Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

”Cheers.” They both drained their glasses.

The two boys scarfed down their food and slipped back to their room, leaving the three adults to eat in the living room.

Elmer Grant lay there and asked, ”Bro, I learned Dad’s moves today. I’m going to try them on Melody tomorrow.”

Dylan Grant grunted. ”You go ahead and try. Hey, come look, I’ve recruited a bunch of people online.”

Elmer immediately shot up, climbed onto a chair, and looked at the screen. ”Just these dozen or so people?”

Dylan glanced at him. ”We’re young. If there are too many people, do you think you can manage them? As we get older, our numbers will grow. The 500,000 Dad gave us can last for a while.”

”Bro, I’ll listen to you. Whatever you plan, I’ll do. After all, our goal is to protect Mom.”

Dylan turned to look at him. ”This is a secret, just between us. We can’t tell Mom about it right now. Otherwise, we’re guaranteed to get a beating.”

”But with Dad here, Mom will...” Elmer’s meaning was obvious: with Quentin Grant around, surely she’d go easy on them for his sake.

”You idiot. Dad does whatever Mom says, you moron. Watch your mouth. If you let this slip, I’ll be the first one to beat you up.”

Elmer climbed off the chair and lay down again. ”Got it.”

Sleeping in the same bed with him again after so long, Nora Ainsworth found she had insomnia.

She just couldn’t fall asleep.

”I’m going to make a name for myself here. No matter how much I have to suffer, I’m going to get strong all by myself. Don’t help me. I don’t need it.”

Quentin Grant wrapped his arms around her. ”You silly girl. Do you have any idea how hard it is for a woman to make it in the entertainment industry?”

”This isn’t about whether it’s difficult. This is a matter of my dignity. I want to live my life with a little more self-respect.”

”Fine. Have it your way. I won’t interfere in your business, as long as this is what you truly want.” He paused, then added, ”Catherine Callahan’s baby died. It wasn’t mine. Nothing happened between us that night.”

”I know. I saw the news.”

He propped himself up on one arm, turning on his side and pulling her to face him.

”Then why didn’t you reach out to me?”

”I don’t know. I guess I just got used to living on my own with the children,” she said honestly.

”I’ll make you get used to having me around.”

With that, he pulled the covers over them and pinned her beneath him.

”The light’s still on!”

He poked his head out and switched off the light. ”Honey, here I come!”

”Mmph—”

The wind started to howl outside, and by midnight, it had begun to rain.

Leon Lynch leaned on the balcony, his face devoid of expression as he stared into the inky blackness outside.

He held out a hand, cool raindrops landing in his palm. A chill seeped into his skin and shot through his body, followed by a numb ache.

It was a pain he had to bear all on his own.

His silhouette was barely visible in the dark. His cold, vacant gaze was fixed on a single point, as if he were seeing something and nothing at all.

「Early the next morning.」

When Nora Ainsworth and Quentin Grant got up, they saw a steaming breakfast on the dining table. It was obvious who had made it.

”Leon?” Nora called out, but there was no reply.

Quentin Grant hurried to the dining table, picked up a piece of paper, and showed it to Nora.

Nora went over to look. Her expression changed, and she immediately dialed Leon Lynch’s number.

”Why did you leave without saying a word?”

”You two weren’t up yet, so I didn’t want to disturb you. Say goodbye to the boys for me. We’ll meet again when you’re back in the country.”

Nora replied, ”Alright, you be careful. Call me when you get home.”

”Of course. Bye.”

After hanging up, Nora sat down at the table. ”You know, Leon is a really good person.”

”He’s not better than me. Besides, it was awkward with him here. It’s good that he left.”

Nora glared at him. ”That’s heartless.”

”As long as I’m good to you, that’s all that matters. I already thanked him last night. And don’t worry, I’ll look out for the Lynch Group. I don’t like owing anyone favors.”

Just then, the two boys woke up.

”Did Godfather leave?”

”Nooo!” Elmer cried, looking like his world was ending.

Quentin Grant’s eyes shot wide. ”Your actual father is right here. What difference does it make if your godfather is here or not?”

Dylan climbed onto his chair and replied in his high-pitched, childish voice, ”It’s not the same at all. Ever since you showed up, you only have eyes for Mom. Godfather actually paid attention to us. He played with us, and he’s a computer expert and a pro racer. He’s way better than you.”

Quentin Grant couldn’t take it anymore. ’I’m not as good as Leon Lynch?’

’How could Leon Lynch possibly compare to me?’

”That’s because you two don’t know what your old man is capable of. Let me put it this way: anything your godfather can do, I can do better. Well, except maybe for the car racing. That stuff is deadly. Your dad doesn’t mess with things that dangerous. Too risky.”

”No way,” Elmer said, spitting out the two words.

Quentin Grant grabbed his ear with one hand and gave it a tug. ”Do you believe me now?”

Elmer shot him a disgusted look. ”You’re always using force on a little kid! Are you even my real dad? I want my godfather! Mommy! He’s not as good as Godfather! Godfather never pulls my ear!”

Quentin Grant let go resentfully. ”You two little brats, always siding with an outsider! Remember this! No matter how nice your godfather is to you, he has ulterior motives. Unlike me!”

Dylan looked at him with contempt. ”And your motives aren’t obvious? At least Godfather is open about his intentions. You’re the one who won’t admit it.”

Nora laughed. ”Just give up. You can’t win an argument against the boys.”

Quentin Grant had to admit that when it came to his children, he was utterly defeated.

”Alright, fine. My motives are perfectly honorable, too. My motive is the three of you.”

Elmer held out his porridge bowl to him. ”Daddy, I want more porridge. Can you go to the kitchen and get me another bowl?”

That one word—”Daddy”—made Quentin Grant ecstatic. He immediately stood, took the bowl, and headed for the kitchen.

Elmer shot Dylan a look. Dylan instantly understood the signal and moved to stand next to his brother.

Quentin Grant returned with the bowl, stopped at the table, and placed it next to Elmer. ”Here’s your porridge, son,” he said with an incredibly kind, beaming smile.

”Thanks, Daddy.”

”You’re welco—AHH!” Before he could finish, he went to sit down, only to find the chair gone. He crashed hard onto the floor.

Sitting on the floor, he looked for the culprits. The two boys were already gleefully skipping away from the scene of the crime. Grabbing their backpacks, they called out, ”Mom, you don’t need to walk us! We’re off to school!”

Nora couldn’t stop laughing. She peeked over at him. ”Those two are angels on the outside and little devils on the inside. They’re full of tricks. This is only your first lesson.”

Quentin Grant slowly got to his feet, sat down in a chair, and sighed. ”They really are my sons. I used to pull the same pranks on my own father when I was little. More than once, in fact.”