Ch. 3021..3030
Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 3021-The cashier, seeing such a handsome customer flashing his cash so generously, was caught off guard for a moment. After she came back to her senses, the man had already left.
Vivian and Aaron were strolling on the other side of the street. As they walked, Vivian was pointing out the local attractions.
Meanwhile, Gordan strode menacingly along the opposite side of the road.
The streetlights were dim, but the brilliant lights emanating from the quaint shops lining both sides of the road painted a contrasting brilliance. It gave him a clear view of the actions of the two people across the street.
A man with a basketball was walking toward Vivian and Aaron. After he was bumped by his buddy, he teetered dangerously, seemingly on the verge of falling toward Vivian's direction.
Aaron, sharp as ever, immediately put his arm around Vivian's shoulder. He shielded her to his other side.
With fluid grace, Aaron effortlessly lifted Vivian and cradled her with one hand on her shoulder. It caused her feet to leave the ground.
Even though it was only for a second, Vivian was startled. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she let out a sigh of relief.
She was soaring into the air all of a sudden, and in the blink of an eye, she found herself in a different spot.
"Ms. Vivian, I'm sorry," Aaron apologized. After all, it all happened suddenly, and this was the only way to keep her safe.
"It's alright. You just caught me off guard," replied Vivian, realizing that he did it to keep her safe.
The two guys next to them also realized what happened. The one with the basketball apologized to Vivian, “I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Vivian replied in English, telling him that she was unharmed.
The man heaved a sigh of relief, feeling glad he did not bump into anyone. The foreign man in front of him seemed like trouble, and he did not want to mess with him. Recalling the man's move just now, he gave a thumbs-up and praised, "Bro, that was impressive."
Aaron did not understand English. The gesture of approval, however, was universally understood across the globe. He replied with a goofy smile in return.
In Russia, he would have probably kept a straight face.
However, they were not in Russia. Their boss made it clear that this kind of attitude did not fly in A City. Hence, it would be best to keep a friendly face and avoid looking too serious.
Moreover, their young lady did not appreciate them sporting serious faces. She said it was intimidating.
The man understood that he was not mad when he saw Aaron's smile. Thus, he left with his friend.
"Let's go," said Vivian.
"Alright. The people here seem pretty polite," Aaron could not help but mention it to Vivian.
"Russians are actually polite too, but since you guys are often involved in fights and conflicts, the people you encounter tend to be like that.
"When you treat ordinary folks kindly, they won't treat you poorly either. It's all about the social context." Vivian let out a sigh. She was not a fan of violence.
However, back in Russia, her family had no other choice.
If Ray were to soften up, those people would not turn kind because of it. Instead, they would keep encroaching on their family's interests.
That was why Vivian enjoyed her time in A City. At least, none of those troublesome incidents happened here.
Gordan, who was across the street, watched how Aaron rescued Vivian. He could not help but let out a cold snort.
What a show-off...
He was dissatisfied, thinking that Aaron was just being overly dramatic.
It was just a little bump. What harm could Vivian possibly suffer?
With her sturdy frame, how could she possibly fall apart from just a bump?
Gordan was getting more and more irritated as the thoughts filled his mind. He could feel the displeasure building up inside him, almost bursting out of his chest and throat. He was tempted to pick a fight with Aaron.
Aaron escorted Vivian to the entrance of the residential area.
Vivian stopped and said to Aaron, "Alright, I'm here. You should head back to the hotel."
"Let me escort you till you're downstairs," replied Aaron, showing no intention of leaving.
Vivian shook her head and pointed to a taxi waiting nearby. "We're at the entrance of the community.
It's safe here. Strangers can't get in. Don't worry. There's a taxi right there. Go back and rest."
"Ms. Vivian..." Aaron was still worried.
Vivian commanded, "Get in the car now. It's an order."
She never thought of using her status to pressure Aaron, but if she did not, he might insist on taking her all the way to the downstairs of her apartment.
After all, they were in A City, and Aaron was unfamiliar with this place. She could not let him go without making sure he got into the taxi safely.
Also, Vivian could not understand why Ray would send Aaron, who struggled with English, here for the job. Ray had many people who were proficient in English by his side.
In A City, those who could speak English were able to get around with ease.
As someone who could not speak English, Aaron had to rely on mobile translation apps and gestures...
Aaron frowned when he heard what she said. He stared into her eyes for a moment before reluctantly nodding.
Vivian watched him get into the taxi and communicate with the driver. Then, the car drove away.
Once the taxi was out of sight, she walked toward the entrance of the residential area but did not go in. Instead, she approached the man who stood by the green belt. "Gordan Norton."
The man's body tensed. When he was about to turn around and leave, he heard Vivian saying, "I know you've been following me."
Gordan stopped. He wanted to explain, but he felt like his throat was stuffed with cotton, and he could not utter a word.
"Gordan, I don't know why you're still tailing me. Your previous concerns have been addressed. There's nothing more to discuss. Besides, we're officially divorced. I won't meddle in your affairs, and I hope you won't disturb my life either," Vivian calmly stated.
She was fully aware that he had been following her.
When she left the elevator, she had even overheard Aaron and Gordan's conversation.
Honestly, she had felt a fleeting excitement knowing that Gordan was trailing them.
However, soon after, that flicker of joy was swiftly snuffed out by him calling her an ugly woman.
She did not know why Gordan was following her. Perhaps he was not following her but Aaron.
He could have been assigned a task that was related to Ray.
In his eyes, she had always been a monster, someone who should be alone. Anyone who got close to her was treated as though they were dealing with a freak. It was quite bewildering.
Being in love with an ugly woman was embarrassing.
Gordan had never liked her, and she should not have any expectations.
Vivian looked at Gordan, who remained frozen without saying anything. She felt a pang of pain in her heart.
She had initially wanted to say, 'Gordan, we're divorced'.
Yet, here she was, unable to be that straightforward.
They were already divorced. What was the point of saying so much?
Gordan would not feel sorry at all. He was not even here because of her...
"Gordan, there's an old saying in A City—let bygones be bygones. We're no longer related to each other. Please stop following me or anyone related to my brother. Otherwise, I'll inform Ray."
Informing Ray about this would undoubtedly spell trouble for Gordan.
Even if he could manage to escape in A City, he would not be able to do so abroad.
Vivian knew she could not let him go yet. After all, she had loved him for so many years. Even after seeing the truth for what it is and going through a divorce, her feelings still lingered...
Still, she could at least act like she did not care.
Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 3022-After that, Vivian turned around to leave.
Gordan, who had remained silent all this time, spoke up at this moment, "Vivian, who do you think you are?"
Vivian's back stiffened. She knew that once Gordan spoke, he would definitely say such words. Yes, in his eyes, she was just an ugly monster. How could he possibly follow her?
She pursed her lips, remaining silent.
The moment Gordan spoke, the moment the familiar voice reached her ears, she felt defenseless. If she spoke, he would surely hear the tension in her voice.
Hence, Vivian bit her lip tightly, refusing to speak and reveal her emotions.
When Gordan saw her standing straight without uttering a word, the fire inside him burned even brighter.
He intended to vent his emotions, but he recalled something from the past.
Back when they were still married, Vivian used to cling to him all the time. There was one time when he was annoyed by her constant nagging and reluctantly agreed to go out for dinner with her.
However, the meal turned into a series of unpleasant arguments, and as for why the night turned sour, Gordan had since forgotten.
He only remembered he left without finishing the meal.
Vivian quickly paid the bill and followed him. He vented his frustration at her on the street, expressing his displeasure. Ultimately, Vivian responded by turning her back on him.
Her silhouette was the same as it was now, but the difference lay in the fact that back then, Vivian's shoulders were trembling in the midst of a distressing cry.
He could not look at her face back then. He could only look at her from behind, and the sight had been perplexing, with her shoulders slightly trembling. It stirred a touch of sympathy in his heart.
However, that was just a facade, and Vivian's tactic did not work on him.
Now, Vivian still had her back turned, but she was no longer crying with trembling shoulders. She was not pretending to be pitiful and helpless either.
The frustration in Gordan's heart intensified at the thought of this. He had initially wanted to release his anger, and the words were on the tip of his tongue. However, he involuntarily switched to a different set of words.
"Vivian, do you think people are genuinely good to you? Sharpen up a bit!" Vivian lowered her gaze, a bitter smile appearing on her lips. Yes, she was ugly, so in Gordan's eyes, no one would sincerely treat her well.
However, when she left him, she understood that many people did not judge someone solely based on appearance.
At least Ray genuinely cared for her, and Luca also treated her sincerely.
Her classmates were the same. Appearance was not the only factor to consider when it came to making friends. She was not dating anyone, so why should she judge if they were treating her well based on her looks?
Gordan's words were like a bucket of cold water that was poured over her heart, extinguishing that inexplicable touch of sadness.
Vivian chuckled softly. Perhaps she should thank Gordan. His words were inappropriate, but they quickly woke her up.
"Gordan, not everyone is hung up on looks when making friends." Then, she walked briskly into the residential area, ignoring the man behind her.
As Gordan watched Vivian's confident strides as she walked away, a sense of frustration rose in his heart.
He removed his mask and hat. His eyes were gloomy. Even though Vivian's figure had long disappeared at the entrance of the residential area, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's as they remained locked on his target.
There was no peace in his gaze.
Gordan kicked the tree trunk near him.
Summer had arrived, and the trees were bursting with vitality, but a few leaves were still kicked down by him.
"Fuck!" Gordan cursed, glancing at the time before turning around.
He originally had things to do today. If it were not for him seeing Aaron and Vivian walking together, he would not have abandoned his important task and followed them...
After walking a few steps, Gordan suddenly thought of a question. Why did he follow them?
Was he worried about Vivian?
No!
He quickly denied it in his heart. It was just that he saw Aaron, his enemy, and wanted to seize an opportunity for a sneak attack.
On the other hand, Vivian quickly returned to the apartment building and turned around to look back. When she did not see Gordan, her tense nerves relaxed. However, they were replaced by an overwhelming wave of disappointment.
It seemed that Gordan was really not following her, and it was not the romantic scenario she had imagined.
The scenes of a divorced husband regretting his decision, being unable to let go, and stalking his exwife only happened in novels and TV dramas, usually with exceptionally beautiful women. They would not happen to her.
"Vivian, what are you thinking? How could the man who hates you possibly like you?" Vivian muttered to herself, pressing the elevator button.
The elevator reached the first floor. She stepped in, pressing the button for her apartment floor.
Vivian still saw the disappointment in her eyes through the mirror in the elevator.
She slightly furrowed her brows when she saw the disappointed look. She felt that she was being weak.
Even if she could not let him go and even if she still liked him, she could not show it.
That way, she could live a better life...
...
After leaving Percy's villa, Karen did not go back to Mallory Manor. She knew that if she went back, Old Master Mallory would definitely not let her off.
The words the old master said yesterday kept replaying in her mind. Together with what Luke said today about sending information to Old Master Mallory, her intuition was telling her things were not looking good.
What did Luke send to Old Master Mallory?
Therefore, Karen waited until half past ten in the evening. She observed as the time exceeded the old master's usual resting hour. She then allowed her subordinate to escort her back to Mallory Manor.
Karen stood in the garden and looked at the well-lit rooms in the manor. She felt a subtle unease, but she comforted herself when she thought about how the housekeeper usually kept the lights on until midnight.
Old Master Mallory would probably be in bed by ten at night, and as long as nothing important happened, he would not stay up to wait for her.
After all, that was the doctor's advice.
The old master valued his life, so he consistently followed a strict routine.
It was almost 11 o'clock. Old Master Mallory must have already gone to sleep by now. He would not stay up waiting for her over such trivial matters.
Karen reassured herself with these thoughts, increasingly convinced that Old Master Mallory had indeed gone to bed. Thus, she walked briskly inside.
In the living room, Old Master Mallory was sitting on the sofa.
Karen was slightly stunned when she saw that Old Master Mallory was still awake. She could not help but wonder why he had not slept yet.
Old Master Mallory was sitting with his eyes closed, resting. When he heard footsteps, he did not open his eyes but asked Mr. Bennet, who stood beside him, "Is she back?"
"Yes, sir. She's back," Mr. Bennet glanced at Karen without any expression on his face. He simply reported to the old master.
Only then did Old Master Mallory slowly open his eyes. "Karen."
"Father, why aren't you resting? Didn't the doctor say you shouldn't stay up late?" Karen knew there was no way she could escape.
Hence, she approached him with a smile. She hoped that Old Master Mallory would consider the two heirs she had given to the Mallory family and her ties to the Ruiz family. Perhaps that would ease things up a bit.
Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 3023-"Hmph, you sure as heck want me to be asleep, don't you? As long as I'm out cold, no one will be around to settle scores with you, right?"
Old Master Mallory lifted his gaze ever so slightly, peering at her face adorned with an ingratiating smile. His gaze took on a subtle chill.
"Father, what in the world are you talking about? I can't make heads or tails of it." Karen's smiling face froze for a moment. Even though she claimed not to understand, deep down, she knew what he was talking about.
"Show her the documents." Old Master Mallory ignored Karen's act of ignorance and spoke to Mr. Bennet.
Karen looked at Mr. Bennet, realizing for the first time that he was holding a stack of documents.
Mr. Bennet handed the documents to Karen. "Madam, please take a look."
Karen furrowed her brows and opened the documents. Just by reading the beginning, she knew what kind of information it contained.
These were the documents Luke sent to Old Master Mallory. It was the evidence of Karen, along with Margaret and Myra, leaking the rumored relationship between Luke and Luca to the press.
Karen's hands trembled slightly. Before she saw these documents, she thought the conspiracy she had orchestrated was flawless. However, Luke had gathered so much evidence. Not only that, he had given it all to Old Master Mallory...
Karen felt a surge of anger with nowhere to vent.
She had no evidence to prove what Luke had done. On the flip side, she believed she had been discreet about what she did.
Even the locations she picked for discussions were places she was familiar with, like that coffee shop. It seemed impossible for anyone to eavesdrop on those conversations.
However, Luke's people still managed to dig up the dirt.
She had spent a fortune on this too. Why was the person she hired so different from Luke's men?
Karen closed the documents, choosing not to delve further. Even if she did, she knew it would not make much difference because the evidence was right there. Continuing to read would not alter the current situation.
"Father..." Karen sat on the single sofa on the other side, awkwardly putting the documents back on the coffee table.
"Did I not warn you before you did this? I told you not to act recklessly. I told you not to go after Luke. Did I not remind you?" Old Master Mallory did not give her a chance to argue.
Karen lowered her eyes slightly, reluctantly nodding.
People often thought they might get lucky, and she was no exception. When Old Master Mallory warned and reminded her, she thought being a bit more careful would prevent Luke from finding her trail.
That way, she could also help Pierre vent his frustrations.
"So what did you do?" Old Master Mallory pointed at the documents on the table.
"Did you think doing things on the sly would be a seamless plan? Others have long seen through everything you've done. Do you think you're capable? Karen, after you married into the Mallory family, I cleaned up a lot of messes for you because of Daryl's mistake.
"People see you as the savvy daughter-in-law of the Mallory family, but how many messes have I cleaned up for you? Not only did you not listen to me, but you also provoked Luke at a time like this.
"Today, you went to him with your so-called evidence, right? Did you succeed in making him admit to what he did? Did you succeed in getting an apology?
“From what I know, not only did you not succeed, but you were also asked to leave. I know about all the foolish things you've done. Just because of what you've done, I don't even have the courage to face those friends of mine. Karen, you've really embarrassed me!"
Karen's face changed, alternating between white and red as she received the scolding.
She did not think what she did was that serious, but she had to let the old master cool down.
"Father, Luke Crawford is too cunning..."
"Instead of avoiding such a cunning person, you went to provoke him. Karen, don't you think the family has enough trouble?" Old Master Mallory thought of the embarrassment he faced and vented his frustration toward her.
They were no longer in the previous generation. Otherwise, Karen would have been punished and sent to the ancestral hall a long time ago!
It seemed like not only was the Crawford family's daughter-in-law out of line, but the Mallory family was pretty off-kilter too.
Karen was getting chewed out, and she could not even catch a breath. Deep down, she was still feeling resentful. Why was she the one getting scolded...
She did not do these things willingly. If Luke had not gone too far, would she have resorted to such sneaky actions?
Karen considered herself someone who did not go looking for trouble. She thought all this was just a response to Luke pushing her to the edge.
Even though both sides had taken action against each other, it now looked like she was the one taking the bigger hit.
The evidence against Luke had not been found yet.
"Father, I didn't mean to cause trouble for the Mallory family. If this thing comes back to bite us, let it bite me. I'll take responsibility for my actions." Karen planned to take it all herself, thinking Old Master Mallory would not blame her then.
"Hmph, you think you can handle it?" Old Master Mallory thought he heard a massive joke.
"With the evidence Luke has now, if he takes you to court, who will be the one losing face? It's you and the Mallory family. The future cooperation between the Crawford and Mallory families will also be at risk. Can you deal with all that?"
Karen wanted to insist she could handle it.
However, realistically, she could not...
Old Master Mallory continued, "I told you, you need to find evidence if you suspect Luke Crawford. Now, the evidence is nowhere to be found, and you've embarrassed us.
"Tomorrow, you're coming with me to Crawford Manor to apologize. Then, you're moving out of Mallory Manor!"
"Father, I don't want to move out!" Karen protested at the thought of leaving the Mallory Manor.
It was not that living elsewhere would be worse. She would actually have more freedom than at Mallory Manor, but she did not want that kind of freedom.
She wanted to hold onto everything within the Mallory family for Pierre. Moving out would mean losing many opportunities to gather information.
"This is not up to you. I'm giving you a heads-up, and I have already given you a chance. Since you're dead set on blaming Luke but you can't find any evidence, you'll have to move out.
"Karen, if it weren't for you provoking Luke, he wouldn't be doing this to you. Even if you can't find evidence, you need to clarify the rumors online as soon as possible," added Old Master Mallory without listening to any more of her explanations or pleas.
Ever since he learned about Karen's past, Old Master Mallory understood that his son's affair and choice to be with another woman might have been justified.
If Daryl were truly unfaithful, he would have been involved with other women during his years abroad. However, there was only one foreign woman.
Old Master Mallory remembered how he had supported Karen for over 20 years, and he felt betrayed. "I've already arranged for Mr. Bennet to prepare a villa for you. After you apologize at Crawford Manor tomorrow, you'll move there right away. Don't bother me if there's nothing else."
Old Master Mallory rose to his feet. With Mr. Bennet's help, he headed to his bedroom.
Back then, no matter how much Karen caused trouble at home, he would turn a blind eye out of guilt.
Now, Old Master Mallory could not hold back anymore. He no longer wanted to forgive Karen for her absurd actions.
Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 3024-Old Master Mallory heard that Old Master Crawford had long kicked out another daughter-in-law. Now, he was the only one in the big Crawford Manor, but he did not feel lonely. Instead, he was enjoying his time.
Old Master Mallory thought that maybe if Karen moved out too, he could be at peace without her bothering him. Hence, he decided to take this opportunity to ask Karen to move out.
His idea of living together as a big family had undergone a change over time due to the constant whirlwind of affairs within the family.
Karen tightly pursed her lips as she watched Old Master Mallory leave from behind. Even when Mr. Bennet returned, she still stood there with a defiant look.
Mr. Bennet sighed and said, "Madam, you should rest early."
"How can I rest?" Karen glared at him, thinking about the humiliation she endured at Crawford Manor and the incident with Nina.
Even though she slapped that woman's face, she felt embarrassed to be escorted out of the neighborhood by the security team. She was even blacklisted.
Upon returning home, she got scolded by Old Master Mallory. He was even making her apologize to the Crawford family tomorrow and move out immediately.
Karen wanted to vent her anger on Mr. Bennet, but considering he was close to Old Master Mallory, it would be like venting on the old master himself. She dared not to do so...
It was not that she did not have the guts, but Pierre's current situation required Old Master Mallory's involvement. Offending the old master would not only harm her but also bring misfortune to Pierre.
"Madam, given the circumstances, you can only follow Old Master Mallory's arrangements. The villa he assigned for you on Blossom Avenue is ready with the necessary items. You only have to pack some clothes, jewelry, and cosmetics.
"If you find it troublesome, the maid will help you tomorrow," said Mr. Bennet. He understood that Karen was angry, but he was helpless about it.
This matter made Old Master Mallory even angrier, as he had lost face in front of his old friends.
Ever since Pierre provoked Luke, Old Master Mallory had only been losing face in front of Old Master Crawford. Despite the cheerful banter among old friends, there was still a sense of rivalry.
Old Master Mallory had never managed to regain his dignity, and Karen had even repeatedly tarnished his reputation.
Therefore, Mr. Bennet could understand the old master's anger and could not speak up for Karen.
"Hmph, Blossom Avenue? Looks like Old Master Mallory can't wait for me to get as far away as possible!" Karen narrowed her eyes menacingly.
The villa on Blossom Avenue was not bad, but it was far from Mallory Manor.
Even though both were in A City, driving from Mallory Manor to the villa on Blossom Avenue would take at least 40 minutes. Karen knew well what those 40 minutes meant.
If it were not for the fear of gossip, Old Master Mallory might have arranged for her to stay on the outskirts.
"Please don't misunderstand, Madam. The villa on Blossom Avenue is newly renovated, and the style is to your liking. He thought you'd be happier living there. That's why he made this arrangement," Mr. Bennet spoke up for the old master.
Karen refused to believe what he said. She let out a cold snort and replied, "Summon my maid."
At this time, the maid had already finished work for the day, but for the convenience of taking care of the house, both the maid and the butler stayed here.
As Mr. Bennet watched Karen go upstairs, he shook his head helplessly. She was quite a handful...
"Yes, Madam." Even though he thought she was troublesome, Mr. Bennet could not openly criticize her actions.
Even in front of Old Master Mallory, he had to be cautious when serving him.
Luke, done with his tasks at T Corporation, returned to the villa. It was already midnight.
The lights were still on in the villa. He knew it was Luca who left them on for him, a gesture that had never changed in the past.
Whenever he returned late, she would keep the lights on.
Luke felt a warm sensation in his chest. He wished he could rush to Luca's side immediately and hold her in his arms, easing the tiredness in his body.
As he entered the living room, he noticed Nina sitting on the couch. He could not help but raise an eyebrow and ask, "You're not asleep at this hour?"
When Luca planned for Nina to stay here, she had informed him in advance, so her presence was not surprising. What surprised him was that it was already midnight, and Nina was still sitting in the living room.
"Luca said you were working overtime, and I was waiting for you specifically," Nina replied in a soft voice. It was to accommodate the swelling on her face and to avoid waking up anyone upstairs.
Even though the soundproofing in the villa was excellent, she was currently a guest. That was why she was mindful of such things.
She would try not to cause trouble.
"Is there something you want to talk about?" Luke adjusted his tie. Even though she had not brought up a topic yet, he had a general idea of what she might say.
"Please don't tell Percy about this," answered Nina.
Luke nodded. He had no intention of getting involved in women's affairs.
He took Nina in because he promised Percy. As long as Nina could stay peacefully here while Percy was on his business trip, other matters were not his concern.
His promise was within Nina's expectations, and she continued, "Does Luca have another identity?"
"No," Luke denied. Deep down, he could not help but wonder if the kids accidentally let something slip, leading to Nina's suspicion.
"I have this inexplicable sense of familiarity with her. If you know anything, you can tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone about it." Nina sounded like she wanted to know something.
"There's nothing like that. It's getting late. Rest early." Luke glanced at the time. It was 12:05 in the morning. He quickly took a shower, and by 12:30, he should be able to fall asleep with Luca in his arms.
He cherished the time spent sleeping with her.
Luke ended the conversation, and Nina slightly parted her lips, as though she had something to say. However, she hesitated. As she watched him make his way up the stairs, she shook her head
helplessly and headed upstairs too.
When they reached the second floor, they went to different rooms—one on the left and one on the right.
After Luke finished taking a shower in the bedroom across the room, he returned to the master bedroom. He initially did not want to disturb Luca, but she was a light sleeper. The moment he got into bed, she woke up before he could lie down.
"Luke?" Luca's voice carried a hint of drowsiness and sleepiness.
"Yes, it's me. Go back to sleep." Luke lay down, pulling her into his arms.
Luca found a comfortable sleeping position in his arms and closed her eyes. Then, she heard him ask, "Did the kids accidentally spill the beans in front of Nina today?"
"What do you mean by spilling the beans?" Luca, feeling drowsy, did not immediately grasp the situation. After asking for clarification, she understood what Luke meant and added, "The kids are clever. They didn't say anything."
Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 3025-"Okay." That was all Luke said before he held her even tighter in his arm.
Luca was awake now, and she opened her eyes a little. Her vision had adapted to the darkness, so she pressed her face against his chest and asked, “What did Nina say?"
“When she was waiting for me downstairs, she asked me if you had another identity." Luke gently caressed Luca's back, and shivers went down her spine as his touch got increasingly sensual.
Luca was half-asleep, so she did not notice the changes in Luke's movements. Instead, she frowned and said, "I'll tell her next time. The fewer the people who know about me, the better."
"Sure," Luke said absent-mindedly.
Luca finally realized what he was doing, so she turned to the side and said, "It's late."
"We have to hurry, then," said Luke. Although he would be disrupting her sleep, his desires made it impossible for him to just sleep next to her like a gentleman.
As he said that, he leaned forward as things got heated up.
The next day, Luca was exhausted when she got out of bed. She bit her lip at the thought of Luke tiring her out last night even though he said that he would control himself.
It was like he was making up for the night Rainie had slept in their bed...
Thoughts of last night made Luca's face go red. After touching her face, she stood up and felt the soreness from her waist all the way to her limbs.
Luca frowned as she stretched by the bed. After loosening up her muscles, she washed up and put on her work attire before walking out the door.
As she expected, Luke was working in the opposite room.
Then, their eyes met as if they had just read each other's minds.
Although he had given up on sleep last night, he was still in high spirits today. Then, he smiled. "Good morning."
"Good morning." Once again, Luca was reminded of what happened the night before.
It had happened many times before, but she would still blush every time she thought about it.
Looking at her shy face, Luke instantly knew what she was thinking about. He asked on purpose, "Did you have a good night's sleep?"
Her face turned red immediately.
He was doing it on purpose!
How could she have had a good night's sleep when that happened?
"I'll head downstairs for breakfast." Luca ignored his question.
Luke smiled. "Okay. Come back earlier today. I've promised Grandpa we'll have dinner at the manor."
"Dinner?" Luca stopped in her tracks and recalled her promise before saying, "Right, I remember now. But Nina's here. Should we bring her along?"
"I'm afraid it's not a good idea to bring Nina to the manor," Luke said tactfully.
Luca nodded and understood what he meant, but she still felt bad about leaving Nina here alone.
"Aunt Neile is here, so Nina will still have someone to take care of her. Karen won't show her face here even if I'm not at home," Luke said.
If Nina had known Luca's identity, it would not be a problem for her to tag along.
However, Nina was still oblivious to Luca's true identity, so it would be inconvenient for Old Master Crawford if he had to be extra cautious with his words.
Luca nodded in agreement with what Luke said. It really was not a good idea, so she had no choice but to leave Nina behind.
"I'll go get breakfast first. Do you want to eat in your room?" Luca asked.
"Yes, please have Aunt Neile bring it up," said Luke. Ever since Luca came back, he had been eating three meals a day every day.
Even though she still had a different identity, she was still concerned about his eating habits.
"Okay." Luca went downstairs and saw the three kids sitting in the dining room, so she asked curiously, "Is Nina not up yet?"
It was a Friday, so Nina should have work today. Luca was wondering if she should go wake her up if Nina was still sleeping.
Then, Rainie replied, "Ms. Nina is up, but Mr. Percy called, so she's in the garden."
Luca understood that she wanted to talk to him in private, which was why she went to the garden. Besides, it was not a good idea for the children to listen to an intimate conversation between adults.
Luca nodded and said, "We're going to the manor tonight. Do all of you have a change of clothes there?"
"Yes, it's a Saturday tomorrow, so we can wear our own clothes," Lanie said. Since they were having dinner at the manor, he knew that they would be staying the night. Luca would not have asked them otherwise.
"Okay, then. Enjoy your breakfast," said Luca. Through the window, she saw Nina sitting under the pavilion in the garden, talking to Percy on the phone.
She could not see her face, so she did not know if the swelling on Nina's face had subsided overnight.
After Aunt Neile served breakfast, Luca said, "Aunt Neile, Mr. Crawford wants to eat upstairs. Could you please bring some food up for him?"
"Yes, Ms. Craw." Aunt Neile nodded.
Just as Luca picked up a spoon and was about to eat, Nina entered after ending the call.
“Good morning," Nina greeted Luca smilingly.
“Good morning. Have you finished your call with Mr. Percy?" Luca teased her and looked at her face.
Nina blushed. Percy was worried about her, so he called her early in the morning before she went to work.
"Yes." She nodded.
Then, Luca added, "You newlyweds are still in your honeymoon phase. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Also, the swelling on your face seems to have subsided a little."
Nina touched her face gently and nodded. "Yeah, you made me put ice on it so many times yesterday. I'm sure it'll go down even more today."
When she arrived yesterday, Luca helped put some ice on her face.
Then, before going to sleep, Luca put more ice cubes on it again.
She did not know whether it was the ice, but she barely felt any pain on her face when she went to bed last night.
She expected the pain to get even worse at night, and she was certain that she would be tossing and turning from the unbearable pain. However, she did not expect to fall asleep right after talking to Luke.
The redness and swelling on her face did not affect her at all.
"Put some ice on it before going to work. I have to rush to work, so I'll ask Aunt Neile to help you," said Luca. She did not tell Nina that she had put some medicinal powder on the ice pack before putting it on her face.
The powder spread across her face, relieving the pain.
It was the reason she could sleep last night.
The effects of the medicine could only last one night, so the pain would return after Nina got out of bed even if the swelling had subsided.
She would have to continue with the ice packs for the next three days.
"There's no need to trouble Aunt Neile. I can do it myself." Nina shook her head, not wanting to trouble Aunt Neile.
Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 3026-Upon hearing that, Aunt Neile said, “Mrs. Mallory, let me help."
“She’s right, let her do it. That way, she can cover the entire area, and your hands wouldn’t be cold," said Luca. She found that Nina had put ice on it yesterday, but she did not do it long enough.
Her hands got too cold from holding the ice pack, so she did not do it for long.
As Luca knew her so well, Nina had no choice but to say, "Alright then."
“Okay, Mrs. Mallory. Enjoy your breakfast. I’ll help you after you’re done," Aunt Neile responded and went upstairs to deliver Luke’s breakfast.
When Luca saw Nina eating breakfast, she said to her, "By the way, Nina, the children are going back to the manor today, so remember to lock the door after Aunt Neile gets off work."
Nina was taken aback. Did that mean that Luca was going to Crawford Manor too?
If she was going back with the children, would Old Master Crawford cause her trouble?
Nina could not ask too many questions since the children were here, so she just nodded even though her mind was racing.
Nina waited for the children to finish breakfast and leave for school before asking nervously, "Luca, are you going to the manor too?"
"Yes, I am." Luca nodded and had her last bite of breakfast.
"Did Old Master Crawford ask you to go over? Is he giving you a hard time..." Nina did not think that was the case as some time had passed since Luke and Luca’s scandal.
He would have taken action already if he wanted to. Why would he wait until now?
Nina could understand why Luke would want to take the children back to the manor, but she did not understand why he would bring Luca with him.
Old Master Crawford and Old Master Mallory were the same. They were extremely strict with their grandchildren, and they frowned upon erratic behaviors.
Therefore, after Percy’s father had an affair, Old Master Mallory immediately sent someone to tell him to never come back.
Percy told her that, which was why Nina thought Old Master Crawford would be very unhappy with Luke and Luca’s relationship.
Now that the reporters had exposed their relationship, it was not easy to deceive Old Master Crawford. Luca was in a difficult position right now, but they had not split up yet. Their bond was too strong for something like this to break them up.
Even if they had not broken up, they did not have to upset Old Master Crawford...
Nina did not understand why Luca wanted to get so close to Old Master Crawford.
She thought that Luca was like her, willing to sacrifice for love. She did not have to stand up against an elder who did not like her.
Seeing as Nina was worried about her, she shook her head. “No, Old Master Crawford actually believes that Luke and I are. well. innocent."
Nina's eyes widened. "He believes that?"
Luca felt that even a three-year-old child would not believe what she just said.
What else could she say? She could not tell Nina that she was Bianca, which was why Old Master Crawford did not object to their relationship.
Luca hated that it was not the right time, because that meant she had to lie to Nina and say things that even she would not believe.
"I don't know what Luke told him, but that's what he believes.."
Nina muttered. "Unbelievable. Oh, that's not what I mean. I just think that Old Master Crawford doesn't seem that easy to fool. What could Luke have said to make him believe it.."
Luca did not say anything else. The more she said, the higher the chance of making a mistake. She had used many lies to continue deceiving people, but she was tired of lying, so she pretended not to know.
Then, Nina asked again, "Does that mean he won't give you a hard time?"
"I don't think so," said Luca.
"Why are you going there, then?" Nina asked out of curiosity.
"I've been helping Old Master Crawford recuperate, so I'm going there to help him again this time. He would always chat with me for a long time every time I go there, so I thought I should just stay the night," Luca explained.
There was no need to lie anymore, which made her feel better.
She did not like lying to people who mattered to her.
However, there was no saying what Abel would ask her to do, so she had no choice.
"Oh, that's good. As long as you won't be put in a difficult position. I'm not trying to pry by asking so many questions. I'm just worried. The older generation can be stubborn sometimes.
"No matter how nice you are to them, they still won't change their minds, so it's better to accept it than take it up with them." Nina seemed to be talking some sense into Luca, but she was actually saying those things to herself too.
"I know, but I'll be fine. Believe me," Luca said with a smile.
"Since you won't be here tonight, let Aunt Neile get off work early. She doesn't need to make dinner. I'll just eat outside," said Nina. Since she was a guest, she did not want to have Aunt Neile cook just for her.
Luke hired her, not Percy.
"Won't you come back late if you eat outside?" Luca frowned reluctantly.
If Karen hired someone to follow her, it would be easier for them to make a move if it was late at night.
Nina knew that Luca was worried about her, so she said, "Things have been busy at the company lately, and many people in the design department are working overtime.
"When they order takeout, I'll just get something as well, so don't worry about me. It's getting late, so you should go to work.”
Luca glanced at the time and realized that it was indeed getting late. Seeing as Nina had a plan, she said, “Tell Aunt Neile when she comes down later so that she won't prepare dinner.”
“No problem." Nina nodded.
After Luca left, Aunt Neile came down with a tray. She was busy tidying upstairs, which was why she took some time.
When she noticed that only Nina was left at the table, she asked, "Mrs. Mallory, has Ms. Craw left for work?"
"Yes, she just left. By the way, Luca and the kids are going to Crawford Manor tonight, and I have to work overtime at the company, so you don't have to make dinner for me. I'll have dinner at work, so you can go home early."
She was worried that Aunt Neile might say no, so she added, "Luca asked me to tell you that."
Hearing that Luca asked her to get off work early, Aunt Neile smiled brightly. "Okay, I got it. Mrs. Mallory, once you're done eating, I'll help you put some ice on your face,"
"Okay, thank you, Aunt Neile." Nina let her help.
Aunt Neile took an ice pack and put it on Nina's face according to Luca's instructions before saying, "You must use ice to make the swelling go away faster."
"I know. Aunt Neile, is Mr. Crawford upstairs?" Nina suddenly thought of asking Luke something about him and Luca.
Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 3028-Old Master Crawford had already figured it out, but when Old Master Mallory stated his purpose, he still put on a surprised expression. "Apology? This is..."
Old Master Mallory knew he was intentionally exaggerating his expression, but it was the Mallory family's fault. No matter what expression Old Master Crawford made or what he said, Old Master Mallory was left with no choice.
He could either take the initiative to explain and offer an apology or simply turn around and leave.
Karen hoped for the latter, but Old Master Mallory knew that an apology was necessary. "Yes, Karen misunderstood Luke back then. She talked nonsense and shared some news with the media, which has caused a lot of trouble for Luke. Crawford, Karen is here to apologize to you today."
"Ah, Mallory, so you're talking about this..." Old Master Crawford shook his head and looked at Karen's expression. He knew that even though Old Master Mallory had brought the conversation to this point, Karen still refused to apologize.
"To be honest, what Karen did was wrong, but it didn't cause me much trouble on my end. The main issue is still on Luke's side. Since you're apologizing for this matter, it's better to apologize to Luke."
Old Master Crawford did not give Karen a chance either.
If she could not swallow her pride and apologize in front of her elder, he would not be kind to her. He would let Karen apologize to Luke, who was younger than him.
When Karen heard this and realized that she had to apologize to Luke, her expression became even more unpleasant.
Here, Old Master Crawford was the elder, and apologizing to her elders was normal. However, if it was flipped around with Luke Crawford, she would be the senior. A senior apologizing to her junior...
If word of this got out, how could she face the others?
Karen was unwilling to do so. Old Master Mallory did not want Karen to do something so embarrassing either. Hence, he smiled and said, "Crawford, you're the head of the Crawford family. Karen still needs to apologize to you."
After that, he turned to look at Karen. There was a hint of anger in his eyes, and he dropped subtle hints in his words. "Why aren't you apologizing to Old Master Crawford?"
Karen was still reluctant to do so at this moment, but she dared not object. She immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, Old Master Crawford. I misunderstood things, and that's why I ended up making such a mess. I'm really sorry."
"Oh." Old Master Crawford pretended to shake his head in solemnity. He looked at Old Master Mallory and said, "Mallory, I really can't accept this apology on behalf of Luke. I heard that the scandal affected T Corporation's share price and caused fluctuations for a few days.
"If it weren't for investors' trust in T Corporation, the share price might have looked even worse. You don't know how hard Luke worked to stabilize the share price...."
Old Master Mallory understood the meaning behind these words. Karen still needed to apologize to Luke.
"Yes, yes, Karen was wrong in this matter. How about this? I'll have her personally go to T Corporation and apologize to Luke.” Old Master Mallory knew that if this matter was not settled, the apology would be meaningless.
Karen suddenly looked up. How could he let her do something so embarrassing?! Apologize to Luke? Never!
Old Master Mallory was speaking while paying attention to Karen's situation.
He knew she was not in a good mental state. That was why he had to be more attentive. After all, someone in a bad mental state could not control their temper.
When he noticed that she was about to explode, Old Master Mallory stood up and said, "Crawford, Karen and I will find time to go to T Corporation and have a good talk with Luke. Sorry for bothering you today."
"No problem. It's the young people's matter, after all. Mallory, it'd be better for us not to interfere too much." Old Master Crawford chuckled. His attitude was much more pleasant than the attitude he showed Karen a few days ago.
After all, with Old Master Mallory present, he should give some leeway. He intended to do just that.
"Yes, you're right. Well, Karen and I will take off, then. We shouldn't bother you," said Old Master Mallory. The apology had been made, and he had no plans to stick around. It was to avoid getting any more sarcastic remarks from Old Master Crawford.
He was about to be completely disgraced by Karen.
Old Master Crawford naturally knew why Old Master Mallory was in such a hurry to leave and intentionally said, "Mallory, don't leave so soon. We haven't even finished the tea yet. Oh, by the way, last time we played chess, nobody came out on top. Would you like to go for another round?"
"No, no, we've got other things to attend to today. Maybe another time when I have the chance? We can have a proper game." Old Master Mallory insisted on leaving.
Old Master Crawford knew he could not keep them here. He pretended to feign regret and replied, "Alright then. If you're busy, go ahead. It's a pity about the tea."
"Haha, we'll take our leave, then," said Old Master Mallory, leading Karen away.
"Mr. Griffin, please see our guests off," instructed Old Master Crawford.
"Yes, sir." Mr. Griffin escorted Old Master Mallory and Karen out.
Old Master Crawford picked up his teacup and took a sip. Watching Old Master Mallory take a hit lifted his mood considerably. The taste of this tea suddenly became richer and more satisfying.
He gently lifted the corners of his mouth.
Mr. Griffin came back and noticed Old Master Crawford's smile. He gave a faint smile as well and said, "Sir, you're in a good mood."
"Yes, of course. Watching Mallory losing face here brings me joy," Old Master Crawford's smile deepened. His wrinkles revealed a series of creases. However, it did not make him look stern but instead added a touch of kindness.
Mr. Griffin poured him a cup of tea and collected the two used cups to be cleaned later. He asked, "Sir, should we inform Master Luke?"
"Why should we inform Luke?" Old Master Crawford raised his teacup, savoring the taste.
"Didn't Old Master Mallory tell you that he wants to personally apologize to Master Luke at T Corporation?" Mr. Griffin was puzzled. Should they not notify Luke and let him be prepared?
After all, both Old Master Mallory and Karen were elders. Making a solid impression on the surface was a must.
"He said they'd go, but do you think they really will? It's just a bluff. Judging from Mallory's personality, he'd never bow down to Luke. His apology here is not to be trusted, and we shouldn't believe any other
promises either.
"They won't follow through, even if he manages to swallow his pride. And as for Karen, there's no way she'd be willing to do the same. Just listen to their words, but don't take them to heart," Old Master Crawford said nonchalantly, refusing to believe that those two would actually go and apologize to Luke.
If the evidence was not right in front of them, they would not have even admitted they were in the wrong.
How could they really apologize to Luke?
According to Luke, Karen's little maneuver behind the scenes did not cause him much trouble and she ended up lending a hand in a roundabout way.
Hence, Luke did not pay much attention to this matter.
This whole act by Old Master Crawford was just to show Luke's dissatisfaction. It served as a reminder to Old Master Mallory to keep a close eye on his daughter-in-law and not let her run amok.
It was to make sure this incident left a lasting impression so that they would not stir up any more trouble down the road.
Mr. Griffin chuckled as he agreed with the wise words of the old master. "You sure understand Old Master Mallory well."
"We're both sly foxes in the business world. I know him well, and he knows me well. That's why we can collaborate," replied Old Master Crawford. He rose to his feet and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. "Will Luke and the others be coming back for dinner tonight?"
Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 3029-"Yes, Master Luke called last night and said he and his family will be coming back for dinner," replied Mr. Griffin with a smile on his face.
"Alright. Have the kitchen get ready," said Old Master Crawford. This would be the first family dinner after Luca revealed her true identity.
Even though Susan, Allison, and Louis and his family were not present, it was still considered a family feast. Old Master Crawford attached great importance to it.
"Don't worry, the cook and the maids went out early this morning to get the ingredients," assured Mr. Griffin. He knew how much Old Master Crawford prioritized this family gathering, and he had emphasized it to the cook when he informed her.
Knowing that Old Master Crawford paid a lot of attention to this, the cook would undoubtedly put in 200% effort to prepare tonight's family dinner.
"Good. Have the chauffeur prepare the car. I’d like to go to the park for a while," said Old Master Crawford as he rose to his feet.
"Yes," replied Mr. Griffin. Then, he went to notify the chauffeur.
Since Susan moved out, Old Master Crawford's life seemed to have suddenly become more relaxed. Even though it was already quite leisurely back then, having Susan around seemed to make him less relaxed.
Now, things were different. After Susan moved out of Crawford Manor, Old Master Crawford became more relaxed. He often spent his mornings in the park nearby, practicing yoga and playing chess. He was enjoying a retired life like an ordinary elderly person. ...
As they were going to Crawford Manor for dinner, Luca told all the researchers to leave work on time, and she also left the office on time.
She did not head to Crawford Manor right away but returned home first as she and Luke had agreed. They would gather at home and then leave together.
When she got back to the villa, the three children had already returned from school. Nina had not come back yet.
Luca entered the living room and saw the three children doing their homework. Then, she asked, "Has Mr. Crawford returned home yet?"
Aunt Neile was still there. That was why she addressed Luke as Mr. Crawford.
Tommy shook his head. "Daddy hasn't come back yet, but Lanie sent him a message just now. He said he's on his way back."
"Okay, good. Continue with your homework. I'll prepare some herbs," replied Luca. When she asked Aunt Neile to buy some herbs back last time, they were not just for Queenie but also for Old Master Crawford.
She had planned to find time to deliver them to Crawford Manor, but with so many things happening recently, her plan to deliver the herbs had been delayed.
"Okay," the three children replied in unison. Luca walked into the store room, found the herbs that Aunt Niele had helped her buy before, and checked them.
The herbs were fine. There was no sign of spoilage due to the proper storage. The herbs still emitted a strong fragrance, perfect for making herbal dishes.
Carrying two bags of herbs, Luca walked out of the store room and placed them on the coffee table. She intended to transfer them into glass jars. At that moment, the doorbell rang.
Aunt Neile initially wanted to help Luca, but she walked to the video intercom when she heard the doorbell. She instinctively turned around to look at Luca when she realized the person standing outside the door was Susan.
"What's the matter?" Luca originally wanted Aunt Neile to help with the glass jars. She met her gaze, and she had a faint feeling that something was not right. “Who is it?”
"It's Madam Crawford...” Aunt Neile added, "Master Louis' mother."
"Okay, open the door," replied Luca. She was curious why Susan had come again. After all, she had not gotten anything the last time she came.
However, Susan was already standing at the door, and it was impossible not to open it.
She was an elder of the Crawford family, after all. Luca could not do that to her. However, there was a sense of unease in her heart. She hoped that Luke would come back soon.
When the kids heard that it was Susan and Luca asked Aunt Niele to open the door, the three of them simultaneously took action. They quickly packed their books into their backpacks and went upstairs.
Lanie, the last one to go upstairs, said, "Ms. Luca, let us know when we're leaving."
Then, he followed his younger siblings upstairs to do their homework.
Only Aunt Neile and Luca remained in the living room.
Aunt Neile had worked for the Crawford family for many years. She understood Madam Crawford well.
Susan had been living in the neighboring villa for so long without visiting. Now that she came here, she must be looking for trouble. However, whatever trouble she was seeking, it certainly was not with Aunt Neile.
She asked, "Ms. Luca, should I inform Mr. Crawford to come back quickly?"
"No need. He's already on his way back. It's not safe for him to drive that fast. Aunt Neile, please prepare slippers for Madam Crawford," replied Luca. She knew that Susan must have come to look for trouble with her this time.
Susan was Luke's stepmother, and she knew how capable Luke was after living with him for so many years. She would not easily find fault with him.
Last time when Susan came looking for trouble for Luke, it did not end well for her. She would not be so foolish as to come cause trouble for Luke again this time.
Therefore, it was likely that she came for Luca.
Luca's temples slightly throbbed. She had a clear understanding of how much trouble this wealthy woman could cause.
"Yes." Aunt Neile nodded and stood by the entrance, waiting for Susan.
Susan walked in, and Aunt Neile had already placed disposable slippers neatly. She smiled and greeted, "Madam Crawford, please change into the slippers."
Susan looked at the disposable slippers on the floor with a cold expression on her face. She stood there without changing and asked, "Has Luke come back?"
“Mr. Crawford hasn't returned yet," replied Aunt Neile. She quickly added, "But he's already on his way back."
"What about Luca?"
"Ms. Luca has already returned," answered Aunt Neile. Aunt Neile immediately understood that Susan had come to look for trouble with Luca.
Susan changed her shoes when she heard that. Then, she walked into the living room and saw Luca sitting on the sofa, working on something.
When Susan came closer, she saw that Luca was handling some herbs. She was putting them into glass jars.
Susan noticed Luca did not show any reaction when she saw her walking in. Hence, she walked over and took a seat on the sofa in front of her, sitting with an upright posture. Then, she cleared her throat lightly.
Luca lifted her gaze and saw her. She barely showed any reaction, and she said in a calm tone, "Madam Crawford, are you here to see Luke? He's still on his way. Please wait for a while."
When Susan saw Luca's attitude, she could not help but become irritated. She said, "I'm not here for him."
Luca paused for a moment, then she asked again, "Then..."
"I'm here to look for Louis," answered Susan.
Not only was Luca surprised, but even Aunt Neile, who was serving Susan tea, was also taken aback. She came here to look for Louis?
"Madam Crawford, you might be in the wrong place. Master Louis isn't here." Luca continued packing the herbs into the glass jar. She finished packing the herbs into one jar and picked up another clean glass jar.
Such bottles had a strong seal. Even if they were placed in a damp area, it would not affect the herbs inside.
"How could he not be here? Didn't Luke secretly take him in?" Susan knew that Louis was not here, but she had no choice but to say so.
She had no idea where Louis was now.
It was ironic that as a mother, she could not even get in touch with her own son.
Twins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 3028-Old Master Crawford had already figured it out, but when Old Master Mallory stated his purpose, he still put on a surprised expression. "Apology? This is..."
Old Master Mallory knew he was intentionally exaggerating his expression, but it was the Mallory family's fault. No matter what expression Old Master Crawford made or what he said, Old Master Mallory was left with no choice.
He could either take the initiative to explain and offer an apology or simply turn around and leave.
Karen hoped for the latter, but Old Master Mallory knew that an apology was necessary. "Yes, Karen misunderstood Luke back then. She talked nonsense and shared some news with the media, which has caused a lot of trouble for Luke. Crawford, Karen is here to apologize to you today."
"Ah, Mallory, so you're talking about this..." Old Master Crawford shook his head and looked at Karen's expression. He knew that even though Old Master Mallory had brought the conversation to this point, Karen still refused to apologize.
"To be honest, what Karen did was wrong, but it didn't cause me much trouble on my end. The main issue is still on Luke's side. Since you're apologizing for this matter, it's better to apologize to Luke."
Old Master Crawford did not give Karen a chance either.
If she could not swallow her pride and apologize in front of her elder, he would not be kind to her. He would let Karen apologize to Luke, who was younger than him.
When Karen heard this and realized that she had to apologize to Luke, her expression became even more unpleasant.
Here, Old Master Crawford was the elder, and apologizing to her elders was normal. However, if it was flipped around with Luke Crawford, she would be the senior. A senior apologizing to her junior...
If word of this got out, how could she face the others?
Karen was unwilling to do so. Old Master Mallory did not want Karen to do something so embarrassing either. Hence, he smiled and said, "Crawford, you're the head of the Crawford family. Karen still needs to apologize to you."
After that, he turned to look at Karen. There was a hint of anger in his eyes, and he dropped subtle hints in his words. "Why aren't you apologizing to Old Master Crawford?"
Karen was still reluctant to do so at this moment, but she dared not object. She immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, Old Master Crawford. I misunderstood things, and that's why I ended up making such a mess. I'm really sorry."
"Oh." Old Master Crawford pretended to shake his head in solemnity. He looked at Old Master Mallory and said, "Mallory, I really can't accept this apology on behalf of Luke. I heard that the scandal affected T Corporation's share price and caused fluctuations for a few days.
"If it weren't for investors' trust in T Corporation, the share price might have looked even worse. You don't know how hard Luke worked to stabilize the share price...."
Old Master Mallory understood the meaning behind these words. Karen still needed to apologize to Luke.
"Yes, yes, Karen was wrong in this matter. How about this? I'll have her personally go to T Corporation and apologize to Luke.” Old Master Mallory knew that if this matter was not settled, the apology would be meaningless.
Karen suddenly looked up. How could he let her do something so embarrassing?! Apologize to Luke? Never!
Old Master Mallory was speaking while paying attention to Karen's situation.
He knew she was not in a good mental state. That was why he had to be more attentive. After all, someone in a bad mental state could not control their temper.
When he noticed that she was about to explode, Old Master Mallory stood up and said, "Crawford, Karen and I will find time to go to T Corporation and have a good talk with Luke. Sorry for bothering you today."
"No problem. It's the young people's matter, after all. Mallory, it'd be better for us not to interfere too much." Old Master Crawford chuckled. His attitude was much more pleasant than the attitude he showed Karen a few days ago.
After all, with Old Master Mallory present, he should give some leeway. He intended to do just that.
"Yes, you're right. Well, Karen and I will take off, then. We shouldn't bother you," said Old Master Mallory. The apology had been made, and he had no plans to stick around. It was to avoid getting any more sarcastic remarks from Old Master Crawford.
He was about to be completely disgraced by Karen.
Old Master Crawford naturally knew why Old Master Mallory was in such a hurry to leave and intentionally said, "Mallory, don't leave so soon. We haven't even finished the tea yet. Oh, by the way, last time we played chess, nobody came out on top. Would you like to go for another round?"
"No, no, we've got other things to attend to today. Maybe another time when I have the chance? We can have a proper game." Old Master Mallory insisted on leaving.
Old Master Crawford knew he could not keep them here. He pretended to feign regret and replied, "Alright then. If you're busy, go ahead. It's a pity about the tea."
"Haha, we'll take our leave, then," said Old Master Mallory, leading Karen away.
"Mr. Griffin, please see our guests off," instructed Old Master Crawford.
"Yes, sir." Mr. Griffin escorted Old Master Mallory and Karen out.
Old Master Crawford picked up his teacup and took a sip. Watching Old Master Mallory take a hit lifted his mood considerably. The taste of this tea suddenly became richer and more satisfying.
He gently lifted the corners of his mouth.
Mr. Griffin came back and noticed Old Master Crawford's smile. He gave a faint smile as well and said, "Sir, you're in a good mood."
"Yes, of course. Watching Mallory losing face here brings me joy," Old Master Crawford's smile deepened. His wrinkles revealed a series of creases. However, it did not make him look stern but instead added a touch of kindness.
Mr. Griffin poured him a cup of tea and collected the two used cups to be cleaned later. He asked, "Sir, should we inform Master Luke?"
"Why should we inform Luke?" Old Master Crawford raised his teacup, savoring the taste.
"Didn't Old Master Mallory tell you that he wants to personally apologize to Master Luke at T Corporation?" Mr. Griffin was puzzled. Should they not notify Luke and let him be prepared?
After all, both Old Master Mallory and Karen were elders. Making a solid impression on the surface was a must.
"He said they'd go, but do you think they really will? It's just a bluff. Judging from Mallory's personality, he'd never bow down to Luke. His apology here is not to be trusted, and we shouldn't believe any other
promises either.
"They won't follow through, even if he manages to swallow his pride. And as for Karen, there's no way she'd be willing to do the same. Just listen to their words, but don't take them to heart," Old Master Crawford said nonchalantly, refusing to believe that those two would actually go and apologize to Luke.
If the evidence was not right in front of them, they would not have even admitted they were in the wrong.
How could they really apologize to Luke?
According to Luke, Karen's little maneuver behind the scenes did not cause him much trouble and she ended up lending a hand in a roundabout way.
Hence, Luke did not pay much attention to this matter.
This whole act by Old Master Crawford was just to show Luke's dissatisfaction. It served as a reminder to Old Master Mallory to keep a close eye on his daughter-in-law and not let her run amok.
It was to make sure this incident left a lasting impression so that they would not stir up any more trouble down the road.
Mr. Griffin chuckled as he agreed with the wise words of the old master. "You sure understand Old Master Mallory well."
"We're both sly foxes in the business world. I know him well, and he knows me well. That's why we can collaborate," replied Old Master Crawford. He rose to his feet and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. "Will Luke and the others be coming back for dinner tonight?"
fTwins In Her Womb: Sir President Please Be Gentle Chapter 3030-After Susan had slightly calmed down, she decided to call Louis. However, she found out after dialing the number that Louis had actually blocked her.
Susan had no choice but to contact Yuri instead.
Yuri described their current situation vaguely, refusing to disclose where they were currently residing.
Intrigued by the secrecy, Susan wanted to investigate further. She learned that the day after another family conflict erupted, Louis and his family did not stay at the Dunn family's place through the butler of the Dunn family.
As for where they moved to, even the Dunn family's butler was clueless. He even asked Susan in astonishment if Louis and his family had not gone back home.
Susan was unsure how to respond at that moment.
None of them had returned to the residence, and the spacious villa was now occupied only by her and a maid.
Therefore, Susan came to the conclusion that Louis' family might be living in Crawford Manor.
That was why Susan came over. It was quite ironic that, as a mother, she did not even know where her son's family was currently living.
She was aware that Louis had sold all his properties for investments, so finding a suitable rental was unlikely in the short term. Therefore, the most likely scenario was that they were either living in Crawford Manor or here with Luke.
Susan had already inquired with the maid at Crawford Manor. Louis had visited, but he did not stay overnight.
That left only Luke's place as a possibility.
However, Susan was doubtful that Louis planned to reside here permanently. She came here to find out where Louis was living.
"Madam Crawford, Master Louis isn't staying here. If you don't believe me, Aunt Neile can show you to the guest room. There's a guest staying there now, but it's not Master Louis," Luca calmly stated. She then requested more glass jars from Aunt Neile.
Susan's gaze darkened. Luca was speaking calmly to her, and Susan knew she was not lying.
If Louis was not here, then where was he?
"Where is he?" asked Susan.
Luca found the question amusing. Where was he? Furthermore, she was the one being asked.
As Louis's mother, Susan did not even know where her son was and had to ask her...
"Madam Mallory, I have no idea. If you'd like to know where Master Louis is, why not call him yourself?" Luca thought her response was reasonable.
However, Susan's reaction was unexpectedly intense. "What do you mean by that?!"
Luca was in the midst of handling the herbs, and Aunt Neile was on her way to fetch more glass jars. They both froze for a moment. Aunt Neile had heard their conversation earlier and did not think there was any issue. Why was Susan suddenly so furious?
Luca remained silent, while her hands continued to work. Even if Susan's anger spread to her side, it would not affect her in any way.
Aunt Neile was stunned for a moment and immediately came back to her senses. She placed the glass jars on the table. "Ms. Craw, let me help you. How should I pack these?"
Luca pointed at another bag of herbs. "Just pack all of these in."
"Alright." Aunt Neile sat on another sofa and began to assist.
Due to the variety of herbs, Luca organized them first before packing. While it might look a bit tedious, it was actually efficient.
As Susan watched both of them get busy with their tasks while ignoring what she said, the fury inside her burned even more. "Where have you hidden Louis?"
Luca and Aunt Neile paused for a moment again.
They were finding it increasingly difficult to understand Susan's words.
Luca felt that if she did not respond, Susan might turn the entire living room upside down.
"Madam Mallory, I haven't been in touch with Master Louis. I don't know where he is. Besides, I don't have the ability to hide Master Louis. He's a grown man, and I'm not a kidnapper. I can't hide him.
"Feel free to look around the villa if you don't believe me. If I've truly hidden someone, I'll apologize to you," Luca stopped and replied with a serious expression on her face.
Louis was not a kid. How could she hide him?
At the same time, Luca could not help but wonder what Louis had done to make Susan come looking for him here.
Dealing with someone like Susan was challenging...
When Susan heard what Luca said, she suddenly felt the urge to search every nook and cranny of the villa.
However, it was just an impulse. She remained rational. She knew the fact that Luca could confidently say Louis was not here meant he truly was not.
Both villas had the same layout, and considering Luke's family, there would not be enough bedrooms for a family of three. Even if there were, Louis would not be here now.
What was she searching for?
Did she really need to open each bedroom door and check the wardrobes for signs of their stay?
"Then help me contact Louis and find out where he is now." Susan was left with no choice. The most crucial thing at the moment was to know Louis' whereabouts.
Louis was nowhere to be found, and with the air getting so tense between them, she was hesitant to go to Louis' company. Susan knew that if she set foot in his office, it would only bring back memories. The mother and son would end up arguing again.
Luca was puzzled. She looked at Susan with incredulous eyes.
Susan wanted her to help find Louis?
If she had resumed her identity as Bianca, perhaps she could consider it, given her relationship as Louis' sister-in-law.
However, she had not publicly revealed her true identity yet, so she had no grounds to assist Susan in finding Louis.
Moreover, she did not even jot down Louis' phone number after she came back. There was not much communication between them either.
Even if Susan handed over Louis' phone number now, she felt it would be inappropriate to make the call.
"What's with that look?" Susan frowned, puzzled by why it seemed so difficult for Luca to make a simple phone call.
"Madam Mallory, I believe the matters between you and your son are best resolved on your own. It's not suitable for me, an outsider, to intervene," Luca expressed diplomatically, not wanting to make the call.
The call could be made by Susan, Old Master Crawford, and Luke, but not by her.
Luca was not particularly eager to have any contact with Louis at the moment.
The last time Louis brought Yuri to see Luke, she had noticed a wary look in Yuri's eyes when she glanced at her. It seemed like Yuri was on guard against her.
As for what she was guarding against, Luca had a good idea.
Those who did not know her true identity might think that her being with Luke like this was shameless. They probably assumed she was a mistress who was fond of seducing other people's husbands. Yuri's wariness was likely rooted in these suspicions.
Luca was more beautiful and charming than many other women because of her post-cosmetic-surgery appearance.
Yuri had valid reasons for being vigilant and concerned about the possibility of her seducing Louis.
Hence, Luca did not want to have too much contact with Louis now to avoid affecting the relationship between him and his wife.
Once she got back her true identity, Yuri would not have any reason to suspect her.