The helicopter landed on an estate in East Hampton. Grace stepped out with her two children, and Simon walked over to greet them.
He hugged a slightly shy Grace before turning to the siblings with a warm smile. "Hi, Ray. Hi, Rita."
Though they had been prepared for this meeting during the trip over, the siblings couldn't help but feel awkward and uneasy in Simon's presence. Sure, their father had recently introduced them to his much younger girlfriend, but their mother's younger boyfriend? That was on a completely different level—especially when said boyfriend turned out to be Simon Westeros.
Grace, already unsure of how to broach the topic of her pregnancy with her children, hoped this meeting would allow them to warm up to Simon. At the very least, she wanted her children to get along with the man. However, her own nerves only intensified as Simon greeted her children. Walking toward the villa together, Grace instinctively positioned herself on Simon's other side, putting a small buffer of distance between him and her kids.
It was late October on the East Coast, deep into autumn. The days were getting shorter.
Though it was not yet 6 p.m., the sun had already dipped below the horizon. Once inside, the group headed straight to the dining room, where dinner had already been prepared.
"Your mom mentioned you both enjoy Chinese food," Simon said, seating Grace at the table beside him and gesturing for the siblings to take their seats opposite them. "It's my favorite too, so I brought in a chef to prepare tonight's meal. It's been in the works since yesterday, and it's going to be quite the feast."
Rita Spert sat down, her chair pulled out by a maid. Hearing Simon's words, she quickly replied, "Thank you, Simon."
Simon smiled. "It's no trouble." Turning to Ray, he asked with a hint of playfulness, "How about some wine? Chinese cuisine pairs really well with it."
Ray glanced at his mother instinctively. Grace was the type of strict parent who absolutely forbade her children from drinking alcohol before they reached the legal age. However, today she seemed unusually subdued, sitting quietly and leaving the decision entirely up to Simon.
Seeing his mother's uncharacteristic silence, Ray shook his head. "No, thank you, Simon."
"You should try a little," Simon gently insisted. "It's a type of yellow wine from China, with very low alcohol content. A small amount can even be good for your health."
Under Simon's persistence, Ray finally relented. "Alright. Just a little."
Grace hesitated, clearly wanting to object but ultimately holding her tongue. Rita, observing her mother's uncharacteristic behavior, was inwardly exasperated.
Is this really my sharp, decisive mother? she thought.
Simon chatted casually with Ray for a while before turning to Rita. "If I'm not mistaken, you're a senior this year, right? Have you decided on a university yet?"
Rita snapped out of her thoughts and quickly focused. "I'm planning to apply to Columbia University."
Simon nodded. He was already aware of this, knowing the girl's decision was influenced by her boyfriend, a Levison scion, who had stayed in New York for her. Still, he didn't bring it up and simply asked, "Have you picked a major?"
"International relations."
Simon thought of Lin Su, who had studied the same field in college, and nodded again. "That's an excellent choice."
Rita blinked in surprise. She had initially faced strong opposition from her parents when she mentioned her intended major, so Simon's approval caught her off guard. For a moment, she suspected he was just being polite.
Simon noticed her reaction and smiled. "You're not thinking I'm just being polite, are you?"
Rita flushed slightly, feeling a bit exposed.
Simon's tone turned more serious. "You'd be wrong to think that. I genuinely think it's a great choice. At the level of society we occupy, perspective and vision are far more important than specific technical skills. For children from ordinary families, studying fields like engineering, medicine, or computer science is often the most practical path to change their circumstances. But for people like us, from a higher vantage point, subjects like international relations, psychology, or even philosophy—though seemingly abstract to others—are actually incredibly useful.
"This has been my personal experience. When a company is small, the leader needs to rely on various technical skills. But as an organization grows to a certain size, management becomes more about philosophical principles than technical expertise. So, while majoring in international relations, I'd recommend taking electives in psychology or philosophy. These will be invaluable to your future."
Rita listened intently, nodding. "Thank you, Simon. I'll keep that in mind."
"Great," Simon said with a smile. "But don't be so formal. Let's keep things light."
Grace, sitting beside Simon and listening quietly, felt her initial nervousness ease. Warmth bloomed in her chest as she realized how genuine Simon's advice was—something he'd only share with those he cared about. In a way, it felt like he was treating her children as his own.
As the conversation continued, the sky outside darkened, and the first course of their dinner was served.
Though Ray and Rita had developed a liking for Chinese cuisine in recent years—thanks to Grace's influence after meeting Simon—tonight's dishes surpassed their expectations. Dish after dish of elaborate, exotic creations appeared on the table, many of which they had never even heard of. Despite their best efforts to maintain decorum in front of Simon Westeros, the siblings found themselves eating more than they intended.
Simon even shared a bottle of Shaoxing wine with the two teenagers.
By the time dinner ended, the group moved to a cozy sitting room. As maids served after-dinner tea, Simon broached the real topic of the evening: Grace's pregnancy.
While the siblings had initially thought this dinner was just an opportunity for their mother to introduce her boyfriend, they were surprisingly receptive to the news. Rita, more composed than her younger brother, even asked a few questions about the plans for her unborn sibling. When Simon mentioned that the baby would bear the Westeros surname, Rita felt a mix of faint jealousy and satisfaction.
It meant that Simon Westeros was serious about her mother—and the baby.
Of course, Rita knew Simon wouldn't be stepping into a formal "stepfather" role.
The family chatted until after 9 p.m., when Grace finally spoke up, gently urging Simon to leave. Though their relationship was now out in the open, Grace wasn't comfortable with the idea of spending the night together under the same roof as her children.
After seeing Simon off, Grace returned to the sitting room with her children. She pulled Rita close, letting her daughter lean against her shoulder, and asked, "So, do you two have any questions?"
Rita reached out and touched her mother's belly, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Mom, how far along are you?"
Grace blushed and gently swatted her daughter's hand away. "Just one month. You won't feel anything yet."
Rita playfully nuzzled her mother's shoulder. "I think Simon's great. He's so much better than Dad's new girlfriend. When we had dinner with her last time, she felt like nothing more than a trophy wife."
Grace hesitated before offering a mild defense of her ex-husband. "Men like that sort of thing. It's easier for them."
Rita shook her head. "But you're not just a trophy wife, Mom."
Grace smiled. "Of course not. That's because Simon is... different."
Rita grinned, teasing, "I see. What you're really saying is, Dad's only capable of finding trophy wives."
"Don't say that about your father," Grace scolded lightly. "It would hurt his feelings."
"I'd never say it to his face," Rita replied with a mischievous smile. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Mom, was it because of Simon that you and Dad divorced?"
Grace hesitated but nodded. "Yes."
Rita glanced at her mother, her expression softening. "Honestly, it's not hard to figure out. Simon is so amazing. If he weren't already with you, I'd be tempted to take a shot myself."
Grace was taken aback by her daughter's words. Though she knew Rita was joking to make her feel better, it reminded her of another situation she had once dealt with—a certain mother-daughter pair. For a moment, she grew protective, deciding it was best to limit Simon's interactions with her daughter.
Pulling Rita closer, Grace turned her attention to her son, who had been sitting quietly. "What's on your mind, Ray?"
Ray shook his head, lost in thought.
Unlike Rita, Ray found it harder to accept the idea of his mother being with another man. Still, it was hard to resent someone like Simon Westeros. Simon's presence at dinner had left a strong impression on the young man, particularly his advice about approaching life with the mindset of a conqueror—being the one who shapes others, rather than letting others shape him.
Simon had also promised to support Ray in the future, giving him the confidence to embrace such a mindset.
The first decision Ray made was to refuse his friend Gerald's earlier request to invite models to his cousin's birthday. While Gerald's family was old money and his cousin likely came from similar stock, Ray now realized that compromising his values to maintain a friendship was unnecessary. Worse, it could damage his reputation, painting him as little more than a middleman or "pimp" in the eyes of his peers.
Such a reputation would be impossible to shake, and no
amount of networking could elevate him into the upper echelons of society afterward.
After leaving Grace's estate, Simon spent the night at another nearby property. The next morning, he returned to Grace's place for breakfast.
It was now October 26th, Friday.
After breakfast, the siblings were sent back to Manhattan via helicopter to attend school, leaving Grace behind. When Simon arrived, he found her curled up like a cat on the living room sofa, lazily watching TV.
Sliding onto the sofa, Simon pulled Grace into his arms, letting her rest against him. His hand instinctively came to rest on her belly as he glanced at the TV.
The screen was tuned to a CNN morning program, discussing the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
As the end of October approached, the month's "October Surprise" had lived up to its reputation. The election drama unfolding reminded Simon of similar events from his past life.
For instance, the Republican Party had spent weeks hammering Clinton's campaign over alleged foreign donations, stirring up a "Chinagate" scandal. The story dominated headlines throughout October.
Additionally, Clinton's personal life once again came under scrutiny. Early in the month, allegations resurfaced that he had assaulted a government employee during his tenure as Arkansas attorney general. The media frenzy dragged Clinton's previous scandals back into the spotlight.
Meanwhile, Clinton's team had been targeting his opponent, Bob Dole, over concerns about the 73-year-old's health, questioning his ability to handle the presidency.
The mutual mudslinging and character attacks felt eerily familiar to Simon. It was yet another reminder that history has a way of repeating itself.
Grace, still nestled in Simon's arms, eventually turned her head to look up at him. "Don't you have work to do today?"
Simon smiled, his hand resting lightly on her abdomen. "You are my work."
Grace's lips curled into a smile at his sweet words, though she added teasingly, "You've been so tired lately. Maybe you should take the day off. But, um, I can't... do much to entertain you right now."
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/INNIT
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.