CHAPTER 369: CHAPTER 369: FINDING A NEW DAD FOR CHLOE

"Thank you, Great-Grandma."

Marcus had a sweet tongue, calling Bridget Sutton "Great-Grandma" with every sentence, bringing a big smile to her face.

The vegetables in the countryside were homegrown and fresh; Hugo and Marcus ate several bowls of rice tonight, but there were still leftovers.

Bridget Sutton cleaned up the dishes, and they sat on the heated brick bed, staring at the moon outside.

"You can’t see a moon like this in the city anymore—news says the air pollution is severe."

Bridget Sutton chuckled, having always disliked the atmosphere of city life; the countryside was quiet and had fresh air.

Eleanor used to not understand why the elders preferred the countryside, but after experiencing so much, she realized they were truly wise.

The three of them chatted softly, with Marcus occasionally chiming in, though he spent most of the time eating fruit and peeling sunflower seeds.

By eleven o’clock, Bridget Sutton was exhausted and went to bed first.

Eleanor gently pressed Marcus’s hand down, warning him not to eat so much, lest he get a stomach ache.

"No more eating; be careful, or your stomach will hurt later."

Without her saying it, Marcus already felt his stomach, frowning; it indeed started to hurt a bit.

Soon enough, the pain intensified, and sweat dotted his forehead.

It’s not as convenient to see a doctor in the countryside; both saw Marcus sweating profusely and got scared, quickly deciding to take him to a doctor.

But it’s already eleven at night, and it’s pitch black outside.

"Dad, Mommy, I’m okay. I’ll feel better after a good sleep."

Sweat covered Marcus’s forehead; he knew it wasn’t convenient to go to a hospital now, so he gritted his teeth and spoke.

The commotion woke Bridget Sutton, who made a phone call to the local village doctor, hoping he would make a house call.

There was only one hospital in the village, and everyone knew the doctor; he usually came over in emergencies.

In just fifteen minutes, the doctor arrived with a medical kit.

Eleanor sighed with relief, handing the child over to him.

Hearing the child had eaten too much, the doctor couldn’t help but smile wryly, then pinched several acupuncture points on Marcus’s back.

Marcus felt a bit of pain, but soon the bloated feeling began to dissipate.

The doctor then took out a few pills and fed them to him.

"Children can’t overeat like this, be careful not to damage the stomach next time."

Marcus’s face was red; the food Great-Grandma made was so delicious he couldn’t stop, plus the fruits here were exceptionally sweet.

After the doctor left, Marcus, face flushed, looked at the three adults in the room.

"I’m fine now; I want to sleep."

Eleanor stroked his head, finding the child more endearing, a smile playing on her lips.

"Rest well, and call us if you need anything."

The rooms were adjoining, allowing sounds to be easily heard between them.

Marcus nodded, shyly burying his head under the blanket.

"Great-Grandma, you should rest too; I’m sorry for worrying you."

Bridget Sutton, full of relief, offered some comforting words before yawning and returning to her room.

Eleanor and Hugo also retired to their room, holding each other on the bed.

Hugo was unusually calm, planting a kiss on her cheek with a gaze full of tenderness.

"We can go back after the New Year; we can stay a few more days, no rush."

He could see Eleanor genuinely wanted to linger a while longer in the countryside. Perhaps the city made her feel too insecure.

Eleanor nodded, touched, and nestled into his embrace.

Indeed, they stayed in the countryside for several more days. On New Year’s Eve, Bridget Sutton prepared a lot of festive goods and started cooking from the morning.

Marcus had made a friend in the countryside, and the two often went out together—sometimes to see winter sweet blooms on the mountain, other times to catch fish in the frozen water.

The New Year’s Eve dinner was lively, though a call came from the Quinton Family.

Hugo glanced down at the number, frowning slightly; he didn’t want to take the old master’s call.

He hung up, switched off the phone, and placed a chopstick full of vermicelli into Eleanor’s bowl.

Eleanor had caught the sight of the phone number out of the corner of her eye; Hugo’s gesture made her feel gratified, her smile widened.

Old Master Quinn found the call unanswered, furrowing his brows. Yet, he tried again, only to find the phone was off.

Suddenly, he felt uneasy—did Hugo find out something, thus refusing even a New Year’s greeting?

It shouldn’t be possible; after all, Eleanor wouldn’t have told him anything, given that Samantha’s video was still in his hands, making her hesitant to act rashly.

Hopefully, it’s just his imagination.

He rubbed his temples, letting out a sigh.

Simon Quinn was by his side, occasionally peeling him fruit.

"Dad, the signal in the countryside is bad; don’t overthink it."

Old Master Quinn’s life was nearing its end; he shouldn’t stress over these matters anymore.

The old master nodded, yet still couldn’t be at peace inside; he glanced faintly at Simon, noticing how this son’s condition worsened.

"Today is New Year’s; there’s a grand fireworks show at midnight. Aren’t you going to accompany Jane?"

They’ve been in discord for so long, and it’s about time to make up, isn’t it?

Mentioning Jane, Simon’s face fell.

No matter how many apologies he offered, she seemed unwilling to forgive him. The two hadn’t spoken for quite some time now.

After leaving the hospital, he went to Jane’s place.

She wasn’t particularly pleased at his arrival, just standing by the door distantly, blocking his entry.

"What are you doing here?"

Her face wasn’t very friendly, her body positioned in the doorway in a gesture of refusal.

Inside, Chloe’s laughter rang out, accompanied by another man’s voice.

Simon felt like a nerve had been struck; his eyes darkened instantly, and he pushed past Jane to enter the room.

Indeed, there was a man there, playing puzzles with Chloe. They seemed so harmonious, making him feel like a joke.

"Jane, what is this supposed to mean?"

His voice was low and gloomy; how could there be another man in the house at New Year’s, and the man seemed beloved by Chloe?

Was Jane planning to find Chloe a stepfather when he wasn’t dead yet?

Jane showed no emotion. She merely sat down calmly.

"It’s none of your business; leave now."

Her attitude thoroughly provoked Simon, causing him to blow up angrily, yelling in frustration.

"Jane! Let me tell you, I will never let my child call another man ’Dad’!! You can forget about it!"