From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 369: Chapter 369

At the airport, the day of parting arrived right on schedule.
Maria had gone back to Brightmoor a day earlier on her own. The house there hadn't been touched in ages, so she needed to tidy it up first.
Lucy had also headed back to Brightmoor ahead of time—while Paisley was away, she had to handle company stuff. As Maria put it, half the time Lucy acted more like the big boss than Paisley did.
Paisley and Serena were flying abroad that day, and Emery and Teddy were ready to welcome them. Byron showed up in person with the Beaumont family to see them off, and even Jonathan made time to come busy as he was.
Right then, Serena was slumped in Nathaniel's arms, looking listless. Byron felt bad seeing her like that. "Paisy, what's wrong with Rena?"
"Yeah, what's up with the little girl? Is she sick?" Jonathan was worried too—he'd personally overseen Serena's spleen rupture surgery back in the day.
"She's probably just sad to leave this place and us," Diana said, her eyes red with reluctance.
"She's fine, don't worry," Paisley said, glancing at Serena. She did look down, but it wasn't about leaving the Beaumonts.
It was because she didn't want to leave Sophia and her kindergarten friends. It hadn't been long, but it was her first time in kindergarten, her first time making friends. She couldn't bear leaving Elara or Ivan.
The day before, Paisley took Serena to say goodbye to Sophia and the others at kindergarten, and the kids ended up hugging and bawling their eyes out.
Back home, she kept choking up and crying now and then. That's when Paisley realized she'd underestimated the friendships kids could form.
After promising over and over that she'd bring Serena back to see her friends whenever there was time, she finally managed to calm her down. But now, at the actual moment of leaving, Serena was listless again.
"Paisey," Nathaniel said awkwardly, still unable to call her "cousin."
"No manners." Byron glared at him.
Paisley didn't mind. Honestly, hearing Nathaniel call her "cousin" would've felt weird—she'd rather he just called her Ms. Sutton. She smiled at Byron, then turned to Nathaniel. "What's on your mind, nephew?"
Nathaniel pursed his lips, his face slightly red. "Nothing much. You and Rena be careful on the trip. Call home as soon as you get there. If anything comes up, let us know."
After saying that, he felt it was pointless. "Ugh, why am I even saying this? You're so badass, what could possibly happen to you?"
Byron shot Nathaniel an annoyed look, practically grinding his teeth. This kid's attitude still ticked him off. He kinda wanted to whack him with his cane.
Peter stood beside Diana, plastering on a smile.
Ever since that mess when the Beaumonts mistook Brittany for someone else, and Peter sided with his eldest son Morris, Evelyn and Julia, his status in the family had plummeted—especially with Byron. He didn't even have as much pull as his wife Diana now.
Diana and Paisley were tight, and even under all that pressure back then, Diana stuck by Paisley without wavering. Plus, after that whole ordeal, Byron gave up on his eldest son Morris because of one word from Paisley and started grooming Nathaniel instead.
Peter never dreamed that this reckless kid he'd never had high hopes for would one day catch Byron's eye.
And anyone could see Byron was putting more and more trust in Nathaniel lately. He'd started handing over control to Nathaniel bit by bit, fully backing whatever decisions the kid made.
That kind of thing had never happened before—not even with Peter, the eldest son. It meant Paisley had been right—Nathaniel really did have a knack for business. He was sharp.
Peter regretted his choices on one hand but was relieved on the other that Nathaniel was his and Diana's flesh and blood. At least the Beaumont family's power stayed in their branch and didn't slip away.
Thinking that, Peter felt grateful to Paisley too. Looking at her now, he grinned wide and warm. "Paisley, come back home often, okay?"
"Sure, I will," Paisley said, smiling brightly at everyone. "Uncle, take care of yourself—don't overwork, rest more. Stick to the lifestyle tips I gave you, no slacking. I'll check in now and then, and if I catch you breaking the rules, don't blame me for punishing you."
It was the first time Byron got lectured like that by a younger relative, but he wasn't mad at all. He nodded eagerly. "Okay, okay, I got it—no slacking."
Peter's jaw dropped, Diana hid a smirk, and Nathaniel's mouth twitched. In the whole Beaumont family, Paisley was the only one who could talk to Byron like that.
Then Paisley turned to Jonathan. "Jonathan, once I'm back in Brightmoor, I'll send you some new herbal tea. Same deal—go easy on it, making it's a hassle."
Jonathan grinned so wide you couldn't see his eyes. "Got it, got it. I'll come visit you in Brightmoor when I've got time."
Paisley's forehead creased. "To see me, or to see my herbs?"
Caught out, Jonathan chuckled, "Hey, you don't call it out when you see through it, kid."
Time was running short, so Paisley took Serena from Nathaniel's arms. "Alright, it's about time. Rena and I are heading in."
Knowing it was time to go, Serena's eyes darted around. "Mommy, Grayson's not here yet."
Paisley said, "He's not coming today."
Before leaving, Paisley had brought Grayson to the villa so the two kids could spend a little more time together.
She'd already told Grayson that when summer break hit, she'd bring him to Brightmoor for a while and send him back when it was over. So while Grayson was sad about Paisley and Rena leaving, he'd accepted it. Now, he was just counting the days till summer.
"But." Serena trailed off, hesitating before her face flushed. "He's not here either."
"He?" Paisley looked at her, confused. "Who's 'he'?"
Serena mumbled, "You know—him."
Paisley got it right away—Serena meant Dominick.
This time, she wasn't leaving without a word. She'd told everyone, including Dominick. Since she was going, she had to let Grayson know the date and time—there was no way Dominick didn't know.
Right as Serena finished speaking, Grayson's small figure came rushing over. "Mommy! Rena! I'm here! I came to see you off!"
Grayson ran while glancing back anxiously. "Dad, hurry up! Mommy and Rena are over here!"
Dominick showed up.
Seeing Dominick and Grayson, Byron frowned instinctively. Before, he'd been an outsider to Dominick and Paisley's marriage, but now he was her uncle—her family. Facing the guy who'd once hurt his niece, he naturally didn't feel friendly. Just like he'd never warmed up to Tyson.
But right then, he didn't say anything harsh. He just said to Paisley calmly, "We'll head out then. You guys talk. Call me when you get there."
With that, Byron led the Beaumont family out of the airport, leaving the little time and space left to Paisley, Dominick, and the kids.