Joshua didn’t rush to get into his car; instead, he stood by the vehicle and spoke to Andrew.
“The young girl is quite likable,” Joshua said with a smile.
Andrew’s lips tightened slightly as he smiled subtly.
“Living with her should be enjoyable,” Joshua continued. He seemed to faintly hear Isabella and Asher playing together. The heartwarming scene made even him feel soft and warm, let alone Andrew.
“However, there are pros and cons to everything. With your significant age gap, there will definitely be a generation gap. Girls of her age still indulge in their parents’ embrace and act wilfully. Now, you’re practically taking care of two children; it’s bound to be a bit tough,” Joshua explained.
People in high positions like Joshua were usually quite insightful. With a single glance and a few words, they could make a fair judgment about someone’s character.
Isabella hadn’t been in the kitchen for long when Andrew followed her in. When he emerged, there were still traces of cooking fumes on his shirt, obviously having cooked for her.
Even in her early twenties and after having a child, she hadn’t matured fully. She couldn’t handle household chores, let alone cooking. Andrew, on the other hand, was a mature man. At the moment, he needed someone who could be a companion to him, a mature woman to share responsibilities with. From this perspective, Isabella didn’t seem suitable to be a wife.
Joshua couldn’t help but worry for Andrew. He was already working hard enough, and if he continued to toil at home, even the strongest person wouldn’t endure it.
However, Andrew smiled gently. “Everyone has their own life, and they know best what suits them. Being with Isabella, I’ve never felt burdened.”
For men, when they’re with the woman they love, a little hardship is nothing.
Joshua, being experienced, understood this and didn’t say much more.
He lightly tapped on the car window, which was lowered by his secretary. The secretary respectfully handed over an envelope, significantly thicker than the one given to Isabella.
“Asher’s birthday is approaching. If you don’t want a grand celebration, I won’t insist. This is just a small gift from me as a grandfather,” Joshua said.
Andrew looked at the thick envelope but didn’t immediately take it.
For Asher’s first birthday, Joshua had gifted villas and some stocks and funds.
Considering this time’s birthday gift, it surely wouldn’t be something light.
“You’re being too kind,” Andrew said in a subdued tone.
Joshua placed the envelope into his hand, sighing, “These possessions, I can’t take them into the grave. Sooner or later, they’ll be for you.”
As a father figure, wanting to give something to his son even using various pretexts made Joshua feel that his life was a failure, despite standing at a revered stature among the masses. Even though there was no blood relation, he had regarded Andrew as his own son for the past 30 years.
Andrew held the envelope, his tone still calm and unruffled. “At this time, my sister should be back at the apartment. Would you like to visit her?”
Joshua sighed. “Even if I go, she won’t open the door for me. Forget it, I won’t go to annoy her.”
Joshua finished speaking and signaled to the security personnel to open the door.
The guard respectfully opened the car door for him.
After Joshua sat in the backseat, he lowered the window and said to Andrew, “You can go.”
Andrew nodded compliantly. His tall figure walked toward the building’s entrance, his steps seemingly impatient.
In his own home, there awaited his wife and child, and that’s why Joshua thought Andrew appeared so eager.
Once, he had a chance to have a happy family. However, due to his wrong decisions, happiness slipped away.
“Chief, we…” the secretary sitting in the passenger seat spoke up.
Joshua sighed lightly. He didn’t give any instructions until Andrew’s figure vanished from sight. Then he directed, “Let’s drive, head to the airport.”
…
On the other side, Andrew entered the house and found Isabella sitting on the couch, lost in thought.
“Where’s Asher?” he asked.
“Amelia took him upstairs,” she answered, then shook the envelope in her hand. “Andrew, who exactly is this uncle of yours? He’s quite generous.”
Inside Isabella’s thin envelope was a deed to a mansion, valued at over a hundred million.
She was utterly stunned. She had been worried that Andrew’s family might have a group of poor relatives, but now it seemed she was more like the poor relative.
Andrew hadn’t anticipated that Joshua’s gift to Isabella would be a deed to a mansion. Perhaps with an excess of real estate, his foster father liked gifting houses and land.
“Well, since it’s given to you, keep it,” he said nonchalantly.
But she kept staring at him, clearly not easily appeased.
She wasn’t foolish. A jobless wanderer suddenly gifting a multi-million present seemed suspicious.
He instinctively rubbed his forehead, feeling that Joshua’s visit had brought trouble. Fortunately, Isabella wasn’t interested in politics. If she followed the news often, Joshua’s identity wouldn’t stay hidden.
“Who doesn’t have a few wealthy relatives? But yes, this gift is indeed quite substantial. I’ll find a chance to repay it in the future,” he tried to downplay it.
Fortunately, although Isabella was suspicious, she didn’t pry further. She handed him the deed to handle and then stretched, yawning broadly.
“I’m going for a shower. It’s been a tiring day,” she said, getting up to head upstairs.
Andrew still had some work pending and went straight to the study. When he finished and returned to the room, Isabella was lying on the big bed in a bathrobe, with a black face mask on her face.
“You’re back just in time. Massage my shoulders; they’re sore,” she said in a sweet voice, flipping over, placing both hands on the pillow, seemingly waiting for him to serve her.
Andrew hesitated for a moment before walking over.
Despite living for so long, it was his first time giving a massage, and he deliberated on where to place his hands.
However, Isabella, for all the service Andrew provided, didn’t seem grateful. Instead, she was picky, complaining either about too much pressure or too little. After massaging her shoulders, she directed him to her waist, issuing orders as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Andrew finally got the pressure right, and Isabella lay on the bed, eyes half-closed, enjoying the massage like a contented cat.
However, as his hands massaged her, they began to wander. His warm palms slid along her graceful curves, slipping under her clothing.
Isabella suddenly felt a chill around her waist and was startled, sitting upright on the bed.
“Andrew, you…”