One night stand with my president(chapter 454)

 

Chapter 454: A Dress, Seriously?

With its black, white, and gray tones, clean lines, and minimalist design, the space exuded an understated luxury-exactly the kind of aesthetic Harrison would go for.

"If you don't like it, I'll have it redone," Harrison said with a smile.

Adeline shook her head. "I don't live here anyway."

These days, they were staying at her place.

Still, his comment reminded her.

Ever since she'd moved into Shurford Residence, she hadn't really redecorated to suit her own tastes.

Maybe it was time to change that.

She wandered around his room like an emperor inspecting a palace.

As she passed a glass cabinet, a few photo albums caught her eye.

"Are those your, old photos?" she asked.

"Yeah, childhood stuff."

"Really? Let me see!" she said, suddenly excited.

"Go ahead."

Adeline opened the cabinet and pulled one out.

On the first page: a little boy sitting on a coin-operated kiddie ride.

He looked about three or four years old.

At that age, most kids were all giggles and chaos.

But not this one. This little boy looked like he was attending a corporate board meeting.

He stared into the camera with a face full of reluctant seriousness-like he was only tolerating the photo for the sake of the photographer.

Ádeline burst out laughing. "You were serious this young?!"

Some kids grew up fast.

Harrison? He skipped childhood entirely.

He came to stand beside her and looked at the photo too.

"I didn't like those rides," he muttered.

He couldn't remember much from back then, but he guessed someone must've thought it'd be cute and plopped him on one.

"You didn't like them? I loved those things," Adeline said. "I used to beg my mom for coins every time I saw one."

"Shame," Harrison said with a sigh.

"Shame?"

"If I'd liked them too, maybe we could've ended up on the same ride when we were kids."

Adeline snorted with laughter.

"Even if we were on the same ride, I wouldn't have dared talk to you-with that scowl on your face?"

"I would've talked to you," he said without hesitation.

"Why?"

"You must've been adorable. I'd want to talk to you."

"You've seen my childhood photos?"

"No. But I just know."

"Ugh, you're so smooth," she said, playfully glaring at him.

"I'm just being honest."

Her legs were getting tired, so she sat down on the couch with the album still in hand.

Harrison followed, poured her a cup of coffee, cooled it to the perfect temperature, and held it out for her to drink.

She took a few sips, then kept flipping through the album, only to freeze on the next page.

It was still toddler Harrison. But this time, he was wearing a pink princess dress, complete with a sparkly headband.

His face in the photo? Pure rage. He wasn't even looking at the camera-just glaring off to the side with puffed-up cheeks.

Adeline burst into hysterics and collapsed into Harrison's chest.

"Oh my god, you wore a dress?!"

The great Mr. Thomson was in a tutu.

No one would believe her.

Harrison's usually impenetrable expression finally cracked with a trace of awkwardness.

"Don't look at that one."

He reached over, trying to turn the page.

But Adeline hugged the album like it was a treasure.

"Why not? It's adorable!"

She even pulled out her phone. "I have to save this."

"No photos." Harrison reached for her phone.

"Too late!"

She dodged. He lunged. At some point, they ended up tangled on the couch, her underneath him, the album forgotten on the floor.

His breath was warm on her skin.

Her ears turned red as she pushed against his chest.

"Get up."

"Now? Don't you think it's a little late for that?" he murmured, eyes dark.

"Not here!" Adeline panicked. "Someone might walk in any second."

"Grandpa's already asleep. And if I don't call, no one dares interrupt."

"Still... we can't..."

As if on cue, a knock came at the door.

Harrison's face darkened instantly.

Adeline barely held back a laugh.

"Told you so."

"Ignore it," Harrison said.

Adeline said, "You can't! What if it's something important?"

With the air of a man completely robbed of joy, Harrison stood up and went to the door.

When he opened it and saw who was standing there-his mood went from bad to worse.

It was Edward.

"What?" Harrison asked coldly.

"I heard you were home, so I thought I'd stop by," Edward said with a forced smile.

They had literally seen each other yesterday.

No one bought this act.

Least of all Harrison, who simply stared at him.

Edward could see disdain in Harrison's eyes.

His own son, looking at him like that. It stung.

"I was going to join you for dinner," Edward added, "but something came up."

"Yeah," Harrison thought. "Something like

Grandpa banning you from the table."

But of course, Edward couldn't say that out loud.

Harrison glanced back.

Adeline was watching them with concern.

Not wanting to worry her, he stepped outside

and shut the door behind him.

Harrison said, "Say what you came to say."

No sugar-coating. No "Dad."

Edward's face twitched, but he swallowed it down.

"Did you tell Dad I had dinner with Alondra's mother?"

"Yeah." Harrison didn't even try to deny it.

Edward's expression tightened.

But he didn't dare lose his temper in front of his son. So he forced a civil tone. "Was that really necessary? I'm still your father. Must

•you corner me like this?"

Harrison looked back at him, face unreadable.

Now he remembered he was a father?

Where was that title when he abandoned his family? But Harrison was too tired to rehash the past.

"Since you're here," he said flatly, "let me make it simple. Grandpa has made himself very clear: one week. That's all you get. One week. Either Britney leaves the country-or the three of you leave together. Your choice."

Edward's face went pale.

It was over, Edward realized. He'd stalled as long as he could.

"And don't bother pleading with anyone,"

Harrison added. "It won't help."

With that, he turned and slammed the door

behind him.

Edward stood frozen in the hallway, bathed in dim light, face ashen.