Chapter 934
Martin had some thoughts he kept to himself, but Jackson could read him like a book.
Jackson raised an eyebrow and smirked, "The Frane family has already embarrassed themselves enough."
With all the crap they've pulled, the Frane family owes Lillian and the kid more than they can ever repay.
If Taylor grew up and didn't want to acknowledge his heritage, as his father, Jackson, wouldn't have a word to say.
Martin had even less right to comment.
Seeing Jackson's determination, Martin knew that no matter what he said, his son wouldn't listen.
He turned to Lyra, "Mom, aren't you going to do something? Are you just going to let them mess around like this?"
Lyra was momentarily stunned; this wasn't what she had expected.
Of course, she hoped Jackson and Lillian would remarry soon and bring Taylor back to live with the Frane family.
Didn't Jackson want that, too?
He probably wanted it even more.
Letting Taylor take Lillian's last name, Kelly, was likely because Lillian had no intention of remarrying for now.
Thinking about the hardships the two kids went through during their marriage, especially that wedding that ended in nothing, Lyra could understand. Any woman would develop a fear of marriage after all that.
Jackson brought this on himself, so he deserved whatever he was going through now.
Anyway, her grandson was back, and that was enough for her.
Lyra, having thought it through, said to Martin, "What's wrong with the last name Kelly? He's still our blood, still your grandson. It doesn't matter if he takes his mom's last name or his dad's."
Martin felt his blood pressure spike again, and his vision blurred.
Seeing him frown and look at Lillian with a determined expression, Lyra's heart skipped a beat.
She patted Lillian's hand and stood up, "Taylor and Jackson are getting discharged tomorrow. Now that I know they're okay, I won't come by again."
Lillian nodded, "No need to pick us up, Grandma."
Lyra cheerfully hugged Taylor again before pulling Martin and Jeffrey out of the room.
Once they were out, Lyra turned to Martin, "Let's leave the naming issue as it is. Don't meddle anymore."
Martin's brow remained furrowed, "Mom, how can you call this meddling? Do you really want your great-grandson to have the last name Kelly?"
Lyra raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong with Kelly? It's unique, I like it."
The elevator doors opened, and the three of them stepped in. Martin still wore a stern expression.
Jeffrey chimed in, "Dad, I think Kelly is a great last name. Taylor will inherit Jackson's estate and the Kelly family's, too. It's a win-win, uniting two families without a fight."
Martin raised his hand and smacked the back of Jeffrey's head, "Mind your own business!"
Jeffrey rubbed his head, pouting, "How is it not my business? Taylor is my lifesaver. For his benefit, I have to cast my vote. Besides, your opinion doesn't matter to Jackson. He listens to Lillian."
Martin's face remained sour, but he didn't say anything more.
Lyra, feeling uneasy, turned to him again, "Don't go bothering Lillian about this. We have no right to interfere."
Martin grunted in acknowledgment.
Back in the hospital room.
After playing with everyone for a while, Taylor tilted his little head and fell asleep in Lillian's arms.
Lillian gently laid Taylor on the bed, patting his small shoulder to help him sleep more soundly.
She looked lovingly at Taylor's face and softly said to Jackson, "I think Taylor looks a bit more like me."
Maybe because kids' features aren't fully developed yet, and good-looking people tend to look similar.
Though Taylor was adorable with delicate features, it was hard to say if he looked more like Jackson or Lillian.
Hearing Lillian, Jackson lay down beside her.
He wrapped his arm around her, propping himself up to look at little Taylor nestled in her arms.
Jackson teased, "He clearly looks more like me."
Lillian didn't argue, "Yes, yes, like you."
Her thoughts drifted to what Jackson had mentioned earlier about a little girl who looked like Ambrose.
Then she thought of Calliope, who had caused a stir with Ambrose.
When Calliope debuted, she was stunning, hailed as the epitome of purity in the entertainment industry.
If those two had a baby, it would surely be beautiful.
Thinking of this, Lillian suddenly remembered seeing a beautiful woman in the children's play area when she went to pick up Lyra.
That young, pretty mom looked so familiar. Now she realized it was Calliope without makeup.
The little girl was named Phaedra Wall, so she must be Calliope's daughter.
But did she take her mom's last name, or did her dad also have the last name Wall?
Lillian then recalled Jackson mentioning a girl who looked like Ambrose.
A thought flashed through her mind.
"Is that right?"
Lost in thought, Lillian snapped back to reality when she heard Jackson's deep, magnetic voice.
She realized Jackson was holding her, his soft lips lingering near her ear.
But she hadn't heard what he said.
Excited, she let go of Taylor, turned to face Jackson, and grabbed his hospital gown, asking urgently, "That little girl you saw, how old is she? Is her name Phaedra?"
Jackson had been discussing with Lillian about taking a trip together after he was discharged, leaving Taylor at home.
Seeing her turn so excitedly, he thought she agreed, but she was focused on something else entirely.
He could handle losing to Taylor, but now even a stranger's kid was more important?
Feeling a bit frustrated, Jackson tightened his hold on Lillian, pressing his forehead against hers.
"Promise me first."
"Promise what? Just tell me, this is important! I think I've discovered a huge secret!"
Seeing her excited, flushed face, Jackson gritted his teeth.
"Lillian, you don't love me at all."
He let go and sat up, looking like he was about to leave, his back radiating loneliness.
Lillian was stunned. What did she do to make him think she didn't love him?
But seeing her Jackson suddenly so down, she knew she had to pamper him.
Besides, she really hadn't paid attention to what he had just said.
Lillian quickly climbed up, knelt on the bed, and hugged Jackson from behind.
She pressed her cheek against Jackson's lean waist, rubbing against his firm muscles through the thin hospital gown, and softly coaxed him.
"Who says I don't love you? I love you very, very much! Really!"
Jackson's body visibly tensed at her words.
He was feeling emotional, but he still didn't speak.
Seeing this, Lillian blushed slightly and continued.
"Lillian loves you the most, forever and ever."
She didn't see it, but from the moment she hugged him from behind, Jackson's lips had curled up.
Now, he was smiling so broadly that his perfect white teeth showed. His chest shook a few times as he suppressed the urge to laugh.
He turned his head, "So, did you promise me?"
Lillian hadn't heard what he wanted her to promise, but she knew Jackson wouldn't ask for anything unreasonable.
Plus, she was eager to know about the little girl.
She nodded quickly, "I promise, I promise! Now tell me about the little girl."
Jackson's lips curved up, "I don't know her name, but she looked about three or four years old. If you want to know more, I can call the hospital director to ask."
Lillian nodded immediately. Jackson reached for his phone, but Lillian couldn't wait.
"Never mind, you stay with Taylor. I'll go ask myself."
With that, she rushed out of the room.
She had a hunch that the girl who looked like Ambrose was definitely Calliope's daughter, the girl named Phaedra.
Four or five years ago, Calliope and Ambrose were rumored to be together, followed by Anouk targeting Calliope.
Calliope was blacklisted online, banned, and after clearing her name, she chose to leave the entertainment industry for good.
It was likely not because Calliope was disillusioned with the industry, but because she was pregnant.
When Lillian reached the doctor's office, the chief physician responsible for Taylor's case was there.
Seeing Lillian, she warmly stood up and greeted her.
"Ms. Kelly, what brings you here? Is there something wrong with Taylor? I'll check right away..."
She reached for her stethoscope, but Lillian quickly waved her hand.
"No, no, Taylor is fine. I just have something to ask you. Is it convenient now?"
Hearing that Taylor was fine, the chief physician relaxed and invited Lillian to sit down, offering to get her some water.
Lillian declined, and the doctor sat back down. "What would you like to know, Ms. Kelly?"
This was the Frane Group's hospital, and the chief had seen how the Frane family treated Lillian over the past few days. Not just Jackson, but even Lyra from the Frane family doted on Lillian, so she dared not be negligent.
Lillian smiled and asked, "I wanted to know if there's a patient named Phaedra, and if her mother is Calliope?"
The chief physician was momentarily surprised, not expecting Lillian to ask about this.
Although Calliope had been out of the spotlight for years, she had been a top-tier celebrity. When she brought her daughter here, there had been some private discussions among the staff.
The chief had paid special attention, especially since Phaedra was her patient.
She nodded, "Yes, Ms. Kelly, do you know Calliope?"
Hearing that the woman was indeed Calliope, Lillian's eyes lit up.
She nodded, "I know her, sort of."
They had met once, and Calliope had helped her. Lillian considered herself a half-fan of Calliope.
"Is Phaedra's father also named Wall?"
Lillian quickly added, "I know doctors aren't supposed to disclose patient information, but I need to confirm something. Don't worry, I'm not trying to pry into a celebrity's privacy or spread it around."
The chief smiled and reassured her, "No worries. Phaedra seems to be a single child; the father's name is blank on the admission form."
Lillian's heart raced, and she asked, "Do you have a photo of Phaedra? Can I see it?"
The chief shook her head, "I don't have one, but Calliope is very approachable. Several nurses asked for photos with her, and she didn't refuse. They might have pictures of Phaedra. Let me check."
She got up and left. Lillian, feeling bored, took out her phone and opened her chat with Ambrose, sending a sticker.
Ambrose replied quickly.
[Is Taylor asleep? He's getting discharged tomorrow, right?]
He knew that if Taylor wasn't asleep, Lillian wouldn't have time to chat.
Lillian smiled at his message and replied with a voice note.
"Taylor just fell asleep. He'll be discharged first thing tomorrow. Stop worrying about us. Has Grandpa not had time to set you up on a date? I met a girl here, beautiful, kind-hearted, talented, and strong yet gentle. I think she'd make a great aunt for Taylor. When can you come over? I'll set you two up."
As soon as she sent the voice note, the chief returned.
"I got it. I'll send it to you."
The chief smiled and nodded, tapping on her phone. Lillian's phone pinged with a notification.
She quickly opened it and saw two photos.
Lillian thanked the chief and eagerly opened the photos.
In one, Calliope stood between two nurses, posing for the camera.
On the bed beside them sat a little girl, flipping through a picture book.
The girl was only in the background, showing a side profile, but Lillian zoomed in, and her eyes widened.
The girl's side profile, even in the blurry outline, looked strikingly like Ambrose.
Lillian zoomed in further, but the features were still unclear.
She quickly opened the second photo, revealing a clear front view of the girl.
The chief stood beside her, explaining, "This is the nurse in charge of Phaedra's bed. Phaedra likes her, so they took a photo together."
Lillian nodded, staring at Phaedra's face, which resembled Ambrose's features by at least sixty or seventy percent, feeling a surge of excitement.
Oh my God.
She might have really discovered something big.
She turned to leave but stopped and asked the chief, "By the way, what illness does Phaedra have? Is it serious?"
She had noticed that in the photos, Phaedra looked pale and frail, her small face lacking color, and she seemed even thinner in the hospital gown.
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