Chapter 140: Actually a Secret Marriage?
Once inside, the little guy saw his mommy was up. After Adrian Grant placed him on the bed, he scrambled over to Caroline Whitman’s side:
"Mommy, I don’t want to sleep in the middle tonight."
Recalling the several times the boy had climbed out of bed by himself in the middle of the night, Caroline Whitman didn’t make a fuss this time. She scooted over, giving him a large empty space, and added a reminder:
"Just don’t fall off, alright?"
Ryan Grant blinked, looking at his mother for two seconds at her ready concession of the space. Then he slowly lay down and pulled his little blanket over himself.
He then turned to look at them. Seeing that Adrian Grant had also gotten into bed and was expertly snuggling up to Caroline Whitman, he blinked and grinned. Suddenly, the thunder outside didn’t seem so scary anymore.
He said in his sweet, childish voice, "Don’t worry, I won’t fall off."
Of course, Caroline Whitman wasn’t worried.
’He’s not an infant who needs watching over at night.’
’If he were an infant, there’s no way I’d let him sleep on a bed without any guardrails.’
However, Caroline Whitman did discover one problem.
This child has a habit of kicking off his blankets.
Sometimes, you really can’t just let him sleep by himself.
The next day, Ryan Grant coughed twice while getting dressed.
While brushing his teeth and washing his face, he coughed a few more times.
During breakfast, he coughed yet again.
Even for new parents as carefree as them, it was obvious something was wrong.
Caroline Whitman put down her cup and quickly felt her little boy’s forehead. "Have you caught a cold?"
Adrian Grant also got up to get the thermometer.
His temperature was normal.
It was most likely a common childhood cold.
"I don’t feel sick," Ryan Grant said, shaking his head. He looked a little exasperated as they kept feeling his cheeks.
He sniffled. ’They’re making such a big deal out of nothing.’
Caroline Whitman frowned. "Your nose is starting to run, and you say you don’t feel sick?"
Without another word, Adrian Grant made his decision. "We’re going to the hospital."
Caroline Whitman: "I’m going with you."
They had both taken the day off, canceling their work.
Since the boy wasn’t officially registered, they had to go to the largest hospital under the Grant Group, which Adrian Grant owned.
Just as they were leaving, Reina Carson arrived, following Adrian Grant’s instructions from the previous night to deliver a selection of women’s jewelry suitable for everyday wear.
When the door opened, Caroline Whitman wasn’t the only one who froze. Reina Carson’s eyes landed on the knee-high little boy, and he was even more stunned.
’Th-th-th-this... This kid looks exactly like the boss!’
Reina Carson knew Adrian Grant was living with Caroline Whitman, but he had no idea they had a child.
Adrian Grant had a personal driver, and Reina Carson was never around during the pickups and drop-offs.
So, when this miniature version of his boss stood before him, blinking his adorable eyes and greeting him:
"Uncle Reina."
Reina Carson’s brain short-circuited.
’The kid even knows my name?’
’Does this mean I’m his most valued employee?’
He quickly plastered on a smile. "Hello there."
’That said, I still don’t even know the little boss’s name.’
Adrian Grant, however, didn’t have much of a reaction.
He told them to set down the jewelry box and had Reina Carson drive them to the hospital.
Perhaps because it was past the usual time for the boy to be dropped off at the family home, Grace Lawson called, sounding a little worried, just as they were nearing the hospital.
Adrian Grant calmly glanced at the little one, who was looking down at a puzzle cube in his hands and sniffling occasionally, then spoke into the phone:
"Ryan won’t be coming over today."
He didn’t elaborate. If he let his parents know the child was sick,
Just thinking about the commotion would be enough to give him a headache.
Grace Lawson wanted to ask more. "What’s wrong? Do you have the day off, or does his mother?"
But the little brat had already hung up.
She looked at the "Call Ended" screen, then turned to Jonathan Grant.
"Adrian said the boy isn’t coming over today."
Just then, Zoe Grant came downstairs on his way to work. Overhearing the elderly couple, he chimed in:
"I bet my brother is with Caroline and the kid. He told me a little while ago that he took the day off."
’Which means I’m stuck with all the work Adrian was supposed to do today.’
’I’m going to be worked to death today.’
’I wasn’t planning on going abroad so soon, but now it looks like I’d better book a flight for tomorrow.’
"Must be nice to take a day off whenever you want."
Jonathan Grant didn’t think much of it, but he snorted irritably at Zoe Grant’s teasing:
"You have the nerve to talk? You were missing for so long, and you didn’t even contact us the second you got your memory back. Weren’t those years relaxing enough for you?"
In Jonathan Grant’s eyes, the boy had just been faking his amnesia. And even if, for the sake of argument, the amnesia had been real, the fact that he didn’t contact them immediately after his memory returned proved something was fishy.
Seeing the conversation had turned on him, Zoe Grant quickly made an excuse to leave for work and beat a hasty retreat.
——
After Adrian hung up, Ryan Grant held out the puzzle cube he’d scrambled into a mess. "Daddy, help me."
Adrian Grant just glanced at it.
’Clearly, the boy was done playing and was leaving him to clean up the mess.’
Normally, he wouldn’t do something so simple for his son, but seeing as he was sick, Adrian took the cube, solved it in a few quick twists, and handed it back.
"Hee hee, Daddy, you’re the best!"
Caroline Whitman saw him cough again and picked up his personal water bottle. "Drink some water."
Ryan Grant shook his head. "Mommy, I’m not thirsty. If I drink too much, I’ll have to pee."
"It’s normal to have to pee. It’s hot, you’re sweating, and you have a cold. You need to drink more water." Without taking no for an answer, Caroline Whitman pressed the bottle into his hands.
Ryan Grant protested for a moment, but when he saw it was no use, he just sighed "Oh," and obediently took a few sips of the warm water.
Driving the car, Reina Carson listened to the conversation in the back seat, and his worldview was shattered all over again.
’The kid not only calls Adrian Grant "Daddy," he also calls Caroline Whitman "Mommy."’
’Holy hell.’
’Now that I know this earth-shattering piece of gossip, am I going to be silenced to keep it a secret?’
He’d been working for Adrian Grant for half a year; he knew full well that his boss’s reputation, both inside and outside the company, was that of a single man.
’So... was it a secret marriage?’
’They’d hidden it a little too well.’
As the secretary in the CEO’s office, Reina Carson was naturally aware of the majority of the company’s business dealings.
The Grant Group only started cooperating with the Whitman Group this year.
’They were unbelievably good at keeping secrets.’
Thinking of this, it was like Reina Carson had a sudden epiphany. Adrian Grant had only returned to the country this year to take over the Grant Group.
The Whitman Group had also only started its partnership with the Grant Group this year.
The implications were suddenly terrifying.
Reina Carson expressionlessly drove the car to the hospital.
As Adrian Grant’s top secretary, he had naturally already contacted the hospital without needing to be told.
Before they got out of the car, Caroline Whitman put a mask and a little hat on her son, while she herself went into full disguise mode with sunglasses, a hat, and a mask.
Adrian Grant got out of the car first. He looked at the mother and son’s "united front" and seemed to want to say something, but then stopped himself.
Only after they were ready did he lift the boy out of the car.
Caroline Whitman got out from the other side.
Josie Joyce felt like she must have stepped in some unbelievable luck today to actually run into Adrian Grant at the hospital.