Chapter 272 The Apple of Everyone''s Eyes


    In the Luo Family''s mansion.


    A soft carpet the color of sky blue was spread around the living room, lending a warm, summery feeling


    to the space.


    Eddy''s eyes was immediately beguiled by the color and toddled toward it, a big smile on his face as he


    stepped on the carpet.


    It was his first time at the Luo Family''s house. Despite his new surroundings, he waspletely at


    ease.


    Already, he was the spitting image of his father. Anyone would be able to see that he was Kevin''s son.


    "Is this our little Edward?" Liam asked.


    He beamed at the sight of his grandson. Perhaps it was because he was his grandfather, but he


    thought he had never seen a child more lovely.


    The boy''s presence was a blessing. With him here, Anne and Liam felt the stiffness between them


    dissipate, if only for a little. Anne nodded at the old man''s question and said, "We all call him Eddy."


    "Okay," Liam smiled at her, then walked towards his grandson and hung a golden locket around his


    neck.


    "This is a gift. I want him to have his own keepsake from me. Just think of it as humoring an old man''s


    selfishness," he exined, his wordsid out cautiously. He and Anne had only begun to mend their


    bond. Liam did not want to offend her, especially since she had taken it upon herself to take the boy to


    see him.


    Once again, Eddy bridged the gap of their estrangement.


    "Okay. Thank you," Anne answered. She could not find it in herself to refuse. She could see how the


    old man''s eyes lit up when he looked at Eddy.


    Eddy grabbed the locket with his little hand and looked at it with wide, curious eyes. The next moment,


    he opened his mouth and put it in his mouth.


    At this, Liam became a bit anxious. He had given Eddy the golden locket as a good luck charm for a


    long and healthy life, but seeing how the child was nibbling at it, he began to doubt the wisdom of his


    choice.


    He crouched down and reached out to take the locket, but Eddy only gripped it tighter, unwilling to let


    go. There was a sh of possession in his eyes, as if he was arguing that it was his and no one could


    take it away.


    Liam wanted to chuckle at his stubbornness, but he had to take the locket from the child.


    Using just enough strength, he pried it off his hands and away from his neck. Liam watched Eddy''s


    expression carefully, anticipating his crying. To his surprise, the boy just stared at him, albeit with


    displeasure, but remained silent.


    Rose smiled at her father''s evident surprise. Her nephew really was something special.


    Liam sat down on the sofa and said to Eddy, "Be good. I will give it to you when you won''t be biting it


    anymore."


    Eddy looked at Liam from the floor. His eyes went next to the sofa. The next moment, his small hands


    gripped at the cushions and he decided to climb up. However, the sofa was a little higher than his


    waist, so he fell back down before he was able to raise himself up.


    Once again, he stood up, this time stepping on Liam''s foot and using it like a stedder. He was able


    to climb smoothly, then reached out for the golden locket in his grandfather''s hand.


    Liam watched the boy''s whole struggle with awe and unbridled amusement. His grandson was


    definitely as stubborn as he was smart.


    He was filled with enthusiasm for Eddy''s growth.


    Theughter that rang out from the living room reached Valentina''s ears. She hovered over the door for


    a moment, listening, until she finally went in.


    She was greeted with the view of a lovely little baby sitting side by side with Liam. The boy was holding


    a golden lock in his hand and was grinning like a winner.


    Her chest swelled with fondness. The boy''s smile was bright and his eyes were full of life. She felt an


    urge to go over to him grow in her.


    Liking children came much easier for people their age. Perhaps because she was older, she was


    charmed by Eddy''s innocence. However, her eyes fell next on Anne, and she decided againsting


    over to hold him.


    If she was too eager, she would surely be rejected, so it was better to watch over from a safe distance.


    Valentina shifted her attention to Rose and wondered when her daughter would have her own child.


    There was a time when Rose had been irrational, going as far as to pretend to be pregnant to tie Kevin


    down. Valentina was supportive in her daughter trying to get what she wanted, but seeing how things


    had panned out now, she was d that Rose failed. She would have suffered so much if she insisted


    on her absurd ns. She wouldn''t have been able to smile like she did now.


    Eddy came to them all like a wonderful gift from the heavens.


    After a while, Eddy had grown much morefortable with Liam. When Liam raised his eyes and saw


    Valentina, he said to Eddy, "This is your Grandma. Come and call her."


    Anne''s expression changed, but she had kept silent. Eddy looked at Valentina and said in a sweet


    voice, "Grandma."


    His voice ranged pure and clear in her ears. Valentina could no longer resist after hearing him call her


    grandma. Her face broke into a smile and she walked over to Eddy, scooping him up in her arms.


    "My grandson is so cute." Eddy feltfortable in her arms andy his head on her shoulder.


    Valentina''s smile grew bigger. She had almost swooned at her grandchild''s charming action.


    Anne''s face eased into a small smile as he watched Valentina cradle her son as if he was the most


    precious thing on Earth. Rose, too, was filled with happiness at the exchange. It was as if hope had


    finally revealed itself, and their family could start again. She looked at Anne and winked, and the two


    sisters exchanged warm, genuine smiles.


    "Rose, have you and Mark talked things over?" Valentina asked, to Rose''s surprise. It was as if Eddy


    had softened her, and now she was epting Rose and Mark''s rtionship as well.


    "Oh, that. I went to see Markst night, but he was in the middle of an important meeting, so we moved


    our talk for another time. I''lle by again right away," After this, Rose went out of the house to meet


    Mark.


    "What''s with her? I was just asking," Valentina said.


    She had asked with genuine concern. Since herst talk with Liam, she had seen reason and


    understood that Rose''s life was up to her to decide. If she was happy, then that was the most important


    thing.


    Eddy started wriggling in Valentina''s arms and she was pulled back from her thoughts. Her eyes fell on


    Anne and she grew uneasy, but Anne only turned her face away without any trace of animosity. At this,


    Valentina breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Anne did not particrly hold a grudge toward her.


    As she recalled the things of the past, Valentina was seized with guilt, but she had resolved not to let


    what happened beforee in between them now. If only for the sake of the child, she was willing to


    bury the hatchet for good.


    Perhaps they could slowly learn how to be around each other without erupting into a fight.


    In Riverside Hotel.


    The mellow scent of red wine filled the air in the presidential suite.


    Ryan leaned back against the sofa and raked his eyes through the document handed over by Nichs.


    After thoroughly reading its contents, Ryan immediately understood just how much of a capable man


    Nichs was. He would indeed be useful.


    After all, fair or foul, all means were measured ording to the end results. In business, those who


    were able to stand in the highest positions were only one of two: men with outstanding ability or men


    who were brilliant in their tactics.


    It was evident that Nichs was thetter.


    "Do you find it satisfactory to your standards?" Nichs asked as he took a sip of wine.


    Ryan''s expression changed at his question. He had to change his opinion about the man in front of


    him. He smiled and said in leisurely, "Sure enough, CY Group''s people are something else."


    Ryan was acknowledging his merit. But at the same time, he had made up his mind. Once this deal


    was done, he would never involve himself with Nichs. He was too dangerous, and his loyalty was


    only to himself.


    Nichs just smiled. He had been in the business world for many years now, and he had seen all there


    was to see when it came to the yers of the field. Ryan started as a serious businessman, and


    Nichs'' appearance changed this midway. Ryan was good, but he didn''t have Nichs'' knack for


    judging the people he dealt with.


    There were many reasons why Nichs cooperated with Ryan, but the most crucial among these was


    that he was confident in Ryan''s weakness. It was only a matter of time before the tables would flip to


    his own favor.


    "I''m ttered," Nichs said, the deceptively calm smile never leaving his face.


    Two sses clinked and the wine shook with slight tremors. The men drank, their smiles not betraying


    their own ns for the other''s downfall. Slow music flowed through the room, covering up the ominous


    sound of betrayal.


    In the East Mountain Vi.


    Since Anne had brought Eddy to the Luo Family''s house, Liam had taken it upon himself to visit Eddy


    in the vi.


    He was not an unwee guest, but Anne could not help but be a little concerned at his zealousness.


    He was so diligent that he came almost every day.


    With his every visit, the spacious living had a little less space. It was starting to be filled with all the


    things Liam brought with him. Eddy was showered in so much love and attention, and it seemed that


    his grandfather''s liking to him was not one-sided. The boy had grown so familiar with Liam that he


    would follow the older man around, all the while calling him Grandpa to Liam''s delight. Sometimes,


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    Eddy wouldn''t even respond to Anne if Liam was there.


    Anne could do nothing but watch as the grandfather and grandson had the time of their lives as they


    yed with the remote control train.


    She had always seen Liam as a well-mannered man. She could almost not believe that it was the same


    man lying down on the carpet imitating train sounds.


    "Father, it’s time for dinner," Anne said formally.


    It wasn''t that she was deliberately putting distance between them, but Anne didn''t know any other way


    to speak to him. She couldn''t be casual, like she was with Rose.


    "Okay, let''s y againter," As Liam was looking away to answer, the train went off the track and hit


    the carpet.


    Eddy still wanted to y and shouted, "Grandpa,e on."


    However, Liam only reached out and picked Eddy up. "Eddy, let''s go to eat first. No ying if you don''t


    eat," he said with a tone of finality.


    Eddy pouted but nodded reluctantly.


    The dinner table was covered with delicious dishes. On one side, there was a vacuum cup with Eddy''s


    porridge.


    By this time, Eddy could already eat simple cooked food. Now he was obediently standing in the baby


    chair and looking around with his big eyes. His big eyes watched Liam with interest as he ate. Eddy


    opened his mouth whenever Liam did, mimicking his movements.


    "Eat." Eddy stretched out his finger and pointed at Liam, drooling.


    "You are still too young to eat that, so you have to eat your own food first and grow up fast," Anne said.


    Eddy could understand what Anne meant. He obediently opened his mouth and ate what Anne gave


    him, although his brows remained furrowed, evidently disappointed.


    Seeing the look on Eddy''s face, Liam felt sorry for him. It was no easy task being a grandfather. He had


    to hold back even when all he wanted to do was spoil his grandson.


    He dipped some sauce on the te with chopsticks and put it beside Eddy''s mouth. Eddy opened his


    mouth and sucked the juice in. His small mouth moved as if he was savoring it and made delighted


    sounds.


    "Anne, you are still inexperienced. Eddy can''t eat some things yet, but you can let him have a taste,"


    Liam said with a smile.


    Anne was filled with curiosity at his unexpected knowledge. How did Liam know so much?


    Seeing the question on Anne''s face, Liam smiled again and said, "Taking care of a child is the


    responsibility of both parents, not just the mother''s. I took care of Rose with her Mom back then."


    "I see," Anne said, not knowing what else to say.