Chapter 578: Epilogue (5)

Chapter 578: Chapter 567: Epilogue (5)

Nora Ainsworth spoke up. “Tanya, you’re a college graduate, a top student, aren’t you?”

“That’s right, I am. Why?”

Nora Ainsworth smiled, pressing her lips together. “You know, the education system these days… it’s really not what it used to be. Here we have a top university graduate who’s less articulate than Ethan Ellsworth’s little Dorothy.”

Tanya Grant’s expression changed instantly, and Second Mrs. Grant’s wasn’t much better. She nudged Tanya.

Second Mr. Grant finally spoke up, scolding her coldly, “Your sister-in-law is right. All those years of college were a waste if you don’t even know how to speak properly. How are you supposed to find a good job!”

Mrs. Grant’s expression finally improved. No matter how flawed her own family might be, she couldn’t stand for others to point fingers.

“Uncle, the schools now focus on exam-oriented education. I believe education should first teach someone how to be a decent person. If they can’t even do that, they’ll be stuck that way for life, don’t you think?”

Second Mr. Grant nodded awkwardly.

Third Mr. and Mrs. Grant exchanged a knowing look and chuckled, trying to smooth things over. “Come on, let’s all eat. The food is getting cold.”

The two children ate obediently, not making a sound.

Tanya Grant looked at them and asked, “What are their names?”

“The older one is Dylan Grant, and the younger one is Elmer Grant.”

“Dylan…” Tanya Grant sounded the name out. “Is that related to the word ‘dull’?”

With his little face tight with seriousness, Dylan had to answer, “No, Auntie. My name is Dylan. It’s from the name of a flower that blooms only at night.”

Tanya looked sheepish. “Oh, I see. I got it wrong.”

“Are you two four yet?”

“Almost three.”

Tanya looked them up and down. “You’re quite tall, you don’t look like you’re almost three at all. You clearly get your height from your dad. He’s over six feet tall, so of course you two won’t be short.”

Dylan picked up his little bowl and drank his soup, not answering her.

‘Mommy told him that when he meets people he doesn’t like, he can be silent and ignore them, but he can’t curse or say anything mean.’

After dinner, everyone sat on the sofa again, making small talk.

Tanya Grant’s phone kept ringing nonstop. Seeing that she wasn’t answering, Second Mrs. Grant asked, “Who’s calling?”

“My friend is celebrating their birthday at a karaoke bar tonight and asked me to go. It’s just… you all are still here.”

Mr. Grant spoke up, “Don’t worry about it. We adults are just sitting here talking. It must be boring for you young people. Go on, go ahead.”

Second Mrs. Grant also chimed in, “Since your uncle said so, you should go. But you have to be home before eleven.”

“Okay, Mom.”

“Look at that, setting a curfew for her,” Third Mrs. Grant said with a laugh.

“Of course. Our Tanya always has a curfew when she goes out. You can’t let girls run wild and date just anyone. Our Tanya is in her twenties now, and she’s never even had a boyfriend. We’re just waiting for Martin to get married, then we’ll find a suitable match for her from a good family.”

“Girls these days are so wild. They just jump into bed with their boyfriends without a second thought, and then they get abortions when they get pregnant. They don’t value themselves at all. It’s really impressive that you’re so strict with Tanya, my dear sister-in-law. The matchmakers will surely be lining up for her in the future.”

Second Mrs. Grant smiled smugly. “But of course.”

As the family of four was driving home, they happened to spot the very same “good daughter” that Second Mrs. Grant was so incredibly proud of.

She was walking hand-in-hand with a young man into a hotel, looking incredibly intimate.

No one on Earth would believe they were “just friends.”

‘Still, it was none of their business.’

The car pulled up to their upscale residential complex.

Dylan yanked the car door open and said to the other three still inside, “I’m going to play with Dorothy for a bit. I’ll be home by nine.”

Quentin Grant watched him run toward Ethan Ellsworth’s house on his chubby little legs and smiled. “This kid. He’s been holding it in. I don’t think he can stand being away from Dorothy for even two days.”

“Let him be.”

Dylan knocked on the door of Ethan Ellsworth’s house. When the butler saw it was him, he was quite surprised. “Young Master, didn’t you go on a trip with your daddy and mommy? What are you doing back?”

“Mhm, we came back. Grandpa, is Dorothy home?”

“Yes, yes, she’s watching cartoons.”

Dylan nodded and ran toward the living room entrance.

He rushed to the doorway and yelled, “Dorothy!”

Dorothy Ellsworth looked at the doorway in pleasant surprise, got up from the sofa, and ran toward him. “Dylan, how come you’re back?”

“Mommy didn’t like it there, so we came back. How come you’re the only one in the living room watching TV?” Dylan looked around.

Dorothy Ellsworth nodded. “My daddy and mommy are upstairs. My mommy’s back is sore, so Daddy is giving her a massage.”

Dylan pulled a necklace out from under his shirt. “Dorothy, this is a present I bought for you at the resort shop in Veridia. I wore it around my neck because I was afraid of losing it.”

Dorothy was overjoyed. Her eyes sparkled as she held it up to look. “Wow, it’s so pretty! Dylan, put it on for me.”

Dylan took it back and carefully put it on for her.

Dorothy Ellsworth skipped upstairs. “I’m going to go get a mirror and look!”

Dylan followed her upstairs. As the two of them reached the doorway of Ethan Ellsworth and Chloe Marshall’s bedroom, a sound from inside made them stop in their tracks.

The two children peeked in from the doorway. They saw Chloe Marshall lying there while Ethan Ellsworth carefully and gently massaged her back, looking quite professional.

Then they went to Dorothy’s room. Standing in front of the mirror, Dorothy looked at her reflection and said happily, “It’s so beautiful. This is the first present you’ve ever given me. I have a present for you, too.”

She turned and took two small clay figurines out of a box. “I had Daddy make these especially for us. One is you, and one is me. Don’t they look just like us?”

Dylan nodded in delight.

“They really do.”

Dorothy handed him the figurine that looked like her. “This one is me. It’s for you. I’ll keep the one that looks like you. That way, we’re even.”

Dylan nodded, looking at it for a few extra moments, unable to put it down.

“It’s still early, Dylan. Let’s go find Fatty. His family just moved, they’re in our complex now.”

“Okay!”

The two children went to Fatty’s house hand-in-hand.

“Fatty, are you home alone?”

Fatty pointed to a door. “Nope. My mom and Mr. King are in the room.”

Dylan asked, “Where’s your dad?”

“He’s on a business trip. Come play in my room. I have lots of toys.”

“Okay.”

The three children went into Fatty’s room.

Just as they went in, the phone in Fatty’s room rang.

Since they were playing with toys, Fatty put the call on speakerphone.

“It’s Daddy. Is your mom home?” a man’s voice came through.

“Yeah, Mom and Mr. King are in the bedroom.”

“What!” The man’s voice was furious. “Fatty, go to your mom’s door and shout, ‘Daddy’s home!'”

Fatty put down his toy, ran out of the room, and shouted, “Daddy, you’re back!”

Then he closed the door and spoke into the phone again, “Daddy, I did it.”

“Mhm, good boy. Daddy’s driving home right now. Don’t forget to open the door for me in a bit.”

“I know.” He hung up the phone.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air.