Win My Husband Over to Find My Child
Chapter 391: Do You Like This Surprise?

Chapter 391: Do You Like This Surprise?

"Welcome to Pot of Siam."

The restaurant hostess welcomed Rowan, Bianca and Irene once they appeared at the entrance of the Thai fine-dining restaurant. Instead of the usual suit, she wore a lovely traditional Thai outfit.

"Hello. I’m here for the reservation under Mr. Calix Xu," said Rowan after returning the hostess’ greeting. Bianca and Irene stood quietly behind.

"A few of Mr. Xu’s guests have arrived earlier. Our attendant will show you to the room," replied the hostess before calling for one of the staff.

Rowan and Bianca exchanged glances, both wearing sullen looks while Irene acted casual.

Uneasiness plagued Rowan and Bianca’s heart after their meeting with Leslie more than a week ago[01]. Their wish to spend the festival with their eldest daughter was shattered.

The distraught Rowan and Bianca didn’t know that Irene was already aware of their conflict with Leslie. The high school girl did a good job of covering her feelings. She treated her parents as usual albeit a little cold.

Soon, a male attendant stepped in front of them. After greeting the family of three, he politely gestured in a direction.

Rowan, Bianca and Irene quietly followed the man. From the entrance, they walked past the main dining area. Most of the tables were already occupied by patrons enjoying the delectable Thai cuisine.

The attendant paused in front of a room. Knocking on the door twice to alert the people inside, he pushed the door open.

"Oh, my elder brother has arrived. Why are you late?"

Geoffrey’s tone had a hint of sarcasm once he saw Rowan, Bianca and Irene. The family of three quietly stepped inside the dining room. Looks of ridicule welcomed them.

Coughing once, Rowan replied to Geoffrey subduedly, "We’re not late. The promised time is seven."

There were ten minutes more before seven o’clock struck. Calix might appear anytime soon.

"I didn’t think we’d have a complete family dinner again," Old Madam Li spoke. She cast a dissatisfied glance at Rowan, Bianca and Irene, "After all, you came by yourself to the banquet."

Distressed by his mother’s action upon seeing their arrival, Rowan replied, "Mother, this isn’t the time for this."

Old Madam Li clicked her tongue. She threw daggers at Bianca who only greeted her with a nod. The latter didn’t make small talk at all, including inquiring about her mother-in-law’s health.

"Mother, don’t let your blood boil ah," Deena gently patted Old Madam Li’s arm, trying to appease her mother-in-law’s anger toward Rowan and his family, "No need to show concern to people who disrespect you."

Ignoring the obvious dig in Deena’s voice, Bianca tugged at Irene to sit down. Rowan exhaled a sigh before following his wife and daughter.

The main branch of the Li family had been in high tension after the arrest of Sarah, the maid who was responsible for Charlene’s staircase accident.

The scandalous news spread widely within high society, including the story of Rowan and his family leaving their ancestral home.

"It’s a pity that Calix will come alone," Deena pretended to sound sorry for Calix who had yet to appear. She glanced at her beautiful daughter, "Gladys, you should treat him well. A man with a vegetative wife is very pitiful."

Gladys flinched instead of being happy. Clasping her hands tightly under the table, she smiled awkwardly at Deena. Cold sweat broke on her back.

"W-well, let me see..."

"Oh~ You don’t have to look so shy ah."

Deena lovingly patted Gladys’ back, not realizing the look of horror in her daughter’s eyes. She had totally disregarded Calix’s threat after her daughter tried to seduce him openly[02].

Saying nothing, Gladys eyed the door in fright, willing Calix not to appear at all after her failed attempt at forgoing this family dinner.

"I’ve never expected you to throw out such slanders, Second Young Miss Li."

Belinda Qin’s voice echoed in Gladys’ mind, inevitably raising the fine hairs on the back of her neck. Lowering her chin, she couldn’t help but recall her recent encounter with Xander Qin’s cousin a few weeks back.

"Are you trying to taint your cousin’s name by spreading lies?"

Gladys was caught off guard when Belinda confronted her. The latter expressed her disappointment in Gladys’ attempt to use her but, Belinda didn’t explain more.

The Qin young lady threw her another look of disdain before leaving.

Having no other clue, Gladys could only think Belinda was referring to the time she spread about Charlene’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy at a party[03]. She surely had passed what she heard to Xander.

And, the heir of the Qin family surely had gone to Calix with the news.

But...

Why did this have no effect at all?

What had gone wrong?!

Calix didn’t come running to the Li family’s ancestral home to demand the truth behind those words. If he did that, Gladys knew her grandmother had more than enough evidence to prove the allegations.

Pursing her lips, Gladys subtly looked at where Rowan and Bianca sat. She believed her uncle and his wife hadn’t heard about the trick she did behind their backs.

"Why do you look so pale, ah? Scared of ghosts?"

Irene’s voice snapped Gladys out of her daze. Darting her eyes from Rowan and Bianca to her younger cousin, she was stunned to see such a demeaning look on Irene’s face.

"W-what are you talking about? Don’t speak nonsense."

Almost stuttering, Gladys clenched her hands harder. She had a bad feeling after seeing Irene’s ridiculed gaze because her younger cousin was always a meek one.

"Irene, what are you saying to your elder cousin?" Denna frowned, "We’re here for a family dinner. Don’t bring your rebellious act here."

Irene scoffed. She drew a mocking smile on her lips. Without caring for anyone else, she spoke, her voice loud and clear in the dining room.

"Sister Gladys, you look so frightened ah. Are you thinking of running away from here? Don’t do a shameless thing."

Got hit directly on her sore spot, Gladys cried out, "Irene! Watch your mouth! What are you even saying?"

Shrugging, Irene paid no attention to Gladys. Her action began filling the latter’s minds with various assumptions.

Why did Irene act in this way?

Did she know something?

What if...

"Don’t fight here! Watch your manners!" Old Madam Li’s voice boomed in the dining room. She stared angrily at Irene before mellowing her eyes at Gladys, "Your cousin is still so young. Gladys, don’t let her rile you up."

Knock! Knock!

The knocking sound made the tension in the dining room stagnant. All eyes were directed to the door before it revealed the previous male attendant.

"Mr. Xu is here," announced the attendant before stepping aside to make way for the new guest.

"Oh, my grandson-in-law is here," Old Madam Li excitedly stood up, already forgetting about Gladys and Irene’s minor fight, "Calix, we’re waiting for... huh?"

"W-what?"

As if everyone was robbed of their speech, their widened eyes looked at the door in shock. A cheerful Calix walked inside with...

Charlene?!

Pushing the wheelchair inside, Calix almost burst out laughing at the sight of everyone’s stupefied look. Only Rowan, Bianca and Irene showed no such expression on their faces.

"Good evening, everyone," Calix smilingly greeted the room. Looking from Old Madam Li to everyone else, he asked, "Didn’t you guys miss seeing my wife? Surprise! She’s here!"

Leslie darted her eyes around the room before locking them on the pale Old Madam Li. Her lips curled into a sneer.

"Do you like this surprise, dear grandmother?"

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Reference:

1 - 368

2 - 58

3 - 323