The Li family didn’t stay long. At slightly over nine, all of them got ready to leave. Old Madam Li couldn’t stand being up until late while Irene had school tomorrow.
"Thank you again for having us," Rowan’s eyes wandered to everyone before settling on Andrian and Harper, "I’ll invite you to a al once you return from your next travel."
Rowan and Bianca were awed hearing how adventurous and carefree Andrian and Harper’s life was right now. Their son-in-law’s parents spent their retirent indulging in their shared passion.
Andrian and Harper didn’t limit their travel only to visiting places where the wealthy flocked to. They entered the wilderness, seeking the beauty of nature even in the most remote places.
"Let’s do that," Andrian nodded, being polite to his new in-laws, "We’ll head to South East Asia next. We might spend three months or more there."
Calix quietly listened to his parents and parents-in-law’s conversation before subtly glancing to where his wife was standing.
Leslie seed calr than before. Instead of achieving peace, she looked as if she simply resigned to her fate.
Unable to hold himself back, Calix wondered if Leslie decided to give up on her relationship with her parents. It was purely an assumption of his but, it might not be far from the truth.
"See you again. Have a safe trip ho."
"Farewell. Until we et again."
After the Li family’s car left, Evelyn escorted Old Madam Xu inside. Vernon carried the sleepy Alia, followed by Lucille. Andrian and Harper stood there a mont longer before saying good night to Calix.
"Aren’t you going inside?" asked Leslie, approaching Calix once they were left alone. Her eyes were directed to where the car’s red taillights disappeared in the dark.
Without looking at Leslie, Calix muttered, "Your father told sothing earlier. You’re with Eve and Irene at that ti."
Leslie blinked, jogging her mory. She recalled the one ti Calix and Rowan went out of the drawing room. It happened shortly after Evelyn and Irene took photos together.
Rowan wanted to go to the washroom. Instead of asking for a maid to show him the way, Calix personally escorted the middle-aged man there.
"What did he tell you? About Sarah?"
Calix glanced at their surrounding. No one was in sight but, it was still risky to talk to Leslie on the front porch.
"Let’s go to my room."
Leslie nodded, understanding what Calix ant. The night was still early. If they were not being careful, a passing house staff or bodyguard might hear or see him talking into the air.
As they walked down the hallway, Calix and Leslie only saw Butler Gu and a few helpers. Old Madam Xu, Andrian, Harper and the rest might have retreated to their own rooms. The clock was nearing nine-thirty.
Calix closed the bedroom door, watching Leslie heading to the balcony. He noticed that she liked sitting on the swing chair, either when reading novels or doing nothing.
"So, what did he say?"
Curling on the swing chair on the left side, Leslie stared at Calix. He dimd the light of the balcony, limiting other people’s eyesight if they chanced a look at the balcony.
"He talked a bit about that maid and also about his next move."
Calix sat closely to the right side, leaning against its plush cushion. Only a little distance separated him from Leslie. His gaze skimd over her curious look. The mild breeze gently tousled her long hair.
"That maid will be put on trials soon. But, that’s not important. You already know it from Irene."
Leslie humd, agreeing with Calix. Irene contacted him twice after Rowan and Bianca dumped Sarah to the authorities. As a spy, she spared nothing when relaying the information.
The Li family was in an uproar because of Rowan’s actions. Old Madam Li and Geoffrey protested, emphasizing how this scandal could ruin their family.
The old woman was shut up by her ek eldest daughter-in-law. Bianca’s threats against Old Madam Li worked.
"He has just discussed this with your mother," Calix withdrew his eyes from Leslie, throwing them to the clear night sky, "I think they haven’t told Irene about it."
Calix’s words piqued Leslie’s interest further. He sounded as if Rowan had just shared so sort of big news.
"What? Calix, tell ah. What did they discuss?"
Leslie sprang up, intently watching Calix who broke into laughter. A smirk graced his handso face, oozing his fox-like charm. His next words shocked her.
"Your parents have decided to move out. Perhaps next month."
Leslie’s jaw dropped. Her first thought was Calix playing tricks on her. His chuckles cast doubt in her heart but, she was inclined to believe him this ti.
"...is it true? Move out? Move out from that house?"
"Yup," Calix nodded, faint laughter lacing his tone, "Your father didn’t tell much about it. But, I think this is a good move. Your family won’t be too restricted by your grandmother if they lived elsewhere."
"Oh... that’s good. Yes, they should do that."
Trailing off, Leslie was imrsed in her pool of thoughts.
This was an unexpected move coming from Rowan. He was known as a pushover, always bending his back to cater to his mother and younger brother’s nonsensical demands.
By taking his wife and daughter out of that house, Rowan would inevitably create a distance between his family and the ones in the Li family’s ancestral ho.
Doing so allowed a certain degree of freedom to them.
"Then, how about Irene? Does she need to change school?" asked Leslie, reminded of the high school girl.
"Perhaps not," Calix shrugged, unsure about that, "If they find a house nearby, she doesn’t have to transfer school. Anyway, your parents haven’t told Irene so, let’s wait until they do that."
"...right."
Leslie nodded, her gaze turning blank. Calix didn’t interrupt her. It was obvious she hadn’t gotten over her surprise.
Sitting in silence, Calix recalled the rest of his talk with Rowan. He didn’t reveal everything to Leslie, thinking that there was no need for that.
His father-in-law’s despondent look was full of remorse. He thanked Calix for finding the truth behind Leslie’s accident. His shaky voice carried the tremors of guilt.
"...your action made reflect on my incompetency as a father. And... also toward my wife."
Calix roughly guessed the shock behind Leslie’s accident smacked so sense into Rowan. Even though he was still frustrated by the latter’s actions all this ti, it was not his place to condemn the middle-aged man.
"Father, use this chance to change yourself for the better. Mother and Irene need you. You should protect them. As for Charlene, I’ll take care of her so, don’t worry."
Calix noticed the change in Rowan’s expression. His eyes were glossed with unshed tears. Suppressed sobs slipped out of his mouth.
"I will... I will change. I want to reconcile with Charlene. I want to make it up for her... for everything I have done her wrong."
"Yes, you should. But, don’t ever pressure her to accept your gesture. Whether she wants to reconcile with you or not, I believe the decision is up to her."
"...I will do that."
Calix was relieved to see Rowan agreeing with him. From now on, it was ti to see the changes his father-in-law promised to make.
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