Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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“What’s this? Crying at the dinner table? What do you want to do?” Patrick’s voice thundered, his anger filling the room.
Rosie instantly forced back the tears that hadn’t even fallen yet, her shoulders giving a token shudder as she looked at Patrick in fear.
Kyle just sat off to the side, acting like none of this had anything to do with him, his eyes wandering aimlessly around the room.
With no one to rely on anymore, Rosie could only sit down quietly, not daring to utter another word. It seemed like everything had suddenly become peaceful again.
In the hush that settled over the room, Zina seized the chance while everyone was distracted, quickly sneaking a few extra bites onto her plate.
She plastered on a huge grin, completely absorbed in her feast, blissfully ignoring the drama around her. ‘Wow, the pudding is so good, I could eat a whole plate of them, Zina thought, her eyes lighting up.
She wondered, ‘The lamb chops have been stewed so tender they fell off the bone, and the grilled chicken wings are impossibly good. I can’t get enough.
The blueberry tart has a lovely texture, too. Wait? Something feels off. Have I really piled this much food onto my plate? I distinctly remembered taking only a tiny square of pudding!
Zina looked up, suspicious, just in time to see someone slipping something onto her dish.
She could only watch as Kellan, looking completely unconcerned, dropped the shrimp ball roll onto her plate.
Zina’s brows furrowed slightly as she asked, “Did you put all this on my plate?”
“You don’t like it? I thought you’d enjoy it,” Kellan said, frowning a little as he glanced at the food he’d put on her plate.
He had picked out all the dishes he knew Zina liked; there shouldn’t have been a problem.
Zina forced a smile, feeling awkward at Kellan’s puzzled look. She just turned her head away and gave a small
shake.
“It’s not that. But don’t you think this is a bit much?” she said, her voice soft. Her plate was piled up like a little
mountain.
He’d been heaping food onto her plate nonstop. It was too much for her to handle.
Zina was speechless, and Kellan just went quiet. Only Rosie and Kyle were still brooding over what had just happened, both looking pretty gloomy.
Just as the heavy silence settled in, Patrick suddenly spoke up, his tone warm. “Zina, I feel at ease leaving Kellan to you. You know, I used to hold you when you were just a little girl.”
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Chapter 102
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Zina immediately looked up, blinking as she seriously studied Patrick. ‘Really? I don’t think I remember it,’ she thought to herself.
Zina honestly didn’t remember it, but when she caught a glimpse of Rosie stiffening up out of the corner of her eye, her mood instantly improved. Maybe Zina could live with it after all.
Zina kept a gentle smile on her face, gazing steadily at Patrick without blinking. “Kellan treats me really well, Mr. Carter. You really don’t have to worry,” she said sincerely.
“Yeah, we’re really close,” As soon as Zina finished, Kellan hurried to chime in, trying to smooth things over.
Watching Zina duck her head like a shy little bunny to escape the awkwardness, Kellan felt a strange flutter in his chest.
Kellan glanced down at his heart, completely thrown off by the unfamiliar feeling, and could only do his best to keep his emotions in check.
Patrick looked at the two kids beside him, his eyes crinkling with a kindly smile.
“That’s great. I watched Zina grow up. I’ve always known her to be this lively and adorable,” he said, his tone gentle.
Kellan looked up, keeping a polite smile on his face. “It’s fine.” But he still looked a bit stiff, almost like a
puppet.
Just as things were getting cozy, Rosie leaned in, her eyes fixed on Patrick. “Mr. Carter, you’re so good to Zina. Honestly, I always wished I could’ve grown up by your side, too.
“Zina lived my life for over ten years while I was stuck in a poor area. All I ever wanted was an elder who really
cared about me.”
Rosie added, “Meeting you today, I just feel so close to you. I don’t know if I’ll ever be lucky enough to befriend you guys, but just being able to see you today already makes me feel so lucky.
“Life there was really hard. Now that I’m finally back home, I treasure every moment. I just hope Zina won’t be mad at me.”
Just as Rosie was about to keep going, Patrick finally couldn’t hold back anymore. His face turned cold as he spoke.
“Did I get it wrong? Isn’t it the girl who’s staying with the Sinclair family now, not you, Rosie?” he said, his voice sharp as a knife.
His
eyes were piercing, carrying a coldness that seemed to see right through her.
Rosie froze on the spot, blinking in shock, unable to get a single word out. A cold wave washed over her, as if the air had been sucked out of the room and she couldn’t catch her breath.
“That’s not what I meant, Mr. Carter. Maybe there’s just a misunderstanding between us? I know you’ve known Zina for ages, and I really don’t want to fight with her.
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“I was sent away to the poor area for so many years, and now all I want is to stay with my real parents. That’s honestly all I ask for,” Rosie said, her voice trembling a little.
“Well, what a coincidence. My dad was just stating the facts, nothing more,” Kellan chimed in with a faint smile.
He raised an eyebrow at Rosie, whose face had gone stiff, and continued, “But my dad isn’t really into that whole pitiful act.
“And just so we’re clear. The Carter family isn’t made up of fools. We don’t just believe whatever someone says.”
At this point, Kellan paused, his gaze shifting to Kyle with a look that was hard to put into words.
After thinking for a few seconds, Kellan added, “Of course, there are always exceptions.”
Kyle set down his fork and glanced around at everyone, who were all exchanging looks. He couldn’t shake the suspicion that Kellan had just thrown shade at him, but he had no proof.
Kyle was left confused and mentally checked out. He really didn’t want to get dragged into this conversation, which he couldn’t understand, so he simply put down his fork.
“I’m full. I’m going to the living room,” Kyle said.
With the only person who might have spoken up for her gone, Rosie’s face flushed and then paled. In the end, she just mumbled stubbornly under her breath, “I’m full, too.”
With that, Rosie gave a little hop and scampered off. As she passed Zina, she even shot her a vicious glare.
Zina, who was happily eating, frowned. She glanced at the chicken leg in her hand, then at the spot where Rosie had disappeared, a flash of helplessness in her eyes.
‘Unbelievable. I didn’t even say a word. I just sat here eating, and she’s already holding a grudge. It’s so ridiculous, Zina thought, shaking her head.
As dinner was winding down, Zina was about to get up and walk off her stuffed belly when Patrick suddenly called out to her.
Patrick, who had seemed so kindly before, now looked a little different. There was a new sincerity in his eyes, and even more of that unmistakable grandfatherly affection.
“Zina, I’ve got something for you. How about coming upstairs with me?” Patrick said.
Zina instinctively glanced over at Kellan, who gave her a reassuring nod. So, she followed Patrick upstairs to
his room.
This was Zina’s first time stepping into Patrick’s room, and her curiosity got the better of her as she took in her surroundings.
It was exactly the kind of decor an old gentleman like Patrick would love–antique red sandalwood tables, a gold–thread nanmu bed.
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Chapter 102
It was a notification from Twitter.
[Conrad took on a student named Scott Becker yesterday.]
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Kaia raised her eyebrows, turned to Scott, and said, “Looks like he plans to pass on his real skills to you.”
Scott was so shocked that he hadn’t recovered. Conrad’s high–profile approach stunned him.
Kaia smiled. “Conrad’s intentions are simple. He wants to train you so you can share the workload with him.”
She thought, ‘Conrad is really playing a good game. I don’t go to the office, and he’ll have Scott replace me.’
The news also reached the Bennett family.
“Andrea, I remember the younger brother of yours from the countryside is also named Scott Becker, right?” Ruth asked, looking at Andrea.
Andrea smiled it away. “Mom, you wouldn’t happen to be saying that the student taken by Conrad is my brother, would you?”
“I’m just asking. How is that possible? That country bumpkin, oh, sorry, that’s your brother.” Ruth realized her words were inappropriate halfway through.
Andrea took Ruth’s hand. “Mom, I don’t blame you. It’s okay. Besides, in Scott’s heart, Kaia is the only sister he has. I’ve given up, and I no longer consider him to be my brother. In my heart, I only have you and Dad as my closest ones.”
Ruth patted Andrea’s back, feeling sorry for her.
She said bitterly, “You’ve really had it rough.”
Andrea smiled slightly. “With you and Dad, I am the happiest little princess in the world.”
Ruth remembered and said, “By the way, I heard that Conrad was preparing to hold a banquet to introduce his student in a few days at an entertainment club not far from us.
“You and Louis can go together then and see if you can get lucky and meet Conrad’s student. If you could befriend him, it would be great.”
“Okay, Mom. No worries. I will definitely get this done.” Andrea was very confident in her social butterfly
skills.
In the blink of an eye, Saturday arrived.
Kaia was pulled to the beach by Tobias early in the morning.
Sure enough, as Kaia expected, the beach, which was originally full of tourists, was empty.
She asked, “Clearing the beach here must have cost a lot, right?”
“It’s okay, just a drop in the bucket for me,” Tobias said with a smile.
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Chapter 102
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“I was sent away to the poor area for so many years, and now all I want is to stay with my real parents. That’s honestly all I ask for,” Rosie said, her voice trembling a little.
“Well, what a coincidence. My dad was just stating the facts, nothing more,” Kellan chimed in with a faint smile.
He raised an eyebrow at Rosie, whose face had gone stiff, and continued, “But my dad isn’t really into that whole pitiful act.
“And just so we’re clear. The Carter family isn’t made up of fools. We don’t just believe whatever someone says.”
At this point, Kellan paused, his gaze shifting to Kyle with a look that was hard to put into words.
After thinking for a few seconds, Kellan added, “Of course, there are always exceptions.”
Kyle set down his fork and glanced around at everyone, who were all exchanging looks. He couldn’t shake the suspicion that Kellan had just thrown shade at him, but he had no proof.
Kyle was left confused and mentally checked out. He really didn’t want to get dragged into this conversation, which he couldn’t understand, so he simply put down his fork.
“I’m full. I’m going to the living room,” Kyle said.
With the only person who might have spoken up for her gone, Rosie’s face flushed and then paled. In the end, she just mumbled stubbornly under her breath, “I’m full, too.”
With that, Rosie gave a little hop and scampered off. As she passed Zina, she even shot her a vicious glare.
Zina, who was happily eating, frowned. She glanced at the chicken leg in her hand, then at the spot where Rosie had disappeared, a flash of helplessness in her eyes.
‘Unbelievable. I didn’t even say a word. I just sat here eating, and she’s already holding a grudge. It’s so ridiculous, Zina thought, shaking her head.
As dinner was winding down, Zina was about to get up and walk off her stuffed belly when Patrick suddenly called out to her.
Patrick, who had seemed so kindly before, now looked a little different. There was a new sincerity in his eyes, and even more of that unmistakable grandfatherly affection.
“Zina, I’ve got something for you. How about coming upstairs with me?” Patrick said.
Zina instinctively glanced over at Kellan, who gave her a reassuring nod. So, she followed Patrick upstairs to
his room.
This was Zina’s first time stepping into Patrick’s room, and her curiosity got the better of her as she took in her surroundings.
It was exactly the kind of decor an old gentleman like Patrick would love–antique red sandalwood tables, a gold–thread nanmu bed.
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Chapter 102
“What a spendthrift,” Kaia complained about this more than once.
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Tobias moved closer to Kaia. “I only know how to make money, not manage it. That’s why I urgently need a wife like you.”
Kaia looked at Tobias, who deliberately opened his jacket, her face slightly red, and took a step back.
She thought, “This guy is not wearing anything inside.’
She said coldly, “Then you’ve come to the wrong person. I only know how to make money, too.”
Tobias noticed the slight blush on Kaia’s face and took off his jacket in no time.
That was not over yet.
A metal zipper sound rang out.
Kaia immediately turned her face away.
She snapped, “What the hell are you doing?”
“I can’t go swimming in pants, can I? Don’t worry. I’m not that perverted. I’m wearing swimming trunks underneath.” Tobias really wanted to move closer to tease Kaia, but he was afraid of scaring her away if he went too far.
Kaia turned her head to look. Tobias, wearing only swimming trunks, had a very eye–catching figure.
She could guarantee that if there hadn’t been a clearing today, Tobias would definitely attract the attention of all the girls present with his looks and figure.
“There are some swimsuits I got you in the trunk. Why don’t you change into it?” Tobias said as he opened the
trunk.
Kaia glanced at the suitcase inside and raised her delicate and picturesque eyebrows. “You didn’t get me anything that normal people don’t wear, did you?”
Tobias chuckled lightly, “You’re overthinking it. They’re all normal.”
Despite Tobias’s guarantee, Kaia still didn’t believe it.
She said, “I’m just going down like this.”
After saying that, Kaia walked towards the beach, walked to the depths, and plunged into the water.
Tobias looked at the swimsuits in the suitcase. There were a total of one hundred sets, all of which he had carefully selected. If he could, he would like to see Kaia wear each set for him to see,
Just as he was thinking this, Kaia emerged from the sea.
She swept her wet hair back, revealing her smooth forehead.
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Anyone else might think the place looked a little old–fashioned or even plain, but to Zina, it was obvious these things were worth a fortune.
Even though Zina had grown up in the lap of luxury, even she was stunned by what she saw.
Zina was so mesmerized that she didn’t even realize when Patrick had stopped and was watching her with a gentle, grandfatherly smile.
Patrick smiled and beckoned Zina over, holding out a wooden box to her.
“This is a family heirloom from the Carter family. Normally, Kellan’s mother would be the one to give it to you, but since she’s passed away, I will have to do it instead,” Patrick said with a gentle smile.
Zina stared at the wooden box in front of her, frozen in place, a bit bewildered.
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Chapter 102
The seawater soaked her white shirt, revealing her bra underneath, faintly visible.
“Black.” Tobias’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice husky, his eyes fixed on the beautiful sight.
At that moment, he thought Kaia looked even more alluring than in a swimsuit.
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Gradually, Tobias began to lose control of his legs, walking faster and faster into the sea, swimming to Kaia’s side.
Kaia didn’t notice anything at first, but Tobias’s gaze was too intense, making her realize something was
wrong.
She looked down at herself questioningly, and the next second, her face burned red.
“Shameless!” Kaia retorted to Tobias, annoyed.
Tobias continued to stare intently, “Didn’t you intentionally dress like this to show me?”
Kaia narrowed her slightly dangerous eyes, then turned and swam away.
She swam towards the deeper part of the ocean.
“Don’t swim too far. The water is too deep there, and you haven’t warmed up. What if you get a cramp?”
Tobias had just finished speaking when Kaia suddenly groaned and disappeared into the water.
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