’ she thought.

’He always uses those eyes to intimidate me.’

She averted her gaze, refusing to look at him. "How would I know anything about you?"

But then, Adrian Grant’s calm voice drifted over.

"I studied here in the country until I was eighteen. After that, I went abroad for further studies. Besides my schoolwork, I also started taking over my father’s overseas branch operations.

"I haven’t been back to the country much over the years. The only time I spent any significant amount of time here was during my year as a university exchange student. For the other years I was abroad, I’d only come back for the New Year if there was nothing urgent, stay for two days, and then rush back.

"You’ve met my friends here before. We’re all usually busy with our own lives, so we’ve only had a few chances to get together since I returned this year.

"So, over the years, I haven’t really traveled for leisure, not here and not even at the sights abroad. I might have passed by some places, but I never made a special trip just to see them."

In a calm, unhurried tone, Adrian Grant summarized the last twenty-five years of his life.

Caroline Whitman hadn’t expected him to be so forthcoming. Before she could say a word, she heard his clear, calm voice continue.

"If there are any places you like or think are fun, feel free to recommend them to me. It’s rare for me to get a vacation, and I’d really like to relax."

"I... I haven’t really traveled much either." Caroline Whitman pursed her lips. "I started interning at the company while I was still in school. The company was in a growth phase back then, so I spent my holidays chasing down business leads."

Adrian Grant looked thoughtful. "Then what do you like?"

"Huh?" Caroline Whitman froze, momentarily confused. ’Weren’t I the one trying to figure out his preferences? How did this turn into him asking me?’

Adrian Grant clarified, "What kind of city scenery do you like?"

Caroline Whitman chuckled. "As for scenery around Kingsport in the summer, Norcaster is really the only place suitable for a short stay. If we go any farther... well, the child doesn’t have his official household registration. Where else could we possibly go?"

"Oh, right. About the child’s household registration, are you going to file it?" she suddenly asked.

Adrian Grant looked at her. "With you?"

Caroline Whitman was speechless.

She rubbed her ear, a few strands of hair falling to hide the side of her face. "We don’t know how long Ryan will be able to stay here. Let’s talk about the registration later."

Seeing her evade the question, Adrian Grant wisely dropped the subject.

He stood up. "If you want to stay in Norcaster for a while, I have a good destination in mind."

From their conversation, Adrian Grant had already gathered what Caroline Whitman was implying.

’She likely wants to stay in Norcaster for a while.’

’If she planned on returning to Kingsport, she wouldn’t be asking me for travel suggestions.’

Just as he expected, Caroline Whitman looked up at his words. "Where?"

A sudden BOOM of thunder echoed outside.

It was followed by a bolt of lightning that tore across the sky without warning.

’Summer thunderstorms are common, and it looks like we’re getting one tonight.’

Thunder and lightning cracked a few more times. Once it quieted down, Adrian Grant said, "It’s in the next county. There’s a resort there."

"That’s the one, then."

Caroline Whitman didn’t ask any more questions. ’Since he’s the one suggesting it, knowing his cautious nature, he probably has some business interests there.’

Having come to an agreement, Caroline Whitman stood up as well. "In that case, let’s get some rest. We can set out tomorrow morning."

Adrian Grant nodded. He was just about to head upstairs, with one foot already on the steps, when a bedroom door suddenly swung open.

Tiny suddenly ran out, crying out in fear, "Mommy, Daddy!"

From his panicked expression, it was obvious the thunder had woken him up.

"We’re right here."

Caroline Whitman quickly called back as she and Adrian Grant both went to him. Adrian lifted the boy into his arms.

"It’s thundering, and I’m scared. Daddy, Mommy, can I sleep with you tonight?"

Ryan Grant clutched Adrian Grant’s collar, turning his small head to look between him and Caroline Whitman.

Caroline Whitman completely understood a child’s fear of thunder. It wasn’t just children, after all.

’Even I feel my heart pound when I wake up alone in the middle of the night to a loud clap of thunder.’

So she said, "Of course. Daddy and I will stay with you tonight."

As she said this, she glanced at Adrian Grant. ’I might have overstepped by making that decision on my own. I wonder if he’ll agree.’

Adrian Grant didn’t say much, simply responding, "Okay."

He then carried the child into the bedroom. Caroline Whitman watched his tall figure and slowly followed him inside.

A full-sized bed was already a bit of a squeeze for two adults, let alone with a child added to the mix.

Caroline Whitman was worried Ryan would fall off the bed, so she repeatedly warned him not to squirm his way out from between them in the middle of the night. She even brought his special little blanket over from the other room for him.

In reality, even if Ryan Grant had heard her, the situation wouldn’t allow him to obey.

As the two adults slept, they ended up wrapped around each other, forcing the little guy to climb his way out from between them.

He crawled over to Caroline Whitman’s side and shook her shoulder. "Mommy, scooch over a little."

Hearing her son’s voice in a sleepy haze, she thought she was squishing him and shifted her body to the side.

This movement pressed her right up against Adrian Grant.

Adrian hadn’t dared to fall into a deep sleep that night. Half-awake, he also assumed the child was being crushed, so when he felt the pressure, he shifted over as well.

The little fellow patted the newly freed-up space, deemed it sufficient, and lay back down, pulling his little blanket over himself.

After the thunder last night, a heavy downpour had begun. It continued all the way through to the morning, and the soft patter of rain could still be heard outside the window.

The sky was overcast, so even though it was morning, the room was dim without any lights on.

Adrian Grant was the first to wake. Before he even opened his eyes, the first thing his mind registered was the soft sensation in his palm.

His body went rigid. He snapped his eyes open. Caroline Whitman was pressed flush against him, her back to his chest. One of his arms was tucked under her neck like a pillow, while the other was wrapped around her slender waist, his hand cupping her breast.

He realized what he was holding.

He snatched his hand back as if he’d been electrocuted. ’Please don’t let her wake up right now,’ he thought, ’or her opinion of me is going to take a nosedive.’

Adrian Grant sat up straight. He glanced down at her, and only after seeing her eyes were still tightly shut did he shift his gaze to the child.

The little one hadn’t fallen off the bed and was sleeping soundly.

He didn’t turn on a light, just reached for his phone to check the time. It was only six-thirty.

Adrian Grant slipped out of bed, went around to the other side in the dark to fix the boy’s blanket, and then left the room to take a shower.

After his shower, he went to the kitchen to make breakfast by himself.

In truth, Caroline Whitman had been awake the whole time.

She had woken up at almost the exact same moment as Adrian Grant.

So, naturally, she had felt what happened.

The sensation of that firm grip still lingered.

She pressed her lips together, and after he had left the room, she rubbed her faintly burning ears.

After a moment, Caroline Whitman sat up and checked on the still-sleeping child. Seeing that his little blanket was still in place, she finally lay back down, relieved.