Third Person's POV
"You and Noah came from my belly, not from a box."
"Oh, then who put us in your belly? Was it the 'heaven' you mentioned earlier?" Hedwig asked, her big eyes wide with curiosity.
Catherine was genuinely stumped this time. She touched her chin, pretending to think deeply. "Uh, well... you'll understand when you grow up. It's not something we can talk about now."
She couldn't possibly say that Blake had "put them there." If she did, Hedwig's next question would undoubtedly be, "How did Daddy put us in your belly?" Catherine's head was already spinning at the thought.
Patricia walked in carrying a plate of fruit. When she saw Hedwig's paint-smeared face, she burst out laughing. "Oh my, when did we get a little calico cat in the house?"
"Great-grandma, where's the cat? Can I see it?" Hedwig asked, her face lighting up at the mention of a cat.
"The little calico cat is you! Look at your face—it's covered in paint!" Patricia pointed at her, laughing.
Hedwig pouted and quickly ran off to check her face.
"What about Noah?" Patricia asked.
"He went to watch a movie by himself," Catherine replied.
"Noah is becoming more and more like Blake. Even as a child, Blake was very independent. No one ever knew what was going on in his head, but he was always smart and had his own ideas," Patricia said, her tone filled with nostalgia.
"Really?" Catherine's eyes sparkled with warmth as she imagined what little Blake must have been like as a child. Her heart swelled with sweetness. Was she really so deeply in love with him that even thinking about his childhood made her feel incredibly happy?
"Yes, but once they grow up, they're not as fun anymore," Patricia sighed.
Catherine frowned slightly, feeling a bit troubled. "I wonder if Noah will be like him when he grows up. Was Blake rebellious as a child?"
"He went through a lot, so there was a time when he was very withdrawn. But his rebellious phase was short, and for the most part, he was a good boy," Patricia said with a smile.
Catherine took a deep breath, her heart aching as she thought about the hardships Blake had endured in his youth.
"Let's not talk about him anymore. I'll take some fruit to Noah," Patricia said, turning to leave.
Catherine picked up a cherry and took a bite, her expression growing even softer.
As night fell over the city, Blake returned home a little after six. His face was unreadable. By this time, Richard should have already arrived.
The car stopped at the gates of the royal estate, and Blake stepped out, his legs carrying him into the living room.
Dowen quickly greeted him.
"Has Richard arrived?" Blake asked in a low voice.
Dowen pointed upstairs. "He just got here a little while ago. He's upstairs talking to Emerson and Patricia."
Blake's brow furrowed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He snorted inwardly.
Although he had made the difficult decision not to take action against Richard while Emerson was still alive, if Richard pushed his luck, Blake wouldn't hesitate to put him in his place.
Blake walked up the stairs but didn't immediately go to see his grandparents. Instead, he headed to the playroom. Sure enough, he found the two children quietly practicing their writing and drawing, with Catherine gently guiding them. The scene of the three of them bathed in warm light was heartwarming.
"Daddy!" Noah looked up and called out.
Hedwig also looked up, grinning. "Daddy, look! I drew a little white rabbit!"
Blake smiled and walked over, exchanging a glance with Catherine.
Catherine had already taken the children to meet Richard earlier. When Richard had reached out to pat Hedwig's head, the little girl had been visibly startled. Richard's shock of white hair paired with his youthful face gave him an eerie appearance, so it was no wonder Hedwig had been scared.
"Hedwig, that's amazing! It's so beautiful!" Blake crouched beside his daughter, noticing that she was simply coloring in a blank outline of a rabbit. Her strokes were clumsy, and the paint often went outside the lines, but in her eyes, it was a masterpiece deserving of praise.
"Really? I'm going to draw a kitten next! Should I draw you too?" Hedwig asked, beaming with pride.
"How about you let Mommy guide you? I need to go upstairs and say hello to Great-grandpa first," Blake said gently.
"Okay! I'll have Mommy draw a picture of you for me!" Hedwig nodded eagerly.
Catherine smiled, her lips curving into a charming grin. "Sure, I'll draw a very quirky version of you."
"What does 'quirky' mean?" Hedwig blinked her big eyes, confused.