Just then, Franklin Whitman pushed the door open, interrupting her contemplation of life.

“President Whitman, three more companies have sent proposals. You’ve been working so hard these past two days. Once this rush is over, Dad will give you a vacation so you can get some rest.”

He placed a new partnership proposal on Caroline Whitman’s desk and said with a broad grin.

Caroline Whitman picked it up with a look of utter defeat and dutifully flipped through a few pages.

After a long moment of silence, she finally spoke slowly:

“Dad, I can understand that everyone is eager to connect with the Grant Group, but have they forgotten something? We’re the Whitman Group, not a branch of the Grant Group. Eight out of ten of these projects have absolutely nothing to do with our company’s business focus. Seriously, why is there one for pet funeral services? Since when have we ever been involved in pet funerals?”

“What’s wrong with pet funerals? Pet funerals are a sunrise industry,” Franklin Whitman said defensively, quite proud of his foresight.

Caroline Whitman snorted. “Following that technological trend, you might as well get into the cyber-immortality funeral business.”

“Hmmm, that’s not a bad idea. I’ll go look into it.”

The moment Franklin Whitman heard this, he thought it made a lot of sense. After dropping that line, he left the office.

“…”

Caroline Whitman watched her father’s stout figure disappear through the doorway and sighed helplessly.

‘What am I going to do with him?’

Adrian Grant hadn’t been idle these past two days, either. Zoe Grant had been officially booted off to take over overseas operations, and all domestic divisions were handed over to Adrian Grant.

So for the past few days, their routine was to be busy with their own work during the day, meet up at home in the evening, shower, and then fall straight into bed.

They didn’t even have time to make love.

Ryan Grant was looked after by their respective grandparents in turns, only occasionally being picked up to spend a night at home.

After celebrating his birthday at Gavin Grant’s estate, the little guy was filled with a sense of security.

He no longer fussed about wanting them around all day.

It didn’t matter if they came home late from work every night. As long as they weren’t away on a business trip, he didn’t feel the need to keep tabs on them at all.

Ryan Grant was now very used to this arrangement. He had even learned to say over video calls, “Mommy, Daddy, go ahead and work. Ryan will be good.”

Every time Caroline Whitman heard him say that, she felt like she should be paying him a salary.

They finally managed to get a free day on the weekend.

In the morning, the two of them took Ryan Grant to an indoor playground at the mall.

For lunch, they went to Zanthia.

Adrian Grant had made a reservation in advance and ordered a table full of food. Half of it was spicy dishes that Caroline Whitman loved, and the other half was mild food that Ryan Grant could eat.

When they left their private room after the meal, it was Adrian Grant walking ahead, holding their son in one arm and carrying the boy’s little dinosaur backpack in the other.

Caroline Whitman walked behind them, her head down as she scrolled through her phone, checking for any missed messages.

“Caroline?”

A voice suddenly called out.

She looked up. A tall man stood in the side hallway, dressed in a light-colored shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms.

The man looked at her, his expression momentarily stunned before it shifted from surprise to recognition, and then he smiled.

“It really is you.”

“I thought I might have been mistaken. You really haven’t changed a bit since high school.”

Sean Winslow walked forward and introduced himself with a smile, “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you don’t recognize me?”

“It’s me, Sean Winslow. Our families used to be neighbors.”

At first, Caroline Whitman really had forgotten him completely, but when Sean Winslow mentioned being former neighbors, she remembered.

She gave an awkward smile. “Oh, it’s you. I honestly don’t remember much.”

Sean Winslow took two steps forward and stopped in front of her. “After I transferred schools in high school, I spent a few years abroad. I just got back this morning, and a few friends just threw me a welcome party here. I’ve heard my dad mention that you’ve been doing great things with the Whitman Group these past couple of years. I was even planning to look you up as soon as I got back, but I never expected to run into you here.”

Adrian Grant, who had been walking ahead, had already stopped. He now stood just ahead of Caroline Whitman, off to the side.

He looked back, his gaze landing on Sean Winslow’s face.

He didn’t step forward or interrupt, just stood there quietly, holding Ryan Grant.

His expression was placid, betraying no emotion. But after Sean Winslow introduced himself, the temperature in the air seemed to drop a degree.

The little guy was the first to notice something was off with Adrian Grant’s aura; he was all too familiar with his dad’s moods.

He was very familiar with the name Sean Winslow.

Just as he was about to call out to his mom to back his dad up, Adrian Grant stopped him. He lowered his voice and said softly, “No need to call out. Let your mother handle it.”

“Oh.” Ryan Grant settled back onto his father’s shoulder, turning his little head to stare at Sean Winslow with a clear, scrutinizing gaze.

‘He wasn’t so pathetic that he needed his child to stick up for him,’ Adrian Grant thought.

‘Besides, he wasn’t the type of crazed, jealous husband who would fly into a rage just because a strange man was talking to his wife.’

That’s what Adrian Grant thought. He felt his position on the matter was very clear.

But from several meters away, Caroline Whitman inexplicably felt a chill and a scorching gaze upon her.

Needless to say, she knew exactly where that gaze was coming from.

Deciding to wrap things up quickly, Caroline Whitman maintained the smile on her face. “I didn’t expect to run into you here, either. Let’s catch up some other time. My husband is waiting for me.”

Sean Winslow’s expression froze when he heard Caroline Whitman say the words “my husband.”

“You’re married?” Sean Winslow hadn’t expected to return only to find that things were no longer the same.

Caroline Whitman hummed in agreement and turned toward Adrian Grant. “That’s my husband over there.”

Sean Winslow followed her gaze. He had actually noticed that stare earlier but hadn’t looked directly in that direction.

Across the hallway, a man just slightly taller than him stood holding a child. He wore a white shirt and black trousers, a child’s backpack slung over his shoulder.

Sean Winslow recognized him: Adrian Grant of the Grant Group.

The man known for his ruthlessness in the business world, who had taken complete control of the Grant Group within six months.

It was hard to imagine that such a business tycoon, who radiated a “keep your distance” aura, would be standing there patiently, holding a soft little child.

Sean Winslow didn’t go over to greet him. He simply retracted his gaze and put on a suitable smile, handling the situation gracefully. “In that case, I won’t keep you. We can catch up another time.”

“Okay.”

Caroline Whitman gave a slight nod and turned to leave.

Only when Caroline Whitman drew near did Adrian Grant slowly turn, and they walked out of the restaurant side by side.

Sean Winslow watched the backs of the family of three, his eyes on the child on Adrian Grant’s shoulder, who was staring right at him. He stood there for a moment, waiting until they disappeared around the corner before turning and heading back to his private room.

He pushed open the door to the room.

“Sean, what took you so long?”

Someone flicked a lighter open, tossed it on the coffee table, and asked curiously.

“Ran into an old classmate.”

“Oh? An old classmate, you say? A girl, was it?”

Sean Winslow didn’t answer the question. He just asked, “Has there been any news recently about a marriage alliance involving the Grant Group?”

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