Chapter 697: Chapter 668: The Era of Second Children (Part 7)
(Extra Chapter for November monthly votes 3)
"Are the kids asleep?"
Sienna Thornton leaned against the headboard reading a book. When Simon Forrester returned to the room, she asked.
"They’re all asleep." Simon went to the dressing room to get his clothes, "I’ll take a shower first."
After showering, Sienna was still reading.
He dried his hair as he walked over, sat next to her, and took the book from her hands: "Talk with me for a while."
She sat up obediently and massaged his shoulders and neck.
"My father is preparing to retire soon and wants me to take over the Forrester’s overseas business." Simon said.
Sienna was surprised, "And after he retires? Will he return to live in the country?"
Recalling how Zane Forrester expelled the nanny a few years ago because of a selfie incident with Sylvia Langley, Sienna felt a shiver on her scalp, fearing that after his retirement, Zane might return to the country and stir up trouble.
Simon said, "I told him to hold on for another three years. At least wait until Cherie and Yvie start primary school before I can leave. If I go now, you won’t be able to handle everything here by yourself."
The boy of the twins was named Carson Thorne, and the girl was named Yvonne Forrester.
The names of the two children were given by Old Master Forrester, neither following the Forrester family naming tradition, probably because he considered the fact that their last name is "Thorne," so having the same middle name "Kyle" for both was better. Plus, both "Cherie" and "Yvie" mean precious gems, which are really fitting names for the twin siblings.
Sienna thought it over carefully and agreed with Simon’s decision.
The twins had just turned two. During the day, Sylvia and the nanny took care of them. In the evening, when the nanny was off duty and Sylvia needed to rest, it was up to the couple to take care of them.
If Simon were to go to the United States now, she certainly couldn’t manage three kids alone at night. Even hiring another nanny or babysitter wouldn’t compare to the benefit of Simon personally nurturing the parent-child relationship and shaping the kids’ characters.
But when Simon brought it up, Sienna suddenly realized the day would come when Simon would need to temporarily leave the four of them.
The reluctance hit hard and directly, and she hugged Simon from behind, saying in a soft voice, "What should I do if I can’t bear for you to go to the United States? Even if it’s three years away, I still won’t be willing when the time comes."
Simon chuckled, tossed the towel he was using to dry his hair onto the bedside table, turned over, and embraced her while looking for her lips.
"It’s not like I’ll be there all the time. I’ll try to adjust to half a month there and half a month back here."
"How long will that last?"
Simon looked up at the ceiling, thought for a few seconds, and said, "In the beginning, it might take two years. I’ll aim for going once a month for a week at a time after two years."
The Forrester’s overseas investments are scattered, with branches in various countries and cities, from energy development to hotel investments.
No matter how advanced global business becomes, there’s still a need for him to personally attend and chair monthly business meetings. And meetings often reveal problems, which need to be addressed and followed up on timely.
Simon expects that once he fully takes over and becomes familiar with most of the business, he’ll need to spend at least five days a month over there.
"I don’t want you to leave for even a day..."
Sienna held him tightly. He simply lay down, pulling her entirely into his embrace, occasionally kissing her face, hair, and lips.
Kissing bit by bit, he turned off the light...
-
The year the twins started primary school, little Victor was turning ten. That year marked the eleventh wedding anniversary of Simon and Sienna—also the year Simon planned to go to the United States after National Day to fully take over the overseas Forrester’s.
At ten, the elder great-grandson reaches double digits. At ninety-seven, slightly confused Old Master Forrester might forget everything, except the fact that they must celebrate little Victor’s tenth birthday on August twelfth.
A few days before the birthday party, a letter for little Victor unexpectedly arrived at The Fenmore Villa.
At the time, Simon was swimming at the outdoor pool with the three kids when the property manager rang the doorbell. He got out of the pool, put on a bathrobe, and went to answer the door.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Forrester. There’s a letter for Victor Forrester," said the property management butler.
Simon thought it was some advertisement from an interest class trying to entice little Victor to enroll, so he said, "Thank you," and took the letter.
Looking at the yellowed and brittle envelope with flowing script and then at the postmark, sent from Norport, Simon suddenly remembered it was mailed from a slow post shop in Norport when his wife was pregnant with their first child while they were vacationing there.
The delivery time was set according to little Victor’s due date, but he was born four days late, so the letter arrived today.
Holding the small letter sent ten years ago felt quite magical to Simon. Time had flown by—ten years already!
Back then at the slow post shop, Sienna excitedly wanted to write a letter to their child ten years in the future. He joked about the shop likely disappearing in ten years, making it impossible for the letter to reach anyone.
But what seemed impossible back then actually happened. Traversing time and overcoming many obstacles, it reached their hands.
Time is truly magical.
The years have been kind to their family.
"Daddy, come quickly!" Yvie suddenly called out.
Simon snapped out of it, looking nervously toward the pool a few steps away.
Cherie was splashing water at Yvie, who was wearing goggles and a swim cap but still got soaked.
Little Victor was nearby, trying to stop his brother, but Cherie was too playful. After splashing his sister, he turned to splash his brother.
Sylvia shouted from the shore, "Cherie, if you keep this up, grandma will spank you!"
At home, Cherie, the little king, feared no one but Simon. Seeing Simon go to collect the letter, he quickly started bothering his brother and sister.
Simon tucked the letter into his bathrobe pocket and made his way to the pool in two quick strides.
Cherie instantly calmed down, was about to dive underwater for a few laps when Simon decided to educate him and, feigning anger, said sternly, "Cherie! Come inside with me!"
Yvie quickly swam to Simon’s feet, clutching his leg pitifully: "Daddy, Cherie keeps bullying me! It’s hard for me!"
Little Victor hurried to his sister’s side to soothe her, saying, "It’s okay, Dad will talk to Cherie. Yvie, don’t cry."
"Cherie! Aren’t you coming up?!" Simon sternly repeated. Cherie then clambered ashore, resigned.
Sylvia quickly wrapped the little troublemaker in a bathrobe.
The father and son went up the steps. Simon sat on the wooden bench at the door, and Cherie intended to sit but, seeing his father’s serious expression, dared not.
"Cherie, as the older brother, why do you keep bullying your sister?"
Cherie hurriedly replied, "I didn’t mean to bully her; I just wanted to play with her."
Simon sighed, patiently explaining to his second son, "Cherie, it’s okay to want to play with your sister. But if she isn’t willing, you can’t force her. Play should be based on mutual consent. You’re a boy; you need to learn to respect girls."
It was unclear if Cherie understood, but he murmured with his head down and lips pouting, "I know, Dad. I’ll go out and apologize to her later."
Simon affectionately ruffled his second son’s wet hair, smiling, "Remember what I said today. You need to behave well; otherwise, when I go to the United States, I’ll take you with me."
