Chapter 97 Rowan Returns to Cecily's Side
Blaise frowned and drove off, pressing the accelerator to the floor.
For the duration of the trip, Blaise didn't speak to her. He was the type to brood alone, the kind that was difficult to console.
Cecily massaged her forehead as the car came to an abrupt halt outside her apartment building.
Just as she was about to step out of the car after thanking Blaise twice, his hand tightened around hers once more.
"Don't you dare say thank you." His voice was tinged with anger, assertive and forceful, while his gaze emanated an icy brilliance from the depths of his soul.
Cecily blinked, unsure of what she was supposed to say as she answered him in her head, 'Well done, this is what you're supposed to do?'
As Blaise watched Cecily's retreating figure, his rage nearly blew the roof off the car. "In what way is my temper bad?"
The cars behind them came to a halt, one after the other. Cassian, gazing at the dented love of his life - his car - was on the verge of embracing it, tears welling up. However, when he noticed Blaise's intense expression, he immediately tensed up. Realizing he was already within the reach of his boss's scrutiny, he knew it was futile to attempt an escape.
Blaise's icy stare slowly settled on him. The chill in the wind seemed to sweep straight through Cassian, freezing him to the spot despite his towering height, a cold sweat breaking out over him. "B-Boss... what's gotten into you?"
He was fine before they got into the car, now he looked like he was ready to tear down the heavens.
Blaise fixed him with a gaze as cold as ice and demanded, "Tell me, is my temperament really that bad?"
"Ah?" Cassian was taken aback, uncertain why his boss would suddenly ask such a question. It seemed his boss was unaware of his own temperament.
Cassian wanted to say, "Your temperament isn't just bad, it's terrible, the worst." But he didn't dare; judging by his boss's current mood, even if God himself showed up, he'd still say Blaise had the best temperament in the world.
He hastily answered, "Boss, I think you've got a pretty good temperament." As soon as the words left his mouth, Cassian almost wanted to slap himself; the remark felt excessively insincere.
Blaise seemed pensive, nodding as if to say he thought so too. His temper had clearly improved a lot lately.
Cassian couldn't help but twitch his mouth, unsure if such "deception" was appropriate.
Blaise looked up, his deep gaze fixated on the floor where Cecily had disappeared. If Cecily thought he had a bad temper, then maybe it was time to change. The dilemma, however, lay in the fact that he didn't know how to make that change.
Thinking it over made Blaise a bit annoyed. He was about to light up a cigarette, but then he paused, tossing the cigarette aside and instead instructed Cassian, "Go buy me a box of candy."
Cassian looked at his boss with an indescribable expression. It was surprising to see his tough, valiant boss suddenly interested in candy. That sweet stuff was usually more suited to girls.
Cassian couldn't shake the feeling that candy just didn't match his wise and mighty boss at all.
...
Cecily skillfully opened the door and returned home. She was tired, didn't want to deal with anything at the moment, and just wanted to lie down in her bed for a good night's sleep...
As she was deep in thought, Cecily suddenly felt her legs give way. Looking down, she saw a little one clinging to her. She called out in surprise, "Rowan?"
Rowan nodded and called back out to her, "Mommy."
Tears instantly welled up in Cecily's eyes. "Did Uncle Blaise bring you back?"
With a vigorous nod, Rowan said, "Missed you, Mommy."
Embracing her son for the first time after such hurried moments, Cecily murmured, "Rowan, Mommy missed you too. Does your injury still hurt? And how have you been at Dorde's?"
Rowan pressed his lips tightly together, shaking and then nodding his head as he replied, "Uncle and the others are nice, but it's not good without Mommy. Can I live with you from now on?"
Cecily saw a mixture of hope and fear in her son's eyes, which only made her heart ache more for the little guy.
Rowan's personality was the complete opposite of Griffin's. Griffin was sunny and outgoing, and could strike up a conversation with just about anybody. Contrastingly, as for Rowan, he had grown up in the Fitzgerald family where everyone had called him a bastard. He was even bullied and everyone despised him. After five years in that toxic environment, it was natural that he would be fearful, insecure, and overcautious.
Cecily reproached herself for not knowing about her child sooner to spare him this suffering.
She nodded firmly, reassuring Rowan, "Of course, you can always live with Mommy."
Though his expression remained tentative, a gleaming joy sparkled in his eyes as he hugged Cecily. "Thank you, Mommy."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Cecily couldn't suppress her tears as she came to the realization that the boy was expressing gratitude for something that should have been rightfully his all along. It seemed as though she considered allowing him to live with her as a profound gift she was granting him.
Her heart stung painfully as she responded, "Sweetheart, no thanks are necessary. It's what should've been from the start."
...
At the Fitzgerald family residence, Darian's mood had been sour all day since the morning's disruption.
The household staff tiptoed around, meticulously cleaning without making a sound, for fear of disturbing the already upset Darian.
Larkin had been busy all day following a lead from Darian, who had tasked him with investigating a boy named "Griffin." With the world full of people sharing that name, the search was far from easy. After looking through an exhaustive list of Griffins, none seemed to have any connection to Cecily.
When Larkin reported back to Darian, the latter pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes betraying his fatigue.
It seemed that each man Cecily associated with was shrouded in mystery.
Darian was battling a headache when the front door burst open, and Griffin bounced in, humming a tune. Griffin kicked off his shoes, discarded his bothersome backpack, and hugged his beloved laptop tightly as he made his way to his room.
Darian watched the youngster's carefree ways with narrowed eyes. The boy had been spending a lot of time with Cecily and seemed to have adopted her overly lively character.
"Rowan!" Darian called out sternly.
Griffin instantly froze, craning his neck from the staircase toward the living room, startled to find Darian at home at this hour. This was bad!
Lifting his head to check the time, Darian's expression grew stern. "Come here."
Griffin's lips puckered into a pout as he sluggishly made his way over.
Just as Darian was about to question him, he noticed that the little guy had stuffed gauze into his nostrils, looking quite disheveled.
"What happened there?" Darian asked with a frown.
Griffin touched his nose and his large eyes darted around. "Just bumped it by accident," he said.
Darian's first thought was that the child had gotten into a fight at school, but knowing Rowan, he wasn't the type to brawl.
Seeing that the youngster had no other injuries, Darian believed him. Bumps and bruises were common for children, after all.
However, coming home at this time was definitely not normal.
"School isn't out yet," Darian pointed out.
Griffin's eyes whirled as he scrambled for an excuse. "School let out early today," he replied.
Darian narrowed his eyes, doubtful. "Larkin," he called.
Larkin glanced at the little guy and immediately got the hint. He pulled out his smartphone to confirm with the schoolteacher.
Seeing Larkin on the phone, Griffin clenched the hem of his shirt and hurriedly said, "Don't call... Actually, I wasn't feeling well today, so I came home early."
"Where do you feel uncomfortable?"
Griffin clutched his stomach, hastening to say, "I have a headache."
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