Cecilia Miller opened her eyes and suddenly sat up in shock.
She looked up at the man, rubbing her eyes in disbelief.
Wasn’t he abroad? Why is he back so suddenly?
Adrian Rhodes stepped forward, looking sharp in his fitted suit and exuding a cold, severe aura. He raised his hand and tapped her on the head.
"Getting bold, are we? Daring not to call me brother!"
Cecilia Miller rubbed her head where it hurt. She pouted and reluctantly called out, "Adrian."
Adrian Rhodes didn’t say anything. He just raised his hand to check her forehead.
Cecilia Miller instinctively shrank back.
"What are you dodging for? Come here!"
Cecilia obediently leaned her head over.
Watching from the side, Chloe Preston whispered, "Why is Adrian being so harsh with her?"
Donovan Xavier squeezed her hand, pinching her fingertips. "Cecilia has always been spoiled rotten. If he isn’t harsh, how can he possibly manage her?"
Adrian Rhodes touched her forehead. It was a bit warm.
He frowned with worry.
Cecilia Miller glanced at him cautiously. "It’s just a low-grade fever. Nothing serious."
Adrian Rhodes said with a deep frown, "Come back with me!"
Cecilia Miller shook her head, clutching the blanket tightly. "If I go back, they’ll force me into an arranged marriage! I’m not going back!"
Adrian stepped forward and pulled her hand. "With me around, who would dare force you into an arranged marriage?"
"Be good and come home with me. It isn’t proper for you to be staying here all the time!"
Cecilia Miller wavered. "Really? No arranged marriage? You can’t trick me!"
Annoyed by her dithering, Adrian stepped forward, reaching out to carry her in his arms.
Cecilia dodged him, her almond eyes bright as she looked at him. "No carrying. I want a piggyback ride."
"I want a piggyback ride," Cecilia said again.
Adrian remained silent.
"Give me a piggyback ride," Cecilia pleaded, her almond eyes watery and her cheeks puffed out.
It was an adorable, child-like tantrum.
Adrian finally relented. With a sigh of resignation, he crouched down and let her climb onto his back.
Cecilia smiled with satisfaction.
She looked up at Chloe Preston, coughed a little, and said with a grin, "I’m leaving now, Chloe. Take good care of yourself!"
Chloe Preston smiled. Just as she was about to speak, her phone chimed with a notification.
She glanced at it. It was an anonymous text.
[I want to meet you tomorrow morning to talk.]
Chloe furrowed her slender eyebrows, wondering who could have sent it.
A second text came through.
[I’m Donovan’s grandfather, Caleb Xavier.]
It was followed by a detailed address.
Chloe Preston held her phone and pursed her lips, unsure what to do.
There was no need to guess. Caleb Xavier wanted to see her, and it was surely to make her break up with Donovan. How should she handle this?
"What’s wrong?" Donovan asked gently, taking her hand when he noticed she was distracted. "Are you feeling unwell?"
She shook her head. "No." After thinking for a long time, she decided not to tell him about her pregnancy just yet. She would wait until after she met with his grandfather tomorrow.
As they walked down the corridor, Chloe glanced at the man beside her. "What would you do if your grandfather never likes me?"
"If he doesn’t like you, he doesn’t. You don’t have to worry about him," Donovan replied. "Just obediently stick by my side, and I’ll keep pampering you."
Chloe listened but didn’t say a word.
Chloe Preston drove alone to a café. She arrived early, went inside, and found a seat.
Nearly an hour later, an elderly man with white hair but a dignified face entered. He leaned on a dragon-head cane, exuded a powerful presence, and was followed by two burly bodyguards.
He spotted Chloe Preston, walked directly over, and pulled out a chair to sit down.
"How long have you been here?" Caleb Xavier’s voice was deep and commanding, carrying an oppressive weight.
"Not... not long." Chloe clutched a glass of warm water, a sudden nervousness creeping in. She didn’t dare to meet his gaze.
Caleb Xavier said nothing. He simply lifted his gaze and scrutinized her.
Bright eyes and pearly teeth, beautiful and gentle—she was indeed stunningly pretty. Her poise was good, too, like a well-bred lady. If only she hadn’t been born into such a family, someone like her would actually be quite suitable as Mrs. Xavier.
"Grandpa Xavier, would you like to drink..."
"No need." Chloe had just begun to speak when he cut her off.
Caleb Xavier wasn’t a man who wasted words. He met her gaze and said bluntly, "Miss Quinn, I don’t think you are worthy of my grandson in the slightest. Please, leave him."
Chloe had long suspected he would say this. She pursed her lips and gripped the cup in her hand tightly.
"Donovan is the eldest son of the Xavier Family," Caleb Xavier continued. "He is going to inherit the entire family estate in the future. His wife absolutely cannot be the daughter of a gambling addict!"
"I have never begged anyone in my entire life, but for the sake of the Xavier Family’s reputation, today I am begging you. Let him go. Stop clinging to him!"
Then, he took out a check, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward her. "Miss Quinn, I know you must love money. As long as you agree to leave Donovan, you can fill in any amount you want on this check."
"Whatever the amount, I will give it to you!"
"She won’t leave me, and she certainly won’t take your money!" A deep, powerful voice came from behind them.
The voice was all too familiar to Chloe. She turned to look.
Not far away, Donovan Xavier was striding toward them. His features were sharp and defined, his handsome face cool and detached. Tall and straight, he radiated an aura of distant, icy aloofness.
"Why are you here?" Chloe immediately stood up and asked.
Donovan walked to her side and naturally took her hand. "I had a feeling you were acting strangely last night. It’s a good thing I paid attention and followed you."
As he spoke, he lifted his gaze to the white-haired old man before them. "Grandpa, do you find this whole routine amusing?"
"I’m telling you, between her and me, I’m the one clinging to her. I’m the one who won’t let her go. I’m the one who wants to forcefully keep her by my side."
"If you have an issue, take it up with me. Don’t go behind my back and bully her."
Caleb Xavier slammed his hand on the table, his face ashen with fury. "How did I bully her? I just offered her money to leave you!"
"She’s the daughter of a gambling addict! She is simply not worthy of you!"
"If you still consider me your grandfather, then cut all ties with her today!"
"I can’t," Donovan said in a low voice.
Caleb Xavier’s heart ached with anger. He glared at him. "Say that again!"
Donovan’s tone remained unchanged. "I can’t. For the rest of my life, she is my woman. She must stay by my side."
Hearing this, Chloe’s thick lashes trembled slightly.
In a fit of rage, Caleb Xavier swept the cup from the table, sending it crashing to the floor.
He pointed a trembling finger at Donovan, his knuckles shaking with anger. "You... you! Get back to the old mansion right now!"
He spat out the words and, with the help of his bodyguards, stormed out of the café, fuming.
Donovan’s expression, however, remained as calm as ever. He looked down at Chloe. "Be good. I’m going to the old mansion for a bit. The driver is outside. You go back to The Xavier Residence and wait for me quietly."
Chloe grabbed his large hand, about to say something, but Donovan silenced her with a kiss on her forehead before turning to leave. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel-fire.net
Donovan followed Caleb Xavier back to the Xavier family’s old mansion.
In the grand hall, Rosalind Rowan was holding her mother Jane Zane’s arm, sipping tea and chatting animatedly with Ian Xavier.
Donovan walked in and froze at the sight.