CHAPTER 431: CHAPTER 431: HAVING KIDS AT HOME WHENEVER THERE’S NOTHING ELSE TO DO

Simon Rhodes stayed in the hospital for two days, and on the day he was discharged, Shannon Quinn accompanied Landon Sutton to the hospital.

Simon Rhodes looked somewhat pallid, and his whole demeanor was a bit dejected.

Seeing Shannon Quinn arrive, the first thing Simon Rhodes asked was, "Shannon, has Skylar contacted you?"

Shannon Quinn pursed her lips and glanced up at Landon Sutton, who stood beside her. Landon Sutton said, "The address I just sent to your phone is where she’s currently staying."

Simon Rhodes froze for a moment, then quickly pulled his phone from his pocket and rechecked the location he hadn’t paid much attention to earlier.

Unable to wait another moment, he grabbed his car keys, ready to leave at once, and said to Landon Sutton, "Tell Grandpa I have something to do and won’t be back today."

Watching Simon Rhodes’ hurried departing figure, she smiled with relief and asked Landon Sutton, "Do you think Skylar will come back with him?"

Landon Sutton replied, "Either they both come back, or he’ll stay with her there."

Shannon Quinn pondered, "Seems reasonable. But if my brother doesn’t come back for a while, won’t you be busy for some time? I’m not up to much next, so why don’t you teach me? I can help you at the company."

Landon Sutton said, "If you’re free, just stay home and have a baby."

Shannon Quinn: "..."

A little past two in the afternoon, when Simon Rhodes reached his destination, it was raining there.

An autumn rain brings a chill, with the continuous drizzle making one feel melancholic.

Perhaps due to the rain, there were not many passersby in the alley.

The rain wasn’t heavy, yet it still soaked his clothes.

Simon Rhodes stood at the entrance of the coffee shop, peering inside through the glass door, but saw no one indoors.

Seeing the "Open" sign hanging on the glass door, Simon Rhodes pushed it open and entered.

The white cat lying by the door lazily glanced at him and continued licking its paws.

The wind chimes hanging by the door began to jingle, prompting Susan Wilde, who was tidying up inside, to come out immediately upon hearing the sound.

"Welcome, may I help you with..." She stopped halfway, her smiling face frozen upon seeing the man standing inside, and she stood there in a daze.

It felt like a dream.

Yet it was a scene she had imagined countless times in her mind.

Simon Rhodes stared at her unblinkingly, rainwater dripping down his face from his hair.

His rain-soaked clothes dripped water onto the floor.

Though their eyes met, they exchanged no words, yet their eyes conveyed countless emotions.

Simon Rhodes stepped forward, raising his hand to hug her but hesitated because of his wet clothes, and slowly lowered his hand.

In the next instant, warmth filled his arms.

Seeing the woman rush into his embrace, the corners of Simon Rhodes’ mouth finally curled up again, "I thought you didn’t miss me."

Susan Wilde also thought she could let go easily, at least before seeing him.

When he suddenly appeared before her, the longing buried deep in her heart surged like an uncontrollable flood.

The dampness on his chest, she couldn’t tell if it was rainwater or her tears.

Holding her in his embrace at this moment felt like he had gained the whole world.

Simon Rhodes lifted her head, using his thumb to wipe away her tears.

The questions he had planned to ask were left unspoken, for in this moment, he found his answers in her expression.

Susan Wilde lowered her head and messily wiped her tears with her hands, then glanced at him and turned to walk inside.

When she came out again, she had a white towel in her hand, which she offered to Simon Rhodes.

Simon Rhodes’ gaze never left her, watching her with a smile in his eyes.

It felt as though her mere presence could heal all the knots in his heart.

"...You should dry yourself off first; I’ll make you a cup of coffee."

Simon Rhodes finally reached out to take the towel from her and sat down at the nearest spot to the counter.

While drying his hair, he watched her expertly operate the coffee machine, head bowed and eyes lowered.

All the gloom he had felt dissipated in this moment.

Susan Wilde brought over the freshly brewed coffee and sat across from him, "Not carrying an umbrella even in the rain."

Simon Rhodes chuckled and explained, "I didn’t know it was raining here, and I didn’t have an umbrella in the car."

Susan Wilde: "Shannon told you, didn’t she?"

Simon Rhodes paused, lowered his eyes to the coffee in front of him, and said, "It seems like everyone knew where you were, except me."

Susan Wilde pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and said softly, "I’m sorry."

"It’s not your fault." Simon Rhodes took a sip of the coffee and smiled up at her, "It’s delicious."

Susan Wilde’s eyes reddened as she looked at him, unable to smile.

Seeing him made her happy, but recalling her decision back then, she felt he was the one most wronged.

Going along with the crowd’s expectations, she betrayed only him.

The shop’s door opened again, the wind chimes jangled, and the wind blew in from outside.

The newcomer was a man, looking quite refined with his glasses.

He put away his black umbrella and placed it on the shelf by the door, like a regular, bent down to pick up the tabby cat circling at his feet, and naturally said to Susan Wilde, "Roundy’s gotten chubbier."

Susan Wilde took a deep breath and quickly adjusted her mood, smiling as she stood up to ask, "What will you have today?"

The man, holding the cat, casually took a seat, "The usual."

Susan Wilde nodded and went over to the coffee machine again.

For some reason, Simon Rhodes felt a bit displeased.

Even though he knew the man was just a customer, he didn’t like hearing that they had their mutual understanding of "the usual."

"It’s been raining for days; who knows when it’ll stop."

Susan Wilde brewed the coffee and smiled as she chatted, "Yes, it’s been a while since we saw the sun because of this on-and-off rain. Why are you off work so early today?"

"I took the day off to take General for a vaccine."

Susan Wilde: "It’s been a while since I’ve seen General."

The man: "It’s because it’s been raining every day; I haven’t taken him out for walks."

Listening to their casual conversation, Simon Rhodes’ eyes, initially filled with warmth, gradually grew cold.

The coffee he was drinking no longer seemed as good.

The rain-soaked clothes clung to his body, and even indoors, he felt cold and uncomfortable.

When Susan Wilde brought the coffee over, she glanced at Simon Rhodes, handed the coffee to the man, and asked him, "Do you have any spare clothes at home?"

The man hesitated, confused, and asked, "Why?"

Susan Wilde glanced in Simon Rhodes’ direction and explained with a smile, "My friend got wet in the rain, and I don’t have clothes for him here. I noticed you two are about the same size, so..."

The man understood immediately and smiled, "Oh, sure, I’ll bring some over later."

Susan Wilde: "Great, thank you so much."

Susan Wilde had originally thought she was just considering his comfort kindly, but didn’t expect Simon Rhodes to show such an expression.

After the man finished his coffee and left, Susan Wilde glanced at the coffee in front of Simon Rhodes, barely touched, and puzzledly asked him, "What’s wrong with you?"