Chapter 152 All Is Well if He Can Talk
“Sorry to trouble you, but I have to go to Westwind District.” Courtney sat back in the car after coming out from the indoor swimming pool center. “The Duncans’ butler picked Jordan and Tina up already. I was a bit late.”
Oliver’s face suddenly grew somber. “Westwind District?”
“Is it too far away?” She stopped putting on her seatbelt halfway. “I’ll take a cab there. You can go ahead if you have things to do.”
“I don’t.” The expression on his face returned to normal, and he let out a chuckle. “What would I be busy with? I have no family or friends. I’ll take you there.”
His pure and innocent gaze was imprinted in the rearview mirror. Anyone who saw it would not doubt his words.
“Sorry for the trouble.” She also let out a chuckle. “It’s my fault for arriving too late. Alex’s grandfather is constantly worried about the two children and sends the butler out here in advance every day. The butler probably left with the children when he didn’t see me.”
By the time they arrived in Westwind District, it was already dark out. The security guard at the entrance of the Duncan Residence hurriedly stuck his head out the window of the guardhouse and greeted Courtney who was in the passenger seat. “Please give me a moment, Young Master and Young Mistress. There is a bit of a problem with this gate so it has to be opened manually.”
“Young Master?” Courtney was dumbfounded for a moment. “You’re mistaken. This isn’t Alexander.”
Stretching his neck out, the security guard stared inside the car for a few seconds, then knocked himself on the head and laughed. “Excuse my poor eyesight. I thought it was Young Master Alexander earlier. The young master has gone on a business trip, hasn’t he? They look rather similar at first sight. Who is this?”
“My friend,” Courtney answered in short. She did not see the need to explain any further.
Once the security guard opened the gate, Oliver started to drive into the ancestral home. They drove on a long road and took about five to six minutes before arriving at the front of the house.
“I won’t go in.”
“Okay. I’ll come out right after I get Tina and Jordan.”
After Courtney entered the ancestral home, Oliver looked out the windshield and was able to see the steps leading to the main entrance of the house. They were considered barriers through which one would enter taller and larger houses. He instantly became perplexed.
Suddenly, a pressing ringtone sounded in the car. He glanced at the number of the incoming call and answered it right away.
“Mom?”
Knock! Knock! Not long after, someone came and knocked on his window. He looked up and saw a young girl with big, sparkling eyes leaning against the car.
Winding down the window, he asked, “Who are you?”
“Are you Oliver?”
She did not answer him but asked a question in return.
Oliver was taken aback, and a wary look began to grow in his eyes. “Do you know me?”
Shaking her head, she asked again, “Are you Oliver?
When he thought that she seemed rather goofy, he gave her a nod.
“Come with me.” The girl blinked. “My dad told me to invite you in for dinner.”
“Your dad?”
“Yes. Hurry on now.”
Despite feeling confused, Oliver got out of the car and followed the girl into the courtyard. He evaluated her from behind and figured that she was around twelve or thirteen years old. She was thin, frail, and even looked slightly shabby, but her eyes were so black that they glistened.
“Who’s your dad?”
“Who are you?” The girl shot back. “What is your relationship with Courtney?”
“Me?” He frowned. “I’m like a younger brother to her; I guess.”
“Oh, then you can call me auntie.”
“What?”
His face fell. What is she trying to pull here? Is she teasing me? Where did this crazy girl come from?
“Hey, where are you going?” The girl quickly chased after him when she saw that he had turned around and walked away. Grabbing his sleeve, she exhorted, “It’s dinnertime. It’s not good to make people wait.”
“Are you crazy?” He rolled his eyes at her and swung her hand off. “Auntie? Where did a troublemaker like you come from? I almost believed you back there.”
“Troublemaker?” Feeling crossed, she straightened her back and retorted, “Who are you calling a troublemaker? I’m the second young lady of this house. You don’t believe me?” After looking around, she beckoned for a female housekeeper who was tidying up the garden in the distance. “Julia? Come here for a second.”
The housekeeper hurried over while wiping her hands on her apron, then asked in a respectful manner, “What’s wrong, Young Lady?”
“Did you hear that?” The girl glared at Oliver. “I told you and yet you didn’t believe me. Let’s hurry inside for dinner now.”
“Old Master Duncan is already in his seventies. How could he have a daughter your age? Who are you trying to fool here?” He was frowning as he looked at her with a face full of doubt.
“He can’t have a daughter in his seventies? Why not?”
“Because…” Oliver trailed off and had a stiff expression on his face.
If someone else had asked that question, then they would have just been unreasonable to expect an answer. But that girl standing in front of him now was still only twelve to thirteen years of age, so she was still ignorant about the world. Will it even get through to her if I told her?
“Oh, let’s just go. I’m starving.”
The girl could not be bothered to listen to his nonsense, either. Grabbing his wrist, she started running across the yard. The housekeeper called out from behind, “Slow down, Young Lady. Be careful not to fall!”
When they arrived in the dining room, the girl immediately let go of his wrist and darted toward the table while exclaiming, “Soufflé!”
Meanwhile, Oliver remained standing in the entryway of the dining room. His brows knitted together tightly when he saw Scott in front of him.
“Oliver?” Courtney’s voice pulled him back into reality. “It’s late now. Grandfather wants us to eat before leaving. I hope you don’t mind.”
Oliver looked steadily ahead and croaked, “I don’t mind.”
“Have a seat.” She smiled while pulling out the chair beside her. Turning to Scott, she introduced, “Grandpa, this is Oliver, the person I told you about.”
Scott nodded. “I’ve also heard about him from Jordan. He looks like a sharp lad. Come and have dinner with us.”
Jordan and Tina sat across the table and were eating their food quietly. Every now and then, Tina would say a couple of things to Scott and make him laugh heartily.
Even though Jordan did not talk, he still giggled quietly to himself. Courtney felt saddened by the sight of that and felt the urge to ask Scott about it. “Grandpa, was Jordan’s high fever the reason he lost his ability to speak?”
When she brought it up, the joy in Scott’s face slowly disappeared and a stern expression took over. “He did have a high fever. Since then, he has not spoken. We can’t find another reason for it.”
“What happened to the nanny who was looking after him? Were the people who looked after him all fired? Is there a way to contact them?”
Scott frowned. “Why are you suddenly asking about this?”
She couldn’t seem to find an answer to his question.
“Jordan spoke a few words before. The high fever he had is not likely the reason that he isn’t talking,” Oliver cut in abruptly. “He can talk, but he’s choosing not to for some reason.”
“What?” Scott’s eyes widened. “Jordan spoke? When?”
Courtney was not expecting Oliver to bring that up. A brief moment later, she explained, “It happened just twice before. Once in front of Alex, and once in front of me. All he said was ‘mommy’, but it was very clear.”
Scott was overjoyed. Looking at a wide-eyed Jordan, he even started to tear up right away. “As long as he can talk, all is well. Take things slowly. You’re looking for a way to contact the nanny, aren’t you? I’ll have Harry take care of that.”
