Ch. 1081..1090

My Dreamy Old Husband Chapter 1081

Still, Carmen continued crying as though she didn’t believe Michael. Sobbing so hard that she couldn’t even utter a complete sentence, she looked utterly pitiful. Her tiny hands were even grasping his sleeve tightly as if she was afraid that he’d go off on a blind date once she let go of him.

Such a minute action had a shockingly artistic effect, for it easily moved people’s hearts. When the Fletchers, who were initially livid because she messed things up, saw her pitiful expression, they decided to let the matter go. Perhaps she has truly misunderstood. Michael is only sitting here today as the person who facilitated this blind date and the male party’s uncle, but the person who’s going on the blind date is still Stanley. What a poor dear!

As she watched her daughter’s performance, Sophia inwardly gave her a round of applause. Good, good. Nice! My baby is simply a genius!

While Michael cuddled Carmen and mollified her, he surreptitiously motioned for someone to add a chair beside him for Sophia. As he carried Carmen with a hand, he pretended as though he was smoothing her wrinkled dress for her, but in actuality, he furtively reached out and pinched Sophia’s butt hard. Not to be outdone, Sophia pinched his butt as well. The two of them then proceeded to secretly pinch each other under the table.

After Carmen’s outburst, the atmosphere of the blind date shifted. Anne, who was red in the face with fury, sat back down. Although she knew that Carmen wasn’t Stanley’s daughter, she still threw Sophia a nasty look. She took my Phoenix Harp, and now, she even wants to ruin my marriage! Even if I don’t like this marriage, I won’t allow anyone else to mess things up!

Frowning, Sophia lowered her eyes, not daring to say a single word. Never have I thought that the tricky Stanley Fletcher would actually set me up! Son of a b*tch! I wish that your blind date will end in success, and you’ll be beaten up by your wife every day after marriage, having no money to your name!

Conversely, beside Michael, Louis’s eyes lit up when he saw Carmen. It’s my idol’s baby! However, due to the blunder on the previous day, he still asked tentatively, “So, this is your daughter, yes?”

Lowering his head, Michael gazed at his daughter, who was still sniffling in his arms, absorbed in her acting. “Yes, this is my daughter,” he replied gently.

Staring at the adorable and lovely child, Louis seemed to be over the moon with delight. He extended his arms. “Quick, quick, let me carry her!”

Carmen seemed a tad shy, but still, she went over to him.

When she was in his hands, Louis studied her. Her petite nose and eyes are simply too cute! As he carried her in his arms, his heart pounded wildly. She’s just too adorable! She resembles both her mother and father. I like it. In fact, I love her! How I wish I could adopt all three of them—the kid and her parents—into the family so that I can see them every day!

“Your name is Carmen, yes? I’ve watched your movie before. I’ve watched all the movies you starred in with your father! Come, come, I’ll give you a gift!” He really took a shine to Carmen. She’s truly a darling! Then, he hurriedly patted himself down for a gift since it was his first time meeting her. I met her mother yesterday and gave her the Phoenix Harp, so I’ve simply got to observe the etiquette today!

“No, it’s okay!” Michael and Sophia exclaimed in unison. It’s already very much flattering that he gave us the Phoenix Harp yesterday, so if he gives us yet another astounding gift, we’ll probably make it to an unsigned post on an anonymous forum—Taylor Murray receives exorbitant gifts from a fan! Sophia thought.

However, the elderly man still searched around, feeling that he just couldn’t give this little darling nothing. Or else, he wouldn’t feel settled. When he couldn’t find anything good on him, something abruptly occurred to him, so he called a bodyguard in before whispering into his ear. A while later, the bodyguard brought in a square box. Upon opening the box, a uniquely-shaped porcelain bowl lay within. The porcelain bowl was delicate, the patterns exquisite. “Here, here, I’ll give you this bowl. In the future, eat with this bowl and grow up hale and hearty!”

Dashing off her tears, Carmen reached out and hugged the bowl, not at all reserved. “Thank you, sir! I’ll definitely eat my fill and grow up hale and hearty! I’ll give you a heart sign!”

As Louis stared at the obedient girl, rapture was written all over his face. She’s truly a loveable little darling!

The moment Anne saw the bowl, she instantly went ballistic, her heart clenching. That bowl… is even more valuable than the Phoenix Harp! It’s actually meant for the President of Cethos! How could it be given to a child? “Grandpa, this bowl… This bowl is—”

Louis impatiently tutted. “It’s just a porcelain bowl! It’s not like we’ve only got one! It’s intended to be given as a gift, so why not give it to Carmen in this case?” he snapped. Holding Carmen, he lifted her up, pleasure shining in his eyes.

Anne was so infuriated that her face turned bright red and her hands shook, fury and envy battering her.

After Sophia had placed the porcelain bowl back into the gift box, she glanced at Anne, perplexed as to why she was so furious. It’s understandable that she was angry yesterday since I took her harp, but this is just an ordinary porcelain bowl gift set. Is it really necessary for her to get up in arms? Such a stingy woman isn’t worthy of that stupid dog. As his aunt, I oppose this marriage!

When she’d put the bowl away, she puffed out her chest. I’m Stan’s aunt, so I’ve got to exhibit my authority as an elder! Although he’s silly like a husky usually, he’s still very reliable when it’s something serious. He’s handsome, rich, and an expert sniper! Not just anyone is worthy of the most outstanding bachelor in Bayside City!

The blind date went on, but Louis had clearly put his own granddaughter aside. All his attention was on pleasing Carmen, and he badgered Michael with questions about her, so much so that Michael felt that he was probably going to lose a loyal fan.

Meanwhile, Stanley and Anne’s blind date continued, but the atmosphere was noticeably tense. With a dark expression on her face, Anne became taciturn, still enraged about the bowl. The parents on both sides were mortified since their respective children seemed to be getting along badly.

Gazing at Anne’s dour face, Stanley knew that he was saved for now. I’ve got no idea whether it’s because of Carmen or the bowl, but she doesn’t like me, so I’m safe!

The entire meal was rather despondent, yet they still sat there and continued making awkward conversation after they’d finished eating to salvage things. Sophia then went out for some fresh air, and Stanley made his escape on the pretext of taking a leak.

“Come here, you d*mn stupid dog! Just see whether I’m going to kill you!” As soon as they’d exited the room, Sophia was gripped by the urge to slap him. He knew full well that Michael is here, yet he still asked me to get Carmen here to mess things up! It was downright humiliating!

However, Stanley was also innocent. “How would I know that your husband came as well? Hey, I haven’t even taken you to task! Look what your husband did. He hasn’t even gotten a marriage certificate with you, yet he has started butting into my affairs!”

Just as Sophia was about to counter that, she heard the clacking of high heels. Turning around, she saw that Anne had left the room. Clack, clack… As Anne’s high heels touched the ground, they gave off a crisp and hurried sound. She strode over to Sophia quickly, her face darkened. Then, she stretched out a hand. “Return the Phoenix Harp and the Mise porcelain bowl to me!”

Before Sophia could say anything in response, she turned to Stanley and sneered derisively at him. “I heard from my father that you play online games?” Without waiting for him to reply, she proclaimed sternly, “Stop dreaming. I’m of a lofty status, so you’re not worthy of me!”

 

My Dreamy Old Husband Chapter 1082

Not worthy of her? Sophia was dumbfounded for a moment. Ha! What a snob! She actually said that my nephew, Stan, isn’t worthy of her? She looked Anne up and down. Is she rich? Nope. She has her mother’s last name, and her father is merely an ordinary Cethosian musician. While her grandfather, Louis Osborne, enjoys a bit of fame, the Fletcher Family is more than worthy of her. If it weren’t for Michael facilitating things, she wouldn’t even have a chance to go on a blind date with Stan!

Derisive thoughts flew across Sophia’s mind. Besides, while the world knows that her grandfather is the best calligrapher and painter in Cethos, who is she, Anne Osborne? There’s even more information on Judge’s page on Wikipedia than her! As for looks? Well, she’s in her early twenties, dressed in a classical linen long dress, and her black hair hangs straight to her waist. She might have bright eyes, white teeth, pale skin, and a classical charm to her, but even though she’s pretty, she’s not a stunning beauty. If it weren’t for her grandfather, the Fletchers probably wouldn’t even spare her a look!

However, Anne seemed extremely snobbish, arrogance radiating off her. “You can stop studying me. My identity is definitely not something you can discern. Anyway, you’re not worthy of me, Stanley Fletcher!”

Likewise, Stanley looked her up and down critically. Where did this ugly girl get her confidence from? All at once, he mocked her in disdain by saying, “You think I’m beneath you? I think you’re the one who’s beneath me! My buddy looks even more beautiful than you in a wig!”

In reality, he wasn’t all that opposed to going on blind dates. He was also interested in getting married and having children that were as cute as Carmen. Indeed, he didn’t demand much in terms of the girl’s personality, for he was fine as long as she wasn’t a sweet and naïve girl. Also, he didn’t demand much when it came to her looks, satisfied as long as she was prettier than Sean dressed in women’s clothing. There were many who fulfilled the first requirement, but there was none in the entire Bayside City who fulfilled the latter. This girl before me is obviously inferior to Sean. In fact, she has nothing on him!

On the contrary, Anne felt that her status was lofty, so she disdained the Fletcher Family in the first place. If it weren’t for Michael Fletcher facilitating this and Grandpa falling for it, I wouldn’t have gone on this blind date with the Fletchers! The Fletchers are nothing without Mark Fletcher, so how could they possibly be worthy of my lofty status? And this destitute Stanley Fletcher actually dared to scorn me for being ugly?

“Do you have any taste? There’s a long line of people who pursue me, winding around the block up to France! The fact that I went on a blind date with you is your honor! My status is so lofty that it’s beyond your imagination. You’re not worthy of me at all. If you’re smart, make it clear to your parents and ask them not to have delusions of grandeur as well. The Fletcher Family isn’t worthy of me at all!”

Sophia almost burst out laughing at her words. Where did this little girl get such confidence? The Fletcher Family isn’t worthy of her? But on second thought, since Louis Osborne gave me a harp without hesitation, perhaps their family truly has an identity unbeknownst to others. They have their own preferences as a scholarly family, so they probably disdain the rough Fletchers who are in the military.

“Okay, okay, let’s all take a step back. If you’re really dissatisfied, then just tell your families so.” Sophia hurriedly smoothed things over. After all, it was her idol husband who facilitated this blind date, so it would be bad for things to get too tense.

After that, she persuaded Stanley to leave, so he finally relented for the sake of his uncle and to avoid getting a beating from his brother instead of taking offense at a little bug who lived in her own world. As he walked away, he muttered, “If you’re so powerful, enter the ancient Imperial Palace without purchasing an admission ticket! Ha! Stop playing dumb in front me, hideous thing…”

Fuming, Anne was just a breath away from blowing a gasket. If it were centuries ago, the ancient Imperial Palace would’ve been my house! I’m blue-blooded, so I naturally don’t have to purchase an admission ticket to enter the Imperial Palace! Not only am I exempted from queuing, but they’d even roll out the red carpet for me! In a few days, when I’ve successfully changed my last name, they’ll then know how lofty my identity is!

When Sophia got back to the private room where the blind date was held, she sat back at her place. Stanley returned a few minutes after her, and Anne also returned shortly after, throwing a dark look at Stanley. Since it was Louis who’d agreed to this blind date, she didn’t dare oppose outright and anger him since she still needed his approval to change her last name. However, she’d put things on the table with Stanley, so she believed that he’d know what to do. She wanted him to voluntarily object to the match.

When the meal was over and everyone had drunk a few rounds of tea, the time came for them to leave. Smiling, Stanley’s father asked Stanley, “Stanley, we’ve eaten and even drank tea, so what do you think of Miss Osborne?”

Glancing at Anne, who had her head lowered while sipping tea but in actuality had her ears perked, waiting for him to decline the match, Stanley neutrally answered, “Miss Osborne’s character is admirable, and she is very knowledgeable besides having an elegant temperament. However, she’s a bit too hideous, so I don’t like her.” Then, he continued boldly, “At the very least, I hope to find a wife who’s as beautiful as my aunt. Anything inferior is too hideous in my opinion.”

As soon as those words were heard, the entire room plunged into dead silence. Nonetheless, Stanley put down the teacup in his hand and said, “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to take my leave. There’s a lot to do at the office.” After saying that, he stood up and strutted away with his assistant.

When Stanley’s father snapped back to his senses, he almost chased after him to teach him a lesson, but since the Osborne Family was still there, he could only stay. Forcing a chuckle, he commented, “How playful. He’s just too mischievous. That’s just how my son speaks. He’s odd.”

Anne and her father were seething, but Louis stroked his beard, finding Stanley’s words rather reasonable. Anne is indeed not as beautiful as Sophia. The two of them didn’t seem to suit either, so it’s a good thing that it went to pieces.

Sophia, however, was extremely embarrassed as she endured Anne’s malevolent gaze. Stan left, yet he pushed a wave of hatred toward me!

Michael, on the other hand, ruminated as he sipped his tea. Sure enough, it didn’t work…

The blind date then concluded in awkwardness, and they all left. Sophia and Michael left in a car. In the car, Michael said nothing, his expression profound as though he was pondering something solemn as his brows drew together tightly.

Thus, Sophia, who was beside him and Carmen, who was in the child car seat, kept mum as well, their eyes darting around. I just knew that he’d surely be furious!

Sophia felt very much remorseful. Although I dislike Anne, it was still Michael who arranged the blind date, so I’d indeed embarrassed him by bringing Carmen there to mess things up. She hung her head and thought of an apology. A moment later, she stole a peek at his cold and profound profile. He’s indeed worthy of being an idol when he’s still so handsome despite being infuriated!

She twiddled her fingers, planning to apologize when the atmosphere had eased, but it seemed impossible for the time being. Then, she glanced at Carmen, who did the same, both waiting for the other to apologize. As the mother, she felt that she should take the lead. Thus, she steeled herself and tugged gently on his sleeve. Unexpectedly, Michael seemed completely unaware of it, lost in his own thoughts.

He was in an entirely different state compared to her, for he was thinking about Stanley. The Fletchers sought him out, making it clear that Stanley’s parents had heard of the rumors. Some time ago, Stanley came back with a child and said that he adopted a child with Sean. This matter caused a stir in the Fletcher Family, and rumors abound for a time that it even got to him.

My Dreamy Old Husband Chapter 1083

Stanley and Sean had always been very close to each other and even lived together, but everyone merely thought that they were just business partners who lived together to make work convenient. Now, however, they weren’t only living together, but they’d also adopted a child. Thus, the nature of things had changed.

For that reason, the Fletchers asked Michael to introduce someone to Stanley so that he’d be married as soon as possible. However, Stanely didn’t give me any quarter even though it was a blind date I arranged. Instead, he just had to mess things up. This is truly a headache! Having traveled extensively and came into contact with all sorts of things besides the fact that the entertainment and fashion industry housed a considerable number of LGBT individuals, he felt that sexual orientation wasn’t something a person could choose on his own, so it was fine as long as it didn’t cause anyone problems. However, in the Fletcher Family, it was something shocking. And that stupid dog, Stanley Fletcher, is just too stupid…

Upon seeing that he’d been ignoring her for a long time, Sophia grew anxious and tugged at him again as she whined in a kittenish voice, “Hubby, don’t be angry anymore. I was wrong…”

Snapping back from his thoughts, Michael couldn’t help chuckling in surprise at her pouting expression. I was just lost in my thoughts. Then, he couldn’t resist reaching out and caressing her hair. Her hair is still the same as ten years ago, soft and black. Her petite face is still rosy as well, adorable as ever. In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed, and she’ll turn 28 in a few days…

Sophia leaned over into his arms when she saw that he wasn’t angry anymore. Then, she rubbed against him and kissed him in apology.

“I want a kiss too, Daddy!” Carmen blurted, not to be left out.

At this request, Michael quickly gave her a kiss. I’m truly defeated by them both.

He then opened the gift box given by Louis. Apart from a bowl, there was also a set of cutlery in the gift box. They look no different from the average souvenir, but the fact that Anne Osborne had such a huge reaction made it plain as day that this is something extraordinary! It was actually meant for the president? It must be something else if it was meant for the president. I’ll take it home first and ask the ancient Imperial Palace guards when they come over to collect their cat.

When the car was still moving, something occurred to Sophia, and she said, “You two go home first. I’ll go over and take a look at Sean.” She just couldn’t shake off the feeling that the incident on this day was rather strange. Michael usually doesn’t bother about Stanley, so why did it occur to him to be a matchmaker now? I just feel that something must have happened. Then, she took another car and went to Sean’s place.

To make it convenient when Maisie attended kindergarten in the future, Sean and Stanley jointly bought a house near the school district in Third Avenue, which they’d now moved into.

Upon arriving at Sean’s new house, a maid ushered her in. This was her first time here at their new house. When she walked in, she found that the décor was nice, very much pleasant and homey. It was a mid-rise with 200 to 300 square meters, so while it wasn’t as resplendent as The Imperial, it was a first-class mansion. To take care of Maisie, they’d even hired two or three maids who kept the house tidy. However, there was still a kid here, so Judge’s ball and Maisie’s dolls were strewn about the place in addition to multiple walkers.

Stanley had gone back to the office after the blind date and wasn’t yet home. Thus, Sean and Sophia sat in the living room to talk, while Maisie obediently played with her dolls at the side. Meanwhile, Judge lay at their feet, slumbering. It’s quite cozy with a kid and a dog.

Sean was still recuperating, so his countenance was a tad pale. When he heard about Stanley going on a blind date, he didn’t react much, but for some inexplicable reason, Sophia seemingly saw a glimpse of disappointment and despair in his eyes. Although Sean hasn’t said anything, I know he likes Stanley, and it’s not the kind of like between buddies, but… love. I don’t know whether Stanley harbors the same feelings as him, but I do know that he went berserk back when he learned of Sean’s death and risked everything to kill Blade. When he knew that Sean, who was recuperating at my home, suffered a wrong, he immediately came over and took him away. They’re always together… but what a pity!

After listening to her speak of Stanley’s blind date, Sean sighed. With his gaze fixed on the teacup in his hands, he admitted, “Actually… I wasn’t planning to go at all.”

“Why?” Sophia promptly questioned. “You knew Stan needed your help!”

Finishing the tea in the teacup in his hands, Sean slowly refilled both their empty teacups. Then, he replied helplessly, “The Fletchers came to me.”

Sophia was instantly stunned. Never had I expected that the Fletchers would actually seek him out! Judging from their current attitude, they definitely can’t accept Stan’s current situation. No wonder Michael, who’d never bothered about him, suddenly became a matchmaker! Looks like the Fletcher Family must have asked him to do so. While the Fletchers aren’t exactly traditional, they still can’t accept the possibility that Stan might one day get married with a man.

Despite the popularity of homosexual fiction on the Internet, homosexuals actually led a difficult life in reality. Sean had even been once regarded as depraved by his family and was sent abroad for a so-called ‘treatment’. Sorrow flooded his gaze as he said, “Stan… Well, it’s time for him to get married.” This remark was filled with helplessness and despair.

“But what about you?” Sophia subconsciously asked. Can he really look on as Stan marries another woman?

Sean flashed her a sad smile. Right now, he truly wanted to feign nonchalance, but his gaze had already betrayed him. “What can I do? I can’t stop something inevitable. Anyway, I’ve got Maisie.” Maisie’s full name was Maisie Mitchell, for he’d personally intervened and listed her in the Mitchell Family’s household register. He’d also compiled a family tree himself and recorded Maisie in there as well, so she was now his family.

A wave of helplessness assailed Sophia. Knowing that she’d only sadden him were she to pursue it further, she gave up asking. I don’t seem to have any solution either. After heaving a sigh, she took a sip of fragrant tea and changed the subject.

After sitting for a while, the sound of keys jingling to unlock the door sounded from outside. As soon as Maisie heard the jingling of keys, she knew that Stanley was home, so she sprinted over to the door like the wind. Opening the shoe cabinet, she took out his slippers and placed them before the door.

Having quarrelled with his family on this day, Stanley was in a bad mood, but the moment he opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of Maisie standing there with arms outstretched as she called out, “Papa!”

Joy flooding him, all his worries vanished. As he changed his shoes after stepping into the house, he asked her, “Did you listen to Daddy at home today, Maisie? Did you get along well with Judge?”

“Yeah, I did! I was very obedient today, and it was me who picked up Judge’s poop on the carpet today!” Maisie replied sweetly.

At this, Judge woofed.

Looks like the family of three is living happily! Sophia thought.

 

My Dreamy Old Husband Chapter 1084

After Stanley changed his shoes, he brought Maisie along with him. As soon as he saw Sophia, he mocked her. “Hey, why are you here? Did your husband chase you out? I suppose you reap what you sow! So much for him trying to introduce me to another woman! Hmph!”

Meanwhile, Sean was delighted when he saw that Stanley was back, and his pale face had regained some color. “Stanley, you’re back! Why are you wearing a face mask though?”

Wearing a face mask that obscured most of his face, only Stanley’s eyes were visible, while his mouth could be seen moving underneath the mask when he spoke. “Yeah, I caught the flu, so I had to put a mask on as I don’t want Maisie to get infected.” However, Stanley’s gaze was shifty when he handed Maisie over to Sean. “Maisie, you can play with Daddy while I go take a shower first.” He left after putting Maisie down.

Sophia could sense that something was off with Stanley. Instead of exposing it, she continued to talk to Sean. After Stanley was done showering, he came out in a pair of trousers with dog fur all over it. Toweling his hair, he walked upstairs while saying, “I’ll be drying my hair.”

Judge went after him, but Sophia found it weird that he was still wearing his mask after taking his shower. Although Sophia continued to chat with Sean, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that something wasn’t right, as Stanley didn’t seem okay.

Finally, Sean put down his cup of tea before standing up. “I’ll go check on Stanley. Wait for me here, Sophia.”

The rooms downstairs were being used as a study and as a bedroom for the nanny, so Sean went upstairs to the bedrooms. Stanley didn’t close his door, so Sean snuck into his bedroom, only to see Stanley looking into the mirror, checking his swollen face that he apparently got from being slapped.

“Stanley!” Shocked, Sean walked up to take a closer look at Stanley’s face. He was indeed given a slap, as there was an angry handprint on his face. “What happened?” Sean asked with much worry.

Upon being discovered, Stanley’s eyes darted around, but he could only tell the truth. “My father wants me to marry that wench, Anne Osborne, which I disagreed with, so my brother gave me a slap.”

Instantly, Sean’s eyes reddened when he realized how hard the slap was. On the other hand, Stanley quickly explained, “It’s alright! My uncle hit me even harder when I tried to go after Sophia back then, so I’m already used to it. It will heal soon anyway.”

Clenching his fists, Sean had tears rolling in his eyes upon hearing what Stanley said. “Stanley, it’s about time that you marry someone, so maybe—”

Stanley tutted while feigning anger. “You’re just like my parents whose only concern is for me to produce an heir! Do I look like a brood sow? Must I attach myself to an ugly hag just for the sake of getting married?” Checking on his wound, he muttered, “You didn’t see just how ugly Anne Osborne is! She doesn’t even have one-tenth of Sophia’s looks! Considering how horrendous she looks, I should commend her for even having the guts to go on blind dates! Uncle Michael must be trying to mock me by introducing me to such an ugly hag! The candidates that my family introduced only get ever uglier. I was assuming that my uncle should have a better sense of beauty by now, but he’s even worse than my mom! He even had the audacity to tell me to follow in the footsteps of other people of my age. Sophia’s ex-boyfriend was the same age as me, so should I kill myself as well now that he’s a goner?”

Smiling bitterly, Sean listened on before saying, “I’ll go get some anti-inflammatory spray.”

Stanley waved his hand dismissively. “Be quick! Ouch, my brother sure did a number on me! F*ck! He will be the one at fault if nobody wants to marry me because of my disfigured face!”

While listening to Stanley’s complaints, tears rolled down Sean’s face the moment he turned around. On the other hand, Sophia had been playing with Maisie in the living room for a while, but Sean and Stanley had yet to come downstairs. She already had quite a lot of tea, so she went to the washroom for a bit, only to return to see Maisie crouching on the floor while wiping the stain on the floor that Sophia made earlier with a piece of cloth. Aside from that, she even wiped the table and rearranged the tea set on it.

Sophia could hardly believe that a three year old kid could work so deftly, as Carmen only knew to stage some silly dramas to show them to Michael when she was two years old. “Maisie, what are you doing? Come, I can do that myself!” Taking the cloth from Maisie, Sophia wiped the floor clean herself.

As soon as Sophia took the cloth away from Maisie, the latter began crying. When other kids cried, they would probably be bawling their eyes out, but Maisie was only sobbing while being careful to keep her voice low, which was not typical of a three-year-old kid at all. Sophia held Maisie in her arms while consoling her. “Honey, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you? Tell me, so your father and I can go teach them a lesson!”

With her eyes all teary, Maisie looked at her in silence. It took some time before she finally opened up feebly. “Papa brought me home to meet Grandpa and Grandma, but they didn’t like me. They even scolded Papa and told him to send me away.” Sobbing, she asked while holding on to Sophia’s sleeve, “Aunty, I know how to do chores. Will Papa let me stay now that I know how to do chores?”

Sophia never knew the adults’ reactions would have such a profound effect on Maisie. Back then, she bought the girl off Ronney Group’s slave market, so she wasn’t sure what she went through, but Maisie was such a sensitive girl. As soon as she noticed a minor difference in Stanley’s attitude, she knew something was off. For a three year old girl, Maisie already went through a lot; all she wanted was a home.

On the verge of tears, Sophia held Maisie tightly in her arms while reassuring the latter in a hushed voice. “No, nobody will send you away.” She brought the girl upstairs to Stanley’s room, only to hear Stanley and Sean bickering with each other.

“Sean, do you want to kill me? Ouch! It hurts so much!”

“Hang in there. The spray is quite potent after all.”

“Ow…”

Upon her arrival, Sophia saw Sean spraying something on Stanley’s face carefully. Now, she noticed that Stanley’s face was swollen and red, a slap mark evident on it. Hence, she had an inkling of what happened. By humiliating his potential spouse, his father and brother would of course not let him leave just like that.

“Look, Papa is hurt, so he must be in pain. Go comfort him,” Sophia told Maisie.

Maisie scuttled toward them, which surprised both Stanley and Sean. Both of them fought to hold her in their arms. “Baby, you’re here! Give me a kiss! I fell down, so it hurts!”

“Come over here, Maisie. Let me hold you.”

…

It wasn’t until after dinner that Sophia left, but she couldn’t shake off the heavy feeling within her. Although the three of them seemed to be happy for the time being, she wasn’t sure what would happen in the future.

The skies were dark when Michael arrived at home, which coincidentally was when the night-shift security from the ancient Imperial Palace museum came to retrieve the cat. Taking Carmen’s bowl from him, the security shone his torchlight on the bowl while examining it in a professional manner.

“If I’m not mistaken, this is a type of porcelain bowl that once belonged to the ancient royals. As the techniques to make them were lost in history, these porcelain wares—so called ‘Mise Porcelain’—were also given the name ‘porcelain of a mysterious color’. The recipe for creating it is a secret that only the royals had knowledge of. There are three of these porcelain wares in the ancient Imperial Palace museum. Although all of them are national treasures, none are as beautiful as this.”

My Dreamy Old Husband Chapter 1085

Upon hearing that, Michael could hardly suppress a frown. Why is there another item that belonged to the ancient royals? I bet this must be a present from the Yard Family! Does Louis Osborne really have secret ties to the Yards?

However, none of them ever heard anything of it. Both Louis and the Yards seemed to have nothing to do with each other. Even when they arrived at Audistin, they arrived separately. Michael met Anna with Sophia before meeting Louis Osborne. If Louis really had ties with the Yards, he wouldn’t have wanted his family to have marital ties with the Fletcher, as the Fletchers had killed quite a few members of the Yards.

While Michael was in deep thought, Carmen only had eyes for her bowl, as her bright eyes were fixated on it. Upon noticing that the guard seemed to have finished his assessment, she blurted, “Sir, can you give me back my royal sweetheart bowl?”

Seemingly unperturbed by her request, the guard said, “Okay, I will give it back to you now that I’ve done my assessment. I won’t be taking it, as it was made in a more recent era, so it lacks the archaeological value that I seek. It isn’t the bowl but the making process of it that is being considered as valuable. Besides, the ones in the museum are far more valuable in terms of historical context, as all of them had passed through the hands of ancient royals.”

While handing the bowl back to Carmen, he gave Michael a reminder. “Due to it being made in the modern era, it isn’t as valuable as the ones in the museum. However, just like the Phoenix Harp, even though both were made during the modern era, they are still prized for their rarity, so using it as one would a normal bowl feels somewhat… overly luxurious.”

However, Carmen didn’t think so. To her, it was but a bowl with floral prints, so Michael could only tell the nursemaid to be careful while she fed Carmen. When Carmen lost interest in it after some time, they would clean it and put it away as a collection item. Although Carmen liked the bowl a lot, her love for the bowl might not last for a long time. For all she cared, its intricate craftsmanship could hardly compare to that of a bowl printed with a picture of Peppa Pig.

Meanwhile, Sophia also arrived at home. A husky slipped through the doorway as soon as she opened the door, making its way to Carmen before happily going in circles around her. Upon seeing Judge rushing in, Michael furrowed his brows. “Why does the silly dog have to come?”

Sophia replied, “Judge missed Carmen, so it came to visit her.”

Although Michael verbally expressed his dislike of the dog, he ended up rubbing Judge’s head, incidentally also wiping his sweat on its head. Sophia was tired after a day’s work, so she lay down on the sofa as soon as she got home, rubbing Judge’s head as well. After some time, Michael’s hand touched hers, so they held hands while using Judge’s head as a cushion.

Michael switched on the TV to watch the news, but he couldn’t focus on it, so he asked Sophia, “How is Stanley doing? He didn’t go home even though his father told him to.”

Sophia replied, “No, he didn’t go home. He’s still at Sean’s house after being slapped so hard that his face was swelling.”

With that, Michael said nothing else, nor did they dwell on the topic any longer. Stanley had always been a rebellious child. Back then, even when his family resorted to violence, he refused to go back into the army once he decided to quit, so Sophia figured she should let things unfold on their own. The Fletchers wouldn’t do anything to Sean anyway, considering that he was under Cooper’s protection.

Sophia ended up lamenting, “I wonder when that idiot will realize his own feelings.”

Looping an arm around her shoulders, Michael said, “One will never lose what is fated for them, but if they weren’t meant to be, no amount of worry will change that.”

Seeing that Sophia was still perturbed by it, he pulled her closer into his arms before kissing her on the forehead. “Look at us. We managed to get together after having gone through our ups and downs. You are mine since we are fated to be together, and nobody will be able to take you away from me. Even if we are miles apart, you are still mine. Not even your father’s disapproval will change that.”

However, someone cleared his throat at the corner of the room as soon as he said so. “Ahem!”

Surprised, Michael turned to see Cooper standing in the corner while glaring at them menacingly.

“Dad, why are you here?” Michael was utterly baffled.

Wearing a pair of slippers, Cooper approached them with a morose look on his face, whereas Michael cowered under his presence. “There will be an exhibition of Louis Osborne’s works near Bayside National Stadium tomorrow. I will be stuck in a traffic jam if I come all the way from the south, so I decided to stay over for the night.” Cooper walked away after explaining himself casually, but before he left, he turned to speak to Sophia while glaring at Michael. “You’re coming with me tomorrow, so you’d better go to bed early.”

“Okay,” Sophia replied while watching Cooper take the lift to the third floor where the guest rooms were, whereas Judge followed merrily behind him.

Meanwhile, Michael had a complicated gaze while pondering about the situation. This old man… Although Sophia moved in with me, I can’t even badmouth him if he is going to constantly show up out of nowhere. He’s practically haunting this place with his presence! If I can just find someone who is able to pin him down! I must find him a wife with a dominant personality, who has an even more domineering father, so that Cooper will get a taste of his own medicine!

By the next day, Cooper gave Sophia a call early on to wake her up so that they could get prepared for their trip to the exhibition. On the other hand, Michael would also be tagging along.

The exhibition was a private showcase, so only invited guests were allowed entry, with most of them being from the arts or cultural scene. The exhibition wasn’t only a showcase for calligraphic works and paintings, but also a gathering for cultured people, so an arms dealer like Cooper wouldn’t normally be invited.

Cooper liked calligraphy, and he had also been Louis’ fan for a long time, but he never was invited to such an occasion. Fortunately, Michael was able to get his hands on an invitation, so Cooper would of course drop by since he had the time. The exhibition was incidentally held in the same city as his anyway, so there was no reason he wouldn’t come.

Not only did Cooper collect a lot of Louis’ works, but he was also an admirer of Louis’ achievements, so he was looking forward to their meeting. Cooper put in the effort to spruce himself up for the occasion by applying mousse on his hair to help shape it, as well as putting on a new set of clothes. After finally gaining closure over his depressing first love, he gave off a much youthful air nowadays, so he gave off a vibe that made him seem to be around Michael’s age, or even younger.

Michael had his team of stylists help prepare him and Sophia for the occasion. After changing his clothes, he tied up his hair using a pink hair band while applying a face mask before putting on makeup. Sophia was also doing the same, so both of their faces were covered by a black mask, which seemed to annoy Cooper.

“Dad, you should come and get yourself spruced up too!”

As soon as Sophia dragged Cooper to his seat in front of a mirror, Michael signaled his team of stylists to do Cooper’s makeup for him. By doing that, he was hoping Cooper would attract someone during their visit to the exhibition so that he would get married as soon as possible. Seeing that Cooper was only forty five years old, not only would he still be considered as young if he were a celebrity, but he would also attract a lot of mature women in Bayside City.

 

My Dreamy Old Husband Chapter 1086

Because of how handsome he was, as well as because men aged slower, Cooper didn’t actually need a lot of makeup as he looked young. He didn’t have a lot of wrinkles on his face, so all he needed was to trim his eyebrows and style his hair.

“Here you go, Grandpa. Put on some baby cream.” Carmen presented him with some of her precious baby cream. Now, she was also dolled up, as not only would she be tagging along to experience the cultural scene, but Louis had even named her as one of the people that he wanted to meet. After putting on some baby cream, Cooper looked at himself in the mirror, feeling quite young.

Meanwhile, Sophia had put on a white tight fitting dress with blue embroideries. The tailor-made outfit hugged her figure tightly, all the while accentuating her fair features. After their skincare and makeup routine, both Sophia and Michael began taking selfies. They even tweaked the photos before posting them on social media.

“Come on, this is too much. Your brother is waiting.” Holding onto Carmen, Cooper looked rather impatient when Sophia and Michael were taking selfies. He was feeling indignant about the situation as it was equivalent to witnessing someone stealing his precious daughter away from him, but he couldn’t even stop the thief from doing so.

When Sophia finally made her way out of the mansion, Linus was also coming out from Villa No. 2. Apparently, they didn’t go back after coming over last night. After Linus settled down in Villa No. 2, Cooper went to Sophia’s home, as he was worried about his only daughter.

The exhibition was held in a convention center. Upon showing their invitation cards, they entered the venue, only to realize that not a lot of people were present for the occasion.

Louis’ personal collection was already on display. As they looked around, Sophia could only appreciate its beauty on the surface as she didn’t know much about calligraphy, but both Cooper and Linus seemed to be absolutely enamored by them.

Amateurs could only appreciate something superficially, whereas experts would be equipped with the necessary knowledge to delve deeper into it. Calligraphic works were a direct reflection of the artist’s character, as evident in Cooper’s own calligraphic works, which showed his steadfast and meticulous personality. Although Linus had the appearance of a foreigner, he was in fact a merry man with a Cethosian vibe to him, so the works he produced had an elegant and carefree feel to them. Meanwhile, Michael’s works seemed garish at first glance, but every stroke indicated his deep and thoughtful personality, whereas Sophia’s showed strength of character under its grace and delicacy.

On the other hand, Louis’ works were carefree yet peculiarly grandiose, with heavy strokes that spanned across the paper, establishing a domineering presence that captured everybody’s attention. His paintings were even more ingenious. With the use of only two colors, he was able to create a magnificent painting through his workmanship, which was an incredible feat. His works were a true demonstration of his profound character, and he did live up to his name as one of the top Cethosian artists in the world.

In the meantime, both Linus and Cooper were so engrossed in the works that they didn’t notice the rest of the guests gossiping about them. It was their first time showing up together at an event. As Cooper never frequented such gatherings, it was somewhat of a sensational news.

Just a month ago, Linus publicly acknowledged his relationship with the Mitchells, which caused a fluctuation in Michel Group’s shares. Everybody was observing from afar, assuming that Linus would be deemed as an outcast of the Michel Family and its company, but nothing happened even after a month’s time.

They figured it might be because they needed time to ensure that tasks in the company were handed over smoothly. After all, Linus had been entrusted with the company’s tasks since way back when he was younger. Now that more than ten years had passed, and that Linus had played an important part in a lot of the company’s operations, if he were to quit his job, it would mean a shake up at the core foundations of the company that would play out across a certain period of time.

Rumors had it that Linus might cut ties with his biological father for the sake of power and wealth. However, judging from his seemingly harmonious relationship with Cooper, it sure seemed that he had chosen to be a Mitchell instead of a Michel, which sounded like a foolish decision to many. In short, both of them were the center of attention due to the incident.

Meanwhile, Michael introduced both Sophia and Carmen to Louis, as well as mentioning Cooper in passing. Louis was Michael’s fan, while Cooper was Louis’ fan, which made for a somewhat odd trio.

On the other hand, it was also Carmen’s first public appearance alongside her parents, so she also garnered quite some attention. “Carmen, are you scared?” Michael asked.

Carmen stood up straight while holding a firm gaze. “I’m not afraid!”

With a gentle smile on his face, Michael led her toward Louis while holding her hand. Meanwhile, there were quite a few acquaintances present for the occasion. Sophia spotted Lucy Edwards chatting amicably with the Yard twins soon after she entered the venue.

Why are the twins here though? Michael was curious about it, as it indicated that the Yards must’ve had some connections with Louis. Thus, he scanned his surroundings, but Anna Yard was nowhere to be seen. Although feeling relieved, he couldn’t help but feel a little sorry when he turned around to look at Cooper, his young father-in-law who was still appreciating the works of art.

Because it was a private event, the host only invited a small group of people that consisted of either literati, art enthusiasts or people who were related to Louis, such as Michael. In a subdued voice, the guests were chatting or exchanging tips on calligraphy. The atmosphere in the venue was purely intellectual, and there was music playing in the background, which Sophia quickly identified as being produced by a harp that Anne Osborne was playing.

Anne was playing a melodious tune on another one of the few Phoenix Harps in the world. Upon noticing that Sophia was looking her way, she shot Sophia a glare in return, as she knew Sophia as the woman who ruined both of her blind dates. She could even remember when Stanley commented on how she wasn’t as pretty as Sophia. That old woman! She is nothing but an old housewife! Anne thought to herself. She saw herself as a woman of status with a long line of suitors, so she didn’t think Sophia could possibly be on her level.

Sophia quickly averted her gaze, as she didn’t want to get into any trouble with Anne. Soon, she found Louis in a crowd. As the host of the exhibition, he was of course the center of attention. When she saw him, he was creating a new piece of work while a bunch of famous calligraphers cheered for him.

Upon noticing that Sophia was moving toward him, Anne immediately stopped playing to hurry toward Louis. She called out to him in a sweet voice before Sophia could even reach him. “Grandpa!”

Louis seemed delighted to see her, as he had a loving gaze in his eyes when he put his brush down. “Why did you stop playing? After all, I hosted this event just for you! Did you see anyone you like?” Truth be told, Louis was getting a little anxious after her two consecutive failed blind dates, but he was feeling better when he saw that there were some handsome young men among the crowd present at the exhibition.

As soon as he said so, Anne blushed while tugging on his sleeve. “Grandpa, how could I just do this in public?”

Having heard what she said, Louis scanned his surroundings to see an outstanding-looking young man in the crowd, who had a fair complexion and pretty sky-blue eyes. Although he seemed to be a foreigner, he looked like he was interested in Louis’ work, as he was engrossed in them. The serious expression he wore added an attractive quality to his already striking profile. “What about that young man? He seems nice.” Louis pointed at the foreigner who was examining a piece of work closely.

 

My Dreamy Old Husband Chapter 1087

Anne glanced at the young man shyly, deeming him to be quite handsome indeed. Blushing, she told Louis, “Grandpa, I’m still too young for this.”

Although Louis was well-known within Bayside City, not a lot of people had had the good fortune to meet him as he lived abroad and rarely came to Bayside City. Therefore, a lot of people never met his granddaughter, so people began inquiring about her. “Is she your granddaughter? She sure looks outstanding!”

Upon receiving the compliment, Louis announced proudly while stroking his beard, “Yeah, her name is Anne Osborne! She took on my surname as my daughter only gave birth to her! She is marvelous with the harp!”

The crowd began giving praise. “She looks like someone with a bright future ahead of her! She might even get to uphold your legacy, Master Osborne!”

Meanwhile, Anne was a little light-headed from all the praise, but she still put on a humble front. “Oh no, you all flatter me. I’m still young, so there’s still a long way to go compared to my grandfather.” At that moment, her honorable status as Louis’ granddaughter made her shine. Taking in the admiration of the crowd, she was feeling elated.

However, the glory didn’t last for too long, as it was soon disrupted by a teensy voice. “Mr. Louis, I’m here!”

Overjoyed upon hearing Carmen’s voice, Louis hastily took a few steps forward, whereas the crowd parted to let him through. Michael had Carmen in his arms, who was wearing a pink dress and pink bow, looking all delicate and outrageously adorable.

“Hiya! You’re finally here! I’ve been waiting so long for you!” Louis carried Carmen in his arms after carefully taking her from Michael. Laying eyes on her cute appearance lifted his spirits, and both Sophia and Michael’s presence further enraptured him. As soon as he began talking to Michael and Sophia, the people who were flattering Anne just moments ago turned to focus on Carmen.

“Mr. Fletcher, fancy seeing you here! So I figure this little girl is your daughter?”

“Oh gosh, she seems like an outstanding girl gifted with both good looks and talent! I bet she will rise to prominence in the future!”

Standing at the side, Anne was feeling vexed for being left out by the crowd. She was glaring at Carmen, who was in Louis’ arms. As far as she could remember, she was the only one who ever received such exclusive treatment from him, so she didn’t understand why Louis would dote on Carmen so much when the latter wasn’t even related to him.

Clenching her fists while feelings of jealousy burned within her, Anne scrunched up the paper that was pressed under her palm, ruining the calligraphy work that Louis had just completed. Luckily, everybody’s attention was on Carmen, so she left hastily before anyone noticed her.

Anne left the scene in absolute frustration, but she bumped into a blonde man unexpectedly right after taking a few steps. The tall man had his back to her, and the sight of him gave her butterflies in her stomach while her heart fluttered. Since Louis seemed to like this man, she figured she should approach him. Seeing that he was admiring a piece that was titled ‘Wondrous Land’, she cleared her throat while walking up to him. “Although seemingly flawless, this piece in fact contains a few imperfections.”

Upon hearing Anne’s words, the man turned around to regard her curiously. His blue eyes were as mysterious as the bright stars above, while his sharp features looked exquisite. Although Anne had emigrated to a foreign country a long time ago, she only ever dated people who were of the same ethnicity as her, as she didn’t like foreigners. From her point of view, foreigners looked too rugged for her taste, but the man in front of her seemed quite delicate. Although he had the appearance of a foreigner, he had an air of scholarly elegance that was unique to men in Cethos, which was mesmerizing.

The man asked, “Miss, how did you know about that?”

Stepping forward, Anne stood beside him. “Because my Grandpa was the one who created this piece!”

Sure enough, the young man seemed impressed. “So you are Master Osborne’s granddaughter! No wonder I find you otherworldly!”

His words satisfied her vanity, so she chuckled bashfully. “You should drop the formalities. My name is Anne Osborne. You may address me as Anne!”

The young man replied to her, “Miss Anne, I am a member of the Edwards Family. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

After some pleasing conversation, Anne explained while pointing at a certain area on the painting, “I touched the painting by accident when my Grandpa just completed it, which nearly ruined it for good, but he salvaged it using his extraordinary skills. However, you can see a few traces left behind from the incident. Take a look at this spot, and here, and there…”

On the other hand, Louis put Carmen down on the table, absolutely enchanted by her. Carmen didn’t seem flustered by the attention at all as she called out to Louis repeatedly, which seemed to please him. Picking up his brush, he offered, “Come, I’ll present you with a piece of my calligraphic work!”

The crowd was astonished by his decision, as Carmen was extremely fortunate to have been presented with a masterpiece by Louis. Carmen quickly replied, “Thank you, Mr. Louis! I love you!”

Upon seeing Carmen making a heart gesture to him, Louis was absolutely overjoyed. He had his assistant prepare a new piece of paper while he dipped his brush into the ink, planning on what to write for Carmen.

However, just when he was about to start writing, he remembered that Anne was with him just moments ago, so he scanned his surroundings in search of her. That was when he saw her chatting amicably with a handsome young man, and the two of them were exchanging numbers. Then, he did a double take, for that young man was the one he noticed earlier. Now that looked at him again, he figured he still seemed to like the latter, so it would be great if Anne would marry him.

Such thoughts delighted him, so he began writing, moving his hand deftly. After a few vigorous strokes, he completed a calligraphic work that he presented to Carmen. On the piece of paper, the words read, ‘To Carmen Sophia Fletcher, study hard, and always work to improve yourself.’ The audience gave a round of applause when he stamped his name on it, as his name would ensure that the piece was even more valuable.

After that, Louis put his brush away while telling Carmen, “Carmen, you’ll have to work hard to be exemplary people like your parents!”

Accepting the gift from Louis cheerfully, Carmen replied, “Okay, Mr. Louis! Thank you! I love you!”

Louis was so very enchanted by her cuteness that he wanted her to demonstrate her calligraphic skills as well. Standing on a chair, Carmen didn’t seem afraid at all while writing. Although young, and her skills weren’t even remotely close to reaching his standards, she was still able to write neatly, which surprised Louis greatly.

He figured that Carmen was already more talented than a lot of her peers despite still having a long way to go. Having learned quite a lot of words already, Carmen could write down some of the simpler ones, and her neat handwriting was a show of her latent talents.

“Who taught you to write?” Louis couldn’t help but ask.

After writing down another word, she said, “My Uncle Linus taught me.”

Michael quickly stepped in to make an introduction. “He is my wife’s twin brother. He came along with my father-in-law too. They are both enthusiasts for calligraphic work, as well as fans of yours. They have a large collection of your works, and they have been wanting to meet you in person.” For all Michael cared, he saw that as an opening to introduce Cooper and Linus to Louis. In his mind, he figured that Cooper would be grateful toward him, so he would probably give his son-in-law less of an attitude.

 

My Dreamy Old Husband Chapter 1088

Louis would also like to meet Linus, so he said, “Alright, do invite me over for a visit someday. Your daughter sure is talented!”

Upon hearing him say so, it dawned on Michael that Sophia’s family seemed to be talented in calligraphy. Cooper’s works were so impressive that it could easily be used as an example while teaching calligraphy. Although Linus grew up in a foreign environment, he liked calligraphy and was somewhat good at it.

On the other hand, Sophia’s calligraphy was also stunning. Despite having lost her memory, she quickly picked up the skills once again. Carmen wasn’t half bad at it, seeing that she could already hold a brush. Michael knew Annabel’s writing was more of a scrawl, so he figured Sophia and her family must’ve inherited their skills from Cooper.

Upon hearing that Louis wanted to meet Cooper and Linus, Sophia offered immediately, “I’ll go get them!” Parting the crowd, she set off to find Linus and Cooper. After going around the venue, she didn’t find Cooper, but she did see Linus standing beside Anne, who he seemed to be engaged in a pleasant conversation with.

Is she trying to court my brother? How dare she! How dare she do that right after she tried courting my nephew! Sophia was absolutely against their matrimony, so she hurried toward them in an attempt to stop them. However, someone else seemed to be unsettled by the idea as well, and had taken it upon themselves to step in before Sophia could.

In the meantime, Linus was listening intently to Anne’s explanation of the piece of work. True to her identity as Louis’ granddaughter, she was accomplished in her own right when it came to art. However, a mocking voice interrupted them when Linus was still engrossed in her explanation.

“Anne, who might you be talking to?”

Linus turned to see Sandra, whom he hadn’t met for some time, standing behind him. While she was in a gorgeous outfit, her attitude was somewhat aggressive.

Anne seemed to have known Sandra as she waved her hand at the latter with much zest. “Sandra, come over here!” She proceeded with introducing Sandra to Linus. “I came to know Sandra recently. She is the heir to the Mitchell Family, who are one of the most prominent families in Bayside City. She is also the swimming champion in the Universal Games, so you must’ve heard of her.”

Upon mentioning Sandra, Anne seemed to feel delighted as if showing off a precious object of hers. It was as if knowing someone as prestigious as Sandra was the most natural thing for someone of her status, but Linus seemed to feel a little awkward about it.

Meanwhile, she went on to introduce him to Sandra. “This is a friend I just met. His name is Sophus Edwards.” She figured that Sandra might know him, as anyone who received an invitation for the exhibition had to be someone prestigious, so that had to be the case with Sophus too.

Sophus Edwards? Relentless, Sandra jeered after pointing out Linus’s true identity. “Who the hell is Sophus Edwards? Are you sure you’re not being deceived, Anne? He should be one of the Mitchells!”

Anne was stunned for a second when she noticed Sandra’s tone of voice, suggesting as if Sophus was someone whom she should shun.

Mockingly, Sandra stared at Linus while heartbrokenly telling Anne, “Anne, someone of your status shouldn’t be associating yourself with a scoundrel like him! He is but an illegitimate child of the Mitchells! His father is a liar who tried to swindle us, only to be chased away before he succeeded.”

Crying out in surprise, Anne was dumbfounded by the revelation. Seeing that Linus, or as he called himself, Sophus, didn’t refute Sandra’s claims, her face fell, and she distanced herself from him unconsciously. Besides, since she didn’t know about the distribution of power in Bayside City, and all she knew was that the Mitchells were one of the most prestigious families, as well as that Sandra was a world champion, she decided to believe in Sandra. Thus, her opinion of Linus shifted drastically.

Going on, Sandra said, “They wanted to be officially recognized as a part of the family, but my father didn’t agree with it, so now, their family is nothing but an unsightly bunch struggling for survival. I don’t know how they managed to sneak in, but I bet they’re trying to get their hands on rich people like you, so you should stay away from them.”

On the other hand, Linus cleared his throat awkwardly, but said nothing otherwise. His aim for visiting the exhibition was merely to appreciate the works of art, while Anne was a great tour guide as she seemed to know a lot about the works. Truth be told, he had no plans whatsoever to even date her.

Seeing that Linus wasn’t refuting Sandra, all the while wearing an awkward expression, Anne believed in Sandra’s words of slander, and was soon overcome with feelings of disgust. So he was aiming for my status after all! He was trying to marry into riches by charming me! Pfft! What a disgusting man!

In the meantime, Linus didn’t react when both Sandra and Anne regarded him with disgust, but Sophia was furious upon seeing him being bullied, so she hurried over to them. “Brother!”

Brother? Anne stared at the both of them in disbelief, as they looked nothing like each other. “He’s your brother? Are you sure he isn’t your boyfriend?” Utterly disgusted, Anne thought to herself, This b*tch sure is cheating on a lot of people! This is so sickening!

Meanwhile, Sophia was about to drag Linus away as she already got a grasp on the situation, but as soon as she laid eyes on the look of disgust on Anne’s face, she twirled her eyes before deliberately announcing, “Your grandfather would like me to introduce Linus to him! You’re done for! Your grandfather likes my brother a lot, so he’s going to marry you to him!”

Anne was dumbfounded by what Sophia said. What? My grandfather is trying to marry me to this scoundrel from a degenerate family? How could he possibly match my noble status?

Thinking that Linus was indulging in his own fantasies, Sandra scoffed at him. “You should pluck your head out of the clouds! Miss Anne Osborne is of noble birth, so you can’t possibly match her status!”

Immediately, Sophia bit back. “At least my brother is a direct descendant of the Mitchells, so he is of course on her level!”

The status of a direct descendant was a sore spot of Sandra’s, as she only managed to secure her position as heir after putting in tremendous effort, so she would never allow anyone to uproot her position as the lady of the house. Pointing a finger at Sophia and Linus, she yelled, “That is all wishful thinking! You guys will never be acknowledged as a Mitchell!”

Glaring at Sandra, Sophia almost got into a fight with her when a hand gently dragged her away. Linus gave her a pat on the shoulder before saying, “Come on, let’s go meet Master Osborne.”

Sophia shot Sandra a glare, deciding to ignore her for the time being. Although she wanted Sandra dead, that day wasn’t the day. Anxiety kicked in when Anne saw that Sophia was indeed going to introduce Linus to Louis. “Shoot, don’t tell me my grandfather is going to marry me to that degenerate man!”

While checking on Anne, Sandra probed, “Miss Anne, how did you come to know them?”

Anne told her everything. Back then, Louis met up with Michael in passing when he returned to Cethos to prepare for his private exhibition. She also told Sandra of Louis’ plans to introduce her to Michael, as well as when she had a blind date with Stanley.

After listening to her story, Sandra cried out in surprise. “Those two degenerate families are targeting you as they want to elevate their status through marital ties! You shouldn’t give them the chance!”

Then, Sandra spoke to Anne of Cooper and Linus’ birth. She spoke of Cooper having ran away from home twenty years ago, only to return penniless, whereas both Linus and Sophia were his b*stard children, depicting the Fletchers as a degenerate family at the same time. Those were all being instilled to Anne as substantial information.

She even reminded her, “You need to tell your grandfather about this! With your status, you should be marrying either a prince or a billionaire, so you shouldn’t be settling for these cheapskates!”

Although the Osbornes weren’t the wealthiest, they were famous, so Sandra came up with her own agenda upon gaining knowledge of who they were. It sure seemed that both the Fletchers and Mitchells already knew Louis Osborne and Anne Osborne’s true identity, which was why they were trying to make the first move! Well, they can keep dreaming!

My Dreamy Old Husband Chapter 1089

Anne figured that they weren’t on her level. While she made her way toward her grandfather due to Sandra’s provocation, she bore in mind that she would never marry Linus. Despite his good looks, the knowledge of him being a lowly b*stard son made her sick.

However, she recalled something that made her stop in her tracks before she got to Louis. In front of her, Louis was enamored of Linus, seeing the latter as a cut above the rest. “Come, consider this a competition!” Louis invited Linus to join him.

On the other hand, Linus was also honored to be given the chance to compete against someone of Louis’ magnitude, so he replied politely, “If that’s the case, please bear with me.” Dipping his brush in ink, he wrote down a few words on the paper in a flurry of movement that said: ‘The supreme good is like water, which benefits all of creation without trying to compete with it.’

Upon laying eyes on what he wrote, Louis was both shocked and astonished as he clapped his hands. “This is incredible!” He never expected a foreigner like Linus to be able to produce such exquisite calligraphic work. Besides, Linus’ brush work was a direct portrayal of how extraordinary he was. Not only was he a noble person, but his calligraphic work also looked gorgeous.

The crowd gave Linus a round of applause too, as it was rare for a foreigner to be able to speak so fluidly in their language, say less of being able to produce such exquisite calligraphic work. Meanwhile, Louis was nodding his head while checking out the work Linus produced. This is great! I must try to get him to marry Anne!

From afar, Anne was watching begrudgingly as Sophia and her family were having a nice time with Louis. Those bunch of degenerates are just crazy for riches! They are being delusional for thinking that they might be able to enjoy the riches of the Osbornes just by getting on my grandfather’s good side!

“Look! That scumbag is so eagerly showing off his skills to your grandfather! You should hurry up and tell your grandfather the truth!” Sandra was relentless in her provocation, as she was afraid that the senile fool might end up accepting Linus as one of the Osbornes. Xena was Louis’ only daughter, who gave birth to Anne, who was also an only daughter.

Marrying Anne meant that one would be able to get their hands on all of Louis’ riches, as well as all that he represented, so Sandra wanted to prevent Linus from marrying Anne at all costs. She already sent out a few men in an attempt to seduce Anne as she didn’t want to hand her over to Linus and Sophia.

Meanwhile, Louis was scanning his surroundings in search of Anne. He needed Anne in order to secure Linus’ hand, as he liked the man a lot. He managed to uncover a lot of information regarding Linus. Not only was he the uncle of Michael Fletcher, who happened to be Louis’ idol, but from the looks of him, Louis determined he was also a noble and compassionate man. If Anne was too late to the game, someone else might snatch him away for good. Besides, judging from the delighted expression on both of their faces when they conversed, Louis surmised that there had to be something going on between them.

However, Anne was hiding from him in the meantime, which confused Sandra. Although Sandra tried to urge Anne to expose Linus, Anne refused. “Now isn’t the time as I need to hide. I will have my mother and aunt do it instead when they come over later. My grandfather is on cloud nine now, so he might prohibit me from reclaiming my surname in the future if I disobey him in public.”

Sandra figured she was right, as Louis was a calligrapher after all. Even if he got to dine with the president, and the president hung one of his paintings in his office, Louis still didn’t hold much power, nor was he rich. The nobility of the Osbornes lay with their original family name, as Osborne was the name that they took on later in time. If Anne was able to reclaim her original surname, she would be able to rise to the top of the ranks of society, but she had to have Louis’ consent to be able to do so.

In the meantime, Louis was absolutely enamored for both Sophia and Linus, which far exceeded his love for Michael, whereas Carmen was on another level of her own. What an outstanding pigeon pair! He liked all of them, so much so that he had the urge to forge marital ties with their family right on the spot.

Meanwhile, Sophia was searching for Cooper while Linus and Louis were talking about one of Louis’ artwork. However, Cooper was nowhere to be found. Last seen admiring Louis’ works alongside Linus, she didn’t know where he went after that. Having been a fan of Louis’ for years, the exhibition was a prime occasion to introduce Cooper to Louis. Knowing that Cooper wouldn’t get a second chance like that, Sophia excused herself to go on a search for him.

Although the venue wasn’t huge by any measure, Cooper was nowhere in sight, so Sophia figured he might’ve gone to the lounge next door. However, Sophia was intercepted by Anne while on her way to the lounge area after exiting the venue.

Anne was practically shrieking in her face. “You and your brother should stop being delusional! I will never marry your brother! Scum like him doesn’t deserve me, so tell him to give up on his tricks! Even if my grandfather likes him, marriage won’t be possible if he doesn’t have my parents’ consent! We’re free to love anybody we choose to, so don’t assume that you guys have a chance by getting on my grandfather’s good side! I have a long line of suitors, and your brother is but a lowly scum that I won’t even spare a glance at!”

Upon noticing Anne’s confrontational and grim attitude, Sophia was startled, as she remembered it was Anne who initiated contact with Linus. Following that, she examined Anne from head to toe, taking in the eye-catching style of her clothing. It consisted of a tailor-made flax dress that gave off an artistic air, while her waist-length hair and fair complexion made her look almost otherworldly.

Glancing at Sandra, who was watching expectantly from the sidelines, Sophia quickly figured out that Sandra must’ve badmouthed Linus in front of Anne. It had its own merits, as it would prevent Anne from getting any closer to Linus. Therefore, Sophia put on her brightest smile while agreeing to everything that Anne said. “Yes, that is true. My brother is not only a scum, but a bisexual too. He likes men, so you’re way out of his league. Yes, you have a long line of suitors, so he wouldn’t have a chance even if he wants to date you, as he’ll never get his turn. My family is neither rich nor famous, and my husband’s career is dwindling, so we wouldn’t even dream of getting our hands onto your family’s riches.”

However, Anne didn’t seem to appreciate Sophia’s words, as she snorted before lashing out. “Did you think I have no idea what you have in mind? Don’t even think about it, you sinner! I am of noble birth, so your brother can’t even remotely compare to me!” Mention of her nobility caused her to stand proud while exuding an air of superiority. “I’ll tell you that I am—”

As if being reminded of something, Anne hurriedly covered her mouth, but she maintained her prideful smile. “I can’t tell you now, but you’ll know when the time comes.” Having said that, she turned to leave, feeling all ostentatious while calling out to Sandra. “Sandra, let’s go! I’ll introduce you to my cousin!”

That was the moment Sandra was waiting for, so she went after Anne delightfully. Left behind in confusion, Sophia thought, That nutjob! Even Sean would look better than her if he wore a wig! What the heck is she so proud of? Linus wouldn’t even spare her a glance!

My Dreamy Old Husband Chapter 1090

Sophia trusted that her brother had better sense than to court someone as childish as Anne, so she figured she should prioritize finding Cooper. There were a few lounge rooms beside the exhibition venue, but she wasn’t sure if Cooper was in any of them. She gave him a call, but he wasn’t picking up, so she wondered where he went.

Just when she tucked her phone away while muttering to herself, she felt someone, or rather, something, hit her on her calf. Turning around, she saw an angry Norwegian Forest cat behind her, which leaped up to hit her on her calf again once she turned around, damaging her silk dress in the process.

“Hey, it’s you, General!” Sophia immediately recognized the cat as Anna’s. Leaping toward Sophia, the cat gave her another slap on her calf, which Sophia surmised as being a revenge of sorts. After spending a single night at her house, General was slapped multiple times on the face by Chrysanthemum, so much so that its face was swollen. At seven years of age, General never suffered such a humiliation, so the cat was determined to seek revenge.

“You petty cat! Stand right there! I’m gonna rub you so hard that all your fur falls off!” Sophia began chasing after the cat, all the while wondering if the cat’s presence meant that Anna was around.

Truth be told, Sophia liked Anna quite a lot despite the latter’s snobbishness. Not only could Sophia not bring herself to hate her, but on the contrary, she respected Anna. They spoke about their respective work when they met last night, during which Anna gave her a few pointers regarding her own business. It served as an eye-opener to Sophia, so she figured she might as well meet up with her.

On the other hand, walking behind Anne, Sandra was on the way to meet Anne’s family, which was something she had been dreaming of. She was elated when Anne opened the door that led to one of the lounges to reveal the few people sitting on the sofa in it, with the first of them being Lucy Edwards.

Lucy was surprised by their arrival. She dropped by the exhibition venue to attend a business negotiation with the Yard twins, but she wasn’t expecting Sandra. To her credit, Sandra isn’t half bad. She is a sweet-talker, as well as a social butterfly, whereas her identity as a former world champion allowed her to get in touch with a few noble ladies. I just didn’t expect her to get in touch with Anne so quickly… It seems like the relationship between the Osbornes and the Yards is now an open secret.

Meanwhile, sitting beside Lucy were the Yard twins, who were savoring the tea in their royal sweetheart cups while sitting on the sofa in identical poses. Upon seeing the twins, Anne smiled before saying amicably, “Hey, Callum, Cade, why do you never invite me for anything fun?”

…

In the meantime, Sophia gave General a good rub after catching it, only to realize that the cat had shed a lot of fur. It prompted her to stick some of the fur back on the cat in shock before bringing General with her while searching for Anna. Since I saw the Yard twins earlier, Anna must be around, too.

She was about to give Anna a call to ask where she was, but she changed her mind as she figured it would be more polite of her to bring the cat to Anna directly since they were at the same place. Much like a hotel, the lounge area had a lot of rooms, so she had a hard time finding anybody. While she was searching for the Yard twins, she ended up bumping into Cooper after turning a corner, who was standing behind a wall in stillness. “Dad, what are you doing?”

Raising his hand, Cooper held a stern gaze as he shushed Sophia. She quickly shut her mouth while inching closer to him before asking in a hushed voice, “Dad, what are you looking at?”

Judging from how Cooper was sticking close to the wall, he seemed to either be hiding from someone or setting up an ambush in order to scare someone that would soon pass by. However, he only repeated himself in a low voice. “Don’t talk.”

Therefore, Sophia obeyed, waiting behind him in silence, as she was curious about his next action. However, General kept on wiggling in her arms while meowing loudly, which soon got them the attention of someone else.

“General? General, is that you? Where are you?” A woman’s voice came from afar, which Cooper reacted by coming out from hiding to walk toward the woman, all the while feigning coincidence.

Suddenly, Sophia knew what was going on. It seemed that Cooper was waiting for a woman to pass by in order to create a romantic encounter. Wow, Dad is finally getting to his senses! I will soon have a mother! Sophia was eager to meet her future stepmother, but was also worried that she might not want to date Cooper because he had a dependant. However, General was meowing so loudly that she had to come out from hiding.

When she saw Cooper’s target, she startled. Anna Yard?! She remained still when Anna approached them, who seemed to be gladdened by General’s presence, as a smile bloomed on her face. “General, here you are! Please don’t run away on your own anymore!”

Hold on, she isn’t Anna. Sophia soon realized. Although they had a similar appearance, Sophia immediately noticed the difference between Anna and the woman. As Anna was a stoic woman who would give up her own son in exchange for power and influence, she had a more domineering presence and a piercing gaze.

Meanwhile, the woman before Sophia only bore semblance to Anna in terms of appearance, but had a much more gentle temperament, wearing a meek expression on her face. She donned a dress and had a string of pearls around her neck, which added a sense of antiquity and elegance to her.

Looking at the woman, there was a hint of disappointment in Cooper’s eyes. When he first saw her, he mistook her as someone else, only to realize she only bore semblance to the woman whom he was searching for when he took a closer look. Alas, she wasn’t Anna.

Cooper took the cat from Sophia before returning it to the woman, which she received with both hands while nodding at him appreciatively. “Thank you, sir. This cat of mine really likes to run around. General, you ought not to do that anymore.”

On the other hand, Cooper was utterly crestfallen, and his blue eyes no longer harbored any emotion. “It’s a piece of cake, so don’t sweat it.” With that, he turned to leave, whereas Sophia followed suit after glancing at the woman.

Since General belonged to Anna, Sophia wondered if the fact that the woman claimed to own it, as well as her almost identical appearance to Anna, meant that she was Anna’s sister. Rumors had it that only twins could become heir to the Yard Family, so the fact that Anna got to take over the family meant that she was a twin, but it was curious that nobody ever heard she had one. Even Michael said Anna was the only direct descendant that the Yards had, who managed to make it to the top by fighting tooth and nail to fend off the members of the branch family.

Back in the private room, Sandra mingled well with the Yard twins, owing to her clever tongue; she even got their phone number and added them on Messenger. They were chatting merrily when Cade suddenly spoke. “We’ll have to go now that our mother has arrived.”

Both Lucy and Sandra were ready to move when Anna’s presence was announced. Lucy wanted to meet in person the legendary woman, whereas Sandra was thinking of forging a connection with Anna, but she backed out as she knew it was impolite of her to do so, seeing that the timing wasn’t right.

Elatedly, Anne and the twins left for the room next door. As soon as they opened the door, they saw two identical women sitting in there, with one of them holding a Norwegian Forest cat. Anne launched herself toward both women happily. “Aunt, Mom, you’re finally here!”

My Dreamy Old Husband Chapter 1090

Sophia trusted that her brother had better sense than to court someone as childish as Anne, so she figured she should prioritize finding Cooper. There were a few lounge rooms beside the exhibition venue, but she wasn’t sure if Cooper was in any of them. She gave him a call, but he wasn’t picking up, so she wondered where he went.

Just when she tucked her phone away while muttering to herself, she felt someone, or rather, something, hit her on her calf. Turning around, she saw an angry Norwegian Forest cat behind her, which leaped up to hit her on her calf again once she turned around, damaging her silk dress in the process.

“Hey, it’s you, General!” Sophia immediately recognized the cat as Anna’s. Leaping toward Sophia, the cat gave her another slap on her calf, which Sophia surmised as being a revenge of sorts. After spending a single night at her house, General was slapped multiple times on the face by Chrysanthemum, so much so that its face was swollen. At seven years of age, General never suffered such a humiliation, so the cat was determined to seek revenge.

“You petty cat! Stand right there! I’m gonna rub you so hard that all your fur falls off!” Sophia began chasing after the cat, all the while wondering if the cat’s presence meant that Anna was around.

Truth be told, Sophia liked Anna quite a lot despite the latter’s snobbishness. Not only could Sophia not bring herself to hate her, but on the contrary, she respected Anna. They spoke about their respective work when they met last night, during which Anna gave her a few pointers regarding her own business. It served as an eye-opener to Sophia, so she figured she might as well meet up with her.

On the other hand, walking behind Anne, Sandra was on the way to meet Anne’s family, which was something she had been dreaming of. She was elated when Anne opened the door that led to one of the lounges to reveal the few people sitting on the sofa in it, with the first of them being Lucy Edwards.

Lucy was surprised by their arrival. She dropped by the exhibition venue to attend a business negotiation with the Yard twins, but she wasn’t expecting Sandra. To her credit, Sandra isn’t half bad. She is a sweet-talker, as well as a social butterfly, whereas her identity as a former world champion allowed her to get in touch with a few noble ladies. I just didn’t expect her to get in touch with Anne so quickly… It seems like the relationship between the Osbornes and the Yards is now an open secret.

Meanwhile, sitting beside Lucy were the Yard twins, who were savoring the tea in their royal sweetheart cups while sitting on the sofa in identical poses. Upon seeing the twins, Anne smiled before saying amicably, “Hey, Callum, Cade, why do you never invite me for anything fun?”

…

In the meantime, Sophia gave General a good rub after catching it, only to realize that the cat had shed a lot of fur. It prompted her to stick some of the fur back on the cat in shock before bringing General with her while searching for Anna. Since I saw the Yard twins earlier, Anna must be around, too.

She was about to give Anna a call to ask where she was, but she changed her mind as she figured it would be more polite of her to bring the cat to Anna directly since they were at the same place. Much like a hotel, the lounge area had a lot of rooms, so she had a hard time finding anybody. While she was searching for the Yard twins, she ended up bumping into Cooper after turning a corner, who was standing behind a wall in stillness. “Dad, what are you doing?”

Raising his hand, Cooper held a stern gaze as he shushed Sophia. She quickly shut her mouth while inching closer to him before asking in a hushed voice, “Dad, what are you looking at?”

Judging from how Cooper was sticking close to the wall, he seemed to either be hiding from someone or setting up an ambush in order to scare someone that would soon pass by. However, he only repeated himself in a low voice. “Don’t talk.”

Therefore, Sophia obeyed, waiting behind him in silence, as she was curious about his next action. However, General kept on wiggling in her arms while meowing loudly, which soon got them the attention of someone else.

“General? General, is that you? Where are you?” A woman’s voice came from afar, which Cooper reacted by coming out from hiding to walk toward the woman, all the while feigning coincidence.

Suddenly, Sophia knew what was going on. It seemed that Cooper was waiting for a woman to pass by in order to create a romantic encounter. Wow, Dad is finally getting to his senses! I will soon have a mother! Sophia was eager to meet her future stepmother, but was also worried that she might not want to date Cooper because he had a dependant. However, General was meowing so loudly that she had to come out from hiding.

When she saw Cooper’s target, she startled. Anna Yard?! She remained still when Anna approached them, who seemed to be gladdened by General’s presence, as a smile bloomed on her face. “General, here you are! Please don’t run away on your own anymore!”

Hold on, she isn’t Anna. Sophia soon realized. Although they had a similar appearance, Sophia immediately noticed the difference between Anna and the woman. As Anna was a stoic woman who would give up her own son in exchange for power and influence, she had a more domineering presence and a piercing gaze.

Meanwhile, the woman before Sophia only bore semblance to Anna in terms of appearance, but had a much more gentle temperament, wearing a meek expression on her face. She donned a dress and had a string of pearls around her neck, which added a sense of antiquity and elegance to her.

Looking at the woman, there was a hint of disappointment in Cooper’s eyes. When he first saw her, he mistook her as someone else, only to realize she only bore semblance to the woman whom he was searching for when he took a closer look. Alas, she wasn’t Anna.

Cooper took the cat from Sophia before returning it to the woman, which she received with both hands while nodding at him appreciatively. “Thank you, sir. This cat of mine really likes to run around. General, you ought not to do that anymore.”

On the other hand, Cooper was utterly crestfallen, and his blue eyes no longer harbored any emotion. “It’s a piece of cake, so don’t sweat it.” With that, he turned to leave, whereas Sophia followed suit after glancing at the woman.

Since General belonged to Anna, Sophia wondered if the fact that the woman claimed to own it, as well as her almost identical appearance to Anna, meant that she was Anna’s sister. Rumors had it that only twins could become heir to the Yard Family, so the fact that Anna got to take over the family meant that she was a twin, but it was curious that nobody ever heard she had one. Even Michael said Anna was the only direct descendant that the Yards had, who managed to make it to the top by fighting tooth and nail to fend off the members of the branch family.

Back in the private room, Sandra mingled well with the Yard twins, owing to her clever tongue; she even got their phone number and added them on Messenger. They were chatting merrily when Cade suddenly spoke. “We’ll have to go now that our mother has arrived.”

Both Lucy and Sandra were ready to move when Anna’s presence was announced. Lucy wanted to meet in person the legendary woman, whereas Sandra was thinking of forging a connection with Anna, but she backed out as she knew it was impolite of her to do so, seeing that the timing wasn’t right.

Elatedly, Anne and the twins left for the room next door. As soon as they opened the door, they saw two identical women sitting in there, with one of them holding a Norwegian Forest cat. Anne launched herself toward both women happily. “Aunt, Mom, you’re finally here!”