"Andrew! You've finally come back!" Susie cried out cheerfully when she saw Andrew coming in. She
hurriedly got up from the sofa in the living room and ran to him.
However, even to his younger sister, Andrew remained sort of indifferent and uttered "hmm" as a
response to her excitement.
Two other people appeared on the second floor when they heard Susie's excited voice.
"Is Andrew back?"
An amiable woman in her thirties, hand in hand with a middle-aged man in his fifties, showed on the
second floor, looking at Andrew with a warm and gentle smile. The woman was Arya, and the man was
Ethan.
"We both miss you a lot. Although you might be occupied with a lot of business at the company at the
moment, you need to take some rest. You should also pay attention to your health,"
Arya said softly, as she gave Andrew a fond gaze filled with so much love and care.
"He's already a grown-up. You don't need to have so many unnecessary worries," Ethan next to her
muttered. For some reason, he seemed to be very annoyed.
"Dad, Mom!" Susie exclaimed, turning around and looking at them.
With no time to spare, she hurried up the stairs to Ethan, took his hand and said like a child, "Dad,
Andrew's finally back!"
Susie was spoiled rotten by Ethan as he had her in his later years.
Ethan gently caressed her head, and as he fondly looked at her with his eyes full of love and affection,
he said, "Yes, I see him, darling."
With that, Susie replied, "Then let's go downstairs now!"
With the help of Susie and Arya, Ethan was able to descend the stairs.
Upon getting down, Ethan fixed his eyes on Andrew, who was around 8 centimeters taller than him,
and said without much emotion, "What brings you back? You've been gone for so long that I started
thinking I don't have a son. Were it not for this call, would you ever come back home? You would forget
all about this home, wouldn't you?"
Andrew raised his head and looked at his father indifferently. They looked like they were complete
strangers. With a deep breath, he said, "No, I wouldn't."
Ethan sniffed in response. "Well, that'd be good enough for you."
Andrew cast his eyes down again as mixed feelings seized him.
"Why did you ask me to come back? Is there anything wrong?"
"What? Must something go wrong for me to call you back here?" Ethan coldly replied as he once again
stared at him devoid of any emotions.
Andrew responded, "If there's nothing wrong, I'd be on my way."
He didn't even cast a single glance at Lesley all this time.
Seeing that Andrew was really on his way out, Ethan called out to him, anger evident in his voice.
"Stop!"
He was so outraged that he was almost out of breath. Slowly, he put his two hands on his chest and
said, "You rascal! You are really trying to get me killed, huh!"
Andrew stopped in his tracks, but he didn't turn around.
Feeling that father and son were becoming so hostile to each other, Lesley went beside Ethan and
gently comforted him, "Uncle, take it easy. Andrew never means it. He must really have urgent matters
at hand that he needs to deal with, as he is in charge of such a big enterprise now."
Arya immediately approached her husband and whispered in an angry tone, "What are you doing?
Only once in a blue moon does Andrew come back home and you're choosing to quarrel with him! You
know that he has taken over the Lu Group, so it's natural for him to become very busy!"
"That is very true, Uncle. You don't have to be angry at Andrew about it."
Upon seeing the concerned look on Arya's face, Susie held the hands of her father and said in a gentle
tone, "I agree with them. Dad, Andrew rarely comes back home. Why do you have to turn it into such a
scene?"
The expression on Ethan's face softened a lot. Although he was still sort of upset and angry, it was
easy to note how his mood became so much better, and how he became so much calmer. Arya helped
Ethan sit on the sofa next to them, while Lesley and Susie were left on the spot.
"Lesley, come over please." Susie pulled Lesley over to Andrew.
"Andrew, you see, Lesley just came back from abroad today, and she came here just to see you!"
Susie drawled as she stared at Lesley with her eyes full of meaning.
"Susie!" Lesley cried out, becoming embarrassed and blushing wildly.
Susie grinned and pushed Lesley closer to Andrew before leaving them alone.
"So...Andrew. I'm glad you're finally back," Lesley said as she fondly yet shyly gazed at him.
Lesley was wearing a light green off-shoulder knee-length dress and four-inch high-heeled shoes. Her
skin was snow-white and silky, like that of a baby's, and her delicate face was further made exquisite by
a light application of make-up. Her soft, black hair was slightly wavy and it complemented her face
shape. Lesley looked gorgeous and confident.
The way she carried herself was also something to be praised. She had always been graceful, never
made anyone feel offended, and always respected other people's personal space.
But despite all of those good qualities, Andrew couldn't help but frown at the way she talked to him—
unnecessarily affectionate. But since she had always been nice to him and to the people that mattered
to him, he kept his cool and said nothing.
They talked on and off for some time, but Lesley basically dominated the whole conversation. Andrew
only responded when there was a necessity to do so. Nonetheless, that was enough to satisfy her.
Susie told her that Andrew had never gotten too close to any girl or had an intimate relationship with
any woman.
Days ago, the only female secretary in his firm was dismissed.
As that decision coincided with her telling Susie that she was coming back, she couldn't help but feel
gleeful at the news of his firing the woman, which she thought must suggest that there was a place for
her in Andrew's heart.
Because if that wasn't the case, why would Andrew fire the woman?
"Dad, Mom, look at Andrew and Lesley! They look a perfect match! It looks like they were made for
each other,"
Susie said, looking at Andrew and Lesley dreamily as she sat on the sofa with her parents.
Taking a glance at them, Ethan agreed, "Yes, they suit each other perfectly. You know what? Since
Andrew is ready for marriage considering his age, Lesley would be suitable to be his wife. Both our
families would be happy to see them get married."
The families of Andrew and Lesley had been close for generations, and Lesley had loved coming over
to visit Andrew since their childhood. She once even said that she wanted to marry Andrew when she
grew up. Therefore, it would be of best interest to both sides if they strengthen their already strong
connection through marriage.
"Ah, how time flies! They are all grown up now. Before long, Susie will be married too."
"Susie, do you already have someone that you want to marry? Tell Dad. I will help you," Ethan said, as
he lovingly gazed at Susie.
"What? No! I have no one, Dad! Also, aren't we talking about Andrew and Lesley? How is it about me
now? I am still too young to fall in love! And I want to stay home to keep you and Mom company."
However, the way her eyes sparkled and face flushed gave something away. It seemed like she
already had someone in her heart.
Arya used her finger to fondly tap on Susie's forehead while saying, "No, you are not too young. When I
was at your age I already had a crush on someone. I think you are ready for a romantic relationship."
Arya was Andrew's father second wife, the first one being Andrew's mother. Their divorce happened
when Andrew was still very, very young, and Ethan married soon afterwards.
As Ethan and his first wife were bounded by marriage out of the need for political advancement, their
marriage was not founded on happiness and love, especially on the side of Ethan, who literally had no
affection for self-asserting business women like his first wife. He had found true love with his second
wife, and he intended to keep her for life.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda