Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
Elspeth had thought Haris would wait for her at their rendezvous, but to her surprise, the elder had personally come.
It flattered her a little, but at the same time, a sliver of bewilderment arose within her.
“Hold on. He’s not here yet.”
The smile on Haris’ face stiffened at once. “Who’s he? Callum?”
“Yeah… He said he wanted to join us.”
At this point, nearly everyone had heard about her marriage to Callum. Though it wasn’t a full-on disclosure, those shrewd would be able to figure it out.
Hence, there was no reason for her to hide it from Haris.
“I didn’t expect you two to be so close. Haha, looks like I’m the imposing one.”
“You don’t mind, do you?” She still had to ask out of politeness though it didn’t matter if he did.
After all, not just anybody could turn any decision Callum made easily.
“Of course, I don’t mind. What’s there to mind? I’ve asked to meet with you to chat and ask about some things in the first place. With Callum around, things will be much easier.”
As they talked about Callum, Elspeth suddenly felt a warm sensation coming from her palm, and she realized a large hand had wrapped around hers.
At that, she looked up to find her new husband standing next to her, on high alert.
Haris was a shrewd guy who had lived for a few decades, after all. His heart skipped a beat too when he saw the young man in protective mode.
“Relax. I’ve only come to have a chat with Elspeth. No need to be on guard, Mr. Winthrop.”
“You’re overreacting, Old Mr. McGrath. I’m merely accompanying my wife. I won’t do anything. Didn’t you say you wanted to chat? Where are we heading?”
Though Elspeth knew Haris might not mean any harm, she still felt touched when she watched Callum standing up for her.
Actually, life after marriage isn’t so bad…
“Right, I nearly forgot about that. Hop in. I’ll take you guys there.”
With that, the two sat in the back seat with their hands remaining tightly held.
Even Haris couldn’t help teasing them about it. “You two sure get along well. Looks like Jasmine has interfered in your relationship.”
“Naturally,” Callum affirmed at once, leading Elspeth to tug his fingers lightly, signaling that he had crossed the line. But the elder was broad-minded and didn’t mind Callum’s words. Instead, he just smiled thoughtfully.
Soon, the three arrived at a hotel and took their seats after entering a private room.
“I wonder what you’d like to talk to my wife about today, Old Mr. McGrath.” Callum deliberately emphasized the word ‘wife’ to boost Elspeth’s confidence.
“An old man like me naturally hadn’t called Elspeth over for anything else.” Haris took a sip of the tea on the table before continuing. “I want to talk to her about her family.”
Elspeth didn’t know why, but Arthur’s words suddenly popped into her head.
Can it be that Old Mr. McGrath knows about my mother?
“What is it that you know of, Old Mr. McGrath? Please do tell.”
At that, Haris chuckled. “No rush. It’s just that I don’t know if I should say it so easily. You see, I don’t know if Winthrop here knows about it.”
Elspeth’s heart skipped a beat. Callum was unaware of it just yet.
Callum, on the other hand, was unfazed. “I’m her husband. Is there anything I can’t hear about?”
“No, not quite.”
At that, the elder person explained, saying, “I want to talk about Elspeth’s mother…”
“She has passed. I suggest you don’t talk about it anymore.”
Callum had thought she felt uncomfortable after hearing Haris’ words and recalled some sad moments when he saw her grim face. Elspeth, on the other hand, thought she was right about her guess.
“No, her mother hadn’t passed.”
Callum frowned in response. “What do you mean?”
“Her mother is still alive. She’s just somewhere Elspeth can’t find.”
At that, Callum turned to his beloved. Seeing that she didn’t panic in the way that he had imagined, he knew it wasn’t as he imagined.
“I’d appreciate it if you could be clear about it.”
“I’m saying the woman who passed wasn’t Elspeth’s birth mother.”
“Then, do you know where my birth mother is?” Elspeth asked.
Suddenly, Haris appeared reluctant. “That’s pretty much all that I know of. As for where she is specifically, I don’t know.”
At that, Callum held Elspeth’s hand under the table while graveness laced his face. “You wouldn’t have brought us here to merely tell us that.”
In other words, Haris had more than just that in mind, and it’d be some inhumane condition.
“I knew you were highly intelligent, my boy.” Haris suddenly guffawed. However, it was one that was rather unfamiliar and uncomfortable. “I won’t hide it from you anymore, then. I’ve naturally met up with you and told you all of this because I want something in exchange.”
“If it’s for us to divorce so that Jasmine can be with me, you can stop right here,” Callum countered without hesitation, causing Haris to turn grim instantly. “Do you think you’re in any position to negotiate with me?”
Elspeth had never seen this side of Haris. Back in the McGrath Residence, the impression he gave her was, at the very least, amiable even though he was cloistered.
Not only had he never treated her with malicious intent, but he even instilled much medical knowledge in her.
Even if there wasn’t gratitude, she respected the elder, at least. However, at this moment, she thought the grim-looking man sitting before her was inexplicably alien.
“We’re not negotiating. It’s you who are using it to threaten us, no?”
“Then, are you willing to make the exchange?”
When Elspeth saw the inevitable smirk on Haris’ face, she suddenly realized he might know more than they expected.
“As I respect you, I will ask you this, Old Mr. McGrath. Do you think Jasmine will be happy if she marries me?” Callum’s attitude toward the elder gradually turned impassive.
“Then, do you think my Jas is happy now?” Haris hit the roof at the mention of Jasmine’s incident.
How could he not know what actually went down when he had lived over sixty years?!
“I knew that child since she was a baby. How could I not know that she would never do something like that with another man on her wedding day and even let you discover it so coincidentally?! Do you not think it is all too coincidental?!”
At the thought that the two had possibly colluded to harm his precious granddaughter, let her shoulder all the blame, and in turn, call off the marriage, he wanted nothing more than to mangle the two.
“So, you’re saying you suspect it’s my doing?” Callum remained nonchalant, looking as though the incident had nothing to do with him at all.
If Haris hadn’t seen Callum’s insouciance coming, he’d have really believed he was wrong.
“Save the act, Winthrop. I believe you should be held responsible for Jas’ misfortune.”
Surprised that the elder could argue so well, he smirked disdainfully. “That’s her own problem. Why should I be held responsible?”
“You don’t have an option, Winthrop.” Haris’ grimness filled the space as he remained seated in his chair. “Aren’t you more than willing to do anything for her? What’s stopping you now?”
Finally, Elspeth couldn’t take it anymore.
“This is my issue. Why bring Callum into this?!” Her gaze was icy with a hint of calmness that only she had. “Besides, all she has ever done was give birth to me. Why should I use my marriage to exchange for her life?”
If it was someone who interacted with her daily, she might consider the value, but that woman had nothing to do with her. Does Haris not think he’s being too confident about this?
