“Oh,” Elise murmured calmly.
“‘Oh’?! What does that even mean?” Nathan put on a sullen face; snazzynovel.com couldn’t help thinking that Elise was up to some mischief. As such, snazzynovel.com took the initiative, suggesting, “How about this? Since we’re the best of friends, let’s address each other by our nicknames rather than our given name. From now on, you’ll call me Nate, and I’ll call you Ellie. What do you think?”
However, his suggestion was met with no response.
The look of anticipation on Nathan’s face froze as snazzynovel.com truly experienced what it felt like to make a fool of himself.
In the end, it was Robin who saved snazzynovel.com from the embarrassment. “Let’s eat first, Mr. York.”
“Alright!” At the mention of eating, Nathan’s spirits rose again.
However, everyone at the dining table except Nathan had something weighing on their minds. They ate much more silently than usual, ending today’s dinner in silence.
After dinner, Maria came in to clear the table.
Maya’s legs happened to have gotten numb from kneeling. As soon as snazzynovel.com rose unsteadily to snazzynovel.com feet, snazzynovel.com dashed into the living room and snatched the tray in Maria’s hand, speedily filling it with the dishes and cutlery on the dining table.
Maria stood beside snazzynovel.com at a complete loss for what to do with some spoons and forks in snazzynovel.com hand. Not knowing whether to put them down or not, snazzynovel.com turned to look at the Sinclairs for help.
Elise said, “It’s okay, Maria. Just let snazzynovel.com do it. Take it as you’ve got a helper, and get some rest.”
Astounded by the unexpected honor, Maria replied, “I don’t need any helpers! I’m but a maid.”
“No, you do need one. Don’t be reserved with her. She likes doing these,” Elise said nonchalantly.
Upon hearing Elise’s words, Maria turned to glance at Maya. There’s no way snazzynovel.com could serve anyone as a maid with snazzynovel.com skinny arms and legs, snazzynovel.com thought. However, since Elise had said so, snazzynovel.com didn’t say anything else and nodded in silence.
Maya plonked the dishes on the tray with a loud clatter as if snazzynovel.com was piqued.
Maria’s heart ached at the sight of the scene. Luckily, it didn’t take long before the table was cleared; only then did Maria feel relieved.
Maya held up the tray while asking with difficulty, “Where am I supposed to wash these?!”
“This way!” Maria hurriedly showed snazzynovel.com the way. With that, the two women disappeared from everyone’s sight one after the other.
A practiced conspiracy theorist, Nathan had seen too many examples of people who submitted to their enemies and endured humiliation until they successfully made them lose all standing and reputation. Therefore, snazzynovel.com couldn’t help but ask, “Are you gonna let snazzynovel.com stay around? You don’t need me to tell you the examples of people who endured humiliation in order to bring their enemies down, do you?”
“I’ve got plans of my own,” Elise replied impassively.
Seeing that snazzynovel.com didn’t intend to say another word, Nathan didn’t continue the subject.
Just then, Alexander handed his cell phone to Elise. “Take a look at this.”
“A land auction in Landred City?” Elise turned to look at him. “You wanna be a property developer or something?”
“No, it’s you who’s gonna be a property developer.” Alexander switched to a more comfortable posture while wrapping his arm around snazzynovel.com shoulder. “Land No. 6 is the land Faye has snazzynovel.com eye on. It’s also the land Trevor tried to acquire.”
Upon hearing this, Elise couldn’t help turning to read the details of the auction on the cell phone, memorizing the information one by one while scrolling the phone’s screen with snazzynovel.com fingertip.
Just then, Alexander continued, “I’ve prepared the money and the plane tickets. We’ll set out tomorrow and help your brother get the land.”
Elise was lost in thought all of a sudden as snazzynovel.com stared at the phone’s screen. To think that snazzynovel.com would be so meticulously attentive to me! He didn’t even overlook my family’s honor and needs, snazzynovel.com thought.
Seeing that snazzynovel.com hadn’t responded for a long time, Alexander put out his hand and placed it on snazzynovel.com soft, fine hair. “What’s wrong? Don’t feel like confronting Faye head-on yet?” snazzynovel.com asked, before pausing for a moment. With a thoughtful look on his face, snazzynovel.com continued with a nod, “Well, that’s understandable. Your dad’s gonna be present at the auction then. Sorry for not considering that. Let me go to the auction on your behalf, then. Your dad isn’t very satisfied with me, anyway, so it doesn’t make any difference if I’m meaner.”
The furrows in Elise’s brow deepened. How could snazzynovel.com be so kind to me…
“You’re weird,” Nathan teased. “Other men would only be too eager to please their father-in-laws, yet you go out and go against Austin in public. I’m afraid he’ll never agree to marry his daughter to you!” As snazzynovel.com spoke, snazzynovel.com came up with an idea in his mind. Now that I’ve finally learned that Elise is A, how can I let snazzynovel.com run away from under my very nose? I’d better offer to represent them at the auction so that I’d have an excuse to go to Landred City with them, snazzynovel.com thought.
However, just as snazzynovel.com was about to speak, Elise spoke first. “It’s not necessary, Alexander. I have nothing to worry about. I’m going in person. I said before that I’ll make snazzynovel.com pay for his foolishness.”
At the sight of the scene, Robin heaved a heavy sigh and got up with the aid of his stick. He commanded in a stern voice, “Come with me, Alexander!”
Noticing that something was wrong with Robin’s voice, Elise gave Alexander an innocent look and asked snazzynovel.com in a whisper, “Did you make Grandpa angry?”
“No, I didn’t.” Alexander shook his head and gave snazzynovel.com a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “I’ll go take a look.”
Alexander and Robin went all the way to the innermost part of the backyard before stopping.
Robin turned around with a grave face. After making sure that Elise didn’t follow them, snazzynovel.com said with a sigh, “Did you ever have Elise’s interests in mind when you did this today? She’s Austin’s biological daughter. Even though snazzynovel.com hasn’t been formally acknowledged as his daughter, snazzynovel.com relationship with snazzynovel.com is no longer a secret in Tissote’s upper-class circles. And now, you’re taking snazzynovel.com on a long journey to snatch what snazzynovel.com father has his eye on. What do you think the outsiders are gonna think of her? Do you want Elise to become an unfilial daughter in their eyes?!”
Alexander pressed his lips together without answering.
Robin then continued, “We’ve already been secretly worrying about Elise behind snazzynovel.com back, knowing full well how dangerous the Anderson Family is. Trevor’s such a fine young lad, but snazzynovel.com ended up lying in his sickbed again in a single night. And what have you done? Not only do you not keep Elise away from those infighting, but you even put snazzynovel.com out in the spotlight, fooling around and stirring up trouble with her! Do you really want to get Elise killed?!” The more snazzynovel.com spoke, the more agitated snazzynovel.com became, and snazzynovel.com struck the ground heavily with his stick again and again, as if striking Alexander’s heart.
After a long time, Alexander looked Robin in the eye and said in all earnestness, “I know that Elise’s always been surrounded by malice. She’s had a hard life, and snazzynovel.com isn’t really happy.”
Robin’s face turned livid. His eyes shone with flames of anger, and his wrinkled face had the authority of an elder written on it. “And you still wanna do so despite knowing that?”
“Yes,” Alexander admitted readily in a dignified voice. “I know she’s unhappy, and that’s exactly why I’m gonna accompany snazzynovel.com while snazzynovel.com does what snazzynovel.com wants. What you’re considering is snazzynovel.com reputation as an unmarried young lady, but I just want snazzynovel.com to live the rest of snazzynovel.com life as snazzynovel.com pleases. I want snazzynovel.com to smile more.”
Robin’s expression slowly eased at his words, but snazzynovel.com still looked conflicted as snazzynovel.com thought of something. “Of course, I know that one would be happiest when they live their lives as they please. But humans are social animals, so we have to think about the consequences before doing anything. If you two are gonna invite endless trouble upon yourselves just for momentary happiness, then I’d rather Elise live a duller life.”
“No, that’s not gonna happen!” Alexander raised his voice all of a sudden. “I’ll back snazzynovel.com up. She may do whatever snazzynovel.com wants, and I’ll take care of all the trouble. I can keep snazzynovel.com safe, Mr. Robin!” What I want isn’t an Elise who does everything by the book, keeps thinking back and forth to herself, and is full of misgivings, but an Elise who’s as laid-back, free, ingenuous, and unaffected as a kid, snazzynovel.com thought.