Win My Husband Over to Find My Child
Chapter 210: Defeated By His Sister-In-Law

Chapter 210: Defeated By His Sister-In-Law

A/N: [21042024] A shout-out to LotusLin, Clandestined_Quinn and ShadowWanderer for the engaging comments! And welcome to new (or not so new hehe) readers! Steven_Spoon, Maravilhakamakua, DEBBIE_89 and others!

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After dinner, everyone returned to the drawing room. The clock was approaching eight-thirty in the evening, indicating the time was still early for them to disperse.

While Butler Gu brewed tea, the other helpers served some desserts – a fruit platter, caramel puddings and almond cookies. The little Amelia’s attention swiftly went to them as soon as she entered the drawing room.

"Charlene, come sit with Grandma," Old Madam Xu gestured to the three-seater couch as Vernon assisted her to walk, "Calix, help her there."

"Aye aye, ma’am," Calix replied immediately, followed by a chuckle, "Grandma, don’t just keep robbing my wife of me ah."

"Help Charlene there," Old Madam Xu widened her eyes, purposely glaring at Calix, "Who’s robbing whom? Don’t talk too much ah."

Calix cackled out of self-amusement. His laughter grew louder once he realized how deadpan Leslie was staring at him. He responded by wiggling his eyebrows and smirking.

"Can Mia sit with Great-Grandma and Second Aunt?" asked Amelia to Vernon and Lucille. Her round eyes expressed her anticipation.

"Hehe, ask them first," Lucille patted Amelia’s head, encouraging her daughter to talk to Leslie.

Amelia bobbed her head to Leslie. Blinking her eyes, she shyly asked, "Second Aunt, can Mia sit with you and Great-Grandma? Mia will feed you the pudding."

Leslie’s lips melted into a smile. Nodding once, she replied, "You can... Thank you for the offer, Mia..."

"Hehehe~"

Amelia quickly climbed to sit in between Old Madam Xu and Leslie. She giggled, infecting the others with her cheery disposition.

"Second Uncle, go sit over there," Amelia pointed to the couch occupied by Andrian and Harper, "Don’t come here."

Calix was speechless. He held back from grabbing Amelia’s hair bun. The little turnip head’s smug look annoyed him.

Tsk tsk tsk. Her chubby cheeks called for some pinching!

Leslie mostly interacted with Old Madam Xu, Amelia and Irene. But, she occasionally paid attention to Rowan and Bianca, wanting to be civil with them despite still feeling awkward.

At the same time, Leslie couldn’t deny that Rowan and Bianca looked genuinely relieved to see her—their eldest daughter—being conscious.

"I think we should head home now. We need to leave early next morning."

Calix spoke up as the clock approached a quarter to ten. It was getting late but, most of them were still happily chatting. Even his grandmother was livelier tonight, reluctant to head to bed early like usual.

"Oh! You’re bringing Charlene out on your birthday, isn’t it? Where are you going?"

Harper recalled what Old Madam Xu told her during their phone call the last few days. Calix had another plan for his birthday this year – taking his newly wedded wife out for a short trip.

"To Bridgeland City," answered Calix truthfully, "We’re visiting a place."

Harper raised her brows, wondering where and what kind of place was that. She was intrigued by her second son’s words but, she had a hunch that Calix wouldn’t explain much even if she asked.

Well, her younger son was a natural chatterbox since young.

No one could make him stop talking if he didn’t want to. They had to tune him out whenever it became too much, especially during his childhood.

Seeing that Calix didn’t elaborate further, it seemed like he wanted to keep his plan a secret from everyone else.

"Big Brother, share your and Big Sister’s photos with us ah," Irene chimed in, staring at Calix and Leslie in anticipation, "Don’t just keep her to yourself."

Irene was excited to know her sister and brother-in-law would go on a getaway together. She shared the same curiosity as Harper yet, she also asked nothing aside from wanting to see some photos.

To Irene, Calix Xu was the perfect man for her elder sister. She earnestly wished for them to develop a deeper relationship with each other.

"Why can’t I?" smirking, Calix threw the question to Irene, "She’s my wife ah."

Irene squinted her eyes. She had forgotten how weird her brother-in-law could be.

"She’s my sister before she becomes your wife."

"..."

Laughter erupted in the drawing room. Irene’s witty response to Calix’s smug question amused everyone, including Leslie who couldn’t hold back from giggling.

CEO Xu admitted defeat to his younger sister-in-law.

Calix and Leslie eventually left the Xu family’s ancestral home at slightly over ten. Everyone walked them off to the door, watching him help his wife into the car.

Mrs. An and Logan went to the driver’s and front passenger seats respectively.

Calix wound down the window once Leslie was seated, allowing everyone to interact with her before they left.

Irene stepped forward, cheerily waving at Leslie, "Big Sister, enjoy your trip tomorrow. I’ll be waiting for your photos. Let’s meet again next week."

"Come to Graceville, Irene..." Leslie returned a wave to Irene, pleased to see how joyful the teenager appeared, "I’ll contact you after... our trip..."

Next week would be quite eventful for both Leslie and Calix. Several guests wished to grace their presence at Graceville Manor.

Andrian and Harper planned to visit the newlyweds before they resumed traveling. Calix and Leslie swiftly agreed, welcoming them to their matrimonial house.

As a result, Vernon and Lucille wanted to tag along, including Amelia. Old Madam Xu was not excluded.

The Xu family members intended to come during the weekday. Perhaps, they would choose daytime.

Irene was busy with school thus, she most probably would visit on the weekend.

Well, since she wanted to come, then...

Leslie shifted her gaze from the beaming Irene to Rowan and Bianca. Putting on a smile, she said, "Mother and Father... you two should come with... Irene too..."

Leslie’s invitation froze Rowan and Bianca. None of them saw it coming despite sharing the wish to follow Irene.

Softening her smile, Leslie repeated, "When Irene comes to... visit me and Calix... you two should... follow her..."

Leslie couldn’t deny that she was still uncomfortable being around Rowan and Bianca. But, she believed it was unwise to act too distant with them.

Her ever-changing mind made Leslie feel helpless toward herself.

’She wouldn’t want me to keep a distance from her parents too.’

Charlene was happy with Rowan and Bianca’s changes. Despite being unable to forgive her parents yet, the young lady saw hope in them.

As someone who occupied Charlene’s role from now on, Leslie wished to see it to the end. Perhaps, the days of forgiveness might come sooner than she—and Charlene—expected.

"Please come with Irene..." Leslie resumed talking. She pointed out nothing about Rowan and Bianca’s stiffness, "I’ll be waiting..."

Rowan and Bianca blinked, unable to believe their ears.

Did their eldest daughter invite them to come and see her?

Didn’t Charlene... hate them?

"Y-yes, Mom and Dad will come with Irene," Bianca forced herself out of her stupor, stuttering when she spoke, "You... you just focus on getting better, Charlene."

"Your mom’s right," Rowan quickly agreed with his wife, "We’ll bring some health tonics for you."

"That sounds great..." Leslie nodded once, "See you again..."

What would be of their familial relationship?

Would she ever view them as her parents?

Leslie had no answers for that.