The Ashford Family

Gael was about to reply to Andrea when a baby's cry filled the room.

Andrea quickly picked up her baby, rocking him gently.

"Are you hungry?" she asked in a soft voice.

She turned to Gael. "I'll take him to his room to feed him. I'll come back when I'm done."

Gael nodded. "My room is locked, but his room is ready. You'll find it easily."

Andrea carried Kai upstairs. She tried the first door, but it was locked. The next door opened, revealing a large room with a dressing table full of makeup. Realizing it was her room, she sat on the bed to feed her baby.

Kai stopped crying the moment he latched onto her. Andrea chuckled. "You must have been really hungry."

Kai ignored her words, focused only on eating. Once he finished, Andrea wiped his mouth and gently patted his back until he let out a tiny burp.

She smiled. "Time to see your room."

Holding Kai close, she stepped into the next room. She paused at the doorway, surprised. The room was bigger than she expected. The walls were light blue, making it feel calm and cozy. A large bed was set against the wall for when Kai got older, and next to it was a white crib, ready for him now. Soft toys sat neatly on a shelf, and the curtains swayed gently with the breeze.

Andrea looked around in awe. "Do you like it?" she whispered, though Kai was already falling asleep in her arms.

She gently laid him in the crib, watching him for a moment before heading back downstairs.

As soon as she entered the living room, Gael handed her a tablet. "Take a seat. Let's begin."

Andrea took the tablet and sat on the couch. "Begin what?"

Gael gestured to the screen. "Open it."

Andrea did and saw a picture of an old man, along with information about him.

"In any battle, it's important to know your enemy," Gael explained, seeing the confusion on her face.

Andrea turned the tablet to him. "Is this your grandfather?"

"Micah Ashford. Seventy-five years old. The head of the Ashford family. He claims he's retired, but he still makes the decisions."

Andrea read aloud. "He is manipulative and hates when people disobey him. Does that mean everyone follows his orders?"

"You can refuse," Gael said, "but he always gets what he wants. If you want to survive in this family, you need his approval. Gaining his favor is the first step to making Kai his heir."

Andrea nodded and swiped to the next picture. "Samuel Ashford. Fifty-one years old. Had two sons from his first wife. Is he your father?"

Gael crossed his legs. "Samuel is Hendrick's and my father. After his first wife died, he remarried Diana, the only daughter of the Gilmour family."

Andrea swiped again and saw a beautiful woman in her forties. Gael continued, "Diana was a widow. She lost her first husband to a heart attack but had an eight-year-old son before he died. After marrying Samuel, she changed her son's last name to Ashford. After two miscarriages, she finally gave birth to a daughter."

Andrea raised a brow. "So you have a sister?"

Gael frowned. "Half-sister. Let's move on."

Andrea turned back to the tablet and read aloud, "Diana—an ambitious woman who loves money and power."

Gael sighed. "Be careful of her. She might seem kind, but she'll betray you in a heartbeat. She only cares about herself."

Gael stood up. Seeing this, Andrea asked, "Are you going somewhere?"

Gael checked his watch. "I have things to do. In the meantime, go through everything. You have until six."

"Why six?"

"The Ashford Group's anniversary party is tonight. It will be our first appearance as husband and wife."

Andrea sat up. "I can't take Kai to a party. What if he starts crying?"

"Kai won't be coming. I've arranged for someone to watch him."

Andrea frowned. "And you didn't ask me first? I won't leave my newborn with a stranger."

Gael sighed and looked at her. "There's a woman who took care of Hendrick and me when we were kids. She was our nanny, but to us, she felt like a mother. Can we let her watch Kai?"

Andrea hesitated. Leaving Kai made her anxious, but tonight's event was important.

"Do you really trust her?" she asked.

"I do. And with a baby monitor, you can check on Kai anytime during the party."

Andrea thought for a moment. Gael stepped closer. "I would never leave Kai with someone I didn't trust. Trust me."

She exhaled. "Alright. But if anything happens to Kai—"

"I would die before I let anyone hurt him," Gael said firmly. He glanced at his watch. "We leave at seven."

With that, he walked out.

Andrea watched him go and murmured, "Henrick, your brother is a strange man."