Yes, I Have a Child with the Villain

"..."

Adrian Grant said, "I think I should tell you again, formally, that all those confidantes, old flames, female classmates, and childhood sweethearts you mentioned—I have none of them."

"You’re the only one I have."

Adrian Grant was extremely serious when he said that last sentence.

Caroline Whitman felt a little embarrassed under his focused gaze.

She was sitting sideways on Adrian Grant’s lap. She had no choice but to lower her head slightly, raising a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, blocking his line of sight as she murmured softly:

"You missed one."

"What?" Adrian Grant asked, leaning closer.

"What about the people who have a secret crush on you?"

Adrian Grant gave her a strange look. "You just said it yourself—it’s a *secret* crush. How would I know?"

’Huh, that actually makes a lot of sense.’

It was only then that Adrian Grant realized she had led him astray. ’Are we really talking about secret crushes right now?’

Adrian Grant said, "We were discussing going public, not secret crushes. I can handle all the women you mentioned."

Caroline Whitman replied, "I thought about going public today, too. But if our relationship is revealed, many people will inevitably think the Whitman Group only got the project because of the Grant Group."

Adrian Grant fell silent for a moment. He hadn’t considered it from that angle.

Sharing resources was a perfectly normal part of doing business. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many strategic marriages.

Of course, that was a separate issue.

Caroline Whitman was concerned that people would think the Whitman Group had relied on the Grant Group to get the project, but that wasn’t the case at all.

From its early days to the present, the Whitman Group was built by Caroline Whitman and her team.

Letting people think otherwise would indeed tarnish their reputation.

Thinking of this, the bit of displeasure Adrian Grant had been feeling dissipated.

"Alright," he relented. "We’ll do it your way."

Caroline Whitman looked at him, a little surprised.

’He agreed just like that?’

’She’d thought they would be going back and forth on this issue for a while tonight.’

Adrian Grant saw through her and scoffed lightly. "What? You think I’m a soft touch?"

"A little," Caroline Whitman said honestly.

This made her feel even more strongly that she didn’t know Adrian Grant very well at all.

At the very least, if it weren’t for today’s sudden dinner meeting, she would never have known this side of him.

She had already convinced herself not to judge a real person by superimposing the personality of a character from a book onto them.

But after getting to know Adrian Grant more deeply, Caroline Whitman felt that her judgment of people was still too conservative.

"That depends on the person."

Adrian Grant’s tone was light when he said this, but his gaze, full of deeper meaning, was fixed on her face.

His stare made Caroline Whitman uncomfortable. She cupped his face in her hands and turned his head away, making him look out the window.

Adrian Grant: "..."

Outside the car window was the Kingsport nightscape, the neon lights painting the entire street in a vibrant, flowing display of colors.

"However," Adrian Grant’s voice sounded again as he turned his gaze from the window.

Caroline Whitman’s heart leaped into her throat again.

’Can’t this guy just say what he means all at once?’

"You don’t have to wear the ring," Adrian Grant paused, "but you can’t take it off."

Caroline Whitman understood the subtext: to take it off was equivalent to breaking things off with him. She was silent for a moment before saying:

"I’m not trying to break up with you. What’s wrong with putting it in a safe?"

"It’s bad luck."

"...You believe in that stuff?"

"I just started."

Caroline Whitman was left completely speechless.

The car drove smoothly through two intersections, heading toward the old family estate.

"That Ethan Xavier... have you been in contact with him recently?" Adrian Grant suddenly asked out of the blue.

Caroline Whitman froze. ’Why would he suddenly bring him up?’ she wondered.

"I ran into him at a chamber of commerce meeting this morning. We only chatted for a bit."

She paused, then asked, puzzled, "What’s wrong? Why the sudden question about him?"

"Someone told me he’s trying to get close to you through a business partnership."

Adrian Grant felt it was necessary to tell Caroline Whitman.

Besides his intention of eliminating a love rival, he also wanted Caroline Whitman to be on her guard and protect herself.

"..."

Caroline Whitman blinked, processing the amount of information in that sentence. Finally, she couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter.

Adrian Grant frowned. "What are you laughing at?"

"I’m laughing at you." Caroline Whitman’s eyes curved into crescents. "He proposes a partnership, and you think he’s trying to woo me? Adrian Grant, don’t you think you’re being a little paranoid?"

"He’s from St. Hector’s High School."

"What’s wrong with St. Hector’s High School?"

"Chase Ford is also from St. Hector’s High School."

Caroline Whitman: "..."

"Hold on, why are you bringing Chase Ford into this?" she asked, somewhat baffled.

’What does this have to do with Chase Ford?’

’When did those two become enemies?’

"Or do you just have a prejudice against St. Hector’s High School?" Caroline Whitman shot him a cool side-eye.

"It’s not prejudice, I just think the people who come out of that school are all a bit restless."

’Now he’s calling them restless.’

Caroline Whitman thought, ’For all I know, back when you, Adrian Grant, were running wild, the students at St. Hector’s were probably still memorizing classical poetry.’

But she was sensible enough not to say this out loud, instead remarking softly:

"I went to St. Hector’s High School too, you know. Do you have a problem with me as well?"

The light inside the car was dim, making Adrian Grant’s features appear especially deep and shadowed.

"Caroline Whitman." He said her name, his voice low and suppressed.

"I don’t have a problem with you," he said. "I have a problem with any and every man who appears at your side."

"...Including my dad?" Caroline Whitman couldn’t resist asking weakly.

Adrian Grant laughed.

An exasperated laugh.

No matter how serious the topic, she could always manage to derail it.

"Chloe Carson works at the hotel you went to this morning. She happened to overhear the conversation between Ethan Xavier and Chase Ford."

Adrian Grant explained the whole situation.

After listening, Caroline Whitman clenched her fists. "How outrageous! To think something like that happened! And they used me as a bet."

Finally, she glanced up at him. "Why didn’t you just say so from the start?"

’He had to go and beat around the bush, making me all anxious.’

Adrian Grant: "..."

The car soon arrived at Adrian Grant’s old family estate.

Presumably, Adrian Grant had told Miss King their estimated time of arrival before they got in the car.

As soon as the car came to a steady stop, Miss King came out with the child.

The door opened, and Ryan Grant was lifted into the car.

As the door closed, he didn’t forget to turn and give Miss King a sweet wave goodbye.

"Mommy, Daddy, you came to get me so late today."

Ryan Grant pouted. The previously quiet car became lively with the child’s arrival.

Before the two adults could say anything, Ryan Grant continued in his childish voice:

"Daddy said you would come get me together today. I thought he was tricking me."

Caroline Whitman turned her head to look back at him. "Why would you think Daddy would trick you?"

"Because usually Daddy comes to the old estate to see me all by himself. Except for last time, when you and Daddy came together," the little guy counted on his fingers, then looked up after he was done. "This is the second time you’ve come to get me together."

The little guy always stated facts in the most innocent tone, causing Caroline Whitman to feel a pang of heartache and guilt.

But before her complex emotions could spread, she was interrupted again.

It just went to show what a little chatterbox he was. By the time he was done talking, the conversation had already veered off in another direction.