Emmeline climbed up to the second-floor guest room, where she found Doris and Mrs. Flores engaged in a conversation while cradling the two infants.
“I’ve tried explaining it to them countless times,” Doris vented, frustration evident in her voice. “The babies are yours, not Mr. Adelmar’s. You didn’t even know him before, but they just won’t believe it.”
“It’s truly embarrassing,” Doris continued. “No wonder the nanny smiled at me when I walked in. It was all a misunderstanding.”
“I can understand why,” Mrs. Flores chimed in. “Una and Nessa do bear some resemblance to Mr. Adelmar. It’s hard to shake off that association.”
“It’s not fair,” Doris’s face flushed with indignation. “Mr. Adelmar came from Osea, and I didn’t know him in a previous life or even in this life until recently. I am completely innocent.”
As Emmeline entered the room, she interjected, “I’ve also heard about the resemblance between the babies and Waylon. But how could that be? You two are unrelated.”
“Ms. Louise,” Mrs. Flores quickly greeted her, shifting her hold on baby Una and showing her to Emmeline. “Take a look at the features…the eyebrows, the nose, the mouth. Do they not resemble Mr. Adelmar? No wonder people are confused!”
Emmeline leaned in, studying Una’s face intently. Frowning slightly, she admitted, “Well, I have to admit, there is a striking resemblance!”
Doris’s face reddened even further. “Ms. Louise, are you joining in on this teasing?”
Emmeline shook her head, a reassuring smile on her lips. “Why should you be ashamed? The babies simply resemble Waylon. It’s not a crime, nor does it imply any indiscretion between you and him.”
Doris remained speechless.
And what if the workers already think that?
Doris feels unjustly accused and unable to defend herself.
“You know, Lizbeth from the Murphy family in Altney bears a slight resemblance to me,” Emmeline reassured, patting Doris on the shoulder. “But that doesn’t mean anything. Don’t worry. Besides, Waylon is not the kind to engage in clandestine affairs and secretly have children with women. It’s pure fiction!”
“You’re right,” Doris breathed a sigh of relief. “Just be careful not to say such things in front of Mr. Adelmar. It would be embarrassing for me.”
Just then, Mrs. Jamison ascended the stairs and announced, “Ms. Louise, Mr. Waylon has returned.”
Doris blushed involuntarily, while Emmeline wasted no time and hurried downstairs.
True to Mrs. Jamison’s words, Waylon sat on the couch in a white suit, white shirt, and a narrow silk tie of the same color.
Seeing Emmeline bounding down the stairs, Waylon raised an eyebrow. “You’re not exactly a little kid anymore. Can’t you be more careful on the stairs?”
Emmeline joined him on the couch, wrapping her arm around his shoulder and chuckling. “I developed these skills during college. And you haven’t seen Abel, he’s even quicker than me going downstairs. He practically glides down without even taking steps.”
Waylon lifted his hand and playfully tapped Emmeline on the forehead. “You cheeky thing!”
Noticing that Waylon seemed a bit weary, Emmeline asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Are you upset?”
“It’s just the preparations for the hospital,” Waylon sighed, pointing to the stack of documents on the coffee table. “There are so many social obligations, it’s tiresome.”
“Can’t you delegate it to Kaden or Jake?” Emmeline suggested. “Do you have to handle it personally?”
“In the early stages, certain relationships require my direct involvement,” Waylon explained. “Otherwise, if I stay behind the scenes, certain departments might give me a hard time in the future.”
“That’s true,” Emmeline nodded. “Even if we’re powerful, we still have to be subject to someone else’s authority.”
“At the moment, I need someone by my side,” Waylon pinched his forehead. “Someone who can shield me from various pressures.”
“Aren’t there plenty of options for that?” Emmeline remarked. “Can’t Ben handle it? And if all else fails, there’s always Abel.”
“It’s not that simple,” Waylon hesitated, waving his hand dismissively. “Never mind, I can’t explain it properly.”
Emmeline, being perceptive as ever, smirked and said, “I understand. Is it because you have been ensnared by a woman?”
Waylon remained silent.
He knew he couldn’t hide anything from this clever little devil.
“It’s only natural to encounter women in various aspects of life,” Emmeline teased. “Just play along and don’t take it too seriously.”
Furrowing his brow, Waylon replied, “Are you joking about this too? Do I have the time and inclination to fool around with women? Among everyone in the world, I would only indulge you!”
