Thought It Was ‘The End’, Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 231

At the break of dawn, Jeff headed straight to the Blanchard estate.

Ashad grumbled as he carried heavy gift boxes in both hands.

“Did you hire me as a porter, Mr. Bertrand?”

“Might as well kill two birds with one stone.”

“This is what we call abuse of power.”

“Where’d you learn to spout such boring nonsense?”

“About six months ago, Lord Patrick and Lady Emma taught me this while I was at the Bertrand estate.”

“My brother really can’t help but meddle in everything.”

“They specifically asked me to let them know if I was ever treated unfairly.”

“It won’t do any good, Ashad. If I say it’s a gift for Lisa, they won’t even bother listening. If anything, my brother is worse than me when it comes to her.”

After Lisa was born, Jeff had to leave Delmuz shortly afterward to focus on his business ventures in the Brubewein Kingdom. Patrick, however, had frequently visited and kept a close watch on Lisa’s growth.

Patrick was a textbook case of a doting uncle.

“You know, people call men like you ‘uncle fools,’ Mr. Bertrand.”

“I know.”

And so what?

Jeff was proud of it. Lisa was the child of his beloved little sister, who was already so precious to him. Of course, the child of someone so adorable would be doubly adorable. It didn’t need to be said—it was obvious.

“Even porcupines think their own babies are soft and cuddly.”

Jeff said this with utmost confidence.

“You have no idea. My niece is really beautiful.”

“Didn’t you say you’ve only seen her when she was a newborn and haven’t met her in two years?”

“Right. And she was incredibly cute. I practically helped raise her for half a year.”

“Kids grow up fast. If she’s turning three this year, she’s probably already speaking well by now.”

“That just makes her even cuter.”

“You don’t realize how annoying a talkative child can be, do you?”

Ashad, on the other hand, had no tolerance for children.

As someone who grew up in an orphanage attached to the church, he had been burdened with childcare duties until he was fifteen and left under Jeff’s sponsorship.

What could possibly be cute about kids?

Babies and children were different creatures entirely. Babies couldn’t do much besides eat, poop, and cry, but children babbled incessantly in clumsy speech, asking endless questions about everything they saw. They were little devils, through and through.

No matter how cute they looked, if their behavior screamed ‘devil’, they were devils. The cuter they appeared, the more devilishly deceptive they were—just like demons who tempted humans.

“To me, you’re still just a kid.”

“I’m not. I’m an adult.”

“Ah, of course. Sure.”

Jeff stifled a laugh and shrugged.

“Anyway, my niece is different. Just wait, Ashad—you might fall for her.”

“I don’t like kids. And please don’t force your ‘niece love’ on me—I’ve already heard enough to bleed from my ears.”

“I’m just being objective.”

“Yes, yes. Got it. Family bonds are… something else.”

“…Well, I guess it’s safer for you to stay firm. Even if you do fall for her charms, it’s best not to show it.”

“I won’t fall for her charms. I’m not like you, Mr. Bertrand.”

“If you show it… well, your life might be at risk.”

“My life?!”

Lisa’s adorable protectors are nothing short of terrifying…

Lisa Kylie Blanchard was now three years old.

She was a perfect miniature version of her father.

With black hair and blue eyes, it was obvious she would grow to look even more like Shane as her features sharpened. The more her face developed, the clearer it became—she was a tiny replica of him.

If Shane had been born a girl, he would’ve looked exactly like Lisa.

Adeline, however, often wondered where her genes had disappeared to.

All the components that made up Lisa had come from her body, so how was it that none of her traits seemed to have carried over?

‘I’m sure I gave birth to her… didn’t I?’

Even though Shane had endured the morning sickness, it was Adeline who had gone through labor.

Though her labor had been relatively short and intense—around two hours—it was still her who had gone through the pain.

Genevieve occasionally lamented, “It would’ve been nice if she took after you at least with her eye color, Adeline.”

Adeline secretly agreed, at least just a little.