Chapter 364 Alas, No Surprise to Be Seen
Aurelie blinked, gazing at Nathaniel before her. His broad shoulders tapered to a narrow waist, and his defined abs were clearly visible.
"Is this satisfactory?"
Aurelie's lips trembled. She didn't expect him to take off his shirt just because of her comment. She couldn't bear to look at him anymore. "Put your shirt back on. You might get thrown out for looking like a thug."
Nathaniel chuckled softly, opened the car door, and sat inside. "Want to get in?"
"You've been drinking; I'll drive," Aurelie said just as her phone rang from her bag.
She took it out and saw it was Griffin.
Aurelie quickly answered.
"Griffin, what's wrong?"
"Auntie, there's a burglar in the house. He says he's our grandfather."
Aurelie was shocked to hear about a thief entering the house. Even though Darian and Cecily weren't home, there were security guards and servants. How could a thief get in?
Aurelie felt a moment of panic but quickly steadied herself.
"Griffin, don't be afraid. Is there anyone else at home? No bodyguards or servants? Don't worry, I'm coming right over."
Aurelie spoke quickly, not daring to delay. She called the police while bending down to Nathaniel in the car. "I have to go. Don't drive since you've been drinking; call for a driver."
Nathaniel said nothing, watching Aurelie's hurried departure with a smile.
Hayden walked out of the hospital, glanced at Nathaniel's car, and approached, knocking on the window.
The window rolled down.
Hayden looked at him, bare-chested, and raised an eyebrow. "Playing the thug now?"
"I'm not like this with you," Nathaniel said, pulling a jacket from the back seat and putting it on.
Hayden handed him a cigarette, took one himself, leaned against the car, and lit it, smiling. "Are you serious or just playing around?"
Nathaniel arched a long eyebrow. "Does it matter?"
Hayden chuckled softly, "Lillian Lewis contacted me two days ago, asking about you. It sounds like she wants to come back."
Hayden patted the car a few times, smiled meaningfully, and then walked away.
Nathaniel's eyes darkened.
Meanwhile, at the Fitzgerald family's villa.
Rowan and Griffin held brooms as weapons, confronting the 'thief' who had broken into their home without any fear.
Bryan stood before them, scrutinizing them carefully. "I'm really not a child-stealing burglar."
Rowan pursed his lips. "No one would admit to being a burglar."
"Brother is right. We don't know you. You broke into our house and lied about not being a child-stealing burglar."
Griffin gripped the broom tightly, maintaining an aggressive stance toward Bryan.
"You may not know me, but I know you. One named Rowan, the other Griffin. Your mother is Cecily, your father Darian. Am I right?"
Griffin said, "Such a meticulous burglar, investigating everything so thoroughly."
Bryan, tired of the standoff, pulled up a chair and sat down.
"These aren't secrets; they can be found out easily." Rowan's face remained tense, his cold eyes full of vigilance.
Bryan raised an eyebrow.
These kids were indeed cautious.
He felt an inexplicable affection for them and thus had more patience. "Do you know Vivienne?"
They exchanged a glance. Cecily had told them that their grandmother's name was Vivienne, a fact known to very few.
Griffin asked, "Who exactly are you?"
Bryan thought for a moment. "Perhaps you should call me Grandpa."
They were the children of Vivienne's daughter, and Vivienne was their grandmother. It was only natural for them to call him "Grandpa, " as he was Vivienne's husband.
"Go on, call me Grandpa."
They continued to look at Bryan cautiously. "Are you Grandma's husband?"
"That's right."
"Mommy never mentioned you. If you were, she would have told us. So you can't be," Griffin concluded.
Cecily had only told them that they would meet their grandmother soon, but never mentioned a grandfather.
They couldn't confirm his identity.
Griffin raised his head. "You should leave. We've already called the police, and they'll be here soon."
Bryan felt a bit helpless. Children were the hardest to deal with, especially smart and cautious ones.
"What will it take for you to believe me?"
"We don't believe a word you say. Leave now." Griffin said confidently, holding the broom with one hand and standing with the other on his hip.
Rowan mimicked Griffin's stance, instantly boosting their combined aura.
The scene was somewhat comical.
Watching their antics, Bryan found them rather endearing and laughed heartily.
Having no other choice, Bryan called Vivienne. When she answered, Bryan put her on speakerphone. "Your two little grandsons won't come with me, insisting I'm a thief."
Vivienne was silent for a second, then chuckled. "They aren't wrong."
Bryan sat there, his tall figure appearing somewhat lonely and desolate.
Vivienne hung up and called back with a video call.
Bryan held the phone up to himself.
Vivienne looked at him disdainfully. "Let me see my grandsons."
Bryan, already feeling unappreciated, now understood what it meant to be unappreciated.
"Rowan, Griffin, I'm your grandmother." Vivienne's face softened with affection as she looked at the two adorable little ones.
Rowan and Griffin recognized her as soon as they saw the resemblance between Vivienne and Cecily. They took the phone from Bryan and tentatively called out, "Grandma?"
Hearing someone call her "Grandma" for the first time, Vivienne was overjoyed as she responded repeatedly.
Bryan watched as they chatted happily with Vivienne on the phone. He felt a pang of loneliness.
After they finished talking, Rowan and Griffin handed the phone back to Bryan and said decisively, "We'll go with you. Take us to Mommy, please."
Bryan smiled. "Am I still a burglar?"
"Sorry, we misunderstood you."
They formally apologized to Bryan, bowing deeply and showing great politeness.
Bryan was somewhat surprised by their formal apology. "Your mother raised you well. Let's go. You'll be staying with us for a while."
"What about our daddy?"
"I don't know," Bryan raised an eyebrow. "I guess your mom has other plans."
They were reluctant to leave Darian, but knowing from Vivienne that this was just a temporary separation, they would reunite with their dad once Cecily's eyes healed.
It was just a pity that the surprise Daddy had prepared for Mommy in the backyard would go unseen.
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