Yes, I Have a Child with the Villain

Exchanging flowers?

This was an angle Caroline Whitman had never considered.

She had given Adrian Grant flowers under the guise of needing them for arrangements. Could he have been doing the same thing?

Caroline Whitman just smiled at the clerk’s words without offering much of an explanation.

Once the flowers were wrapped, she left the shop with her child.

On the way back, she asked Ryan, "What did Daddy say when he brought you to buy flowers?"

Ryan’s little eyes blinked as he recalled what Adrian Grant had told him earlier.

"Daddy, are you buying flowers for Mommy?" Tiny had asked curiously.

"That’s right. Don’t tell Mommy about this. It’s a surprise for her."

Ryan thought for a moment. ’Mommy already got the flowers from Daddy, so it’s not a secret anymore.’

So, he said with a grin, "Daddy said he wanted to give Mommy a surprise by buying you flowers."

Caroline Whitman was surprised. "Did he really say that?"

Tiny nodded vigorously. "Yep."

Even with her son’s confirmation, Caroline Whitman found it a little hard to believe.

’Was this just an act for our son, a way to show him a ’loving couple,’ or did he really mean it?’

They went upstairs and through the door.

Adrian Grant wasn’t in the living room. The study door was closed, so he must have been inside.

Caroline Whitman looked down at the bouquet, hesitating.

’Should I just barge in, flower in hand, and awkwardly give it to him?’

’Would that be coming on too strong?’

’Is this really a good idea?’

’But if I’ve already bought the flower and don’t give it to him, wasn’t it all for nothing?’

Caroline Whitman, who had no experience pursuing someone, closed her eyes. ’I’ve already bought it, anyway. It would be a shame to waste this chance.’

Steeling herself, she walked to the study and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Adrian Grant’s deep voice sounded from inside.

Caroline Whitman pushed the door open and saw Adrian Grant sitting at his desk. He didn’t look up, his expression serious as he focused on a document on his computer.

She walked over slowly, placed the flower on his desk, and said, "For you."

Adrian Grant’s gaze shifted from the computer screen, first landing on the rose, before finally moving up to rest on her lovely face.

He picked up the flower, an eyebrow slightly arched. "Is this for me?"

Hearing him call out her little ploy so directly, Caroline Whitman’s heart fluttered in a panic, and she almost broke character.

But she composed herself in an instant. "I suppose so. You’re always buying flowers for me to arrange. I figured I should return the courtesy."

Adrian Grant chuckled softly. "Returning the courtesy, is it? Thank you. I like it very much. I’ll just assume you bought this flower especially for me."

Caroline Whitman’s heart began to pound. ’He’s definitely seen right through my little game, hasn’t he?’

Despite her panic, she maintained a placid expression and nodded lightly. She watched his reaction closely, and only after confirming he wasn’t showing any signs of distaste did she say, "As long as you like it."

With that, she turned to leave the study.

"Oh, right," Adrian Grant called out, stopping her.

"Ryan wants to go back to The Seraphic."

"Back to your place?" Caroline Whitman paused, surprised.

Adrian Grant set down the flower and casually took off his glasses. "He probably got hooked on playing in the water during those two days in Norcaster. I have a pool at my place, and I think he wants to go for a swim."

For some reason, an image of a shirtless Adrian Grant flashed through Caroline Whitman’s mind. She quickly squashed the thought and hurriedly asked, "When are you guys planning on going?"

"’You guys’?" Adrian Grant looked at her with a calm, deliberate gaze. "You’re not coming?"

Caroline Whitman didn’t expect him to fixate on her choice of words. "What I meant was, when do you two plan to go? How long will you be staying? Your family... they won’t just suddenly show up at your place again like last time, will they?"

’Adrian may have successfully come clean to his family, but I haven’t had my ’tell-all’ session yet.’

"They won’t."

"That’s what you said the first time."

"..."

Adrian Grant explained, "Last time, they only staged that surprise visit because they had run into the three of us—me, you, and Ryan—and had gotten suspicious."

"Now that I’ve explained the situation to them, no one will come and disturb us."

Caroline Whitman was only partially convinced. "...So, how many days?"

’Obviously, I can’t just spend the day swimming with the two of them and then come back to sleep at Golden Crest Manor at night.’

’That’s not realistic, and it would be a completely unnecessary hassle.’

"How about we stay until Ryan’s school break is over? It would also be convenient for when Ryan wants to watch movies," Adrian Grant said.

Caroline Whitman had no issue with that.

Just as she was about to ask when they would go, Adrian Grant smiled warmly and asked, "By the way, what kind of movies do you usually like to watch? We can’t have you falling asleep every time."

’My favorite movies?’

Most of the movies Caroline Whitman had seen were ones she’d only recently started watching with her son.

She rarely watched movies on her own.

’But this is a perfect chance to find out about Adrian’s interests.’

So she chose a safe answer. "Lighthearted comedies. What about you?"

Adrian Grant smiled. "Perfect. We have the same taste."

Hearing this, Caroline Whitman secretly gave herself a mental thumbs-up.

’I actually guessed right.’

Just as she was about to leave the room yet again, Adrian Grant spoke up calmly, "Oh, and one more thing."

"Later, can you send me a list of your dietary restrictions? Things you’re allergic to, and also your favorite foods."

"..."

Seeing the confusion flash in Caroline Whitman’s eyes, he once again put on that refined, gentle smile. "I just want to make sure you don’t eat something you shouldn’t and have a problem."

’Hm?’

’Something’s not right.’

A strange feeling crept over Caroline Whitman. She asked, puzzled, "How come you’ve never asked this before?"

"Besides, Miss King already asked me about all this on her first day, so you don’t need to worry about it."

Adrian Grant paused. He had, in fact, forgotten that he could just ask Miss King directly.

He held up his hands in a small, apologetic gesture. "When we went to Norcaster the other day, I let Miss King return to the main family residence for a few days."

"Barring any surprises, I’ll be the one cooking for the next few days. During our blind date meal, I don’t recall you mentioning any foods to avoid, so I’m not sure if you have any allergies."

Caroline Whitman’s expression showed that she understood.

’He’s surprisingly thoughtful,’ she thought.

’No wonder he’s so successful.’

She was about to list them off when a thought stopped her: ’Wait a minute. If I tell him now, how can I make my preferences match his?’

So, Caroline Whitman also smiled. "You’re so thoughtful. I’ll send you the list later."

She took out her phone and unlocked it, making a show of being ready to take notes. "Enough about me. You should tell me your restrictions, allergies, and favorite foods, too. What if I book a restaurant someday and order something you can’t eat? That would be a real downer, wouldn’t it?"

Adrian Grant watched her, poised to jot everything down, and simply smiled faintly.

"I’ll send them to you later."

Caroline Whitman put her phone away with a hint of regret and could only nod in agreement.

When she asked when they would be going to The Seraphic, he said the next morning.

After leaving the study.

Caroline Whitman sat on the sofa, watching the little guy doodling at the coffee table. She was just about to try and get information from him about what Adrian Grant liked to eat when she suddenly remembered Miss King.

She recalled Adrian Grant mentioning that Miss King had been taking care of him since he was a child. She would definitely know his food preferences like the back of her hand.

’In that case, I can just ask Miss King directly, can’t I?’