“What else do you know?” Andrew’s arm wrapped around her waist from behind, and between their breaths lingered a strong mature and masculine aura unique to men.
Isabella naturally leaned against his chest and casually responded, “The Turner family is the head of the four major families. It’s not easy to investigate. What they don’t want people to know, I definitely won’t be able to find out. However, Jacob’s youngest son has control over the entire Turner family foundation. His actions against Henry and his father are a bit too ruthless.”
“Ruthless?” Andrew repeated these four words with a cold sneer, an inexplicable chill emanating from him. His slightly narrowed blue eyes showed danger and ruthlessness.
“Isabella, you don’t know what true ruthlessness means.”
In the past, Thomas used extreme measures to suppress him. When there was no opportunity found in him, Thomas targeted women, ruining Scarlett irreparably and tarnishing his reputation. To prevent retaliation, Jacob used connections to enlist him in the Yonkers Army, assigning him the most dangerous missions with the intention of not letting him return alive.
This was his family, this was true ruthlessness.
And these were things Andrew hoped Isabella would never have to understand in her lifetime.
“Maintain your distance from them. Henry’s personality is extreme. It won’t benefit you to get involved with him too much,” Andrew said by her ear, his chin touching her head.
His breath was warm but devoid of any ambiguity, carrying instead a sense of weightiness.
“Okay,” Isabella obediently nodded.
“Also, don’t let Oliver investigate the Turner family again. Don’t startle the snake; it might bite. If you want to know something, you can ask me,” he added.
She raised her chin to look at him, smiling, “Seems like you know everything.”
“At least, I understand him better than you,” he retorted.
But she didn’t inquire further. She was just a little curious about Jacob’s youngest son. In her eyes, he was an unattainable figure, someone whose life would never intersect with hers. So, not understanding didn’t matter at all.
Isabella lightly leaned against his chest, somewhat bored, playing with his slender and beautiful fingertips. Andrew’s hands were clean and elegant, each bone distinctly visible, even his hands were so attractive that it was impossible not to envy.
No one spoke; the two quietly nestled against each other, filling the room with warmth.
“Isabella, once we resolve the Harris family’s matter, would you be willing to live in a different environment?” Andrew suddenly inquired, his magnetic and gentle voice carrying a hint of probing.
“Hmm?” Isabella looked at him with a confused expression at first, then realized what he was asking.
She seemed to seriously ponder for a moment but couldn’t come up with a clear answer. She wasn’t conflicted, though, smiling brightly as she replied, “A change of environment doesn’t seem bad. As long as you and Asher are with me, anywhere feels like home.”
Her words warmed Andrew’s heart, and uncontrollably, he lowered his head to kiss her once again.
Isabella’s arm slowly wrapped around his chest, the two deeply engaged in the kiss, when suddenly, the door was slightly pushed open, revealing a pair of bright eyes peeking in, watching mommy and daddy embrace.
“Daddy, mommy, Asher wants a hug too,” Asher pushed the door open and trotted in on his little legs.
Blushing, Isabella pushed Andrew away and picked Asher up from the ground.
Asher was held by mommy, one hand around mommy’s neck, reaching out the other hand to hug daddy.
“Asher wants a kiss,” Asher, in a child’s sweet voice, puckered his small lips and planted a forceful kiss on Isabella’s lips.
Andrew, watching Isabella’s flushed lips from their kiss, now in close proximity with the baby, couldn’t help but furrow his brow. However, before he could say anything, Asher’s little head moved towards him, and with a wet kiss, he planted saliva all over Andrew’s face.
Andrew pushed away the black little head in disgust, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
“Daddy hug.” Asher extended his chubby little hands, asking Andrew to hold him.
Andrew carried Asher back to the nursery where Amelia had already prepared Asher’s bedding.
“Asher insists on Daddy’s cuddles; there’s just no way to refuse him,” Amelia said apologetically.
Andrew nodded, “You go and rest for a bit.”
After Amelia left the nursery, Andrew turned off the lights in the room, leaving only a dim night light.
He placed Asher in the small bed and picked up a bedtime storybook.
“What story does Asher want to hear? ‘The Adventures in the Candy House’?” Andrew asked.
Asher shook his little head, sitting up from the small bed. His tiny hands wandered through the bookshelf on the bedside table, finally pulling out a book, “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” handing it to Andrew.
“Tell this one.”
Andrew opened the children’s storybook and started reading.
“A long time ago…”
Andrew’s voice was low, smooth, and magnetic, like a cello in the quiet night. Initially, Asher listened with wide curious eyes as his dad narrated the story, but as he listened, his eyelids began to grow heavy. By the time one book was finished, the baby had already fallen asleep.
Sleeping babies were the cutest, with their round chubby faces, slightly pursed red lips, and long eyelashes covering their eyes. Their pure sleeping faces hinted faintly of their mothers.
Andrew carefully tucked him in with the small blanket, bent down, lightly kissed his little face, then tiptoed out of the nursery.
He returned to the master bedroom, where Isabella was already asleep.
Her petite body was curled up under the covers, revealing only a fair and delicate little face, with slightly upturned lips, a serene sleeping face, quite resembling Asher.
Andrew also tucked her in properly, took a shower, and then lay down beside Isabella, his arm lightly around her waist, falling asleep together.