The Breeding Deal: Brother-in-law's Forbidden Offer - Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Your Place

Christine rushed home to find Oliver opening the door for her.

She hugged her brother tightly. She’d meant to scold him, but as soon as she started with “How could you be so foolish,” her eyes welled up, and the rest of her reproach dissolved into tears.

“Why are you crying?” Oliver hugged his sister back tightly, his own tears falling silently.

Her brother had lost so much weight. Though he tried to comfort her stubbornly, he held onto his family even more tightly. His time in detention had changed him – he seemed more mature and reserved, as if forced to grow up overnight, no longer the mischievous boy he used to be.

With Pat and their father present, the family sat together as Oliver described his detention experience.

At first, no matter how much he pleaded, no one would see him. The guards ignored him completely. He spent that first night in a temporary cell without food or water, the floor too hard to sleep on, shivering and disoriented from the cold.

A lawyer arrived the next day, saying he was sent by Mr. Blackwood.

Hearing the surname, Oliver initially thought Ethan had sent the lawyer. After talking more, he realized the lawyer was sent by Adrian. As an in-law, Oliver knew his sister’s brother-in-law was powerful, but they’d barely exchanged greetings before. He never imagined such an important figure would personally step in to save him.

He asked the lawyer if Christine and Ethan had begged for Adrian’s help. The lawyer just told him not to worry about that and focus on preparing his testimony.

“So… this Harrison you mentioned is one of Adrian’s friends?” Pat tried to understand the connections, saying they’d do anything to repay this debt.

“Yes. The lawyer said Harrison Astor is Adrian’s closest friend. His side helped collect all kinds of evidence. The first trial verdict was almost set… if they hadn’t turned everything around at the last minute, I wouldn’t have gotten out anytime soon.”

Oliver expressed gratitude to Harrison while marveling at these rich heirs’ incredible influence and power.

As for those who framed Oliver – it wasn’t just one person, but a group. After his release, Oliver learned that the yacht party was actually a carefully planned group operation, and he had been their targeted lab rat.

Their father worried: “What about them? Will they come after you for revenge?”

Oliver shook his head: “No, the lawyer assured me they’ve all been taken in for re-investigation. The main culprit – the lawyer said they have video evidence of his frame-up schemes. His accomplices cracked under pressure and turned him in. He’s been arrested for illegal drug possession and trafficking.”

Christine sat listening, her heart pounding.

The scale of this battle was immense – like a tug of war. On one side, Adrian and his allies mobilizing connections and gathering evidence; on the other, the parents of those rich kids wielding their influence, desperately trying to frame Oliver and secure a conviction.

They wanted this powerless commoner to confess under pressure, so their precious children could go free.

Only by quickly convicting Oliver could they eliminate any future trouble.

Both sides raced against time, competing with real power, money, manpower, and connections both legitimate and otherwise.

If any single element had been missing, her brother wouldn’t have made it home whole today.

All of this… was achieved through the all-out efforts of Adrian and his associates.

Everyone sighed silently.

How much had Adrian and his people spent – millions? Tens of millions? When numbers grow that large, people lose the ability to even comprehend them.

Christine only knew that Adrian must have sacrificed many carefully cultivated relationships he’d maintained for years.

“Sis, you and Ethan reached out to Adrian, didn’t you? Even while you’re pregnant and Ethan’s sick, you both went through all this trouble for me. I was such an idiot causing you these problems. I can’t thank you and Ethan enough.”

After explaining everything, Oliver stood up, his voice thick with emotion, and looked at his sister with teary eyes.

Christine’s eyes reddened again as she turned away, though a gentle smile touched her lips: “Don’t be silly – what are you talking about? I’m your sister – as long as you came back safely, any hardship we faced was worth it.”

Their father finally declared they must treat Adrian to dinner, and afterward, the whole family would visit with gifts.

While they were still discussing how to thank Adrian, Oliver quickly grabbed Christine’s phone, found Adrian’s number in her contacts, and dialed.

Christine tried to snatch the phone back, but Adrian’s voice already came through: “Speak.”

“Mr…Mr Adrain!”

Oliver cleared his throat and spoke formally: “Hey, this is Oliver, Christine’s brother. I’m calling from my sister’s phone. We can never thank you enough, thanks for everything you’ve done for me. My family and I would love to have you over for dinner sometime – let us show our appreciation properly. When would work for you?”

After Oliver finished, their father gestured to put the phone on speaker. The elderly man leaned in to express his profound gratitude to Adrian, with Pat and Oliver eagerly echoing his thanks.

Christine sat awkwardly, watching them all clamoring to treat Adrian to dinner. Worried about annoying that “devil”, she reached for the phone, speaking softly: “He’s very busy, he might not have time, we shouldn’t bother him…”

“Everyone needs to eat, no matter how busy!”

Pat blocked Christine’s attempt to take the phone, excitedly speaking into it: “It’s no problem! We can wait! After you’re less busy, or even in a few days – we just really want to show our appreciation-”

“Fine.”

The man’s flat voice came through the speaker, as emotionless as ever. Christine’s hand froze in mid-air.

“I have an hour at noon today.” He paused for a second, then added: “At your place.”

“Oh wonderful, that’s perfect!”

Thrilled by Adrian’s quick agreement, Oliver nodded repeatedly, gesturing to his parents to head to the kitchen.

But Christine understood clearly.

The “your” in “your place” – he meant Christine, not Oliver.

Oliver continued chattering excitedly: “What would you like to eat? Tell me and I’ll go to the market right now, you’ve been so good to me-”

“Anything.”

The man cut him off abruptly and hung up.

The news of Adrian Blackwood coming for lunch in a few hours sent everyone into a frenzy of preparation.

Oliver rushed out with shopping bags to buy fresh ingredients. Their father started calling nearby restaurants to order Boston lobster. Pat chimed in, saying one lobster wasn’t enough – they needed a roasted goose too. But then she reconsidered, noting that someone of Adrian’s status must have eaten every delicacy imaginable. Perhaps their fancy dishes would seem unsophisticated – maybe home-style cooking would be better.

Her husband argued against serving simple dishes, saying it would be disrespectful. The couple ended up calling the restaurant for their menu, going through each dish meticulously.

Christine stood still, staring at her darkened phone screen, then at her bustling parents, feeling dazed.

Adrian had specifically asked to eat at her place.

He had deceived her… and now wanted to eat at her home.

Christine didn’t know whether to laugh or cry in anger.

Indeed, he’d done their family an enormous favor – everyone was overwhelmingly grateful. Christine was thankful too. She just couldn’t understand why he’d negotiated with her that way, making her do those things…

Did he find tricking her amusing?

Christine had no idea how to face him – she neither wanted to nor could bear seeing Adrian.

After hesitating, she put her phone in her bag, put on her coat, grabbed her purse, and headed for the door: “Mom, I’m going to the hospital.”

“Chrissy, how can you leave? You need to stay for lunch – the whole family should be here.”

Pat was busy replacing old curtains and sofa covers with new ones.

Christine continued putting on her shoes: “No, Mom, I… I want to eat with Ethan. His fever hasn’t completely gone down.”

Hearing this, Pat stopped trying to convince her. She watched her daughter’s retreating figure, sighed, then nodded, telling her to be careful and to rely on the driver if needed. As Christine was about to leave, Pat ran out from the living room with some candy and snacks, stuffing them into Christine’s bag.

“Have some on the way – they’re sweet and delicious. When I was pregnant with you and your brother, I loved these! You must too!”

Christine smiled and hugged her apron-wearing mother: “Thank you, Mom. You’re so good to me.”

Pat smiled back, smoothing Christine’s long hair, her loving eyes crinkled with crow’s feet born of both hardship and happiness: “Of course I’m good to you – I gave birth to you. In this world, you and Oliver are all I care about.”

Christine felt a lump in her throat.

Somehow, her thoughts drifted to Adrian and Rebecca. Rebecca was so good to Ethan, just like Pat was to her, but to Adrian… the contrast was almost cruel.

She didn’t even remember his birthday.

So perhaps, from childhood until now, had Adrain ever wished… that his mother would treat him the same way she treated his brother?