Hi Ex, Your Uncle Is My Hubby Now - Chapter 109: Chapter 109

Irene was in distress. She became absent-minded and picked up her phone from time to time. Worried, Anthony made an inquiry.
Then, he was stunned by the news that Ruth had found herself a boyfriend.
It was understandable for the elderly to find a new partner, but Ruth was too old to do that.
"What's your opinion about this issue?" Anthony felt sorry for Irene.
Upset, Irene said, "It won't be easy to dissuade Grandma. Besides, she had a difficult life. I will give her my blessing if she finds a soulmate."
Irene wasn't selfish, and she sincerely wished her grandmother to be happy. "I... I need time to get used to it," she murmured.
Anthony showed his understanding of Irene. He would be much more distressed if he was in her shoe.
"Everything will be fine." Anthony then teased, "At worst, you will have to hire two caregivers to look after them."
It was never a thing if the problem could be solved with money. Irene rolled her eyes at Anthony. "Don't gloat over my misfortune."
It was nearly 2 p.m. when Irene got a call from Ruth. Ruth asked, "Rini, are you busy? Can we have a video chat?"
Irene said, "Of course." Hearing the answer, Ruth hung up the phone and gave Irene a video call.
Irene leaned close to her phone screen and spotted an elderly gentleman behind Ruth.
With complicated feelings, Irene greeted hesitantly, "Hi, Grandpa?"
"Hi!" Then, Darnell thought, "How sweet Irene is!"
He leaned close to the camera and benignly greeted, "Nice to meet you. Irene, right? Oh, my granddaughter is so pretty. You must be a good girl."
His flattery saddened Irene. "He called me his granddaughter at our first meeting. How thick-skinned! I now see why Grandma fell for him. He has a glib tone, and no woman can resist sweet words."
Ruth took the phone away and said, "Rini, I will go back to Eldraeth City by train at 5 p.m.. What do you want as a gift?"
"So soon? Won't you stay there longer?" Irene asked. "Can Grandma in love separate from her new boyfriend?" she wondered.
Irene decided to be a considerate granddaughter, so she said, "Grandma, why don't you spend a few more days in Viremont City? I am okay with it."
Ruth responded, "I will come over again, and there is time for me and Darnell to see each other."
Irene's jaw dropped. "Okay."
Ruth asked, "Are you sure that you want nothing here? Darnell and I will pay a visit to Byress Church before my return. Thanks to the priest there, I found Darnell. We will go to express our gratitude."
Irene wondered, "Does the priest of Byress Church work as a matchmaker for the elderly now? What a new business for the churchman!"
After a moment of thought, Irene said, "Grandma, please bring me a cross with the blessing of the priest."
Ruth asked, "For you?"
Irene responded, "No, for a friend of mine."
"About what?"
"His health. He is young and single, but he may soon die from some rare disease. He is a good man, so I wish him luck."
Ruth nodded. Darnell muttered behind Ruth, "Isn't she talking about my boss?" Jeremy's case perfectly fitted Irene's description.
Ruth and Darnell arrived at Byress Church, met its priest, Colin Kirk, and expressed their gratitude to him. Then, Ruth asked Colin for a blessing as Irene requested.
On the spur of the moment, Darnell decided to ask for one for his boss who was quite generous in investment in medical education and research.
"I need one too, thanks," Darnell said.
Colin felt speechless. Even so, he sincerely gave his blessing to two crosses as requested.
Darnell didn't go back to work till he saw Ruth off at the train station.
In the research center, he saw his favorite student, Austin. He handed over the cross and said, "You know where Mr. Tucker lives, don't you? Give him this when there is a chance."
Austin explained, "I won't go home anytime soon. What do you think if I send it to my cousin and let him do the delivery?"
"Whatever works for you." With his hands in his pockets, Darnell walked away. Suddenly, he paused and looked back at Austin with a sharp gaze.
Confused, Austin asked, "What's wrong?"
Darnell asked, "Who do you look like? Your parents or grandparents?"
After two seconds of silence, Austin replied, "My mom, I think."
"Great." Darnell snorted and then said with contempt, "You had better wear a mask at work if you look like your grandpa."
"I beg your pardon?" The intelligent Austin felt like a fool for the first time in his life. He didn't understand what his professor was talking about.
It was 10 p.m., when Ruth arrived in Eldraeth City.
Irene picked Ruth up at the train station. She had a lot of questions in her mind, but kept her mouth shut because she didn't want to embarrass Ruth.
In the car, Ruth took the initiative to bring up the topic about Darnell. "Rini, do you have time for a meal with Darnell in Viremont City?"
"What? So fast?" Irene blurted out. She couldn't help but suspect that Ruth would get married soon after that official introduction.
"They just met not long ago," Irene thought desperately. Then, the title of a new novel popped up in her mind, and that was about the quick romance of the elderly.
Irene vigorously shook her head to clear her mind. Ruth shot back, "Fast? Not at all. It cost me more than 60 years to find Darnell."
"What?" Irene blurted out in shock. "More than 60 years? How old were you when you separated from him? Ten years old? Grandma, did you find your true love at ten years old?"
Ruth became confused. It took her quite a while to see that Irene misunderstood her relationship with Darnell. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What a silly girl!"
Ruth smacked Irene on the head and laughed. "Who do you think he is? My old partner?"
Instantly, Irene realized her problem. "So, he isn't your boyfriend, is he?"
"Boyfriend?" Amused, Ruth laughed so hard that her eyes brimmed with tears.
Then, she wiped away her tears, collected herself, and explained, "Darnell is my little brother, the real one. Like mine, his surname is Patterson."
Irene was shocked by the truth. Then, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "What a misunderstanding! I thought you found yourself a boyfriend in Viremont City." She was glad about the twist.
Ruth was both amused and exasperated. "I was confused when you said so fast."
"So, your little brother lives in Viremont City."
"Yeah. He's the dean of the medical school at Aurelith University. He seems to be some important figure because he has guards."
Once again, Irene was utterly stunned. "Cool!"
"Wait... the dean of the medical school at Aurelith University? Austin's professor?" Irene thought.
Irene rang Austin for the full name of his professor the moment she got home.
Austin said, "Darnell Patterson, the full name of my professor. Irene, why did you ask?"
"Austin," Irene took a deep breath and then explained, "Your professor is the real brother of my grandma."
"No way!" Austin responded. Instantly, he came to understand the clueless talk with Darnell not long ago.
He sincerely said, "I am glad that I look like Mom." This speech confused Irene.