"I remember that Helen loved Clint for some time already before he noticed and courted you right Helen?" Rose recalled laughing.

"Really, Helen? It's you who loved me first?" Clint replied with amus.e.m.e.nt in his eyes.

"But did you know that Clint admired Helen for a long time, but was so reluctant to approach her for the fear that she might reject him?" this time John teased the two. Clint laughed so hard on John's statement.

"Now, we are even." Helen snorted. They all laughed at the same time.

"Oh those happy times we did together. How I miss those times." Rose reminisced the fun time they spent.

"We could do it again, if we'd like, what do you think, darling?" Helen then looked at her husband.

"Oh, yes! We could, since both of our children, John can handle our businesses and they can run it capably." Clint said with full of confidence.

However, John became sullen at the suggestion.

"If that's the case, will you release Ingrid to us from your company?" a glimmer of hope could be seen in John's eyes.

"Oh..." Clint was caught off guard upon listening to John. "...if Ingrid decided to do that and a.s.sume the responsibility in your company, I could not bring her to a standstill. I think I've trained and helped her enough for that position."

Clint now understands why her promotion to his company was not materialized. He then proved that it is really her destiny to be the CEO but not in his company anyway but to her family.

All of them fell silent at thought.

Several minutes pa.s.sed, they heard that some tramp of steps coming from the pathway. When they came into view, all of them, Howards and Briggs stood up and was in awe on what they see in their minds' eyes and their jaw dropped.

Clifford cradled Ingrid into his arms while both her arms hang on his shoulders, her face blus.h.i.+ng with embarra.s.sment. Clifford's strides were slow, as if savouring their time together, and he looked so regal while he is carrying her. It's as if that they just came from church after the wedding ceremony.

It was the child's gesture that made their jaw drop. His stature was just above the man's knee and because he could not follow Clifford's pace, he holds the man's pants holding on to him to prevent him to move faster. His features were serious, mirroring the man's expression.

"John," Rose whispered. "... I am afraid for our daughter and grandson's..." she could not continue her words because she apprehended that the Briggs might hear her.

She decided that they will just talk about it in private.

"Later, Rose, we'll talk about it..."

"Clint," it was Helen who whispered, "...I think, we should do something. It is a high time that we need to investigate the child and the mother. My mind is in chaos right now. I won't take no for an answer from you. Use all your connections to know the truth about the mother and child." Her voice is serious and determined.

"I already have that in mind... but let's not move rashly." Clint then kept quiet when the three pulled in.

...

Ingrid stiffened when she noticed that the two couple kept staring at them, they looked to her, to Cliff, to Clark and back again.

"Could you now put me down? I'm so hungry." Is what Ingrid could only say to divert their attention.

"Yes, you are very hungry after that 'incident'." Rose hurriedly went to her aid and helped her embarked on the chair.

"Thanks, mom!" she said thankfully.

John Howard seated at the head of the table and on his right were Rose and Ingrid on the left. Clint sat on the other side, and on his left was Helen and on his right was Cliff. Lance sat between Helen and Rose while Clark sat between Cliff and Ingrid.

The child face radiates happiness and he grinned while looking back and forth to her mom and Clifford.