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Chapter 8

Knowing Bianca was joking, Grace just smiled at her and didn't respond.

Jasper, thinking she was really upset, quickly gave her all the meat and offered, "Bianca, you can have it all."

Bianca burst into laughter, her big eyes twinkling mischievously, "Jasper, I'm not mad, I was just teasing you."

Jasper scratched his head, a hint of shyness on his face. Grace, Bianca, and Jasper laughed together, while Mia watched with satisfaction, occasionally wiping away tears.

Meanwhile, at the Montague Mansion, Olivia was sipping water when hurried footsteps approached. "Mrs. Montague, Mr. Charles Montague is back," the butler said softly.

Olivia raised an eyebrow indifferently, "Did he come back alone?"

The butler nodded, "Yes."

Olivia said, "Got it."

The next second, Charles appeared, stepping forward and asking softly, "Grandma, is Jasper here?"

Olivia looked up and gave him a cold glance, clearly displeased, "You don't know where your son is, and you come to ask me?"

Charles, scolded, fell silent. Today was Jasper's first day of kindergarten, and Charles had planned to pick him up. He had spent the whole afternoon waiting for Grace to apologize, but ended up waiting in vain, even forgetting to pick up Jasper.

He came to the Montague Mansion full of anger, only calming down before entering.

Olivia put down her water glass and said impatiently, "He went to a classmate's house to play. Charles, you really don't care about Jasper! All you do is hang out with Emily!"

Charles pursed his lips and explained, "It's not like that, Grandma. I was delayed by something."

Olivia didn't want to deal with him, snorting, "It's getting dark."

Charles frowned, "Grandma, you rest first. I'll go pick him up."

He pulled out his phone and called Jasper's bodyguard.

Meanwhile, Grace, Bianca, and Jasper were having a blast after dinner when a knock on the door interrupted them. The bodyguard's voice followed, "Mr. Jasper Montague, it's getting late. Mr. Charles Montague is here to take you home."

Grace froze, her heart tightening. She couldn't let Charles see Bianca, or he might take her away too. She looked worriedly at the two kids.

Before Grace could say anything, Jasper put down his Lego and stood up. "Mommy, Bianca, it's late. I'll go home now and come back to play with you tomorrow."

Though reluctant, Grace nodded, "I'll make something delicious for you tomorrow."

Bianca pouted, "Jasper, I don't want you to go."

It was tough for Bianca. She had just recognized her brother, and now they had to part so soon.

Jasper patted her head, "Bianca, did you forget? We'll see each other at kindergarten tomorrow."

Bianca opened her mouth to say something but finally gave up. "Okay, Jasper, see you tomorrow."

Grace pinched his little face and hugged him. "Hey, be good when you get home. Take a bath and go to bed early, okay? Don't spend too much time on screens; it's bad for your eyes. You've got such beautiful eyes, I don't want you to have to wear glasses."

Jasper felt warm inside listening to his mom's nagging. He nodded obediently, "Don't worry, Mommy, I see."

Reluctantly, Jasper left. Grace and Bianca watched him from the balcony. As soon as he went downstairs, a Maybach pulled up at the door.

Charles, dressed in a black suit, got out of the car, hands in his pockets, looking steadily at Jasper.

Jasper's face was unusually calm. He glanced at Charles indifferently, showing no change in expression, completely different from his happy demeanor with Grace. He walked straight to the car with the bodyguards.

Charles frowned slightly, "Jasper, didn't you see me? Why didn't you say hello?"

Jasper reluctantly spoke, "Dad." His voice was calm, sounding somewhat perfunctory.

Charles felt a lump in his throat, utterly helpless. Jasper had always been quiet and withdrawn, only showing a smile to Olivia. In Jasper's eyes, he probably didn't care about Charles at all.

Watching Jasper get into the car, Charles was about to get in as well. As he turned, he seemed to sense something and suddenly stopped, looking up at the building.

His sharp gaze made Grace quickly crouch down in nervousness.

After a while, her heart calmed down. She stood up and looked downstairs, only to see the taillights of the departing Maybach.

"Luckily, he didn't see us," Grace muttered. She breathed a sigh of relief. When she turned around, she saw Bianca with her arms crossed, angrily glaring in the direction the Maybach had left.

Grace pinched her little face and curiously asked, "What's wrong? Why are you making that face?"

Bianca pouted and shouted, "Mommy, I didn't expect the man who abandoned you to be so handsome! I thought he would be short, ugly, and fat! It's so unfair!"

Grace was helpless. What kind of TV shows had Bianca been watching with Mia all day?

Stomping her feet in anger, Bianca stormed off.

In the Maybach, Jasper quietly stared out the window, the suffocating silence filling the car.

After a long time, Jasper finally spoke indifferently, "I made plans with my classmate to play tomorrow. Don't come to pick me up. I'll come back with the bodyguards after playing."

Jasper's indifferent tone caused Charles to frown, his expression showing mild displeasure. Charles couldn't understand whom Jasper took after. He always seemed more mature than his age, and Charles spoke with him coldly as if he were giving orders.

Charles felt a surge of anger but, after a moment's reflection, chose to let it pass, considering it was his own son. He pressed his thin lips together and simply said, "Got it. Come back early, don't be out too late."

Ignoring Charles's advice, Jasper just turned his head to stare out the car window, pretending he didn't hear a thing.

His mind was filled with memories of Grace and Bianca. Grace was so gentle, and Bianca was just the sweetest. He sighed to himself, wishing he could be with them all the time.

Charles, not getting a response, shot Jasper a cold look, clearly annoyed.

The ride back to The Montague Mansion was dead silent. Neither Charles nor Jasper said a word, and the air was thick with awkwardness.

As soon as they pulled up to the mansion, Jasper bolted out of the car, not even glancing at Charles, and dashed straight into the living room.

Charles, visibly irritated, took a deep breath and turned to the bodyguard. "Find out which classmate's house Jasper went to today," he ordered.

The bodyguard nodded. "Mr. Montague, I checked. Jasper went to a female classmate's house today. Her name is Bianca."

Charles's expression softened a bit. "A female classmate?"

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