The butler brought in a pot of freshly brewed coffee, and Isaac poured a mug for Brittany, making sure it was the perfect sipping temperature before handing it over to her.

Yuri pretended to be engrossed in babysitting, but his eyes were constantly on Isaac, observing his every move. Seeing him handle everything with such ease, Yuri couldn't help but be taken aback.

The Salters were a powerful family, and Isaac, as the eldest grandson, was expected to carry himself with a certain dignity. Yet here he was, tending to Brittany with such affection that it was clear his feelings for her were genuine. "Mr. Salter, you've been quite the success in Imperial City. Have you ever considered expanding your ventures to Craneville?" Yuri asked.

Isaac was fully aware of his father-in-law's discontent. This question was a test.

"Until now, I hadn't given much thought to developing business in Craneville, but now that Bri has you here, I'll be spending more time here. Perhaps in the future, I might consider opening a branch," Isaac replied. Brittany, caught off guard by his remark, looked at Isaac in surprise. He had never mentioned the possibility of opening a branch before.

Isaac shrugged it off as a spur-of-the-moment thought.

Yuri's frown eased a bit upon hearing this. "I plan to leave my business to Bri eventually. If you're willing to stay in Craneville, that would be ideal," Yuri said.

Stay in Craneville?

Isaac picked up on the subtext. Was Yuri suggesting he become a stay-at-home husband?

"Dad," Brittany interjected, sensing the tension in the air. "Let's not talk about this now. It's our first meeting; let's discuss something else."

Yuri clicked his tongue. His daughter was clearly taking her husband's side. But, after all, they had only just been reunited. Their bond wasn't strong enough yet. He decided to wait and see.

Yuri skillfully changed the subject to Daniel, and Isaac responded with ease.

Isaac proved himself to be a dedicated father. Even during those five years when he kept his emotions hidden, his love for Daniel never wavered.

Yuri's opinion of Isaac began to soften.

...

At six o'clock, the butler knocked on the door.

"Mr. Lynette, Miss, Mr. Salter, dinner is served."

Yuri, carrying Daniel in his arms, declared boisterously, "Dinnertime!"

Daniel, perched in Yuri's embrace, his eyes sparkling with excitement, asked, "Grandpa, can I ride the big horse?"

His daddy had let him ride a big horse before!

Brittany wanted to intervene. "Daniel..."

"Of course," Yuri said, lifting Daniel onto his shoulders and instructing him to hold on tight.

Brittany was terrified; she had always been somewhat intimidated by Yuri.

"Dad, that's not appropriate."

How could they indulge in such tomfoolery in front of everyone?

"My grandson, my joy! Who dares to object?" Yuri retorted, striding downstairs with a giggling Daniel on his shoulders.

Brittany sighed and turned to Isaac. "Are you seriously considering opening a branch?"

The Salter family was already a powerhouse in the country, so setting up a branch wouldn't be too challenging. However, it would mean doubling Isaac's workload. Isaac held her hand reassuringly. "I've thought about it before. I don't want you to overexert yourself."

He understood Brittany's longing for fatherly love and wanted to make her life better.

Her heart softened, and she leaned into Isaac. "Thank you."

Isaac wasn't satisfied with mere words of gratitude. "I don't accept verbal thanks."

Catching his implication, Brittany pinched his waist, only to hurt her fingertips against his firm muscles. She bit her lip and playfully scolded, "Isaac, behave yourself." Hand in hand, they headed downstairs.

"It seems like my dad has it in for you."

"Probably because I've stolen his little girl," Isaac said with a resigned smile. "Don't worry, I'll make an effort to get along with him."

Brittany was concerned he might be mistreated. "If..."

"I won't take it personally. As long as he's good to you, that's all that matters," Isaac reassured her firmly.

Before Brittany could reply, a shriek came from downstairs.

"Yuri, how can you let a child ride on your shoulders? What will people think if word gets out? Does the Lynette family have no shame?"

Tip: You can use left, right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.Tap the middle of the screen to reveal Reading Options.

If you replace any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.

Report