Chapter 640 Beatrice Arrives
"Mr. Valdemar! Mrs. Valdemar! BoBo, CiCi, I'm here!" Beatrice's cheerful, excited voice rang out across the beach.
Albert's expression darkened momentarily before he quickly composed himself.
Yvette had been worried that Albert's attitude might upset Beatrice, but she was surprised to see him regain control of his emotions so quickly.
She shot him an approving glance and waved toward Beatrice. "Over here!"
BoBo and CiCi were deep in their sandcastle construction when they heard Beatrice's voice. Both children looked up simultaneously, their faces filled with disbelief.
" Grace!"
They scrambled to their feet and ran toward her, their eyes lighting up with joy at seeing a familiar face in this foreign place.
Their hands were covered in sand, but in their excitement, they forgot all about it and threw themselves at Beatrice. She didn't mind in the least, wrapping them both in a warm embrace. "BoBo, CiCi, did you miss me?"
"Yes!" The children looked at her with puzzled expressions. "Ms. Grace, how did you get here?"
Beatrice glanced up to find Albert staring at her with the same question written across his face. She felt her nerves spike.
Ruffling the children's hair, she offered an awkward explanation. "I came to keep you company, of course."
Albert's brow furrowed, displeasure etched clearly on his features. Beatrice looked between him and the children, clearly wanting to say more but holding back.
Sensing that Beatrice needed to explain herself privately, Yvette quickly addressed the children. "BoBo, CiCi, how's your sandcastle coming along?"
"We're not finished yet, Mommy," BoBo replied.
"Yeah, we just started," CiCi added.
"Well then, go finish it. When you're done, I'll take pictures and send them to Seraphina so she can tell you what a great job you did. How does that sound?"
Both children nodded eagerly and ran back to their sandcastle, hand in hand.
Beatrice watched them go, and once she was sure they were absorbed in their game, she turned back to Albert with a cautious explanation. "Mr. Valdemar, I was given an assignment to come here and help with BoBo and CiCi."
Albert's voice was ice-cold. "An assignment? From whom?"
Beatrice couldn't very well reveal her source, so she tried to deflect. "I'm here to watch the children so you and Mrs. Valdemar can have some quality time together."
Before she could finish, Albert cut her off with a sharp question. "Grandmother sent you, didn't she?"
Beatrice lowered her eyes, unable to meet his gaze.
"I didn't say that," she mumbled.The Valdemar Estate
Afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow across the room.
Cheryl reclined on the cream leather sofa, her hands folded across her chest, a barely perceptible smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
Her fingers drummed lightly against the armrest in a steady rhythm, as if she were plotting something.
A maid entered carrying a silver tray and approached Cheryl. "Mrs. Valdemar, I've brought you some refreshments."
"Thank you," Cheryl replied softly.
The maid arranged the delicate pastries on the tray before setting it within Cheryl's reach.
Noticing her employer's pleased demeanor, she made casual conversation. "You seem to be in good spirits. Did Beatrice have good news?"
Cheryl lifted her coffee cup, taking a delicate sip of the rich brew, her lips curving upward. "She's just checking in for now. She found the children."
"That's wonderful," the maid smiled. "With Beatrice taking care of the children, Mr. Albert Valdemar and Mrs. Yvette Valdemar can focus on each other, just as you planned. Maybe baby number three isn't far off."
"Exactly." Cheryl paused, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. "Their relationship is already strong. As long as the children sleep with Beatrice, a third grandchild is just around the corner. Albert has never let me down."
The maid nodded approvingly. "Mr. Valdemar has always excelled at everything since he was young. He won't disappoint you."
Cheryl nodded slightly, her gaze drifting through the window as if seeing beyond the present moment. "As long as they're happy, I can rest easy. Hayden would be at peace too."
Seeing Cheryl lost in thought, the maid knew she was thinking of her late husband again.
Albert had been Hayden's favorite grandson, and his happiness was the key to Cheryl's peace of mind—her way of honoring Hayden's memory.
The maid quietly refilled Cheryl's coffee cup just as her phone began to ring. It was a video call from Albert.
The moment she answered, Albert's cold, accusatory voice filled the room. "Grandmother, don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
Cheryl had expected a thank-you call, not this confrontational tone. Her temper flared instantly as she brought the phone closer to her face, making sure he could see her displeasure.
"An explanation? What exactly does an old woman like me need to explain to you?" Albert's voice was arctic. "You sent someone to interfere with our family vacation. That's completely inappropriate."
Cheryl shot up from the sofa, indignant. "Interfere? What nonsense are you spouting? Do I look like someone who would be that thoughtless?"
"What else would you call it?" Albert stared at her through the screen, his voice steady and cold. "This was supposed to be a family trip for the four of us. Instead, you used your influence to pressure my assistant and sent someone to disrupt our time together. If that's not thoughtless, what is?"
"You foolish boy!" Cheryl was practically shaking with rage, barely restraining herself from pointing an accusatory finger at the screen. "If BoBo and CiCi are with you every second, sleeping in your room, this whole trip will be a complete waste!"
Albert started to respond, but Cheryl was on a roll, not giving him a chance to get a word in. "How did your grandfather and I end up with such a dense grandson? Yvette already agreed to try for baby number three, and here you are playing happy family of four!"
Cheryl was practically hissing into the phone now, her voice a furious whisper. "You clearly didn't inherit an ounce of your grandfather's charm with women. Otherwise, how do you think I managed to have so many children while you're stuck at two? Are you even trying, Albert?"
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