In the living room, his father clutched the baby's clothes, his mother held a milk bottle, and his grandpa stared at a photo of the baby on his phone, his eyes filled with tears.
When the three spotted him, their eyes practically shot sparks.
They looked ready to burn him alive.
"Where’s Lily?"
"You’ve got the nerve to ask? She took the baby and went back to her family!" Grandfather, fuming, tried to hit him with his cane.
Frederick Fairfax dodged, retreating a step. "Grandfather, it wasn’t me. I didn’t offend her. I’ve been on my best behavior lately."
Only Olivia Young would tease him day and night; he'd held back, only begging his wife when it became unbearable. Only she knew how humble he could be.
He didn’t sign them up for that Divorce Show.
The rumors online? Not from him, either.
He had nothing to gain from gossip like that.
"Lily is still in her postpartum recovery period. How could you make her angry? Are you even a man?" his father said with a disappointed shake of his head. "A real man would never treat his wife like that!"
His mother gave him the same disappointed look. "Son, whatever issues you two have, she’s barely a month out from giving birth. Is it so hard to give just a little? Did things have to get so bad she ran home?"
"I didn’t!"
Frederick Fairfax protested weakly, pale with grievance.
He honestly hadn’t done anything. Why did no one believe him?
He was totally innocent! It was so unfair.
Grandfather flung his cane aside. "What are you still standing around for? Go to the Yu house and bring your wife and child back!"
"I’m going! I’ll go right now, Grandfather, please calm down."
Frederick Fairfax hurried out the door.
He called Olivia Young as soon as he got in the car.
No answer.
She wouldn’t pick up.
A phone call for an apology seemed insincere—he had to do this in person.
All the way there, Frederick Fairfax’s brows were drawn together in a deep frown.
Who the hell was bored enough to sign them up for a Divorce Show?
Could it be Grace Gordon?
That jerk still wasn’t giving up?
What exactly did Grace Gordon want?
He and Lily even had a child now!
An hour later, Frederick Fairfax arrived at the gates of the Young family villa.
Normally, his car would have been allowed in directly, but today he was blocked at the entrance.
He got out and said curtly, "Open the gate."
The security guard shook his head. "Can't do that, sir. Young master said not to let you in."
Frederick Fairfax’s expression turned cold. "Get Quentin Young out here!"
Quentin Young swaggered over to the gate and barked, "Get lost! My sister doesn't want to see you. She told me, once her postpartum month is over, see you at the Registry Office. Make sure you bring the household registration book and the marriage certificate—for the divorce registration."
"There’s a cooling-off period for divorce registration now. You have to get an appointment, and we’ll talk after we get the slot," Frederick Fairfax snapped, so agitated he was dizzy from anger. He calmed himself with a deep breath. "I don’t want to divorce your sister—this is all a misunderstanding! Let me in so I can talk to her face-to-face."
"No! I’m guarding this door today, and if I let you in, what kind of brother would I be? I have to protect my sister. Anyone who hurts her doesn’t get to see her again," Quentin Young declared, full of righteous fury. "I don’t care who you are! If I say you can’t enter, you can’t enter!"
These siblings, each one more impulsive than the other.
They weren’t giving him even half a chance to explain.
Olivia Young had kept things from him for so long, and he could endure that—he'd planned to talk things through after her recovery.
Frederick Fairfax’s gaze sharpened. "Quentin Young, if you don’t let me see her, we’re falling into a trap! This is a clear attempt to drive a wedge between us. Your sister isn’t that gullible."
"You’re the gullible one!" Quentin Young sneered. "If you’re not leaving, then go ahead and wait right here!"
No way was he letting anyone open that door.
In the bitter cold wind, Frederick Fairfax stood by his car in black, completely alone.
Only two days left before the New Year. The entire villa district was decked out in red for the holidays. The more festive the atmosphere, the lonelier and more forlorn his figure looked gstanding outside.
If this were a TV drama, his wife would definitely be peeking at him from an upstairs window, worried the wind and snow would make him sick. She’d feel sorry for him and let him inside.
Yeah. That’s how it goes.
Frederick Fairfax sighed mournfully, feeling for cigarettes in his pocket—then remembered he didn’t smoke. Close call.
Dear Lily, you wouldn’t really let me freeze out here, would you?
Upstairs, Olivia Young drew the curtains and spoke softly to the little bundle in the crib, "Baby, whatever you do, don’t inherit your dad’s teenager syndrome. Standing out in below-freezing weather instead of coming inside, with a perfectly good car—he’ll freeze himself silly."
If her baby’s dad turned into an idiot, wouldn’t that be a huge embarrassment for the baby?
Frederick Fairfax isn't that dumb, is he?
Doesn’t he know it’s cold out? Why not come inside?
"Sis!"
Quentin Young grinned as he walked into the bedroom. "Did the baby poop? Need a new diaper?"
He’d never let Olivia Young handle baby chores—back at the Feng home or here, he took care of everything.
Olivia Young poked her baby’s plump cheek with a finger. "No, did Frederick Fairfax say anything?"
Quentin Young glanced at the baby and told his sister, "He said there’s a divorce cooling-off period now—you have to fight for an appointment slot. Once you get it, you can talk divorce."
Oh-ho~
Not only do they have to get the appointment, but apparently, they’ll get to star on a reality show, too.
Did things really need to get so dramatic?
Annoying!
She’d just considered letting Frederick Fairfax inside to talk.
Forget it!
If he wants to fight for a divorce appointment, fine!
But she absolutely wasn’t going on that reality show. That would be too mortifying.
She was, after all, the number one heartthrob of Beijing’s elite in the original story—the one everyone secretly adored. Lose one guy, just pick another.
As long as it’s not Grace Gordon, she’ll…
Never mind.
She didn’t need a man!
Her precious little princess was enough.
"Miss!"
"Young master!"
Old Lin’s voice rang up from downstairs.
"Sir, don’t jump!"
"Somebody come, quick!"
Chaos broke out downstairs.
Olivia Young walked over to the bed just in time to see Frederick Fairfax jump down from the wall—
Landing right on his backside.
Olivia Young couldn’t help but laugh. "Brother, do you think there’s anything wrong with his head?"
"Frozen stupid, maybe?"
"Sis, I’m gonna go stop him!"
Quentin Young rolled up his sleeves and dashed out the door, ready for a fight.
It really wasn’t necessary. Not at all.
She didn’t like solving problems with violence—especially not in front of the baby.
So she and her little one stayed upstairs.
"Baby, baby…"
"My sweet darling, you’re Mom’s most beloved little treasure!"
She showered her adorable child with kisses, the little one soft, sweet, and utterly content.
The noise downstairs got louder, and then Olivia Young heard somebody coming up the stairs.
Bang!
The bedroom door slammed shut. She turned—and locked eyes with Frederick Fairfax, who’d just turned the lock.