Chapter 257 Uncanny Resemblance to Aaron
Ebenezer studied Jacob, who was chuckling affectionately at the three children, and wondered if he knew their true identities. Was Aaron deliberately keeping this information from his own grandfather? And if so, why? The situation intrigued Ebenezer greatly.
"What brings you to Houston?" Jacob asked, a smile playing on his lips.
Ebenezer quickly regained his composure. "Uncle Gordon, I came to see you."
"I had the impression you were here to give Aaron a piece of your mind! Considering how he disappointed Suzy," Gordon retorted, casting a stern look at Aaron who was a short distance away.
Ebenezer's gaze followed Gordon's. Aaron was busy entertaining the three children. He chuckled, "Uncle Gordon, the kids are all grown up, they have their own minds. I don't interfere with young people's relationships."
At this, Gordon responded, "But I was really hoping our families could become even closer. They're too young to just do what they please, right?"
Ebenezer continued to smile. "Uncle Gordon, you can't force someone to be sweet. Don't turn two young people into a couple full of resentment. We should respect their wishes."
Jacob eyed him suspiciously. "Why are you so open-minded? You make me sound like a tyrant."
"How could that be? You're the most clear-sighted elder I know."
"Are you mocking me?"
"Wouldn't dare."
A short distance away, the three children, who were being fed fruit by Aaron, were curious about Ebenezer's identity. When they overheard the mention of strengthening family ties, they quickly grasped Ebenezer's connection to them.
"Uncle Gordon, is he the dad of your former girlfriend?" Alex asked.
Aaron glanced at him, his expression turning somewhat stern. "Just for the record, Suzy is not my ex-girlfriend; don't let your mommy get the wrong idea."
The three children were silent. Jacob really knew how to look out for himself!
"It looks like this grandpa didn't come to arrange a marriage for you," Billy whispered.
Aaron's eyebrows arched, and he smiled without a word. It seemed that way. He was quite curious about what brought Ebenezer to Houston in the first place.
"Come here," Ebenezer said, noticing the trio sneaking glances at him and waving them over.
The three children looked at Aaron, who nodded his head, signaling them to go over. They obediently walked up to Ebenezer.
Ebenezer, looking at their delicate features, asked softly, "How old are you?"
"Four and a half," Alex spoke for the group.
"You're really good-looking," Ebenezer complimented sincerely. When they were with Aaron, they actually looked like a father with his kids. Could this be fate?
"Not only are they good-looking, but they're incredibly smart, especially these two brothers here, they have such high IQs," Gordon bragged as he approached, looking proud as if the three were his great-grandchildren.
"Really?" Ebenezer chuckled, not taking it too seriously.
Jacob said, "If you don't believe it, throw out any problem, even a math Olympiad problem."
Ebenezer was surprised. "Can solve math Olympiad problems? Are they really that smart? Well, I'll have to test you guys."
Jacob had someone fetch some paper and a pencil. "Go ahead, test us."
Ebenezer thought for a moment and posed a math problem. The two brothers glanced at it and found it too easy. Within minutes, they had finished, writing furiously. Their work was both fast and accurate, which only added to Ebenezer's astonishment.
He then presented them with two more difficult problems, but still, they were not stumped. Ebenezer couldn't help exclaiming, "They're so smart, they remind me of Aaron as a child. He was just as clever."
Hearing this, Jacob glanced at Aaron, who was holding Samantha, and sighed, "Yeah, I miss those days too. He was so bright and obedient back then, not like now..."
Aaron said nothing, holding Samantha like a statue.
Ebenezer, with a sly grin, asked the brothers, "What else can you do?"
"We can do a lot – shooting, taekwondo, judo..." Billy listed like he was reciting treasures.
Ebenezer, excited, asked, "Who taught you?"
Alex and Billy instinctively looked at Aaron. Aaron raised an eyebrow and gave them a glance, prompting Alex to recover quickly.
"We learned by watching videos on our own."
They obviously wouldn't say he was the one who had taught them.
"Come on, show me a few moves, and I might give you some pointers," Ebenezer suggested, eagerly engaging. Before he had been discharged from the military, he had some martial arts training and still considered himself sharp.
Obediently, the brothers went to the villa's courtyard and performed a set of taekwondo moves.
Ebenezer observed their execution of the moves with a professional finesse that took him aback once more.
After offering a few pointers, he found himself genuinely impressed by the combination of intelligence and physical prowess these children possessed. Their youth was the only hindrance, preventing them from fully harnessing their strength in some of the maneuvers.
Samantha, after watching for a while, tugged on Aaron's sleeve, expressing her desire to play in the courtyard.
Jacob observed Aaron's interaction with Samantha, his heart a whirlpool of emotions. The young man clearly had a fondness for children, which led Gordon to wonder why he hadn't yet settled down and started a family of his own.
Ebenezer spent some time practicing with the brothers, the exertion causing all three to break into a sweat.
He found himself growing increasingly fond of the brothers, a sentiment that seemed odd given his rather stern exterior. His youth had been a tumultuous journey through conflict, leaving him with an aura of solemnity that persisted even now.
Children usually regarded him with a sense of awe, yet these three were unafraid. Their fearlessness endeared them to him even more. Perhaps it was because they were his grandchildren.
"Alright, look at how sweaty you've all gotten. Housekeeper, please take them to have a bath and change into the new clothes I bought for them," Jacob interjected from the sidelines.
The housekeeper promptly stepped forward, acknowledging the instruction. The brothers, however, seemed uneasy at the mention of changing clothes.
"Grandpa, we don't need to change clothes," Alex protested.
"Nonsense, what's this 'don't need to'? If you're sweaty and you don't change, you could catch a cold. Go and bathe quickly; don't get sick," Jacob retorted, dismissing any objections and signaling for the housekeeper to escort the children to their baths.
The new clothes he had purchased would finally be put to use, a prospect that filled him with joy.
As the housekeeper led the brothers away, Ebenezer accepted a towel from an assistant to wipe off his sweat. He watched Jacob's cheerful demeanor, a stirring sensation in his heart.
"Uncle Gordon, it seems you really enjoy these three kids," he commented.
Jacob nodded, "Such adorable children, who wouldn't love them?"
Ebenezer chuckled, probing, "Indeed. I wonder what kind of parents can bear such adorable children."
He was testing the waters, curious if Jacob knew these children were Nora's.
"I asked before, their parents are ordinary folks, but they seem to have good genes," Jacob shared, evidently still in the dark about their true parentage. Aaron had managed to keep it a secret.
Ebenezer watched as Aaron cradled Samantha on his lap in her wheelchair, moving slowly towards them, his gaze thoughtful.
"Uncle Gordon, don't you think these three kids bear a strong resemblance to Aaron?"
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