CHAPTER 454: CHAPTER 454: I DON’T WANT TO MARRY HER ANYMORE

The dinner table was lively, even Erin Bishop managed to exchange a few words with Old Master Rhodes, while Susan Wilde remained particularly cautious and reserved.

Old Master Rhodes seemed to have come specifically for her today; although he didn’t speak to Susan while eating, he glanced at her several times.

Fortunately, Simon Rhodes sat next to Susan Wilde, helping her withstand such pressure.

"How many months along are you?" Old Master Rhodes suddenly looked at Susan Wilde and asked.

Susan Wilde froze, glanced at Old Master Rhodes, confirmed he was speaking to her, and then stammered, "O... over a month."

"You two, taking the car before buying the ticket, huh?"

Susan Wilde blushed and didn’t dare to lift her head, while Simon Rhodes smiled casually and said, "Afraid if we don’t get on board, we won’t get a ticket."

Old Master Rhodes snorted, "You think if I don’t agree, you can force me to concede using the child?"

Simon Rhodes chuckled and responded, "At least the odds will be better."

"Odds or not, I see you brothers have long stopped considering this old thing, none of you listens."

"Grandpa, why do my brother’s issues always involve me? Besides, hasn’t time proven my choices right? If I hadn’t listened to you and not married Shannon, where would I find such a good wife now?"

Old Master Rhodes refused to accept it, "When did I stop you from marrying Shannon?"

Shannon Quinn joked along, "Exactly, don’t try to create a rift between me and Grandpa."

Landon Sutton conceded, "Alright, alright, now you two are a family, I’m an outsider in this home."

Simon Rhodes said, "Grandpa, I know you’re not actually against Skylar Vance, you’re just worried about us, but we’ve decided to be together, so please don’t always give Skylar a hard time; it’s not good for her and the child in her stomach."

Shane Royale replied grumpily, "You’ve already made your decision. Does my opinion matter anymore? Now you brothers only have eyes for your wives and kids; I bet no one will be left to see this old man off when the time comes."

Shannon Quinn quickly said, "Grandpa, you’re going to live to be a hundred; don’t say such discouraging things."

Simon Rhodes said, "Grandpa, look how Shannon always cares about you; my brother and I got married and found wives, so there’s someone extra to take care of you."

Old Master Rhodes still kept a stern face, "You’re cheeky for saying that; you used to play chess with me, but now I don’t see you for half a month."

"Indeed, these days I’ve neglected you, sir."

Shannon Quinn laughed, "Grandpa, if you don’t mind the noise, we’ll come to visit every week during Leo’s break."

Leo immediately said, "Grandpa, I can play chess too!"

Old Master Rhodes finally smiled, "Alright, alright, we’ll have a chess match someday with Leo."

After dinner, Grandpa said he wanted to leave; although he didn’t interact much with Susan Wilde, he specially instructed before leaving, "This bag contains supplements Mrs. Morgan found for me, supposedly good during pregnancy, so don’t forget to cook them for your wife when you get back."

Simon Rhodes said, "Understood, Grandpa."

Landon Sutton chimed in, "When my wife was pregnant, I never saw you prepare these things."

"Your brother doesn’t share half of what he eats with you? Stop competing with your brother!"

Shannon Quinn smiled and pulled Susan Wilde over, helping her to assist Old Master Rhodes into Simon Rhodes’ car, "Take care, Grandpa."

After sitting down, Old Master Rhodes glanced at Susan Wilde, "Alright, don’t see me off, it’s cold outside, go back inside quickly."

Simon Rhodes came over to close the car door, and softly told Susan Wilde, "Go inside, I’ll send Grandpa home then come back to pick you up."

"No need, it’s just a few steps; I’ll walk back later, drive slowly, stay safe."

Shannon Quinn came over, linked arms with Susan Wilde, and said, "Don’t worry, Mr. Rhodes, I’ll take good care of your wife and child."

This dinner gathering helped relieve a knot in Susan Wilde’s heart.

As they entered, Shannon Quinn asked her, "When do you plan to hold the wedding?"

Susan Wilde shook her head, "We haven’t discussed it yet, but I told Simon we don’t plan to have a big wedding, just invite both sides’ family and friends."

Still worried about negative voices if it’s too public.

Shannon Quinn nodded, "A warm, simple wedding is nice; marriage is originally between two people, but it should be held soon, or else you’ll have to wait until after the child is born."

Susan Wilde smiled and said, "I’ll discuss it with Simon a bit later."

...

The night bar was as lively and bustling as ever.

Lights, music, and enchanting dancers twisting their bodies...

Everything was as before, the only difference was Ronan Rhodes had no woman by his side.

Zane Rhodes sat quietly beside him, chatting with Erin Bishop on WeChat.

The brothers didn’t talk much; he was just ensuring Ronan Rhodes wouldn’t drink himself to death here and could safely get home after getting drunk.

Men sometimes understand men better; when the heart feels bad, what’s needed isn’t a few comforting words but a quiet moment; eventually, one has to digest all the discomfort and pain by oneself.

In another corner of the bar, a woman’s slender fingers were painted with red nail polish, holding a lady’s cigarette between them.

"Laura, today it’s cigarettes and alcohol again, has your son been weaned?"

Rowan Alder sneered, "Son? I really don’t know what possessed me to have a child for him."

"Oh, Laura, weren’t you almost stepping into the upper echelon? What’s going on today?"

"What can it be? The old woman still refuses to accept her."

Rowan Alder ignored the insincere sisters’ sarcastic comments, merely picked up a glass and drank it all.

Shawn Rhodes once promised he would marry her.

But she endured for so long, the child was born, yet his mom just said no, and he dared not oppose.

She didn’t know if he was genuinely torn in the middle, or if he hadn’t forgotten that woman and simply didn’t want to marry her.

Regarding the man she devoted her entire youth to, she was completely disappointed.

At home, looking at the child who only cried and fussed, she feared she couldn’t resist strangling him and perishing together with Shawn Rhodes.

At home.

Shawn Rhodes cradled the crying child with one hand, mixing formula with the other.

Why did he and Rowan Alder end up like this? He didn’t know whose fault it was.

He felt some guilt towards Rowan Alder but truly didn’t want to face her now.

Besides complaints and quarrels, they seemed to have nothing else left.

Thinking about going home to face her made him rather spend a night sitting in the car.

But he worried about the child; he knew Rowan Alder lacked patience with kids, she had even hit the child in anger.

So tonight he wanted to discuss with Rowan Alder about sending the child to his mother; if there’s no future for them, it’s better to cut ties early.

He had had enough of these days.