Chapter 152: She Only Hesitated for 0.01 Seconds

Chapter 152: Chapter 152: She Only Hesitated for 0.01 Seconds

Caroline Whitman: "We may not have experience, but doctors do. Isn’t that enough? If we left him with you, wouldn’t you just take him to a doctor anyway?"

"..."

Franklin Whitman: "How can you say that? He’s just a child, not an adult. There are all sorts of things to consider about what he can and can’t eat when he has a cold."

Caroline Whitman: "Dad, you’re just overreacting. We can ask the doctor what he should and shouldn’t eat, right? Besides, you spoil him too much. That’s not good for his developing values and worldview."

’It’s true what they say about grandparents doting on their grandkids,’ Caroline thought.

Franklin Whitman was not pleased. "What do you mean, ’spoil him’? This is just normal concern for a child! Besides, we raised you, didn’t we? How come your values aren’t all messed up? Look at you—you turned out just fine, didn’t you?"

Caroline Whitman: "..."

For a moment, she wasn’t sure if he was complimenting himself or her.

"Anyway, Ryan is all better now. If you’re still worried, I can bring him over tonight so you can see for yourselves. If you’re really that anxious, you can go over to Jonathan Grant’s place and take a look right now."

Caroline said calmly, trying to put his mind at ease.

...

Meanwhile, after Adrian Grant dropped Ryan Grant off at his parents’ house, Jonathan Grant and his wife heard about the boy’s cold and rushed to check on him.

They only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming it was nothing serious.

"I was wondering why you didn’t bring him over the last couple of days. So, it was because Ryan had a cold. Why didn’t you tell us?" Jonathan Grant grumbled.

’In his eyes, even though Adrian Grant was Ryan’s father, he’d only come into the picture recently. What experience could he possibly have raising a child?’

Besides, having lived through flu seasons and the pandemic, they knew that even a common cold could be fatal for a child these days.

’How could they afford to be careless?’

Adrian Grant gave the same response as Caroline. "If I brought him to you, you’d just take him to a doctor anyway. What’s the difference?"

Jonathan Grant opened his mouth, then closed it. After all, his son had a point. For a moment, he couldn’t think of a comeback for his sharp-tongued eldest.

In the end, all he could do was let out a heavy "HUMPH" and pull rank as a father. "Don’t you dare hide something like this from us again."

Adrian Grant, for his part, had no intention of arguing with them about it.

He simply went along with it, asking, "Dad, are you implying Ryan is going to get sick often?"

Jonathan Grant: "..."

Zoe Grant, having just finished breakfast, happened to walk past them and couldn’t help but chuckle at their exchange.

’His big brother was usually quiet, which was for the best. Once he decided to speak, his words could practically choke a person.’

’He was two years younger than Adrian, and they’d been inseparable growing up. He knew better than anyone just how "wicked" his big brother could be.’

Grace Lawson, standing nearby, couldn’t stand it anymore. "Adrian, that’s enough out of you. Don’t give your father a heart attack."

Adrian Grant: "..."

’What did I say?’

...

Back in his office, Franklin Whitman immediately pulled out his phone to video call Jonathan Grant. Only after confirming that Ryan was perfectly fine and full of energy did he begin to vent about "those two kids."

Having both been rebuffed by their children, the two men had plenty to talk about. They bonded instantly, like long-lost comrades.

...

When it was time to leave work, there was no need to pick up Ryan at all.

Franklin Whitman had skipped work to go to Jonathan Grant’s place to see the boy, and then ended up taking him home.

Who knows what sweet words Franklin Whitman used, but for once, Ryan had actually agreed to stay the night.

In truth, everyone did their best to accommodate the boy’s wishes.

Adrian, however, was more than happy with this development.

Tonight, no one would be interrupting their time alone.

It was just that when Caroline returned to Azure Heights this time, it felt novel and strangely unfamiliar.

Especially when she saw Adrian Grant standing at her front door, unlocking it.

They had arrived at the door at the exact same time.

"You’re off work early, too?" Caroline asked.

"Yeah." Adrian unlocked the door and walked in as if it were his own home. "No kid to pick up today, so I got back a little earlier."

Caroline followed him inside, and they both took off their shoes.

It was six-thirty.

With just the two of them in the house, it suddenly felt a lot emptier without the child around.

Adrian, however, showed no signs of awkwardness. He walked in and asked, "Should we eat out or stay in?"

Caroline said, "Since we’re already inside, let’s just eat at home."

’Besides, if Adrian really wanted to eat out, he would have said so when they met outside the door.’

’Why bother coming in just to leave again?’

Upon getting her answer, Adrian rolled up his sleeves, walked into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and pulled out the ingredients they had bought the day before.

Seeing this, Caroline hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to help.

In reality, she hadn’t been much help the last two times.

This time, Adrian naturally wasn’t going to let her do much, either.

But as she entered, Adrian just smiled. "Here to help me with my apron?"

Caroline Whitman: "..."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t have an apron."

’She had lived alone before and rarely cooked.’

’She only ever messed around with ingredients when she was home for a holiday and the mood struck her.’

’It was a miracle the kitchen even had basic pots, pans, and seasonings.’

’An apron was definitely something she hadn’t thought to buy.’

Adrian Grant: "That’s a real pity."

"....."

’What’s so pitiful about not being able to tie an apron?’

Though Caroline was curious, she knew better than to dwell on it. She casually picked up a glass and filled it with water. "I just came in for a drink of water."

Adrian just smiled and went back to prepping the ingredients.

’Thank goodness Adrian didn’t ask her to give him a drink.’

’Then again,’ she thought, ’he probably wouldn’t say something like that.’

After pretending to take a sip, Caroline tactfully retreated from the kitchen.

A few moments later, Adrian leaned out of the kitchen. "We’re low on oil. I forgot to buy some yesterday. Is there a supermarket downstairs?"

They had only bought groceries yesterday. Having not used her own kitchen in a long time, Caroline hadn’t noticed she was out of oil.

Adrian had forgotten to mention it yesterday, too.

Caroline Whitman: "Yeah, there is. I’ll go down and get it. Need anything else?"

"Grab a bottle of soy sauce and oyster sauce."

"Okay."

She had lived in the complex long enough to know it well. After taking the elevator down, she headed to the small convenience store next to the building.

She bought the condiments Adrian had asked for. As she was checking out, her eyes landed on a display by the register.

She hesitated for only a fraction of a second before calmly grabbing two boxes of the largest size Durex.

She paid, grabbed the bag, and left.

Back at the apartment.

Seeing Adrian still prepping in the kitchen, Caroline took out the three bottles of condiments and nonchalantly placed the bag—the one with the Durex—on the entryway cabinet.

Without a blush or a single flutter of her heart, she carried the three bottles into the kitchen.

"I put them here." Caroline placed the oil, soy sauce, and oyster sauce on the counter, then turned and walked away.