Ethan’s Vengeance of Love
Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Apollo did not want to dampen Mrs. Rowland and Old Mr. Rowland’s enthusiasm. Still, his eyes lit up asthey landed on the chessboard across the hall. Then, he suggested, “I can play chess with Great-Grandpa.”

He had been interested in playing chess ever since he was a child. Mainly because his mother liked toplay it whenever she encountered something difficult and needed to calm down. So, when hediscovered her habit, he started studying the game and eventually became just as skilled as hismother. She also briefly mentioned that Old Mr. Rowland was an enthusiastic and masterful player, soApollo was eager to put his skills to the test against him.

“Really?” Old Mr. Rowland’s eyes lit up instantly. “That’s great! Finally, someone in the family whowants to play chess with me.”

“Dad, just keep in mind that Apollo is only seven years old,” Mrs. Rowland reminded gently as sheknew well that Old Mr. Rowland would not care about anything else once he started playing chess. Shewas worried that he would be too harsh on her grandchild. After all, her grandchild was only seven!

“I know. I know. I will teach him well so that he can put up a good fight against me in the future.” Old Mr.Rowland dismissed her concerns. He actually had a plan in mind. He knew he was strict with hisgrandson, but he had decided that he wanted to spoil his great-grandson. After all, Apollo was toosensible for a child his age that it made him feel as if he should spoil him to compensate for the child’smaturity.

“Come on. We should have our breakfast before doing anything. Then, Great-Grandpa will teach youhow to play chess.” Old Mr. Rowland became full of energy when he heard the word ‘chess’. Mrs.Rowland did not say anything else as she knew that Old Mr. Rowland would steamroll anything elsethat had nothing to do with chess at the moment. Therefore, she contacted the merchants again so thatthey could send someone to remove the remaining items that didn’t catch Apollo’s eye.

Actually, Apollo did not choose many items, so most of them were returned to their original state.

“What do you think the Rowland Family is up to? They asked us to deliver the items early in themorning, and now they want us to take everything back?” The group of managers met each otheroutside the residence and could not help but convey their doubts.

“Did you notice that she only asked for things for children?”

“Whose children do you mean?”

“Well, it should be the children from the Family, judging from the big fuss.”

“Wait a second, does the Rowland Family have any children? Mr. Rowland isn’t married yet, so whosechildren are we talking about? Moreover, the items look like they are for seven- or eight-year-oldchildren. So, even if he is married, he wouldn’t have a seven-year-old child all of a sudden.”

“That’s why I’m so confused.”

“Mind your own business. The Rowland Family’s affairs are not something we should speculate,”someone, who was more level-headed, interrupted the others from continuing their conversation.

After they finished eating their breakfast, Old Mr. Rowland quickly beckoned Apollo to join him in frontof the chessboard. He was eager to share his expertise in the game with his great-grandson.

Keith also took the day off and stayed at home to accompany Apollo. Of course, Mrs. Rowland, whowas already sitting on a stool next to them, would not be absent from this bonding session as shewatched her excellent grandson attentively. She also wanted to intervene in case Old Mr. Rowland wasbeing too strict with Apollo.

“What kind of chess do you play, Apollo? Should we start with Connect Four?” He was very kind andfriendly as he had thrown his usual solemn demeanor out of the window when it came to Apollo.

“Let’s play Go. I have dabbled in that,” Apollo said as he glanced at the Go board in front of him. Hewasn’t lying, as he had truly spent most of his time playing Go with his mother.

“Oh, you know how to play Go? That’s amazing!” Old Mr. Rowland immediately praised himwholeheartedly as he did not expect such a small child would know how to play Go. Of course, Mrs.Rowland did not expect anything out of their match; she thought her father-in-law was merely coaxingApollo. As for Keith, he disliked playing chess ever since he was a child due to his rebelliouspersonality. Thus, he decided to be a silent audience as he watched the two from the side for fun whileaccompanying Apollo.

“Okay, then. Great-Grandpa will teach you how to play Go.” Naturally, Old Mr. Rowland was thrilled. Hisgreat-grandson was definitely brilliant, and he had no doubt that Apollo was a fast learner. Apollo mayeven be able to challenge him in chess in a few years’ time!

He was just about to show Apollo how to make the first move when Apollo had already taken a stoneout of the stone bowl and placed it on the board.

“Wow, that was impressive. It looks like we’re in for an exciting match today.” Of course, Old Mr.Rowland did not initially consider Apollo to be a real opponent—his main goal was simply to spend timewith his great-grandson. But as the game progressed, his expression changed from casual to serious,and he became increasingly surprised by Apollo’s skill. By the end of the game, there was only oneword that could describe his feelings: stunned. It was impossible to fully convey just how astonished hefelt.

“Congratulations, Great-Grandpa. You won the game!” Apollo glanced at Old Mr. Rowland with a grinon his face. Nonetheless, it took Old Mr. Rowland a few deep breaths to calm down, and his expressionlooked more complicated than ever as he looked at Apollo like he had never seen him before. “You’rejust as cunning as your mother. Did you think I wasn’t able to see through your tricks? I know you letme win on purpose!”

“But at least you have a conscience, unlike your mother. She made a bet with me and proceeded to runme down without mercy. She even silenced me before I managed to bring out the marriage proposal.”Even though he was complaining, his tone was far from angry.

“So, you really did lose a bet to Alice that day and came back in disappointment!” Keith was speechlessat this new discovery. His grandfather was usually reliable, but the old man managed to drop the ball atsuch a critical moment.

“Why are you yelling at me? Pursuing a woman is your own business. Apollo is right. If you want Aliceto marry you, you have to do it on your own terms and make her marry you willingly. If I get involved, itwill only put unnecessary pressure on her. How dare you blame it on me? And you even have thenerve to ask me for help,” Old Mr. Rowland chided.

“So, are you trying to deny the fact that you met with Alice that day with the intention of pressuring herinto marrying me?” Keith asked his grandfather. “I seem to recall that I asked my mother to go there,not you. But you had already arrived at the Woland Residence by the time I found out.” Keith refused toback down, knowing his grandfather’s goals were evident from the start.

“Bah, it’s out of my hands now. It’s up to you whether you can successfully pursue her.” Old Mr.Rowland decided to shift the blame.

“Yeah, yeah. You talk as if you have any say in it,” said Keith. He was too lazy to argue with his owngrandfather.

“Dad, did you just say Apollo gave you that win? Does that mean he is better at chess than you?” Mrs.Rowland was not affected by their squabbles. Instead, her thoughts were focused on Apollo and whatOld Mr. Rowland said in passing earlier.

“Yes, I’d say that his chess skills are not inferior to mine.” Old Mr. Rowland turned his attention back toApollo, and his expression morphed into something complicated once more. He had never lost a game

of chess before. But he had suffered a defeat in Alice’s hands once not long ago, and now, he had lostto his great-grandson as well.