Chapter 180 Grandpa
The car slowly rolled into the driveway of Ashbourne Manor. Before anyone could
help, Eloise unbuckled her seatbelt and leaped down from the child safety seat all
on her own.
She wore a white dress sprinkled with green flowers, her ponytail tied high and
her wispy bangs pinned with sparkly rhinestone clips that shimmered in the
sunlight.
Nugget wagged his tail excitedly, circling around her. Eloise handed Nugget a
peanut butter dog treat she''d brought from home and gently patted his head with
her chubby little fingers. Her baby face lit up with a surprisingly tender look.
"No rush. I brought plenty more," she said sweetly.
Mabel stood nearby, leaning lightly on her cane, her warm smile as kind as ever.
But a closer look would reveal something buried deep in her eyes-an emotion she
hadn''t quite managed to hide. A hint of sorrow, and a quiet reluctance.
Mabel was in her seventies now. She had been a schoolteacher in her younger
years, raising a son and a daughter while standing shoulder to shoulder with her
husband, a small business owner. Their marriage had always been strong, their
life modest butfortable.
Later, her son started his own business from scratch and built it into a remarkable
sess. As his wealth grew, so did Mabel''s
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standing. After retiring, she spent her days tending to flowers, watching over her
granddaughter, and enjoying a peaceful, fulfilling life.
Compared to the regrets many people carried through life, Mabel''s journey had
been remarkably full.
But no one lives without a few lingering attachments.
She beamed as she waved them over. Eloise ran toward her, arms wide,
shouting, "Great-Grandma!"
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Nugget darted along behind her, hopping yfully.
Caroline held onto Alistair''s arm as they walked over slowly. She leaned in and
whispered, "Does Grandma look a little off to you today?"
Normally makeup-free, Mabel had lightly powdered her face, curled her silver hair
into soft waves, and put on a deep plum dress with a delicate pearl ne
around her neck.
She looked graceful, refined, elegant-very much Mabel.
But Alistair suspected the powder wasn''t for beauty''s sake. It was likely an
attempt to hide her pallor, to appear more energized than she felt. Unfortunately,
while makeup could eve out herplexion, it couldn''t conceal the weariness in
her
eyes.
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He had already reached a quiet conclusion but kept it to himself. "She just got out
of the hospital not long ago. It''s normal she doesn''t look her best."
Caroline said nothing.
Whether she agreed or simply didn''t want Mabel to overhear, it wasn''t clear.
Mabel weed them with a wide smile, clearly happy to see the couple still so
inseparable after everything.
They had barely started dinner when heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway. A
man entered, casting a nce at the cheerful dining table before pressing his lips
into a line, saying nothing.
Mabel looked surprised. "Oh, you''re here already?"
It was Gordon. His expression softened slightly as he gave a low hum in
response.
Seeing how travel-worn he looked, Mabel asked, "Have you eaten?"
He shook his head.
"Well then go grab a bite somewhere. Don''t starve yourself. We''ve already
started," she said kindly, though her words clearly meant he wasn''t wee at
the table.
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Gordon hesitated.
He gave her a helpless look and acted like he hadn''t caught the hint. "You''re just
getting started. I''ll just nibble a little something. No big deal."
Mabel didn''t miss a beat. "The main course isn''t enough for extras. The chef
prepared it for a set number of people."
Unbothered, Gordon pulled out a chair and sat down right next to Alistair. "I''m not
that hungry. I''ll just pick at whatever''s on the table."
Mabel shot back without skipping a beat, "You''re wee to the sd or some
bread. But don''t touch the entrée unless you''re nning to skip someone else''s
portion."
Gordon shrugged, letting go of his usual pride. "Fine, I''ll wait and see what''s left
once everyone''s had their fill. Sd and scraps it is."
Alistair watched silently.
If people knew that the almighty Gordon Ashbourr -king of the business world-
was sitting here begging for leftovers from his own mother, they''d be speechless.
Mabel, always theposed and dignified one, and Gordon, known for being
stern and no-nonsense... somehow, when the two of them were together, it all
turned into a strange kind of
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trying to win his mom''s approval after doing something wrong.
They were clearly just bantering, but Mabel''s surprise was real, and her
disapproval was subtle but unmistakable.
She wasn''t unhappy to see her son. She just didn''t think this was the right time.
Maybe if it were just Caroline, it''d be fine. But Alistair was here too. Perhaps
Mabel worried his presence might make things ufortable.
Gordon clearly understood what she was thinking and didn''t care one bit.
Now that he was already seated, Mabel couldn''t exactly throw him out in front of
the younger ones. The least she could do was spare him the embarrassment.
A servant arrived quietly with an extra set of utensils and ced them in front of
Gordon without a word.
Eloise sat between Mabel and Caroline, watching Gordon curiously with her big
bright eyes.
When Gordon looked back at her, she got caught and quickly looked away. In a
shy voice, she greeted him. "Grandpa."
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Years ago, Gordon had objected when Caroline insisted on keeping a child that
wasn''t biologically hers.
He''d said that, if she really wanted to raise a child, he could easily find a well-off
family willing to adopt the girl and treat her like a princess.
But what did it matter what he thought?
He had no real say in Caroline''s choices.
He barely saw her, and his contact with Eloise was even more limited.
Looking at her now-fair-skinned, bright-eyed, sharp as a tack- it was clear
Caroline had raised her well.
Still, that soft little "Grandpa" caught him off guard. Since sitting at the table,
Eloise had been the first one to speak to him. No one had prompted her.
Gordon responded with a quiet "Hey," and for the first time that day, something
eased in his chest.
They''d only seen each other a handful of times. How had she recognized him so
quickly?
No need to ask. It had to be Caroline. She must''ve talked about him to Eloise.
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He let his gaze sweep casually toward Caroline, pleased to know he still held
some space in her heart.
Mabel looked surprised too. "Eloise, how did you know he''s your grandpa?"
Eloise peeked at Gordon and mumbled, "I saw him on TV once. He had the same
Daddy told me he''s Mommy''s dad, and I should call him Grandpa. So I
remembered..."
Gordon stared at her, silent.
So I was just imagining things.
He cast aplicated nce at Alistair but said nothing.
After lunch, Mabel sat in the living room with Eloise, listening as the little girl told
stories about preschool. Gordon chimed in now and then. Caroline and Alistair sat
close together nearby. The whole scene felt warm and easy.
They really were a family, after all. And this kind of peace was exactly what a
family should feel like.
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