My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 151: Chapter 151: A Little More Caution

She agreed, "Okay, see you tomorrow."

After hanging up, Vesper Grayson looked at Jared Hawthorne. "That was your Aunt Nancy. She said someone saw the online notice about her missing son and contacted her, claiming to be him."

Jared Hawthorne narrowed his eyes and chuckled. "Aunt Nancy seems to be quite close to you, running to you with everything first."

"Well, who else could she turn to when your uncle, Kevin Hawthorne, and that cousin of yours have gone too far? She doesn’t want to blow things up, and her own family won’t back her up, so she can only come to me for help." Vesper Grayson puffed out her cheeks slightly. "Just don’t you be like them, unable to tell right from wrong and taking their side."

"In your eyes, am I really that bad at telling right from wrong?" Jared Hawthorne reached out and pinched her cheek. "I’m not close to my uncle’s family to begin with, so there’s no reason to help them. Besides, I always side with reason, not relatives."

He was in charge of the Hawthorne Family now, and he would never tolerate anyone acting recklessly and tarnishing the family’s name.

However, unless it was absolutely necessary, he was reluctant to interfere in the affairs of the second branch of the family.

Vesper Grayson picked up her fruit juice, took a sip, and lowered her voice. "You’re not upset that I’m helping your aunt, are you?"

After all, this was a private matter for the second branch. She had just gotten her marriage certificate with Jared Hawthorne, and as a new bride, she shouldn’t be meddling and needlessly offending people.

"No. Do whatever you want. If the sky falls, I’ll be here to hold it up for you." Jared Hawthorne’s tone grew serious. "Just don’t be too obvious about it. My uncle is a petty and vengeful man. He may look all smiles, but he’s always scheming."

Years ago, when the Old Master handed most of the company over to him, Kevin Hawthorne caused no small amount of trouble behind the scenes. If the Old Master hadn’t taken a hard line and threatened to disown him, he never would have behaved himself.

Even so, he continued to make small moves in private for his own gain. But as long as he didn’t cross a fundamental line or affect the bigger picture, Jared would turn a blind eye, out of consideration for family. The Old Master was aware of this as well.

Vesper Grayson agreed. "I could tell at the engagement party. He’s a classic smiling tiger."

"Are you two lovebirds done whispering sweet nothings over there?" Noah Nash tutted from the side. "Have some consideration for us single dogs, will you?"

Zane Rivers immediately teased, "Noah, you’re not quite right about that. Tyson’s married, and I’ve been lost in a world of passion myself lately. You’re the only one left, a true-blue single dog."

Noah Nash: "..."

Elena spoke up calmly, "Don’t worry, President Nash. I’ll keep you company. I’m single, too."

The smile on Zane Rivers’s face froze. He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, leaned in, and lowered his voice. "You’re single? Then what does that make me?"

"It makes us a consensual arrangement." Elena raised an eyebrow. "Don’t tell me President Rivers is looking for a title from me? We agreed from the start. This is just a game for adults. Don’t get too invested."

She had never dreamed of stepping into a family with a pedigree like the Rivers Family.

Even with her high level of education and her own standing in the business world, she could never meet the standards that a prestigious, wealthy family had for a daughter-in-law.

Having gotten this far in life, the one thing she understood best was her own limitations.

Failing to recognize your own position would only lead to losing yourself.

At her age, if she still didn’t understand this, she’d be a genuine fool.

Zane Rivers was annoyed. "Are you embarrassed by me, or do you think I’m not good enough for you?"

"President Rivers is dapper and dashing, with countless young women flocking to him. How could you not be good enough for me?" Elena lightly tapped his wine glass. "I’m the one who doesn’t dare to aim so high."

’Her words were ostensibly a compliment, so why was he so unhappy to hear them?’

Tristan Forrester glanced at the time and stood up. "You guys carry on. I’m going to the airport to pick someone up."

Zane Rivers asked, "Are you coming back later?"

"No, I’m going straight back to White Horse Manor." Tristan Forrester picked up his jacket and turned to leave.

Noah Nash looked confused. "When did Tyson get married? How come I haven’t heard a thing about it? There wasn’t any news from Portclyde either."

Jared Hawthorne said flatly, "It was someone Grandpa Forrester arranged. They have a secret marriage."

"Tsk, then the woman’s family background must be impressive, right?"

"Not too sure. I didn’t ask for details."

After all, it was his private life. No matter how close friends were, they should know their boundaries and not pry too much.

As soon as it was nine-thirty, Jared Hawthorne pulled Vesper Grayson to her feet.

"We’re heading back now. A pregnant woman can’t stay up late. We’ll see you all next time."

...

「The next day.」

Jared Hawthorne finished breakfast with her, and seeing she was about to drive out, he reached out and stopped her.

"I’ll have Leon Quillan go with you."

"That’s not necessary. It’s not like I’ll be in any danger."

"Let him drive you. If you need anything, just give him the order."

"I’m only five weeks pregnant. You don’t have to be so overprotective. Plenty of working women are still at their jobs even at eight months."

"That’s other people." Jared Hawthorne’s tone was non-negotiable. "I won’t be at ease unless someone is with you."

With that, he turned and instructed Leon Quillan, "Follow the madam. Make sure she gets back to the company safely, then return and report to me."

Leon Quillan nodded. "Rest assured, President Hawthorne. I’ll be sure to protect the madam."

Maxim Chandler clapped him on the shoulder, leaned in, and teased in a low voice, "Perform well. You’ve got to latch onto the madam’s coattails. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll rise to the top with her."

Leon Quillan: "..."

「A coffee shop downtown.」

When Vesper Grayson arrived, Nancy Linton was in a cheerful conversation with a man. It looked like they had been talking for a while.

Her gaze fell on the man’s face. His eyes, the bridge of his nose, the shape of his lips—they all bore a slight resemblance to Nancy Linton. An unknowing observer might have truly mistaken them for mother and son.

’Am I overthinking this? Was the jade pendant just a coincidence?’

She walked forward.

"Auntie."

"Vesper, you’re finally here." Nancy Linton quickly pulled the man beside her forward. "This is Brandon Linton. He also has a black mole on his lower back, and the time he was abandoned is around the same time my son went missing."

The man gave her a slight nod.

"Brandon, this is Vesper Grayson, my nephew’s wife."

"Hello, Cousin-in-law."

"Your identity hasn’t been confirmed yet. It’s too soon to be calling me that." Vesper Grayson’s expression was serious as she looked at him. "Mr. Linton, you have a black mole on your lower back?"

"I do. I came to find my family after seeing the description on the public notice."

Nancy Linton nodded. "I just looked. It’s really there."

Brandon Linton took out his phone and showed her a photo.

Vesper Grayson glanced at it. The location was almost identical to the position of Luke Lockwood’s mole.

But claiming a relative was no small matter, and the Hawthorne family’s bloodline could not be muddled. It was better to be absolutely sure.

"When my aunt gave birth back then, she placed a jade pendant on her child. May I ask, Mr. Linton, do you have that pendant?"

"No, but the director of the orphanage who found me said that she did see a jade pendant with a plum blossom carving on me back then. It’s just that she lost it while keeping it for me."

"Lost it?"

"Yes. She doesn’t remember where she lost it either."

Vesper Grayson lowered her gaze and said seriously to Nancy Linton, "Auntie, even if the resemblance is strong, to be absolutely certain, it’s safest to do a DNA test first."

No matter how similar the appearance, it’s not as authoritative or reliable as a DNA test.

Nancy Linton’s voice softened. "He looks so much like me. You can tell he’s my son at a glance. Do we really need a test?"

She wanted to take Brandon Linton back today and show Kevin Hawthorne that the child he had abandoned all those years ago had returned.

Brandon Linton smiled and spoke up, "Miss Linton, Miss Grayson is right. It’s better to be cautious. I’m willing to cooperate and do a paternity test with you."

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