Suddenly There Are Three (Bailey and Artemis)

Chapter 15

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?”