Chapter 782 Secret

Simpson furrowed his brow, as if genuinely pondering, before asking in

a flat tone, "Preston? Isn't he Cami's friend? The one who had

something to do with the problem that arose during the project of our

company?"

Ayan chuckled. "Looks like you remember quite well."

“Naturally I have some impression of him. After all, he's Cami's friend,”

Simpson said sarcastically to Ayan. It was like a sharp knife stabbing at

his heart and he couldn't even resist.

He pursed his lips and tilted his head to look at Simpson. "Grandpa,

you're still as heartless as ever towards me!"

Simpson also laughed. "Oh no no, I'm just telling it as it is."

Ayan rubbed his hair and gazed at Simpson with little expression on his

face. He said, "Grandpa, besides knowing that he is Camille's friend, do

you have any other impressions of him?"

Simpson frowned slightly and asked Ayan: "Other impressions? What

do you mean? You don't mean the impression that he has feelings for

Cami?"

The old man continued speaking slowly: “I?? m an old man now. There

are some things that I can see without being told directly. This Preston

has some feelings for Cami, so if you treat her badly, there will be

plenty of men out there chasing after her."

"Well, I know your favorite granddaughter-in-law Cami is very nice, so

please don't be mean to me, OK? I promise I will treat her well and

cherish her." Ayan surrendered quickly. The way Simpson spoke was

not harsh, but every word felt like needles piercing into him deeply

because Grandpa knew him best.

However, Old Simpson didn?? t just ignored his words. He snorted

coldly and asked rhetorically: "Who are you to her? Why should you

cherish her so much? You two are still divorced now; don?? t think

she?? s your wife just because she?? s a little better towards you. If

you really want to cherish her, then remarry quickly!"

The last sentence was what Old Simpson really wanted to say.

Because they had been divorced for so long, and the Armstrong family

knew about it too. Simpson didn?? t know how they thought about

Camille. So he was anxious, not wanting anyone accusing or criticizing

her.

He knew Camille's struggles and how she had grew up better than

anyone else. It was he who had discussed with Old Armstrong about

marrying Camille into the Simpson family, so he felt responsible for her.

After listening to the old Simpson's request, Ayan smiled and said,

"Okay, I'll do it as soon as possible. But you have to help me out too;

otherwise she'll be cold towards me."

Old Simpson didn't take Ayan's side and said, “That must mean you

haven't done a good enough job."

After chatting for a while, Ayan got back on topic and asked, "Grandpa,

have you seen Preston anywhere else?"

“No, I haven't.” the old Simpson spoke without much emotion.

Ayan asked, "Do you know Elijah?"

"Is the Armstrong family that secretary?"

"HMM."

"Yes. He has worked at Armstrong Corp. for many years and Cami's

father for so long. Of course I have met him before.”

"Do you remember anything about him?"

"What impression do I need of him?" Old Simpson frowned, his cloudy

eyes fixed on Ayan and asked, "You asked me so many questions

today. What are you trying to say?"

"Grandpa, did the Simpson family do anything to offend or owe

anyone?"

Ayan did not answer the old Simpson's question. He asked the old

Simpson with his dark eyes.

His look was too serious, with complexity in his eyes, which made Old

Simpson fall into meditation.

A few seconds later, he replied impassively: "The way we navigate

through the business has always been fair and just. We owe no one. As

to whether we have offended anyone or not, I still tell you the same, our

company can come to where it is today, naturally we offended others

more or less. No business is perfect without any loophole."

Ayan nodded understandingly; he knew well of the old man?? s

character but still felt like something wasn?? t adding up.

Was there something hidden from him?

The Old man then questioned what all this had to do with Preston and

Elijah.

Ayan replied honestly saying that he wasn?? t sure yet.

The old Simpson furrowed his brow, his expression darkening. "You

came back a few days ago and asked me some questions, so you were

trying to find out about these two people?"

Ayan didn't deny it, but Old Simpson's reaction remained unchanged,

without any extra emotion or expression. This left Ayan feeling unsure.

He didn't continue to press the issue and instead used a tone that

suggested since the old Simpson didn't know anything about it then he

was probably overthinking things and ended the conversation.

Afterwards, he chatted with Old Simpson for a bit about the company ??

s affairs and also talked to him about Dane City's project. He

temporarily put aside what had just happened.

When he left Old Simpson's room, Ayan didn't immediately leave but

went upstairs to see Timmy.

He played with Timmy in the nursery for a while until Talia noticed that

he seemed distracted. She asked him: "What's wrong? Do you have

something on your mind?"

He snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head when she asked if

he had fought with Cami again.

Talia snorted lightly: "It?? s written all over your face that something is

bothering you."

Timmy clapped his hands as if he understood what they were talking

about and shouted: "Mama! Mama!"

Timmy already knew many simple words but sometimes spoke too

clearly or not enough.

Timmy?? s words made both Talia and Ayan laugh at once.

Ayan gently pinched Timmy?? s cheek with affection; it was a fatherly

smile as he whispered softly: "Do you miss Mommy?"

Timmy smiled back indicating yes; he missed her very much indeed!

Ayan said: "I'll take him away now so we can stay at Maple Leaves

Mansion tonight. You can come pick him up tomorrow morning.”

"Okay," Talia agreed immediately before asking the nanny to prepare

everything needed for Timmy. Even though it was only one night, there

were still quite a few things required which amounted to quite a big

piece of luggage altogether.

As Ayan picked up Timmy from Talia?? s arms, he suddenly

remembered something else before asking her: "When will dad be

back?"

Talia glanced at her watch before answering: "Soon I think. He doesn??

t have anything planned today, so I believe around this time he should

be on his way back."

Just as she finished speaking, Fletcher's car could be heard outside

approaching them.

Ayan squinted as he handed Timmy over to Talia, saying:"I'll chat with

dad for a bit."

Talia nodded taking hold of Timy while watching Ayann leave towards

Fletcher.

Ayan walked downstairs and he and his father avoided Old Simpson as

they made their way to a bench in the garden. Fletcher noticed Ayan's

serious expression and knew he had something on his mind.

"What's wrong?" Fletcher asked.

Ayan spoke without much emotion, "I have something to ask you." He

looked at Fletcher while keeping an eye on any movement inside the

villa, making sure that neither Old Simpson nor the butler would come

out at this time. He casually asked, "Does our family have any secrets

that are not known to others?"

Fletcher was taken aback by his question.

"What do you mean by secrets?" he asked with some confusion.

“I mean things that you don't want others to know," Ayan clarified.

"Do you even know what you're talking about?" Fletcher replied coldly,

annoyed by Ayan's words. This was still his home after all. How could

he say something like that?

Ayan smiledand said, "Don't take it too seriously. I just want to learn

more about our family and whether or not we've done anything shady."