CHAPTER 186: CHAPTER 186: WHY IS IT SO SWEET

That’s how it is, that’s how it is...

Take it slow, slowly seep into her side, her world; he wants to let her slowly discover his changes, can’t be impatient, or it would all be for naught. Luke Gardiner warned himself like this.

The next day.

After lunch, Florence Fuller planned to go upstairs to change her clothes before going down to tell Old Mr. Gardiner that she was driving back to SJ. However, when she came downstairs, Old Mr. Gardiner and Luke Gardiner were no longer in the living room.

After searching around and finding no one, she decided to make a phone call.

But as soon as she stepped outside, she saw in the yard Luke Gardiner with his hand on the open car door, and the old man in front of him repeatedly giving him instructions.

"Make sure to pack it all up properly and bring it to me, don’t miss a single piece, and make sure the chess manual is well packed too. You know how much I treasure that chess set; if anything’s missing, I’ll hold you accountable."

Luke Gardiner’s handsome face was full of helplessness, and he pretended to shut the car door: "Forget it, I won’t go back to fetch it for you. Driving over four hours for you, and if something’s wrong, you might blame me and give me a beating."

Old Mr. Gardiner’s face stiffened: "Raised you all these years for nothing, eh? Fetching a chess set and you’re being sarcastic."

"Alright, alright!" Luke Gardiner coaxed him: "Grandpa, don’t be angry, I’ll get it for you. How about I also bring your beloved small fish so you won’t have to ask Mom to go to the old house to take videos for you every few days?"

Old Mr. Gardiner tapped his cane on him: "I’m just worried, don’t get any ideas about them, I finally managed to raise two of them."

Luke Gardiner tried to dodge, but not only did he not succeed, he even bumped into the side of the car door. He raised his head in pain, and saw Florence Fuller standing at the doorway by the stairs.

Old Mr. Gardiner followed his gaze and saw Florence Fuller had changed clothes, standing by the stairs with a purse in hand. The old man made a sound of surprise: "Florence! Are you heading out too?"

Even with such an obvious outfit, there was no concealing it as she walked down the stairs: "Yes, I have some matters to attend to."

"Returning to SJ?"

Florence Fuller nodded.

"It’s just that Luke is also going back; why not ride with him?" the old man suggested.

"I can drive myself," Florence Fuller replied, "I’m not sure if I can return tonight."

"Then Luke can come with you, saving on a free driver," the old man suggested.

"No need," Florence Fuller declined tactfully, "I can find a driver."

A dark shadow flickered across Luke Gardiner’s eyes.

Does she really not want to be with him that much?

"It’s not reassuring if it’s not someone from the family," Old Mr. Gardiner thought for a moment when he saw her reluctance and suggested, "How about letting the butler drive you? Driving is tiring, and after that late return the other night, I’m also worried."

Since they didn’t bring many people from the Gardiner Family, the day Florence Fuller arrived, she drove there herself. The old man had only a nanny car, himself, and the butler — two people total.

The servants were arranged locally.

If Florence Fuller really let the butler go with her, the old man would be here alone.

"Better let the butler go with you," Florence Fuller said helplessly, glancing at Luke Gardiner’s blue Koenigsegg supercar, likely the one he’d driven in the day he arrived.

She took out her car keys from her purse and handed them to Luke Gardiner: "Drive my car then."

Luke Gardiner was overjoyed internally, but he closed the sports car’s door with calm composure and took Florence Fuller’s keys: "Let’s go then."

The old man saw them off to the car.

"Slow down on the road, will you? No rush for the chess set; you can return together with Florence after her errands," Old Mr. Gardiner instructed.

While fastening his seatbelt, Luke Gardiner teased the old man: "Didn’t you just say to grab the chess set from Old Mr. Morrison and rush back?"

Old Mr. Gardiner clicked his tongue: "Must you contradict me? I want to see who you’ll argue with when I’m gone."

Luke Gardiner was speechless: "Grandpa."

"Florence, if this kid bullies you on the road, call me," Old Mr. Gardiner added.

Florence Fuller nodded, "We’re leaving then, grandpa."

Luke Gardiner drove away from the small villa.

The old man watched the car gradually disappear from sight, his eyes deep in thought.

Luke Gardiner now is completely different from the past, treating a woman he wants to please with numerous calculations, cautiously.

Leaving the farm road, the car merged onto the highway, and Florence Fuller voiced her doubts: "Why did you suddenly decide to go back to SJ?"

And with timing that coincided precisely with her plans.

"Grandpa’s friend, Old Mr. Morrison, is lending him a chess manual for research. Didn’t Grandpa mention that at dinner yesterday afternoon?" Luke Gardiner explained.

Florence Fuller nodded, having a vague impression, but remembered the old man hadn’t mentioned needing someone to fetch it.

Luke Gardiner continued, "This morning while taking his medicine, Old Mr. Morrison asked if Grandpa wanted it, saying if we didn’t retrieve it, he’d lend it to someone else. I suggested having it sent over, but Grandpa refused, insisting on collateral, saying it had to be me."

Florence Fuller asked, "Collateral? What kind of collateral?"

"Grandpa told me to pick something from his study to bring over, nothing too expensive, and also to bring his usual chess pieces along," Luke Gardiner replied.

Florence Fuller’s doubts gradually dissipated.

Turning his head slightly, Luke Gardiner casually asked her, "Why are you suddenly heading back to SJ too?"

"Some matters to handle."

Luke Gardiner didn’t probe further, "If you finish your errands, how about waiting for me? I still need to visit the company after running Grandpa’s errand. Or you can head back yourself; I’ll return your car to you."

"Let’s see when the time comes," Florence Fuller said.

Lily Lancaster arranged to meet Florence Fuller at a downtown café. After dropping her off, Luke Gardiner asked if she wanted him to leave her car there.

Since he still needed to pick up something from the old Gardiner Family residence, waiting for someone to pick him up would be troublesome, Florence Fuller let him take it.

Luke Gardiner thanked her and drove off.

Florence Fuller arrived slightly earlier than anticipated; the reserved spot was in a private room upstairs, by the window.

Just as her ordered drink was delivered, the private room door opened.

The waiter led a woman inside.

With long wavy flaxen hair and blue eyes, the woman had a delicate half-caste beauty.

She confidently sat down opposite Florence Fuller, observing her without speaking.

Florence Fuller sipped her latte, paying her no heed.

The waiter handed the menu to the half-caste beauty.

Nicole smiled, "The same as her."

The waiter nodded.

Until Nicole’s coffee arrived, neither spoke, each silently observing the other.

Nicole remained composed; Florence Fuller was even more composed.

Picking up her latte, identical to Florence Fuller’s, Nicole took a sip and frowned, "Why is it so sweet."