Chapter 937
"I'm just friends with her. Setting up friends on a date is really weird. Don't try to match us up, it's not appropriate." Ambrose snapped out of his daze and immediately refused.
He didn't have time for a relationship right now, nor did he plan to start one. The Kelly Group had just taken a major hit, and getting back on track wouldn't be quick.
Lillian had originally intended to tell Ambrose directly that Calliope's daughter might be his. But hearing Ambrose guess it was Calliope right away, she decided to hold off. With her woman's intuition, she was sure Ambrose had feelings for Calliope. So why worry about him not coming over?
Lillian sighed and said, "Calliope's been sick and is in the hospital. She doesn't look well. But she seems to have a suitor, quite handsome and charming. He brings her flowers every day. I've seen him several times. Calliope seems patient with him; they chat and laugh. Ambrose, if you're interested in Calliope, you'd better act fast, or you might miss your chance."
Lillian finished speaking and held her breath, listening to Ambrose's reaction. Sure enough, she heard Ambrose's breathing falter, and she thought she heard a soft laugh. She turned around, unable to hold back her amusement. She wanted to see if Ambrose could resist.
Jackson, standing by the hospital bed, had already woken Taylor. He raised an eyebrow at Lillian, as if to say she was being mischievous, teasing Ambrose with made-up stories. Lillian winked at him playfully and turned on the speakerphone. Ambrose's clear voice filled the room.
"I saw her a few days ago at the hospital in Seaspring Valley City. She looked fine. Are you sure she's hospitalized?"
Lillian was taken aback. She hadn't expected Ambrose to have seen Calliope recently. Her lie was exposed. But Lillian quickly regained her composure.
"Ambrose, you noticed how Calliope looked, and you still say you're not interested? She really is in the hospital. Want me to take a picture for you?"
Calliope had run into Ambrose at the hospital in Seaspring Valley City a few days ago, probably because Phaedra was hospitalized. Now Phaedra had been transferred to Miracalia, likely to avoid Ambrose. If Phaedra had nothing to do with Ambrose, Lillian wouldn't believe it.
"No need. You said she's being taken care of. Taking pictures without permission isn't right. We're not at the stage of caring for each other."
Lillian stifled a laugh and replied, "Alright then, I've told you the situation. I won't keep you. Taylor's awake and wants his mom."
Lillian walked over to Jackson and started playing with Taylor. "Taylor, say uncle."
Since Taylor started calling her mom, Lillian had been teaching him to talk. Taylor had been neglected and abused before, and Lillian worried he might have psychological issues, maybe mild autism. But observing him these past few days, Taylor seemed fine, with a big heart and no apparent problems. Taylor adapted quickly and had already bonded with his parents. Lillian taught him to speak, and he eagerly tried to mimic her.
"Uncle!"
Lillian repeated, and Taylor's little mouth moved.
"Unkle."
His rosy lips pouted.
Lillian laughed and corrected him.
"Not unkle, it's uncle!"
"Unkle," little Taylor repeated.
Ambrose, on the other end, was delighted, "Taylor can say uncle now! So cute. Wait for me, I'll bring a big gift for Taylor when I get to Miracalia."
After hanging up, Lillian took Taylor from Jackson's arms, kissed his soft cheek, and asked Jackson, "Do you think Ambrose has feelings for Calliope?"
They say men understand men best, and she wanted Jackson's opinion.
Jackson's lips curved slightly, "He'll be in Miracalia within the next two days. Whether it's today or tomorrow depends on how eager he is."
Lillian chuckled, "You men are so silly. Clearly interested, but pretending not to be."
Jackson pursed his lips, wanting to say he wasn't like that; she couldn't generalize. But remembering their two years of marriage, where he never talked about feelings, he felt guilty.
He nodded, "It is silly. Don't worry, I'll learn from this and never do it again."
Lillian was satisfied with his response. She pointed to the kid in her arms, "Make sure to pass on your lessons to your son."
She didn't want her future daughter-in-law to suffer.
The next day, Taylor was set to be discharged early. The doctor came for rounds in the morning, did a quick check-up, and confirmed everything was fine.
Lillian had had enough of the hospital. As soon as the doctor left, she took off Taylor's hospital gown and dressed him up nicely.
She was bending over, buttoning Taylor's shirt, when a familiar, kind voice sounded behind her.
"My sweet grandson, let grandpa and grandma hold you!"
Lillian turned around in surprise and saw Oberon leading the way, with Ambrose helping Flora, and the group entering together.
"Grandpa! Grandma! Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I could've picked you up at the airport!"
And arriving so early, they must have gotten up in the middle of the night to catch a flight.
Lillian's expression showed concern. Ambrose stepped forward to explain.
"We arrived last night. It was late, so I took grandpa and grandma to Mystic Meadows to rest."
Lillian, hearing they had arrived yesterday, glanced at Ambrose.
Ambrose felt her gaze was odd, but it didn't seem like she was angry that he had secretly brought Oberon and Flora to Miracalia.
Feeling inexplicably nervous, Ambrose watched as Lillian turned her attention to Flora.
Oberon had wanted to see Taylor for a long time, but the chaos with the Lawson family in Seaspring Valley City had kept him there. The group couldn't rely solely on Ambrose, fearing something might go wrong.
Oberon had to stay in Seaspring Valley City as a figurehead, but he video-called Taylor every day.
Seeing Taylor now, Oberon was delighted but worried Taylor might be shy.
To his surprise, Taylor recognized Oberon as the white-haired grandpa who played with him on the screen. His big eyes curved into a smile, and he clapped his little hands, calling out sweetly.
"Grandpa! Grandpa!"
Oberon responded loudly, even though Taylor was calling him "grandpa" like his mom did, instead of "great-grandpa." Oberon knew Taylor was referring to him, and his eyes reddened with emotion.
He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Flora to sit beside him, pointing at her to teach Taylor to say "great-grandma."
Taylor stared at Flora, blinking his big eyes in confusion. Taylor had been spending a lot of time with Lyra lately, and he probably couldn't understand why his great-grandma looked different. But he liked this great-grandma, too.
"Grandma," Taylor called out sweetly to Flora, his pronunciation perfect.
It was the first time Lillian had heard Taylor call someone other than "mom" so clearly. He still struggled with "dad."
She knelt in front of Flora and said, "Grandma, Taylor really likes you."
Flora's eyes sparkled as she looked at Taylor and said to Lillian, "Ophelia, you must take good care of yourself! Only by taking care of yourself can you take good care of the baby. A child without a mother is so pitiful."
Lillian was taken aback. Flora had rarely called her Ophelia since remembering her real name. But now, she was mistaking Lillian for Ophelia again.
Lillian's eyes reddened slightly. She knew Flora was probably reminded of Ophelia's difficult childbirth when she saw Taylor. Back then, Ophelia's health was already poor, and Flora was always worried she might pass away, leaving the child behind. And indeed, Ophelia didn't last two years after giving birth. It was a lifelong pain for Flora.
"I'm very healthy. Look at my complexion, don't I look well?" Lillian said, placing Flora's hand on her cheek. Her cheeks were rosy, and her eyes were bright.
Flora, confused, couldn't reconcile the healthy, vibrant Ophelia before her with the sickly one in her memories. But it was a wonderful thing, and Flora was overjoyed. Her wrinkled fingers gently caressed Lillian's smooth, soft cheeks, trembling as she said with teary eyes, "Good, good, you must stay healthy!"
Lillian nodded, and Flora let go of her, suddenly turning to Jackson, who was standing nearby, and sternly said, "You, come here!"
Jackson obediently stepped forward and knelt by Flora's feet. "Grandma, what do you need?"
Before he could finish, Flora frowned and smacked him on the head.
"Don't call me grandma! What's wrong with you? Call me mom!"
Jackson was speechless. With Oberon and Lillian right there, how could he call Flora "mom"?
He looked helplessly at Oberon, feeling more lost than ever.
Oberon nodded at him, "Call her, what are you waiting for?"
With Oberon's approval, Jackson turned to Flora and said, "Mom, I'm listening. What do you need to tell me?"
Flora scrutinized him for a moment, seemingly satisfied, and earnestly instructed him, "You must be good to Ophelia. She's not in good health, and childbirth was hard on her. You must be gentle and caring with her. No excuses!"
Flora's face turned pale with anger as she pounded her leg, her expression furious.
Lillian quickly soothed her, "Don't be angry, don't worry. He treats me very well. I haven't been mistreated."
Jackson also held Flora's hand, "I promise to treat her well, love her, protect her, and be loyal to her. You can supervise me. If I ever fall short, you can hit me like you just did."
His sincere and serious expression seemed to convince Flora, and her anger subsided.
She placed Lillian's and Jackson's hands together, "Husband and wife must support each other. Now that you have a child, it's even more important."
Lillian and Jackson nodded together, and Flora finally smiled. She looked at Oberon with satisfaction, "Oberon, Ophelia is healthy and happy. Am I dreaming?"
Oberon patted her hand and placed Taylor in her arms, "It's not a dream. Smell the baby if you don't believe it."
Flora hugged Taylor and kissed him, inhaling the baby's sweet scent. She smiled, her face full of deep wrinkles.
Oberon turned away, suppressing his emotions, and then looked at Jackson and Lillian.
"I've chosen two names for Taylor. I can't decide which one. You two can choose."
Lillian perked up immediately. Oberon took two folded pieces of paper from his pocket and handed them to Lillian and Jackson.
Lillian unfolded her paper and saw the name "Ethan" written on it. She glanced at Jackson's paper, which read "Felix."
Both names were nice and meaningful.
Lillian looked at Jackson and asked, "Which one do you like?"
Jackson looked at her, "I like them both. It's up to you."
Lillian took Jackson's paper and looked at both names again, feeling a bit indecisive.
Seeing her frown, Oberon smiled and said, "Ethan Frane, Felix Frane. You're Taylor's mom, you choose."
Jackson's head snapped up, "Frane?"
Lillian also looked up, "Grandpa?"
She had assumed Oberon would want Taylor to take the Kelly surname, especially since she and Jackson hadn't remarried yet.
Oberon saw their reactions but remained calm. He had considered having Taylor take the Kelly name, given the Kelly family's dwindling lineage. But he also had to consider Lillian's situation.
The Kelly family's lineage was thin, but the Frane family wasn't exactly flourishing either. Jackson had a younger brother, but he was still very young. For the next decade, Taylor would be the only grandchild in the Frane family.
Jackson and Lillian seemed destined to be together for life and would eventually remarry. Taylor would eventually acknowledge his Frane heritage, so why make things difficult?
It was better to be generous, which might also encourage Jackson to treat Lillian well. And since Taylor's troubles stemmed from Ruby's actions within the Kelly family, and Jackson had been injured rescuing Taylor, Oberon felt he had no right to insist on the Kelly name.
"Do you have any objections?" Oberon asked.
Jackson, though pleased with Oberon's decision, looked at Lillian. This matter was ultimately up to her.
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