Chapter 190 Are All Three Cunningham Brothers Falling for Jasmine?
By the edge of the reef, Cordelia stood there, wind from the sea blowing against her, wondering where her daughter could be after over twenty years.
She had poured so much heart and soul into the search for her daughter over the years.
At the same time, she had also run into too many con artists.
Her hopes had been ignited time and again, only to be extinguished.
"Mom!" Nolan Cunningham rushed over, anxiously pulling Cordelia aside. "What are you doing standing here? It's so dangerous."
Cordelia glanced at Nolan and smiled. "Are you afraid I might jump?"
Though in her fifties, Cordelia's face bore the graceful marks of natural aging, lending her a gentle air that suited her well. It was the dignified look one would expect of a woman her age.
"No, I just..." Nolan started to make excuses, not wanting to upset his mother.
"Mom, don't do anything silly. We're here for Elliott's daughter's wedding," Li Sicong said, feeling relieved that his mother was all right.
"I won't do anything silly. Your aunt... she hasn't found..." Cordelia said with regret.
"We'll find her, we have to," Edgar reassured his mother.
"All right, all right, my baby..." Cordelia nodded, smiling. As she turned around, she saw Jasmine walking toward her, carrying the little boy.
Cordelia's words caught in her throat as she stared at Jasmine. "Young lady, how old are you?" Panicked, she hurried over and gripped Jasmine's arm.
"What's your name? Are your parents still with you?" Cordelia asked anxiously. "You resemble my daughter, who was lost for so many years."
Jasmine was stunned, looking fearfully at Ethan. Observing the elderly lady before her, she couldn't help but wonder about the Cunningham family's situation.
Their little boy mistaking his mother, and now the lady of the house mistaking her for a daughter, added to the confusion.
"Aunt, I'm Ethan, from the Douglas family, you've met me." Ethan gave Cordelia a reassuring smile. "This is my wife, Jasmine."
"Mom, you're having one of your moments again, always asking when you see someone you like," Nolan said with a deep sigh.
Edgar also caught on and rushed up to hold his little boy. "I'm so sorry, really sorry. This is my son. Thank you so much for your help. If it weren't for you, the baby might... have been in danger."
Edgar, known for being a bit impulsive, wanted to take the baby back. But the baby ignored Edgar, crying and holding onto Jasmine tightly. "Mommy, I want Mommy."
Edgar was taken aback. "Sorry, I've never seen the little guy like this."
He tried to coax him, "Baby, let's go home with Daddy. You're wearing out the lady holding you."
The baby wouldn’t listen to Edgar, still clinging to Jasmine. "I want to stay with Mommy."
Apart from the baby's longing gaze at Jasmine, Quinn also watched her eagerly, wishing she could make Jasmine her daughter right away.
Jasmine was visibly panicked, casting a pleading look at Ethan.
"Little rascal, this isn't your mommy," Ethan said as he reached out to try and pick up the toddler.
The little guy was surprisingly strong, clinging desperately to Jasmine and bawling his eyes out.
Jasmine couldn’t bear to hear a child cry like that and quickly hugged and soothed him. "It's okay, don't cry."
Edgar was utterly stupefied. His son, a child possibly left at his doorstep by an ex or from a one-night stand, had been taken in and spoiled rotten by the Cunningham clan since Edgar brought him home. The boy, who usually shied away from strangers, was now clinging tenaciously to Jasmine, refusing to let go.
"Kiddo, listen to me and come down," Nolan Cunningham commanded with a stern voice.
The toddler wasn't about to give face to his uncle. "No, I want Mommy."
Nolan Cunningham was rendered faceless in front of the child.
"Little guy, how about letting uncle hold you?" Sly Sterling tried to coax with a smile.
"No, I don't want." The kid was adamant.
"What a sweet girl. If little buddy likes you, I like you too," Cordelia said with a fond smile, her gaze lingering on Jasmine as she stepped forward to question her. "How old are you? Are you married? I have three sons. Which one catches your eye? Come, marry into our family."
Ethan was completely ignored.
Nolan Cunningham snorted but for once, he didn’t object. It was clear he had taken a liking to Jasmine but was too proud to know how to express his gratitude.
Sly began to tattle, eager to bring attention to his brother's misdeeds. "Mom, my brother was bullying Jasmine earlier; he was quite rude," he revealed. "If you're picking someone to marry off, choose me; I'm single and pure," he added, half-jokingly, trying to divert attention to himself.
Sly fancied himself as the most flawless representative of the Cunninghams.
"Heh, you only know how to mess around," Nolan bluntly exposed his brother.
"Since my son is so attached to you, there must be a special connection between you two. Let's take the opportunity to get to know each other better, beautiful!" Edgar's excitement was palpable as he advanced toward Jasmine, exuding an air of pride and confidence, much like a peacock displaying its vibrant feathers.
"Heh, he's got a love child already and a lineup of exes," Nolan Cunningham couldn’t resist jabbing at Edgar as well.
Off to the side, it seemed no one noticed Ethan's face turning alarmingly dark.
He had told himself to keep a tight leash on Jasmine; otherwise, she'd be whisked away sooner or later.
"Jasmine, my oldest son is mature and stable, you could consider him," Cordelia said, her eyes shining as she held Jasmine's hand.
Ethan inhaled sharply with frustration, but despite his anger, when he carefully examined Quinn's eyes, he was struck with a lengthy pause.
Quinn's eyes, they bore a striking resemblance to Jasmine's. If he hadn't known that Jasmine was the daughter of the Xia family, he would have started to have his doubts.
"Mom, my brother's such a windbag, scaring people off," Li Sicheng remarked, pointing out Nolan's shortcomings.
Nolan Cunningham snorted without a word.
Surrounded by the Cunninghams, Jasmine felt so nervous that her palms were sweating.
Sensing Jasmine's fear, the little boy protested angrily, "Back off from my mommy. You're going to scare her away."
"Kid, she's mine." Ethan was eager to assert his claim.
"Got a marriage license?" Nolan Cunningham asked with a mocking sneer, challenging Ethan's claim.
'I wish I could shove a marriage certificate in his face,' Ethan thought, seething.
"Sorry to cut in, but Mr. Ethan and I have a solid relationship," Jasmine interjected hastily, fearing Ethan might inadvertently disclose their secret marriage.
They had kept their marital status under wraps because of a confidentiality agreement. Revealing Ethan's marriage to her would be reckless.
Ethan couldn't risk any slip-ups at this juncture.
"Mr. Ethan, I fell for Jasmine at first sight. Let's compete fairly," Li Sicheng said, being quite straightforward.
"Lady, let's elope. Marry first, love later—you'll definitely fall for me," Edgar chimed in, still flaunting himself.
Ethan gritted his teeth and nudged the little boy. "You, get down."
The boy huffed defiantly. "No."
Ethan's frustration boiled over. Dealing with this stubborn child tested his patience. He regretted not bringing Justin along to handle the situation. It was incredulous to him that he found himself competing with the Cunninghams for Jasmine's attention.
"Ethan, so sorry, my grandson doesn't usually act like this. He must like Jasmine as much as I do. You're here for Zhou Yicheng's daughter's wedding, right?" Cordelia finally noticed Ethan.
Ethan forced a smile. "Yes, Aunt Cordelia."
"Lucky Ethan, finding such a wonderful girlfriend." Cordelia seemed reluctant to let go but still coaxed her grandson. "Sweetheart, let grandma hold you so your 'mommy' can change her clothes. You don't want her to catch a cold."
That was when the boy finally let go of Jasmine. "Mommy, will you come pick me up after you change?"
Jasmine's heart tightened; the child was so desperate for his mother. His eyes were so much like Justin's.
As if possessed, Jasmine agreed. "Okay..."
Seizing the opportunity, Ethan swiftly scooped up the little troublemaker and placed him into Edgar's arms before hurrying away with Jasmine.
He couldn't bear to linger for another moment, as if any delay might result in someone snatching away his bride.
"Mr. Ethan, your back..." Jasmine's eyes reddened with concern for Ethan.
"Compensation is due," Ethan declared with a smile, sweeping Jasmine into his arms as they made their way back to the hotel.
Feeling tense as she was carried on Ethan's shoulder, Jasmine realized his intention. He was deliberately showcasing their closeness to the Cunninghams.
"How... how can I compensate?" Jasmine's voice stuttered.
"I want to sleep with you."
Jasmine's face flushed beet red in an instant.
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