Chapter 228: Chapter 228: A Family of Four, Birthday Celebration
Caleb Monroe’s heart seemed to sink to the bottom; he was both angry and anxious. A furious thought emerged: he should have divorced Jean Shaw earlier, and then things wouldn’t have come to this.
"Ivana wasn’t raised by Jean Shaw; her personality is like her biological mother’s. Marrying Jean Shaw was a blind mistake on my part. This woman is arrogant, greedy, and selfish. She can’t even compare to Ivana’s mother. President Kane, can you put in a good word for Ivana in front of your mother? I assure you, before you and Ivana get married, I’ll have the divorce certificate from Jean Shaw. Such a greedy old woman doesn’t deserve to be Ivana’s stepmother."
Leon Keane didn’t immediately agree with Caleb Monroe. His silence on the other side seemed to be him pondering whether to marry Ivana Monroe or not.
Caleb Monroe’s heart was in his throat.
After a while, a cold sweat formed in Caleb Monroe’s palm, and Leon Keane finally parted his noble lips.
"Who do you think deserves to be Ivana’s mother?" His voice was devoid of warmth.
Caleb Monroe’s heart skipped. Who deserves to be Ivana’s mother? Of course, only Ivana’s biological mother.
But why would Leon Keane ask such a question?
Caleb Monroe, not being entirely dull, seemed to understand what Leon Keane wanted.
Caleb Monroe remembered the promise to his mistress, that after divorcing Jean Shaw, he would marry her, making it easier for the child to be registered later on.
Having waged numerous inner struggles, Caleb Monroe finally gritted his teeth and said, "Ivana has only one mother; apart from her, no one deserves to be Ivana’s mother."
Mother and stepmother are different. Leon Keane asked about the mother, not the stepmother. Wasn’t it obvious enough what that implied?
Leon Keane smiled. "Good, remember what you said, father-in-law."
Leon Keane hung up the phone.
Caleb Monroe still held the phone to his ear, like a wooden figure, with his old eyes full of shock. What did Leon Keane call him? Father-in-law?
The great weight on Caleb Monroe’s heart finally lifted, and a smile of excitement appeared on his face.
Leon Keane’s acknowledgment of him as the father-in-law meant that Leon Keane would persuade his mother, and the wedding would proceed as planned. As for the mistress, he’d keep it hidden for now, waiting until their son was born before dealing with it.
Once the son was born, he would have nothing to fear.
~~
The next day.
Kiki Jennings got up early to dress up. Today she wore a light blue cheongsam, adorned with elegant magnolia flowers asymmetrically on her chest. Her fair and evenly-toned long legs made her a classical beauty that seemed to walk straight out of Old Shanghai.
Old Mr. Quill, being a man of that era, would surely have his memories stirred on seeing her dressed this way, increasing his favor toward her.
Kiki Jennings slipped on a pair of the old-fashioned embroidered cloth shoes she hated the most. All for her dear Leon, she gave it her all.
Kiki arrived at the Kane family manor but saw only Leon’s mother. She glanced around: "Auntie, where is dear Leon?"
Leon’s mother appeared displeased. "He hasn’t come back."
Kiki frowned. Hasn’t come back since yesterday? Her heart twisted with pain, transitioning into hate. It was all Ivana’s doing for sure—that wretch must have clung to Leon, preventing him from returning.
Today, when they reached Old Mr. Quill’s place, Leon would finally be hers completely. As for Ivana, she would be thoroughly banished from Leon’s sight.
Ivana wore a warm-toned sweater she bought at the mall last night, paired with beige straight-leg pants. The simple and fresh color scheme accentuated her delicate and charming face.
This ensemble was chosen by Leon Keane for her.
He knew what kind of daughter-in-law his mentor liked.
Today, Timmy Monroe and Ian Keane were dressed identically. The twins stood side by side, making even Ivana and Leon Keane find it difficult to tell who was the older brother and who was the younger one.
A little boy naturally clung to Ivana’s right hand, and Leon Keane immediately recognized that this clingy little one had to be Ian.
Leon Keane was the driver, with Ivana sitting in the back to accompany the two children.
Before they knew it, they arrived at Old Mr. Quill’s residence.
Old Mr. Quill lived in the suburbs, surrounded by greenish-yellow stone walls, with a charming farmhouse courtyard. The golden osmanthus flowers bloomed over the walls, filling the air with a faint fragrance.
Leon Keane parked the car, and the family of four got out, spotting a familiar Rolls Royce parked not far away.
It was the Kane family manor’s car.
Leon Keane calmly withdrew his gaze, noting the two children flanking Ivana protectively.
He said, "Daddy wants to hold Mommy’s arm. Which one of you wants to come stand with Daddy?"
Ian Keane pretended not to hear, hugging Ivana’s right arm with both hands and resting his face on it, showing no intention of moving.
In a childish voice, Timmy said, "I will."
Leon Keane patted Timmy’s head. "Good boy, you’re the best behaved."
Leon Keane held Timmy’s hand, shot a glance at the clingy Ian Keane, and put his arm around Ivana.
Ian Keane: Childish, such tricks to fool kids, as if they could fool him.
The four of them entered the farmhouse, where Leon’s mother and Kiki had already arrived.
When Leon’s mother and Kiki saw that Ivana was there too—moreover, Leon Keane was holding Ivana’s arm and had even brought that little brat, Timmy—both were stunned, gaping.
"Leon, why did you... bring them along too?" Leon’s mother pointed at Ivana and the child beside her, instinctively assuming the child standing next to Ivana was her son.
Leon’s mother was shocked upon seeing the child next to Ivana; the kid and Ian looked uncannily similar, almost identical.
Kiki saw Leon’s mother dazing at "Timmy" and suddenly clenched her fingers. The worst fear had manifested—Leon’s mother wouldn’t start favoring Ivana because of this little brat, would she?
"She is my wife, why shouldn’t I bring her to pay respects to my master on his birthday?" Leon Keane said.
"Leon, she’s your wife? Huh? And who’s the little treasure? Which one is my little Ian? Even my master here can’t tell them apart." Old Mr. Quill, with his long white beard and gray robe, somewhat resembled a Taoist hermit.
"Hello, Master," said a childish voice.
"Oh, my dear grand-disciple, come over here. Master has a gift for you." Old Mr. Quill beckoned to the little boy on Leon Keane’s side.
Ian Keane couldn’t be bothered with Old Mr. Quill. Every visit was like this, as if he didn’t know the old man just tried to trick him into learning calligraphy and painting.
He had no interest in such dull and boring things.
Timmy pointed at himself and then to Ian, as if confirming whether Master was calling him and not older brother Ian?
"Yes, you, my dear grand-disciple, hurry and come over," Old Mr. Quill said with a merry smile.
Leon’s mother gradually regained her senses. So what if he looked like her grandson? A child reared by Ivana would have all pampered airs. A strong, masculine little boy was clinging to his mother like that—couldn’t even be compared to her Ian.