Chapter 140
Devin opened his mouth. He seemed to have guessed what Tobias was thinking, but he didn’t want to ask or say anything, because he was afraid of being forcibly force–fed his display of affection toward Kaia.
Just as Devin was thinking this, Tobias suddenly looked up and, with a glance, signaled him to hurry up and ask.
Devin wanted to wipe the sweat from his forehead, “Um, boss, what… What are you thinking about?”
Tobias showed a rather satisfied expression, “I was just wondering how Kaia is doing in the Bennett family now? Is she being bullied?”
Hearing this, Devin’s lips curved into an acknowledged smile.
“With Miss Bennett’s ability, she shouldn’t be bullied. Besides, Frank went there, didn’t he? With him there, nothing will go wrong.”
“Frank…” Tobias muttered.
Devin’s heart skipped a beat, and then began to pound.
“Frank, what… What’s wrong with him?” Devin asked.
Tobias narrowed his eyes and slowly said, “He’s not simple.”
Devin tensed up, muttering in his heart, ‘Of course he’s not simple. He’s Joel.’
*****
Penny’s mother, Lilian’s birthday approached.
Kaia went to the Sharp family early in the morning.
“Kaia, come on, my mom has been wanting to meet you for a long time.” Penny happily pulled Kaia to Lilian.
“Kaia, you’re finally here. I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time.”
Lilian took Kaia’s hand, her eyes full of affection as she looked at Kaia.
Chapter 140
Hayden instantly fell silent, clapping both hands over his mouth and blinking rapidly at Kellan, as if begging for mercy.
Kellan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Footsteps echoed outside the door, and Kellan’s brow furrowed. “Let’s go, someone’s coming”
Without waiting for Hayden’s response, Kellan grabbed him and climbed through the window into the next room.
The whole sequence was smooth, except for Hayden, who was bumped a couple of times and left looking pained.
As soon as Hayden steadied himself, he grabbed his nose and forced out a few words through gritted teeth. “Kellan! We came here fair and square.
“Next time, could you at least give me a heads–up before you pull something like that? You nearly killed me. I’m starting to think you did it on purpose–trying to get rid of me.” Hayden complained, his face full of exaggerated misery.
Kellan didn’t even spare him a glance. After a few seconds, Hayden gave up and obediently followed behind him.
The moment they stepped off the floor, Gus burst into the archives with his assistant right behind him. The bright lights flicked on, and Gus instinctively closed his eyes.
Once he adjusted, he looked around and saw that all the files were intact and neatly arranged, just as they should be.
But something just didn’t look right. It was as if someone had gone through them and then put them back exactly as they were.
‘Was it just Hayden putting ideas in my head, or did someone really go through these files?‘ Gus wondered.
He couldn’t make sense of it, and worrying that acting rashly might hurt Hayden’s feelings, Gus sighed helplessly and kept his thoughts to himself.
*****
By now, Kellan had already left the hospital. He glanced back at the building one
Lilian said, “As you can see, I am rather frail and often unwell, so I rarely attend gatherings within our circle. That is why, until now, I have only heard of you but have never met you.”
Kaia laughed. “I have a bad reputation.”
“What nonsense?” Lilian frowned. “I don’t believe what outsiders say. Rumors are groundless. I only believe what my family says.
“Penny likes you, my husband also appreciates you, so that means you are a good person. As for those who distort the truth or gossip without knowing the facts, they are the ones who are truly bad.”
Although this was the first time Kaia met Lilian, she was deeply touched by these words.
“Come and sit at the main table with me.” Lilian pulled Kaia down to sit.
Penny deliberately pouted, “Mom, now that you have Kaia, do you not want your own daughter anymore?”
“You, are you even jealous of this?” At this point, Lilian suddenly turned to look at Kaia. “Speaking of daughters, Penny mentioned to you before that I wanted to take you as my goddaughter, right?”
Kaia nodded. “She said that before.”
“Well, what do you say?” Lilian stared at Kaia with her big eyes, looking expectant.
Kaia could see that Lilian really liked her. Considering Penny, and considering Lilian’s words just now, Kaia nodded again.
Kaia said, “Mrs. Sharp, if you don’t mind, I would like to be your goddaughter.”
“Great! Great!” Lilian waved her hands excitedly, looking at Penny and Donald.
Lilian said, “Penny, honey, did you hear that? Kaia wants to be my goddaughter. Now I have two daughters. This is great!”
Seeing Lilian so happy that she lost her composure, Donald helplessly rubbed his forehead and said, “There are still so many guests here; please be a little more
last time, and his frown finally eased up a bit. “Alright, you stay here. I’m leaving, he said.
“Seriously? You dragged me out here just to ditch me? Have a heart, will you?” Hayden protested.
As Hayden watched Kellan walk away, he felt utterly helpless. But Kellan didn’t even look back. Hayden pouted, unwilling to say anything more.
After leaving the hospital, Kellan didn’t bother going anywhere else–he headed straight for the Lambert Villa. After briefly explaining his purpose, Kellan settled onto the sofa and waited.
Not long after, Zina, looking sleepy, came down the stairs. At first, she didn’t realize it was Kellan. She turned to look at Yvonne, who was still sitting on the sofa, and asked, “Mrs. Sterling said someone was looking for me downstairs.”
“It’s me,” Kellan said.
Zina jumped, whipping her head around–only to realize Kellan was already sitting there.
“Well, fancy seeing you here,” she said awkwardly, offering him a hesitant wave.
Kellan flashed her a calm smile. “I’m here just for you. Want to go upstairs and talk?”
Before Zina could even respond, Yvonne stood up and answered for her. “You two should go upstairs. It’s quieter up there,” Yvonne said, shooting Zina a playful wink.
Zina forced a smile, glancing at Kellan, who didn’t seem like he was planning to say anything. With a sigh, she led him upstairs.
As soon as Zina led Kellan into her room and closed the door, he suddenly spoke up. “I prepared something just for you. Take a look.”
With a look of pride, Kellan offered her the item in his hand as if he was presenting a treasure.
Zina’s eyes went wide. “Wait…”
mindful of your image.”
Lilian retorted, “I have a daughter–what kind of image am I supposed to maintain? Can’t I express my happiness? Mind your own business. When you smoke and drink, I never interfere with you! And last time-”
“Fine, I was wrong,” Donald said.
Donald was wary of Lilian’s nagging; once she started, she just couldn’t stop talking.
Penny chuckled and whispered to Kaia, “See? It’s happening again. It plays out several times a day.”
“They’re so cute.” Kaia really enjoyed this kind of harmonious and lively family atmosphere; it was the same way she interacted with her parents and younger brother back in the countryside.
Kaia didn’t want to mention the Bennett family.
Donald couldn’t take it anymore; seeing that pleading was useless, he quickly changed the subject.
He asked, “Alright, honey, you took in a goddaughter today. Didn’t you prepare a gift for her?”
“Oh, right.” Lilian took off the necklace from her neck. “This is what my mom gave me when I was eighteen. Although it’s not very valuable, it’s very precious to me. Now, I’ll give it to you.”
Kaia hesitated. “Um, wouldn’t that be inappropriate?”
“Do you think it’s too cheap? It’s not as good as the emerald bracelet you give Penny?” Lilian said.
Kaia could tell that Lilian was saying that on purpose.
She said, “Not at all. The pendant on this necklace is top grade. It’s not cheap.”
Emma was slightly surprised, “Oh, you really have a keen eye–even managed to recognize that this is top grade?”
Chapter 14U
“It’s Kevin’s report–low sperm count. He shouldn’t be able to have kids. Unless Rosie was some kind of accident, or maybe…” Kellan let his words hang.
Zina fell completely silent, a smile slowly spreading across her face. “So that’s how it is. Things are about to get a lot more interesting.”
Zina couldn’t think about it any longer, the smile at the corner of her lips was impossible to control.
Once she finally managed to calm down, Kellan spoke up again. “Sean is with me now. Maybe you two should meet.”
Kaia replied, “I was interested in it for a while and liked to study all kinds of jade and antiques.”
Kaia’s words surprised Emma again, “You know antiques?”
“I know a little.” Kaia was being modest.
“My goddaughter is truly talented!” Looking at Kaia as if she were a treasure, Lilian said, “Next month, there’s going to be a large antique appreciation event in Keoty. If you’re free, would you like to go with me?”
No sooner had Lilian finished speaking than Madeline Sharp, the daughter of Lester Sharp, Donald’s elder brother, interjected.
She said, “Aunt Lilian, the antique appreciation conference is attended by big shots from all over.
“Kaia is just a greenhorn of twenty years old. What can you do by bringing her along? Do you expect her to identify some treasure for you?”
Lilian became unhappy, but considering she was an elder, she didn’t want to argue with a junior.
“Madeline, Kaia is my newly recognized goddaughter. I know you have prejudices against her, but I can vouch for her with my integrity. Kaia is definitely not the person you’ve heard about.”
Madeline said, “Aunt, you’ve been deceived by her. Only your family treats her like a treasure. The Bennett family has long recognized Kaia’s true nature and kicked her out of the house.”
“Madeline!” Lilian roared, “I used to see you as a junior and, as your elder, chose not to hold things against you. But you have repeatedly attacked my daughter with your words, clearly showing you have no respect for me.
“Let me ask you: were those remarks you just made your own opinion, or do they represent your father and mother as well?”
Madeline was startled by Lilian’s sudden rage and turned back to her parents for help.
Madeline’s mother, Judith Sharp, came out with a beaming smile and said, “Lilian. what you said has frightened the young ones. Madeline is just a child–children speak without malice, you know.”
Hearing this, Madeline leaned close to Kaia’s car and whispered a complaint
“What an overgrown baby.” Kaia smiled, hiding her face.
“Children speak without malice? Fine, since you say Madeline is just a child, I’ll
treat her as one.
“But for someone so young to say such vicious things–this isn’t the child’s fault, it’s a failure of upbringing!” As Lilian spoke, she stepped forward to stand protectively in front of Kaia.
AD
