Chapter 8

The next moment, Gavin whacked Hamilton with his cane and scolded, "You rascal! How dare you snoop on Andrew? Do you have a death wish? If you do, I can beat you to death now and save you the trouble!" The impact left a bump on Hamilton's forehead, which left him upset. However, upon seeing Gavin's fury, he shrank back. "Why did you hit me out of the blue, Dad? I'm looking out for Doria. It's not as serious as you think!" With a grim expression, Gavin snorted and said, "Not serious, huh? Don't ever underestimate Andrew. You're lucky that you didn't find anything. Even I couldn't protect you from the consequences! All you need to know is that the marriage is a big win for us. Keep your nose clean and stay out of this!" Gavin's voice radiated a chilling authority. It was clear he wasn't messing around. Upon hearing the stern warning, Hamilton's expression changed. Kenneth Thompson, Hamilton's younger brother and Doria's father, hadn't been home for years. He was probably on a secret mission somewhere due to his special role. Hamilton suspected Kenneth had risen to at least the rank of commander by now. Based on Gavin's reaction, Andrew seemed to hold a higher position than that. Suddenly, a realization dawned on Hamilton. "Dad, is Andrew related to the Josonian—" "Now that you know, make sure this doesn't get out." Gavin's attitude confirmed Hamilton's suspicion. Hamilton gasped as he realized the marriage was out of their family's league. Susan, though confused, held back her questions. She trusted Gavin's judgment and believed his decision was in their best interest. Doria, her arm looped through Andrew's, entered the room with a bright, "I'm back, Grandpa, Uncle Hamilton." "Mom! You're here too!" Spotting Susan, Doria darted straight to her. "Of course, I have to be here." Susan dotingly looked at Doria before shifting her gaze to Andrew. "You must be Andrew." Andrew appeared reserved, mostly because he was putting on an act. In fact, he was nervous about being caught, knowing it would not only upset the Thompson family but also put Lucas in a difficult position. "Mr. Thompson Senior, Mrs. Thompson, and Mr. Thompson." After greeting everyone present, Andrew put the gifts down. "You're part of the family now, so don't be so formal. Come sit next to me, Andy. Have you sorted out the marriage certificate? Let me have a look." Gavin eagerly grabbed the marriage certificate Doria handed over and was delighted. "Brilliant. Once I'm out of this place, I'll take care of your wedding myself. Make it snappy, and give me a cute great-grandchild soon! I'll die happy with that." "Grandpa!" Doria shyly called out, her face turning red. It was a wonderful dinner. Still, Andrew felt slightly out of place. Susan appeared genuinely pleased with him, her eyes warm and welcoming. However, Andrew couldn't help but be surprised by the drastic change in Hamilton's attitude toward him. Hamilton was strangely friendly. Dinner ended at 9:30 pm. Gavin instructed Doria to take Andrew home so they could spend time together. Unexpectedly, the car got stuck in traffic two streets away from Starlight Grove. "Just drop me off here. We're in an old residential area, and it tends to get congested at this hour. I can walk back home from here," Andrew suggested. However, Doria swerved the car to the curb and parked there. "I'll walk with you. After all, we're married. I need to know where my husband lives." Doria giggled. She was still absorbed in her role as his "wife". Andrew understood it was a playful banter. He didn't know how long they needed to keep up with the act, so there was no harm in getting to know each other more. "Let's go." Doria and Andrew walked side by side on the street. Everything seemed natural, and the passersby looked at them with awe. "It feels so lively around here. Are there any vacancies in Starlight Grove? It'd be great to stay here occasionally," Doria remarked, immersed in the lively atmosphere. Andrew replied, "They used to sell properties here back in the day. Unfortunately, they're all sold out now and don't do rentals for the public." The residents of Starlight Grove had a special status. Even though the prices were low, it wasn't open to just anybody. Upon hearing Andrew's words, Doria became interested and said, "So, you're no ordinary guy. Well, it makes sense. With your skill as a miracle doctor, getting whatever you want should be easy." Andrew didn't comment on that. He simply led Doria toward his house. But before they reached the door, his face fell. Standing there was Bernice. "Bernice? How did you find me?" Upon seeing Andrew, Bernice didn't look too pleased either. Her mood soured even more when she saw a woman standing next to Andrew. To make matters worse, the woman was prettier than her. With Bernice's influence and connections in Thenswy, it wasn't hard for her to track Andrew down. Little did she know, there was a surprise in store for her. "I really didn't see this coming, Andrew. We've just divorced, and you're already taking another woman home. Was I blind to who you are, or have you been good at hiding your true self?" With a hint of disdain, Bernice looked at Andrew and mocked, "Looks like you have already found someone else. Maybe I should have filed for divorce earlier. Perhaps then I wouldn't have been in your way." Bernice's barbed comments drew a chilling scowl from Andrew. Doria pieced together the situation from their conversation. She took Andrew's arm affectionately with a bright smile aimed at Bernice. "You must be Bernice. Andrew has mentioned you. What brings you by today? If it's not something urgent, perhaps you could visit another time." After saying that, Doria turned to Andrew and pouted. "Honey, I'm still hungry. How about we head back, and you make me some food?" Doria's flirtatious voice tingled in Andrew's ears, making him shiver involuntarily! She sounded just like a siren! Doria had stunning looks and an impressive figure, yet she seemed oblivious to the effect she had as she leaned close to Andrew. The average man would find this situation difficult to handle. Watching this scene unfold, Bernice grew visibly upset. It felt as though something had pierced her heart. The longer Bernice observed Andrew, the more he seemed like a stranger to her. Their three years together felt like a distant illusion. "I'm here for one reason only, Andrew. Did you hit my mom and Favian out of spite? Is it because of the divorce?" Bernice demanded an explanation from Andrew. Meanwhile, something clicked in Doria's mind. She looked over and nonchalantly stated, "You've got it wrong. Andrew didn't lay his hand on your mom. It was me!"