Chapter 3 The Brilliant Son

• ******
• Eight years later W City, airport.
• A finely dressed little boy stood in the airport lobby with snow-white skin, delicate features, and a tender and lovable appearance. Despite his adorable face, he wore an elegant smile, resembling a child version of a gentleman.
• Every detail was unbelievably perfect, causing a sensation among many travelers, from elder people to little children.
• "Henry..."
• "Mommy, I'm here!" Henry Miller waved his little hand, smiling to greet his beloved mother.
• Jessica had golden curly hair, wore sunglasses, a red shirt, a wide black belt with scattered diamonds around the waist, cropped denim trousers, and a pair of red high heels, stylish yet pure.
• Finally, they were back!
• After missing their hometown for seven years, even the air felt fresher than in Paris.
• "My darling, how does it feel to be back home?" Jessica steadied the suitcase, leaned down, and planted a big kiss on Henry's face. She loved him so much.
• "The weather is better than in Paris."
• Jessica took off her sunglasses, revealing an extremely pure face with a sweet smile, concealing her devious thoughts, "Let's go, let's go see our Aunt Grace. Remember, when you see her, you have to give her a big kiss so that we can have a feast for the two of us."
• "Understood, Mommy!" Henry nodded solemnly.
• The mother and son conspired as they headed toward the exit.
• Her son was truly clever.
• ******
• "Sir, what are you looking at?" The Smith family's steward at the airport lobby asked curiously.
• Old Mr. Alston's sharp gaze was fixed on the mother and son's silhouettes, lost in thought.
• "Did you see that little boy just now?" Old Mr. Alston's voice was slightly cold.
• The steward followed his gaze, only catching a glimpse of Henry's tender back.
• "What's wrong?" the steward inquired.
• That child and Marcus... bore a striking resemblance. Though it was just a passing glance...
• But that little boy's face, though tender, resembled the one he had seen when he first met that child years ago.
• Old Mr. Alston's face darkened as he shook his head, "It's nothing, perhaps I saw it wrong. Let's go."
• "Yes."
• Grace Wright was Jessica's close friend during her studies abroad, and their relationship was very deep. She returned to the country three days before Jessica and her son.
• As soon as Henry arrived, Grace hugged and kissed him without stopping, immediately welcoming them and preparing to entertain them.
• This was a very famous local restaurant known for its unique regional flavors, attracting customers from far and wide.
• After getting out of the car, Jessica went to the restroom. Grace let Henry get out the car and wait as she went to park. When Henry got off, Grace came over from the other side and waved to Henry, "Sweetheart, come over here."
• Henry ran over with a smile, but he didn't notice and bumped into a man, almost falling, and his little foot stepped on the man.
• "Sorry!" Henry quickly apologized and bowed. He grew up in France and was an elegant young gentleman.
• After apologizing and seeing that the man wasn't angry with him, he walked over slowly. Grace saw that he was unharmed and felt relieved, and then took him into the restaurant.
• "Marcus, what's wrong?" A pretty woman intimately hooked her arm with his and asked with a sweet smile.
• Why was he staring at that kid all the time?
• Marcus shook his head, his cold eyes narrowing slightly. For some reason, when the child bumped into him, it seemed to touch the softest part of his heart, causing a slight flutter. Marcus regretted a bit that he hadn't seen the boy's face more clearly.
• "It's nothing, let's go!" The two of them walked arm in arm into the neighboring restaurant.
• Jessica returned to America for two weeks and everything went smoothly. Grace rented a house for her and her son near the school, just a ten-minute walk away. The area had convenient transportation, complete facilities, and a quiet neighborhood, which was very suitable for them.
• Jessica took Henry to see Mr. Miller.
• Mr. Miller and his second wife, Irma Baker, still lived in the slums. Seven years ago, Karen was caught by the underground market for owing high-interest loans and since then, she had disappeared without a trace. The person behind it was sinister and vicious, not Mr. Miller, and Karen's mother, as commoners, could provoke.
• Due to their difficult life, Irma's temper worsened, but Mr. Miller was a very gentle person and often endured her. They lived a very hard life.
• In recent years, Jessica had been busy with her studies, taking care of Henry, and working part-time. She had been too busy to return to her home country, only calling Mr. Miller every week to catch up.
• Eight years had passed and seeing Mr. Miller with white temples, Jessica felt an indescribable sense of discomfort.
• "Jessica? Is that Jessica?" Irma's eyes lit up when she saw Jessica's fashionable appearance. "Jessica, hurry up and take us away from here. I've had enough of it here. Your father is useless, working hard all his life and not saving a penny. Fortunately, there's you, a good daughter, to take care of us. Hurry up and take us away. I'm legally your mother, and you must support me!"
• "I only have one mother, and you are just my stepmother," Jessica smiled sweetly.
• Damn it, a leopard can't change its spots. She's talking about support obligation. If it weren't for my father's sake, I'd dismantle you. If it weren't for you and your daughter's greed, my father wouldn't have suffered so much over the years.
• "What are you saying? You are being unfilial! Oh, why is my life so miserable? Jessica, I don't care, you must take me away!" Irma wailed and cried on the ground while Mr. Miller appeared helpless.
• Henry tugged at Jessica's sleeve with his tender voice full of innocence, "Mommy, you taught me what 'brain-dead' means last time, and I understand now."
• Irma's voice was stunned and stopped as Jessica laughed, "My darling is so clever!"
• "How dare you curse me, you wild child... Ouch!"
• Snap!
• The sharp scream suddenly stopped, and Jessica slapped without hesitation, "You dare, say it again!"
• Jessica had a very innocent appearance, always wearing a harmless smile that was clear and attractive. Only those familiar with her knew that this woman was a first-class schemer. Even if she wanted to cut you into pieces in her heart, she would still be smiling on the outside.
• At this moment, she finally tore apart this sweet and innocent mask, her eyes flashing with anger. If it weren't for the lack of resources, she would have wanted to break a stick and hit her with it.
• Anyone who dared to touch her baby, she would strike back for one, and for two, she would strike for a pair.
• Irma was frightened by her and cried out, "Daughter hit her mother, daughter hit her mother... Come and reason with her...Oh...no..."
• Damn!
• Why don't you become an actress? You could easily win some kind of best-acting award just like that.
• "Have you had enough of your tantrum?" Mr. Miller, unable to bear it any longer, took Jessica and Henry away. How could he have been so blind to marry her back then? She had ruined his entire life!
• "Dad, come and live with me, let me take care of you. I've been working in France for a year, working part-time during my studies and I've saved up some money. I can take care of you and Henry, no problem."
• Mr. Miller sighed, and patted his grandson's head, "Jessica, don't worry about it. You know Irma's temperament. If I go to live with you, she will too, and she has a gambling habit. If there's no money at home, she can restrain herself a bit, but if she knows you have money, she will be extravagant. I can't burden you. It's not easy for my daughter to have success. I can't ruin it for my sake. Besides, you have to think of Henry too."
• "Dad... Do you want me to just watch you suffer?"
• "Dad is used to it. As long as you all are doing well, Dad is satisfied."
• "Well, Dad, I'll bring Henry to see you when I have time. If you have time, come and stay with us for a few days. Henry will be very happy too."
• "Yes, Grandpa, Henry wants to hear your stories."
• "Good boy. Grandpa understands."
• ******
• After school, Little Henry went to the nearby market to buy vegetables, meat, and groceries. As he passed by the park, he saw an old man sitting on a bench.
• He was wearing a fitted suit and exuded a very dignified aura.
• Not far away, a long Rolls-Royce luxury car was parked at the side of the road, and a man was anxiously making a phone call, urging someone to tow the car.
• It looks like the car broke down!
• The two were almost face to face, Old Mr. Alston suddenly stood up in excitement, his face changed dramatically, startling Henry.
• "You..."
• Henry was puzzled, and then he smiled gracefully, "Hello, sir!"
• Old Mr. Alston was shocked, the little boy he met at the airport that day, that glimpse, looked a lot like Marcus, and now, even more so!
• Those facial features, that disguised elegance, were almost identical.
• "Who is your father?" Old Mr. Alston suddenly asked, too shocked, the dominant figure in the business world for many years, he couldn't control his trembling voice.
• "Sir, do you always ask a stranger who their father is?" Henry smiled.
• Old Mr. Alston paused for a moment, and suddenly the phone rang, he picked it up. Henry was about to leave, but he stopped in his tracks when he heard the first thing he said.
• "Marcus's secretary needs to be replaced?" Old Mr. Alston asked sternly, his face darkening.
• Henry raised an eyebrow, with a pensive look on his face.
• "Well, in that case, let Crystal be his secretary. With Crystal watching over him, I can feel a bit relieved at least!" Old Mr. Alston's voice was extremely cold.
• Henry's lips gracefully curved but with a hint of coldness.
• His blue pupils flashed a hint of mockery, then disappeared, returning to the graceful young gentleman.
• "Yes, that's it!" Old Mr. Alston hung up the phone, locked his eyes on Henry's face, and repeated, "Who is your father?"
• Henry smiled, exceptionally elegant, "He is a teacher, you don't need to know!"
• He stepped forward and left.
• "A teacher?" Old Mr. Alston pursed his lips, then sighed.
• Perhaps it's just a coincidence, how could Marcus have any relation with such common people?
• As Henry approached the apartment door, he took out his phone and dialed a number, "Aunt Grace, please do me a favor..."