Chapter 1461: Chapter 1461

She noticed that her son’s tiny fingers were stained with barbecue sauce, and with a resigned sigh, she conceded. “Alright, you can eat like this just this time. This is an exception, Adrian.”

Adrian immediately bobbed his head obediently. “Thanks, Mom! Thanks, Auntie!”

Ellinor felt something was off with her son, but despite scrutinizing him for a while, she couldn’t find anything amiss.

He was still Adrian, the same as always.

He seemed to have a little shift in behavior, but children’s preferences changed all the time, so it seemed reasonable.

Maybe that unfamiliar shirt, as Veronica guessed, was indeed a mix-up at the daycare.

Ellinor lowered her gaze, forking a few bites of her salad, when her phone buzzed twice.

After picking up the phone, she saw a message from Balfour.

“Ellinor, I’m at the Blanchet’s front door. Could you spare a moment? I need to talk.”

She wasn’t very close to the Howards, only maintaining a cordial relationship with Balfour.

But it was unusual for him to directly show up there, so it must have been something important.

Ellinor put down her fork and excused herself. “Grandma, Grandpa, a friend has come to see me. You carry on; I’ll just step out for a bit.”

Putnam Blanchet merely nodded, not questioning her at all. “Alright, go ahead.”

“Ellinor, your friend’s at the door? Why not invite him in for dinner?” Marissa warmly suggested.

Ellinor waved her off. “No need. He’s probably in a hurry. It will just be a quick chat, and then he’ll leave. You don’t have to wait for me.”

Respecting her granddaughter-in-law’s wishes, Marissa didn’t press further and simply nodded.

After walking out of the grand Blanchet Villa, Ellinor saw a black SUV parked not far off.

As she approached, the driver promptly came out and, with a courteous bow, opened the door for her.

“Ms. Mendoza, please get in.”

Not standing on ceremony, Ellinor climbed into the vehicle.

“Mr. Howard, what’s the matter?”

Balfour glanced at her, and then his gaze drifted towards the Blanchet Villa. After seeing the quiet entrance, he sighed in mild disappointment. “I thought you’d bring the kids out so I could see them.”

Ellinor yawned. “They’re having dinner. You can’t disrupt children when they eat. They won’t finish their meal if you do. Also, did you bring them gifts and snacks again? This will only encourage them to skip their meals.”

Balfour smirked, appreciating his sister’s sharpness. “Yes, I just got back from a business trip and brought some gifts. It’s a bit much, so have one of the Blanchet’s servants come out to collect them later.”

Ellinor furrowed her brows. “Don’t buy so many gifts next time. They don’t lack anything.”

They may not need anything, but as their uncle, I can’t not buy gifts. rarely get to see the little ones. If I don’t shower them with presents, they might forget their dear Uncle.”

Ellinor rubbed her forehead. She was clearly exasperated. “Fine! Do as you wish. I can’t stop you. Mr.

Howard, tell me why you’ve come. Normally, even when you want to see the kids, you don’t come here.

You usually ask me to meet your somewhere. So, it must be something important Balfour’s expression turned serious. “Yes, it’s quite significant. I just returned from M State, wheret managed to acquire a painting by Lady Lotus.” After hearing the name Lady Lotus, Ellinor was momentarily taken aback before she urgently asked, “Which one?

“It’s an unknown subsidiary painting called ‘Dark Night.”