Chapter 15 I Want To Marry You

• Artemis shifted his focus from Edmund to Zayron. Suspicions rose to his chest as he scrutinized the boy. “Were you the one who edited the trending photo of the illegitimate child yesterday?”
• Zayron blinked innocently. With a childish pout, he argued, “What do you mean, Mr. Luther? I've just started second grade. My school doesn't even have computer lessons. Do you really think I have the skills to edit such a complicated photo?”
• There was a glint in Artemis' eyes. In a deep voice, he continued, “Then why did you make Maxton call you his brother in front of the reporters on the video call when I was making a clarification regarding the rumor?”
• Hearing that, Zayron broke into a smile. “May I know what your relationship with Daddy Eddy is, Mr. Luther?” he asked.
• Artemis was slightly taken aback as he stared at Zayron. After a while, he hissed through gritted teeth, “Cousins.”
• Zayron shrugged nonchalantly. “There you go,” he replied in a relaxed manner. “Maxton and I are your and Daddy Eddy's sons. What's wrong with him calling me his brother on the media?”
• Artemis was rendered speechless.
• “You actually don't have to explain yourself to the public, Mr. Luther. Why does it matter as long as we know the truth? Why should we care about what the world thinks of us? Of course, if you insist on doing a DNA test to prove your innocence, I will gladly oblige. However, my blood is priceless. One drop of my blood is worth one billion. Only if you transfer the money will I agree to draw my blood.”
• At his words, Artemis fell silent, while Edmund let out a low chuckle.
• His greed's showing again. I give him one hundred million as pocket money every month. Is that not enough? Can't believe he's brave enough to rip Artemis off. He sure is daring.
• “If there's nothing else, Artemis, we'll be leaving.”
• Artemis' gaze was fixed upon Bailey. When he saw she was not repulsed by Edmund's touch, his expression darkened.
• That woman was so annoyed by my touch, yet when another man touches her, she doesn't avoid him.
• “Are you planning on marrying her?”
• Raising an eyebrow, Edmund shrugged nonchalantly. “The child is already addressing me as daddy. Of course, I'm going to take responsibility for them. Didn't you accept Ms. Rhonda into the Luther family when you had Max as well? Isn't it astonishing that the two of them are sisters? If word got out that we married a pair of sisters, we'd make a name.”
• Once again, Artemis was at a loss for words.
• As they stepped foot out of the Luther residence, Bailey instinctively pulled out her finger that Edmund was holding in his hand. With a soft sigh, she apologized, “I'm sorry for troubling you again and for causing your folks to have such a huge misunderstanding. If I can, I'd like to invite Mr. and Mrs. Chivers over for a meal and explain everything to them in private. I wouldn't want to bother your personal life.”
• Edmund smiled slightly. His gorgeous smile could lift up anyone's mood. What he said next would make anyone melt.
• “Bay, so many years have passed. I'm sure you're aware of my feelings for you. Since the cat's out of the bag, let's talk about it openly today. I like you—no—perhaps I don't just like you anymore. After all those years together, I believe my feelings have blossomed into a deep love for you.”
• “Ed—”
• “Don't reject me so quickly, Bay. Neither of us is married. It's only natural for me to catch feelings for you. I want to marry you. That has always been part of my plan. We're both adults. Surely we can discuss a topic meant for adults. My heart belongs to you completely, and I would like to ask for your hand in marriage. As long as you're not married to anyone else, I will be willing to wait for you for as long as it takes.”
• Bailey lowered her head slightly. Even though she had gone through turmoil after turmoil, she was still as naïve as an eighteen-year-old when it came to feelings and relationships—she did not have the skills for decision-making.
• She was not against Edmund. Contrarily, she felt safe when she was around him. However, she had two children, and the Chiverses might not accept her.
• “Edmund, you told me you're a Chanaean from Ustrana.”
• “Mm-hmm.”
• “And you said that your father is a globally renowned artist.”
• “Mm-hmm.”
• “You also said that your mother is a princess of the royal family of Danontand.”
• “Mm-hmm.”
• Bailey could not help but laugh at herself. “But you're the heir to the Chiverses. The Chiverses are as prestigious as the Luthers. Before today, I didn't even know you have such an identity. This identity of yours truly is too noble, and it's increasing the distance between us,” she stated.
• Out of respect for Edmund as a friend, Bailey had never investigated his background.
• She had always been taking whatever he said as it was.
• Throughout all those years, she had believed that he was just a foreign Chanaean. Combined with the fact that the Chiverses had always kept a low profile and had never shown themselves on media, she had always been kept in the dark.
• Seeing that Bailey's expression had darkened, and detecting the sense of defeat in her eyes, Edmund panicked as he quickly explained himself, “Bay, I didn't lie to you. I really am a Chanaean from Ustrana. I have dual nationality. As for my father, he really is a world-renowned artist. Have you heard of Sage Aperol?”
• Bailey narrowed her eyes slightly as a thought flickered across her mind. “The world's renowned but mysterious artist, Sage Aperol, is your father?” she asked.
• “Yup. That's the pseudonym he used when he was younger. As you know, the Chiverses would never allow the males of the family to pursue art, especially the heirs. The day you're chosen as the heir is the day you start taking on the family business,” explained Edmund.
• “However, Father was obsessed with drawing. When he was studying overseas, he used that pseudonym to enter the industry and became famous. Afterward, he came back home and slowly collected himself, but he would still make artwork under that name. As for my mother...”
• Edmund faltered and fell silent. A pained expression was written on his face at a certain thought.
• The change in his expression did not go unnoticed by Bailey. With slightly narrowed eyes, she apologized, “Sorry. I must have triggered an unhappy memory. If you don't feel like telling me, you don't have to. I trust you.”
• Edmund shook his head with a bitter smile on his face. After a moment of silence, he stated casually, “My mother really is a princess of the royal family of Danontand, but she's an illegitimate child. She and my father had a painful history. She—”
• “Enough.” Bailey grabbed Edmund's arm and shook her head gently. “Your mother has to be a kind woman. If she weren't, the heavens would not bless her with such a great son.”
• As Bailey remembered the kind words of Gwendolyn when the latter defended her in the emergency room earlier, her heart swelled with gratitude.
• She believed Gwendolyn was a remarkable and intelligent woman.
• Unfortunately, Bailey had lied to Gwendolyn. If Gwendolyn found out that Zayron was not her biological grandson, she probably would not be as warm as she was toward them.
• “Mm-hmm, my mother is a very reasonable person. You two will get along well in the future. I guarantee there won't be any miseries between you in-laws.”
• Bailey did not reply.
• Carrying Zayron out of his arms, Bailey flashed Edmund a smile. “Go start the car and drive us back to Shelbert Condominium. Then you're staying for a meal. I'll cook.”
• “Okay,” Edmund agreed immediately. After a pause, his tone shifted. “Who was the one who poisoned the kids?”