A call from Logan interrupted Calix’s ti with Calliope. He was entertaining the little one’s questions about the purple flowers she saw by the lake.
"Yes?"
Calix’s smile dropped as soon as he heard Logan’s words.
"Boss Xu, your parents-in-law are here. The guards contacted us."
Trying to hold back his irritation, Calix hissed, "...when did they get here? How?"
"The Mo family invited them in. Still, I’m sure it’s just an excuse."
Calix refrained from sighing, understanding the aning behind Logan’s words.
Calix wanted to ban the Li family mbers from stepping inside the Mapleview Hills community but, doing so would raise suspicions. Both Rowan and Geoffrey had several friends living here.
Thus, the main guard post of the community was instructed to inform Graceville Manor if any of the Li family mbers ca. It seed like today was the day.
"Stay on guard. See whether they go to the Mo’s or co here."
"Yessir."
Calix lowered the phone from his ear. His gaze returned to Calliope whose round eyes openly staring at him. She twirled a few stalks of the purple flowers in her small hands.
"Poppy wanna give them to Mama?" Calix extended a hand, patting Calliope’s head covered with the helt.
"For Mama and Little Auntie Irene~ Hehe, petunia flowers!" Calliope grinned. She was happy to learn the na of these flowers.
"Yup, those are petunias."
Calix held the flowers as Calliope hopped onto her pink tricycle. Despite guessing Rowan and Bianca might co to Graceville Manor, he didn’t rush the little dumpling.
They slowly made their way to the deck. The sun showered upon them with its dazzling light.
Leslie and Irene seed to be too imrsed in their conversation. None of them noticed Calix and Calliope approaching the deck.
Exhaling a sigh, Calix had no choice but to warn Leslie of the possibility of Rowan and Bianca appearing here. They didn’t know Irene was here because the high school girl said Uncle Raymond was her friend’s family driver.
Calix and Calliope walked on the deck. Stopping just outside the pavilion, he called Leslie and Irene, "Ladies."
Leslie and Irene paused from conversing. Hearing his voice, they turned to look at Calix.
"Calix? Have you..."
"We might have uninvited guests."
Calix smiled bitterly as he cut Leslie off. His words baffled both ladies. They noticed the slight edge in his tone.
"Might? ...who?"
"Well, you’ll know soon."
Calix sighed. He loosened the tautness of his countenance. Lowering his eyes, he looked at the petunias in his hands before his gaze drifted to Calliope.
"Aaa~ Poppy wanna give petunias to Mama and Little Auntie!"
Grinning, Calliope took the flowers from Calix. She earned a pat on her head again before she walked closer to Leslie and Irene.
"For Mama and your little auntie?"
Leslie smiled at Calliope. The little one’s bright face was reflected in her eyes. She looked more adorable wearing the bunny helt.
"Hehe, yes~" Calliope nodded. She held up the flowers, the petals fluttering as she exclaid, "Pretty petunias for Mama and Little Auntie."
"Oh, thank you, Poppy!"
Leslie and Irene reached out for the petunias given by Calliope. The little dumpling chuckled, her chubby cheeks flushed in the pink color. She looked so proud to present the flowers to her mama and aunt.
"Let’s get inside. It’s hotter now."
Clapping his hands once, Calix pulled their attention back on him. Leslie and Irene were still intrigued by his words earlier yet, none of them asked him anything.
"I’ll help to clean up," Irene rose to her feet. She began to stack the dirty plates and bowls together.
"Poppy will help too~"
While Irene and Calliope worked together, Calix approached Leslie. Placing one hand on the back of the chair, he bent down slightly before whispering, "Logan said they’re here."
"...who?"
Blinking, Leslie stared at Calix in confusion. He mouthed the two nas.
’Rowan and Bianca.’
Stunned, Leslie darted her eyes away from Calix to Irene. Thankfully, he simply mouthed their nas. If not, Irene might still hear him over a whisper.
Taking in Leslie’s distracted look, Calix patted her back, "Let’s talk inside."
"...yes."
In a few minutes, the table was cleared of all dishes. Irene held the picnic basket while Calliope walked by her side, heading toward the manor. Calix and Leslie followed from behind.
Ring! Ring!
Halting in his tracks, Calix fished the phone out of his pants pocket. Leslie looked up from the wheelchair. She saw him frowning instinctively as if he disliked seeing the caller’s na.
"Is it him?" whispered Leslie, her countenance tensed.
"Yes," replied Calix curtly. His tone carried his displeasure.
Instead of rejecting the call altogether, Calix muted the phone. His eyes t Leslie’s.
"Should I kick them out? Or, do you want to et them?"
Leslie was quite surprised by Rowan and Bianca’s sudden appearance after a long ti. It seed like none of them could wait anymore despite getting warnings from Calix.
Well, she never foresaw this but...
Maybe this was for the best?
"I will et them..."
Leslie’s reply stunned Calix.
"...are you sure?"
"Yes."
Leslie didn’t mind eting Rowan, Bianca and the entire Li family after the Dragon Boat Festival. Yet, the husband and wife’s unforeseen presence itched her to speak her mind.
Of course, she wouldn’t let them see her precious daughter. None of them deserved the honor.
"Alright. I’ll tell Logan to let them in," Calix agreed despite feeling heavyhearted, "We need to tell Irene too."
"Yes..."
Calix continued pushing the wheelchair. Irene and Calliope had reached the side entrance of the manor. Both of them turned around to wave at him and Leslie.
"Mama~ Papa~ Hurry ah!"
Calliope’s shout was replied to by Calix.
"Coming!"
Calix and Leslie didn’t waste any ti as soon as they entered the manor. After telling Calliope to go with Aunt Wendy, they pulled Irene aside to talk about the unexpected guests’ identities.
Her countenance beca pale, Irene looked from Leslie to Calix alternatively, "You’ll et them?"
"We will..." Leslie nodded. Her eyes glimred with concern, "You don’t have to show yourself... to them, Irene... Leave it to us..."
Hesitating, Irene lowered her chin. She clenched and loosened her hands a few tis. Everything that Leslie had just told her this morning resurfaced in her mind.
"At least... let wait nearby. I won’t show myself to Mom and Dad..."
Irene’s pleas further worried Leslie but, she didn’t have the heart to object.
"Alright..."
Seeing that Leslie and Irene had reached a decision, Calix glanced at his phone. Rowan had been calling him for the third ti now. He also received a ssage from Logan, telling him about the husband and wife being outside the gate.
Ring! Ring!
Calix narrowed his eyes. This was Rowan’s fourth attempt to contact him. Leslie and Irene looked at him as he accepted the call.
Putting the call on the loudspeaker mode, Calix’s usually llow voice had a hint of a frost. He spoke to the caller, "You seed urgent to reach , Father-in-law."
"...Calix, are you busy? If you’re at ho, can we et?"
Leslie unconsciously hitched her breath. Listening to Rowan’s cautious tone churned her gut out of disgust.
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