Chapter 194 Engagement Banquet
Chapter 194 Engagement Banquet
Fiona was speechless. Then it seemed like she realized something.
" Grandma seems fixated on, now she's got her heart set on me getting married, and she's even considering someone from Chicago! I've got to have a serious talk with her!"
Charles' lips pressed into a thin line as he pondered for a moment.
"It seems like it was Chicago who brought it up first," he said.
Fiona was slightly confused. "She brought it up?"
"Yup," Charles nodded, "Chicago really liked the uncle who bought her painting last time. She probably wants to set you two up."
After saying this, Charles lifted his eyelids, watching Fiona quietly, as if gauging her reaction.
Fiona's face was a picture of shock, "She wants... wants that uncle to be her dad?"
Charles nodded again.
Then he added with a disdainful coldness, "He doesn't seem like a good person, I don't like him."
Fiona looked at Charles, her hands cradling the back of his head, her forehead pressed gently against his, rubbing softly.
"Then we won't consider him, what my son thinks is the most important," Fiona said with a tender and indulgent tone that was almost palpable.
Charles's ears slowly turned red.
"Mommy, I will grow up fast and protect you and Chicago," he said with a solemn and firm tone.
It was rare for Charles to say such things.
Fiona lowered her eyes. She had always known Charles was different from other children.
His intelligence far exceeded that of his peers, and sometimes he had a more accurate view of things than adults.
Fiona's heart tightened, wondering if he had already sensed who Darwin was.
Fiona quickly composed herself.
"Charles, you are such a good boy, having you is truly a blessing," she said.
Charles was silent.
Then Fiona asked, "How much longer do you need to finish?"
"Not much longer," Charles answered.
"I'll go change my clothes and wait for you downstairs. We'll go out to dinner tonight."
"Okay," Fiona kissed Charles again and got up to leave the study.
At Chicago's insistent urging, the family went to the very restaurant where Chicago and Darwin had met.
As they passed by a certain private room, Chicago became excited.
"Mommy, uncle's room!" she pointed at the private room, cheerfully calling out to Fiona and Ashton.
Fiona glanced at it subconsciously.
"Uncle?" Janna asked, puzzled.
"A very nice uncle! He treated me to dinner and even bought Chicago's painting to help build houses for the kids!" Chicago's large, sparkling eyes were filled with admiration for her uncle.
Fiona once again marveled inwardly at the terrifying bonds of blood ties.
"Alright, so now in Chicago's heart, is uncle more important than Ashton?" Ashton chuckled as she picked up Chicago and poked her cheek, bantering with her.
A group of people walked past a private dining room.
It seemed that the waiter was serving food, leaving the door ajar. Voices from inside drifted out.
"Chris, Alice is the apple of your uncle's eye, and I am entrusting her to you now. If you dare let her down, I won't let you off the hook!"
"That's Chris!" Chicago boasted excellent eyesight and saw Chris right away. She excitedly called out, "Chris!"
The guests inside the room turned to look outside. Fiona glanced over and noticed Chris's father, Justin, and Ashton's mother, Maria, were present. Apart from them, there was an unfamiliar couple and a gentle and beautiful girl.
If she wasn't mistaken, this was the girl Chris was set up to meet, Alice herself.
"Is that our little Chicago?" Maria seemed to be in a good mood.
"You all go ahead to the room," Ashton said to Fiona and the others, "I'll take Chicago to say hello to my parents."
Fiona felt a bit worried.
Ashton nodded at her, signaling everything was alright. She gently touched Fiona's back and went off to the room with Janna.
"Ashton looks a bit upset,," Janna remarked after a few steps.
"She had an argument with his mom," Fiona replied.
Janna sensed it wasn't just that but didn't press further.
Ashton set Chicago down on the floor. Maria came over, picked her up again, and showered her with affection.
"Mom, that's enough," Ashton finally said, without taking his eyes off Chris.
What's so great over there to look at? Watching them sit side by side? Admiring their matched talents and looks?
"Mom?" Alice's mother came to a realization, "Is she your daughter?"
Maria felt a bit awkward, "Yes, she's recently returned to the country to set up a branch of her company. She's so busy all the time she barely touches the ground. Oh, this is the daughter of one of Ashton's friends, Chicago!"
Ashton greeted them politely, "Hello uncle! Hi aunt!" Her gaze settled on Alice with an even sweeter smile, "Hi sister-in-law."
Alice, who was very fair-skinned, blushed instantly when she was called 'sister-in-law'.
Taking after Ashton, Chicago called out, "Grandpa! Grandma!" in her childlike voice, gazing at Alice.
Then, in confusion, she looked at Ashton, "Ashton, what's a sister-in-law? If she's your sister-in-law, what should I call her?"
The elders inside the room burst into laughter at Chicago's innocent question!
"That would be Chris's wife, you should call her..." Ashton paused for a moment, then looked at Chris, "By rights, you should call him 'Uncle', so I suppose that makes her Chicago's Aunt."
"You're right, that is what you should call her. It was you who confused the little ones in the first place!" Maria chided.
Chicago's eyes widened.
Looking at Alice, she hesitated to call her aunt.
"Chicago, call her aunt," Ashton prodded, poking her cheek.
But Chicago suddenly furrowed her brows, twisted her body, and struggled out of Maria's embrace.
She clung to Ashton's legs.
"Ashton, hug!" she demanded.
Ashton froze for a moment.
"What's wrong with Chicago?" Maria asked, concerned.
Ashton picked her up.
Embracing Ashton's neck, Chicago didn't look back at the people behind her again.
"She's probably hungry. My investor is waiting for me to have dinner. You all carry on, we'll be heading out," Ashton said, not lying.
Janna was indeed her investor.
"Meeting with an investor and you're bringing a child?" Maria felt brushed off and was a bit upset.
The child had been acting strangely ever since her father passed away.
"Because the investor is Chicago's grandma," Ashton replied.
Maria was taken aback.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please excuse me," Ashton said with a slight nod.
Then she carried an emotionally drained Chicago out of the private room.
Maria took a few steps to follow.
But remembering others were present, she held back.
"I'm so sorry, my daughter has been spoiled since she was little, and she's getting more and more unruly as she grows," Maria said with a face full of apologies.
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