"Grandpa, happy birthday, may you have the fortune of the Eastern Sea and live to a ripe old age of a hundred."
Elly Campbell brought a set of coffee equipment for the Old Master, who was naturally very pleased, especially seeing his well-behaved great-grandson also coming, making his smile on his face grow even wider.
"William wishes Great-grandfather fortune like the Eastern Sea, longevity surpassing the southern mountains."
The childlike voice, milky in tone, recited the birthday blessing, which made Old Master Campbell so delighted that he scooped up little William in his arms.
Meanwhile, the interaction between the two deepened everyone’s speculation about William’s identity.
This child’s surname was Campbell, which naturally made him part of the Campbell Family, but as far as they knew, Old Master Campbell had only one grandson, Mark Campbell, and Mark was only twenty years old, hence the child did not seem to be his.
As people were curious about the child’s identity, they heard Adam Jones, who had been silent until now, suddenly speak, "William."
Adam Jones’s presence was like that of a luminary wherever he went, attracting everyone’s attention. As soon as he spoke, many turned to look at him.
When William saw Adam, his warmth was not quite as evident, but he still sweetly called out, "Daddy."
At William’s call of "Daddy", everyone gasped in shock.
Was this child calling Adam Jones daddy?
Was he Adam Jones’s son?
As they took another careful look at William’s face, no one doubted the child’s relationship to Adam; he bore too striking a resemblance to Adam, as if cast from the same mold.
"Is this child Adam’s? When did Adam Jones get married?"
Someone couldn’t help but start the conversation, especially since Adam Jones was such a coveted bachelor, with many people wanting to marry into the Jones Family, which was akin to climbing to the top of the business world.
But now, how did a child suddenly appear?
"I haven’t heard about him getting married, could the child be illegitimate?"
Someone whispered, and at this suggestion, heads nodded in agreement.
But whether illegitimate or legitimate, this child was undoubtedly Adam’s firstborn, and in the future, he would inherit a considerable share of Adam’s wealth.
For those who had been keen to align themselves with the Jones Family through marriage, this bit of news had them feeling displeased, and their gazes towards William lost the initial goodwill.
"Did you all forget that this child called Old Master Campbell ’Great-grandfather’? This child is clearly closely related to the Campbell Family as well."
Someone softly mentioned this, and many people quickly regained their composure.
Yes, the child called the Old Master ’Great-grandfather’, so...
Could it be that Adam Jones’s son was born to a woman of the Campbell Family?
Everyone turned their attention to the woman who had walked in with the child, a beautiful woman with long straight legs, narrow shoulders, and a slender waist. She wore light makeup on her face, simple yet exquisite, and her demeanor exuded a sense of efficiency, resembling the Old Master to a degree.
It was said there was a Miss Campbell who rarely made public appearances, and it seemed she was the woman before them.
An alliance between the Jones and Campbell families did make sense.
While the Campbell’s might not be on par with the Jones’, the Campbell Family had an Old Master who stepped down from a high position, with connections James Campbell could not match.
"Could it be that the child is the son of Adam Jones and Miss Campbell of the Campbell Family?"
This speculation was unanimously accepted by everyone. Even though it felt unexpected, it wasn’t deemed implausible. However, for those families who had hoped to forge a marriage alliance with Adam Jones, they now harbored some unsatisfied sentiments.