Chapter 669 - 665: He’s Back

"Mom!"

Just then, someone pushed open the door to the inner bedroom and walked out.

Keith Grant stood at the corner, his hair a mess and his face etched with irritation. He looked at Mrs. White and demanded, "When are we eating? I’m starving!"

He acted as if he didn’t even see Emeric Grant and Cecilia Sterling sitting on the sofa.

Cecilia Sterling had met this younger brother of Emeric’s before, at their great-grandfather’s birthday banquet.

Seeing her son appear so suddenly, Mrs. White looked surprised, as if she’d been startled. Once she recovered, she said hurriedly, "Dinner will be ready soon. Go wash up first."

Keith Grant pursed his lips, glanced casually at the people on the sofa, and then turned and went into the bathroom.

Only then did Mrs. White turn to Mr. Grant, shooting him a questioning and displeased look.

She had specifically told her husband to get Keith out of the house. Emeric was bringing his girlfriend home today, and they both knew the brothers weren’t on good terms. She had been worried Keith’s presence would make the atmosphere too awkward.

’Her husband had readily agreed, but now here Keith was, walking right out of the bedroom in plain sight?’

Mr. Grant rubbed his nose awkwardly and offered a placating smile. "It’s the middle of winter. Where was I supposed to send him?"

Speechless, Mrs. White put a hand to her forehead. She couldn’t very well argue about this in front of Cecilia Sterling, so she turned to her with a smile and explained, "That’s Keith, Emeric’s younger brother."

"I know, Mrs. White," Cecilia Sterling replied. "I met him at Great-Grandfather’s birthday."

It was only then that Mrs. White remembered. She made an excuse to get up and went straight to the bathroom.

Inside the bathroom, Keith was brushing his teeth. Seeing his mother come in, he couldn’t help but spit out his toothpaste and sneer, "You don’t have to say it. I know what you’re going to say."

Mrs. White closed the door and gave her son an irritated tap. "Your brother finally brings his girlfriend home, and your father is overjoyed. I want you to be tactful later. Don’t cause any trouble for your brother, understand?"

"Mom, who’s your real son, me or him?" Keith demanded, dissatisfied. "You’re always so considerate of him. Why don’t you ever think about me?"

"You’re both my sons!" Mrs. White said, looking at Keith with a serious expression. "Don’t you ever say something like that again, especially not in front of your father!"

When Mrs. White married Mr. Grant, Emeric was still young. Even though he wasn’t her biological son, she had been the one to raise him.

As a result, Mrs. White had long since come to see Emeric as her own son.

Keith snorted coldly. "Get out. I need to use the toilet!"

"Remember what I said!" Mrs. White reminded him one last time before turning and leaving the bathroom.

Once the soup was ready, everyone gathered at the table.

The Grant family’s dining table was round. Cecilia Sterling sat down next to Emeric, leaving the seat on her other side empty.

Seeing Keith come out of the bathroom, Mrs. White quickly sat down in the empty seat on Cecilia Sterling’s other side, physically separating her from Keith.

Meanwhile, Mr. Grant’s position at the table separated Emeric and Keith.

Keith glanced at his mother, silently walked to the last remaining seat, and sat down. He looked down at the table, raised an eyebrow, and said sarcastically, "Quite the feast. I thought it was New Year’s."

Emeric placed a piece of pork rib in Cecilia Sterling’s bowl. She gave him a small smile, and the two of them completely ignored Keith.

Seeing this, Mr. Grant took the initiative. "Keith, let me introduce you. This is your brother’s girlfriend. You should have met her before."

Only then did Keith look at Cecilia Sterling. As much as he hated to admit it, when he looked directly at her face, he couldn’t deny that she was stunningly beautiful.

’But so what? In his heart, Cecilia would always be the best!’

Pursing his lips, Keith asked, "So what should I call her? Should I call her ’sister-in-law’?"

The atmosphere at the table froze. Fortunately, Cecilia Sterling was quick to react, replying calmly, "You can just use my name. Cecilia Sterling."

Keith pursed his lips again and nodded, then said nothing more and began to dig into his food.

「Meanwhile, at Lorcain International Airport, the international arrivals exit.」

A tall figure in a long, black overcoat, with longish bangs and black sunglasses obscuring his eyes, pushed a luggage cart. His steps were quick, but the aura around him was exceptionally cold and hard.

The moment he stepped out of the airport terminal, a biting chill brushed past his nose. He subconsciously took a deep breath. The air, tinged with a familiar scent, told him he was back!

"Shawn, Shawn, wait for your mother!"

Mrs. Lane came hurrying after him in her high heels, saying irritably, "You’re walking so fast while pushing luggage, and your mother is wearing high heels."

Shawn Lane took off his sunglasses, glanced down at the time, and asked only one question: "Where’s Dad?"

"I’ll call him now and ask if he’s arrived."

Before Mrs. Lane could even take out her phone, Walter Lane appeared on the other side of the road. "Shawn!"

Seeing his father, Shawn Lane broke into a smile and went to meet him. "Dad!"

Having not seen each other for over a year, father and son couldn’t help but give each other a huge hug.

Walter Lane immediately took in his son’s appearance. His whole aura was formidable, and his spirit was exceptional. He was clearly a completely different person from when he’d first gone abroad.

’He couldn’t help but feel more certain than ever that his decision to send his son abroad had been the right one.’

"You must be tired. Let’s go home first!"

The driver stepped forward to help with the luggage, and only then did Mrs. Lane approach her husband. "Darling, I’m finally back!"

With that, she threw herself into Walter Lane’s arms, sobbing pitifully and with genuine feeling.

She had indeed suffered a lot abroad, but that wasn’t what mattered. The important thing was, she didn’t speak English and had no friends, and that was what Mrs. Lane found most unbearable.

The loneliness of being in a foreign country can eat away at a person’s spirit. If she hadn’t come back soon, she felt she would have gone mad.

Walter Lane had intended to teach her a lesson anyway. He patted his wife’s back soothingly. "If you had been more obedient back then, I wouldn’t have sent you away."

Mrs. Lane pouted aggrievedly but, for once, was obedient enough not to talk back.

After getting in the car, Walter Lane and his son, Shawn, sat in the back seat. Shawn sat up straight; his former prodigal air was completely gone, replaced by a rigorous and disciplined demeanor that filled Walter Lane with immense relief.

"Studying abroad must have been tough. Take this vacation to get some good rest at home."

"It wasn’t tough, I just couldn’t get used to the food," Shawn said. "Mom couldn’t get used to it either when she visited, and she can’t cook. Dad, don’t make Mom go over there again. She can’t handle it."

Hearing this, Mrs. Lane quickly turned her head, her face full of expectation.

Walter Lane sighed, not wanting to make a firm promise. "We’ll see how she behaves. When she’s in Lorcain, she just causes trouble for me from morning till night."

Shawn already knew everything that had happened with his mother. His father’s anger toward her was mostly related to Cecilia Sterling.

At this, Shawn’s eyes darkened slightly, but his expression showed nothing more.

He remained silent until his father spoke with a sigh, "You’ve missed so much in the year-plus you’ve been away. There are many things that... perhaps were wrong from the very beginning."