Chapter 698: Chapter 669: The Era of Second Children (Part 8)
Today is Monday, and Sienna Thornton spent the whole day in meetings. Surprisingly, she was able to leave work on time.
It’s the height of summer in August, and the three little rascals at home are on summer vacation. In the morning, they attend interest classes for half the day, and in the afternoon, they run riot at home.
Sylvia Langley couldn’t handle them by herself, so Simon Forrester had to leave work two hours early to take the three little rascals out for some activities.
Usually, after their afternoon nap, Simon takes the kids out for an hour of soccer, then to the outdoor pool for a few laps. Afterward, Simon helps the two older boys shower, and Sylvia takes care of Yvie. By the time Sienna comes home from work, the little rascals are fresh from their baths, sitting in the living room, eating fruit and watching cartoons.
Seeing their mom, whom they haven’t seen all day, come home, the little rascals excitedly raced to greet her.
Yvie hugged her mother’s waist, Cherie clung to her leg, and Victor held onto her arm. The three nearly kid-height children chattered, "Mom, are you hungry?"
"Mom, do you want to shower first before eating?"
"Mom, was work busy today?"
"Mom, are you tired?"
...
Sienna was surrounded and couldn’t move. Looking at the expectant eyes of the twins, she chuckled, handing her bag to Victor, while lifting Cherie and Yvie each in one arm to give them kisses on their fragrant little cheeks.
"Seeing my babies makes all the tiredness go away."
Before she could even reach the living room, Simon Forrester had come downstairs from the second floor to take the twins from her arms.
Simon kissed Yvie’s soft cheek and said, "Mommy’s worked all day and is tired, don’t ask her to carry you anymore."
Yvie, wrapping her arms around her father’s neck, softly replied, "Alright."
Cherie, being the mischievous one, struggled free from his dad’s arms within a minute to follow his mom upstairs.
Sienna changed into her home clothes and brought her two sons downstairs. The family of six was ready for dinner.
Sylvia doesn’t cook, at most she prepares bird’s nest soup and other supplements.
The family meals: breakfast and dinner are prepared by Simon; lunch is eaten at work for the couple, and at school when the little rascals aren’t on vacation. During holidays, after their interest classes end, Sylvia takes them to the old family residence for lunch.
This arrangement works well; not only do they get nutritious, clean food, but it also allows Old Master Forrester to enjoy the happiness of having his great-grandchildren around him.
The three little rascals grew taller and healthier than their peers, rarely getting sick due to their habit of staying active.
Old Master Forrester is ninety-seven; aside from high blood pressure, he’s healthy. But age has caught up with him, causing forgetfulness and a general listlessness. He even gave up his lone hobby of bird-watching, only lighting up when he sees his treasured great-grandchildren.
He often laments that his days are numbered. A couple of years earlier, while still clear-headed, he had a lawyer draft and notarize his will.
While he had given most of the Forrester Group shares to Simon Forrester years ago, he still had vast cash reserves, investments, properties, lands, and valuable antiques—assets worth billions. A team of lawyers worked day and night for a month to sort it all out.
He knew his grandson-in-law Thomas Reed had faced substantial financial gaps from bad investments over the years, so he set aside one-third of his cash for Thomas, leaving half of the rest to Simon and Sienna, and the other half to the three great-grandchildren.
The assets allocated to Simon, apart from the group shares, are jointly owned by him and his wife. If Simon and Sienna were ever to divorce, Sienna would have the right to take half of these assets.
On the surface, the old man’s arrangements are said to thank his granddaughter-in-law for giving the family three adorable, smart great-grandchildren. But the underlying reason is to avoid any resentment or discord over the inheritance division, which might upset Sienna, who holds real power, and prevent future disputes. Thus, he ensured fairness and impartiality in the division of the estate.
These reasons remain unspoken, but everyone understands.
Eleven years ago, when Forrester Family went to the Thorne Family to propose marriage, Old Master Forrester wasn’t so generous towards his granddaughter-in-law. However, now that Sienna is in a position of power and expected to hold significant influence in the future, he has had to consider her seriously in the division of assets.
In the traditional, aristocratic Forrester Family, which places great importance on bloodline and resources, Sienna has truly carved out her own space. In terms of the inheritance division, even without pressure from Quentin Thorne, Old Master Forrester had thought everything through for her quite clearly.
...
After Sienna finished her shower, she found Simon Forrester sitting on the couch in the room, telling a story to Victor.
"Kyle needs to go to bed now," Sienna glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand, "It’s already nine."
In Simon’s arms, Victor said, "Mom, Dad said to wait for you to come out from the shower so we can all read the letter together before I go to sleep."
"A letter?" Sienna didn’t understand, "Whose letter?"
"My letter."
Sienna thought it was a commendation letter sent to her smart older son by some organization, and she teased him, "Is it a love letter from some adorable girl to our Kyle?"
Victor blushed, "Kyle must study hard and not date!"
Simon laughed, "It actually is a love letter."
"Really?" Sienna turned around in shock to look at her husband, lowering her voice, "Really a love letter?"
"Yes." Simon handed the yellowed letter to Victor, signaling him to open it and read.
Sienna wanted to peer over, but was concerned it might be disrespectful to the child, so she awkwardly sat there, curiosity making her stretch her neck like a wheel.
Victor opened the envelope, taking out a piece of yellowed paper faintly adorned with pink petals.
Sienna’s heart skipped a beat; pink paper, it really was a love letter from a girl?
She felt a huge wave of emotions as she pitifully looked at her husband, her eyes questioning him: Our son is only ten, and he’s already starting to date? Oh my, what to do? Being a parent is so hard!
Simon smiled, his lips curving.
Victor read the letter earnestly:
"Hello baby, mom is writing you this letter today from Norport. Your dad is waiting impatiently beside me, but he asked me to tell you that he is also looking forward to meeting you."
"You are still in mom’s belly now, about the size of a thumbnail. In eight months, you’ll come into the world to meet mom and dad!"
"Even though mom feels uncomfortable, weak all over, and keeps throwing up, I’m still happy because you are the fruit of mom and dad’s love."
"You who receive this letter are now ten years old! Ten years ago, your young dad and mom wished you a happy birthday, health, safety, and happiness forever as you grow!"
