Chapter 28 Grandpa’s Arrival

When Curtis returned from his last-minute business trip, his chauffeur parked his car downstairs, next to another vehicle. The trip had been hasty, and he hadn't informed anyone about it. He had left in a luxurious car, accompanied by his assistant and secretary, and now he returned in a similarly extravagant vehicle, which stood out in this neighborhood. The driver offered to help Curtis with his luggage, but Curtis declined and asked the driver to leave promptly. Curtis briefly glanced at the car parked next to his. It held three occupants: a young man and woman, along with an elderly gentleman who seemed to be of Daniel's age, albeit in worse health. Curtis didn't dwell on it and prepared to head inside. Just then, a suitcase rolled out of the neighboring car and landed at his feet. Curtis picked it up, and the young men from the car approached him. There was something familiar about the man, Curtis couldn't help but notice. The man had a pleasant appearance with slightly curled brown hair, and he seemed to be of a similar age to Curtis. "Thank you," he said. Curtis returned the suitcase, asking, "You’re welcome. Are you new in the neighborhood?" In the past, the old Curtis might not have even glanced at the suitcase, let alone pick it up and engage in conversation. However, his recent transformation had made him more open to such interactions. The young man smiled with a tinge of bitterness. "It's not exactly a move. We've come to visit my sister. This is my grandpa." Visiting his sister? Curtis found it coincidental. Sabrina's brother and grandfather were arriving today, and here he was, encountering the brother and grandfather of someone visiting his sister. "That's quite a coincidence," Curtis remarked. "Yeah, anyway, thank you. I'll get going now," the young man said. Curtis watched as the young man carried the suitcase over to the elderly man. The older man's face had turned red from coughing, clearly ill. Curtis retracted his gaze and continued toward his home. He couldn't help but think that if Daniel's health was genuinely as poor as it seemed, he might end up like this elderly man. The difference was that Daniel had access to medical professionals, hospitals, and significant financial resources that could help him recover quickly. This family, on the other hand, didn't seem rich at all, and had likely depleted their savings on the old man's medical care. But one thing was certain—aging was inevitable, and no one could escape that fate. Upon reaching his front door, Curtis was greeted by Sabrina, who had just stepped out. "You're back!" Sabrina exclaimed. After being away on a business trip for almost half a month, Curtis had finally returned. It was a fortunate coincidence that her brother and grandfather were also arriving today. "My brother and grandfather are arriving today. Why don't you join us for dinner tonight? I'll talk to them about our relationship beforehand," Sabrina suggested. This was Sabrina's plan. She couldn't keep her relationship with Curtis a secret any longer. She anticipated that her brother and grandfather would be upset when they found out that she had gotten married without notifying them. Just thinking about the potential conflict gave her a headache. Originally, Curtis didn't need to accompany her today. However, once their relationship became known, someone had to deal with the fallout. Selena believed she could handle the backlash, but she also needed someone to share the responsibility. So, she discussed it with Daniel, who didn’t hesitate to push for Curtis to attend, stating that since he was Sabrina's husband, he should take responsibility. Besides, they had made a mistake by not notifying her family before their wedding. Now, with everyone present, the groom's side had to step up; otherwise, it might seem like they were neglecting Sabrina. So, Curtis had to meet Sabrina's brother and grandfather today, sooner than he had anticipated. Curtis agreed, "Alright, I understand. Where are they staying?" Sabrina made way for Curtis to carry his luggage inside and observed him while checking the time, wondering if her brother and grandfather would arrive soon. "I planned to have them stay in my vacant house next door for now, but I'll need to move in there for a while as well," Sabrina explained. Curtis had no objections to her plan, understanding that she wanted to spend time with her family during their visit. "Has your apartment been cleaned up? Do you need any help with that?" Curtis asked. "No need. Since you've been gone for half a month, I've already cleaned up next door. My brother and grandfather can move in right away." Sabrina smiled and gestured. Just then, her phone rang—it was a call from Barry. "Barry, you’ve arrived? I'll come down to get you," Sabrina said into the phone. As Selena spoke, she put on her shoes. Curtis pondered for a moment and decided to accompany Selena. As they pushed the door open to head downstairs, they spotted Barry carrying luggage walking towards them. Both parties made eye contact, and Barry widened his eyes in surprise at the man standing beside his sister. Wasn't this the same man he had seen downstairs earlier? He remembered that the man had stepped out of a million-dollar luxury car, clearly a wealthy individual. But how could he be with his sister? "You guys, what's your relationship?" Barry couldn't resist asking. Sabrina was taken aback by her brother's direct question, as she hadn't prepared herself for such a pointed inquiry. She was about to explain when their grandfather suddenly coughed. This unexpected interruption startled both Sabrina and Barry. Sabrina quickly retrieved her keys and opened the door to her house, allowing Barry to assist their grandfather inside. Once everyone was inside the house, Sabrina noticed that there was another woman with her brother and grandfather. The woman was strikingly beautiful, with long, golden hair and large, doll-like eyes. Her appearance was exceptionally refined, almost like a Barbie doll. Her clothing appeared to be of high quality, and as she walked into the house, there was a momentary freeze in her expression, suggesting some dissatisfaction with the surroundings.