Sylvia defended weakly, “Yvette’s so sick right now. I just wanted her to be happy. You know she and Adrian have been classmates since middle school. They grew up together. There are feelings.”
“Feelings?” Malcolm’s voice rove. “Sylvia, you’re talking to me about their feelings? Should they even have feelings for each other now?”
His tune was severe, and his face was stem. Seeing his reaction, Sylvia fell silent. The logic was sound, but sometimes things weren’t that simple.
Malcolm turned to his staff. “Prepare the car
“Where aur you going this late?” Sylvia asked, instinctively checking the time.
Malcolm answered curtly, “Solvane Park.”
Was he going to see Juliana?
Sylvia declared, “I’m coming with you.
No need. You’ll just red up arguing with her.”
Malcolm was deeply dissatisfied with how Sylvia hundled her relationship with Juliana
Hearing this, Sylvia felt wronged.
“Do you think I want to argue with her? the’s the our who constantly delles me YouhayenTseen how rebellious she is she’s like a debt collector.”
Malcolm countered, “We weren’t these for lies all those years: Isn’t it natural she’d collect on that debr
Unlike Sylvia, Malcolm actually felt some guilt toward þuliana. Hawoods left Sylvia speechless. –
Beluse leaving. Malcolm remembered something and tuned backto Sylvia “Did you freeze her cards again?”
“How foolish Are you really planning to disown your daiglder?”
Freezing her cands night when Yvette returned was that just asking for more resentment? Malcolm was livid.
Sylvia protested, “You didn’t see attitude toward ise today. I just
“Unfreeze them immediately!!
Malcolm dudn’t want to beat excuses. Ite simply gave a direct order.
tylvia reluctantly agreed, though she was clearly unhappy about in. “I’ll call the bank tomorrow when they opei”
Chapter 11
Meanwhile, Vette stood at the top of the stairs, her ankle still swollen. A flash of cold disappointment crossed her eyes when she brand Malcolm’s confor
It seemed blood ties really did matter alter all.
An hour later, Malcolm arrived at Solvane Park. He sat on the couch, Inolder at Juliana without criticizing her for not answering his calls.
||||| Juliana’s raptension trimained neutral as she poured him a glass of water.
Malcolm said gently, “Don’t foss, Come sit down ”
Truth be told, Malcolm wasn’t sure how to interact with this daughter of his. She hadn’t grown up with them, and he didn’t really understand her
Juliana sat directly across from him.
Malcolm sat up straight, hands clasped on his knees. “Had another fight with Yvette?”
Juliana asked coldly, “Are you here to blame me too?”
Blaine it seemed that Juliana had grown accustomed to it ever since joining the Larson family
Hearing her icy tone, Malcolm sighed. “Did you break off your engagement with Adrian because of her?”
Juliana said nothing. She just picked up her glass of water and took a sip. The Larson family wasn’t the one she confided in. And Juliana preferred not to share details with people she didn’t trust
Seeing her silence, Malcolm felt helpless it was no wonder Sylvia always got angry. Juliana clearly had no intention of opening up to them.
Don’t get angry because of her,” Malcolm continued. “She’s only back for medical treatment. About Adrian accompanying her to the hospital–I’ve already spoken to your mother about it. This won’t happen again.”
juliana set down her glass and looked at Malcolm directly.
“That has nothing to do with me anymore. You didn’t need to come here at this hour to tell me this.”
Malcolm pressed on, “What do you mean ‘nothing to do with you? pales, marriage isn’t a game. You and Adrian have come
Breaking it off would be a joke and a humiliation for the entire Larson family,
по
this fa
far–there’s no turning back.”
Juliana countered, “I’m doing this precisely because it’s not a game. After seeing certain things clearly, I have even less reason to go through with it.
Her words had merit.
“But you and Adrian-”
“You“re worried about it being a humiliation, aren’t you? Actually, there’s an easy solution.” paliana cut Malcolm ort.
Having his true concem exposed, Malcolm’sexpression soured. “What solution?”
All in all, it really was all about avoiding embarrassment. He’d spent the entice afternoon in agony since the moming announcement.
juliana stated matter–of–factly, “Just announce that I’m not your real daughter. That you made a mistake.”
“You… That’s absurd!”
That wouldn’t solve the scandal–it would create an even bigger one
Not only did she want to cancel the wedding, but she also wanted to cut ties with the Lacson family too? Malcolm’s face darkened considerably.
Juliana remained sna, “Either way, Adrian and I are done.”
“If not Adrian, who else could you marry? Your wedding’s in one week After making such a scene with the Callahans, no one in Hashbourne will dare marry you And what about your feelings for Adela?”
Juliana laughed at the mention of the wedding: tune werk. 11 was a laughter laced with mockery.
“You probably don’t know this yet, boh? This muming, Adrian told me that since Yvette’s back, our wedding needs to be postponed.”
“What?” Malcolm was shocked. His expression clearly showed he knew nothing about this:
1 you?
Juliana continued coldly, “Just because the Lason family has no dignity from solely depending on the Callahans, l’in supposed to lose mine along with y Malcohn fell silent. The words “a dignity” fomed his face ashen.
Yer Juliana wasn’t wrong. These past few years, the Lanson Landly business had relled almost entirely on the Callaltans.
Brat
we made myself clear Adrian and I are done. There’s no room for negotiation” Juliana was absolutely resolute un this point
Malcolm’s anger flared. “What do you mean by that? 1 on’t approve of this bawaking of the engagement matter.”
If they truly angered the Callahans, the Larson would atter Wille Adrian might have feelings for Yvette, the Callahan elders woulda, i approve.
Two years ago, he’d witnessed what those old fuses were capable of. Back then, whatever benefits the Larsons gained through Addian would be lost because of the Callahan elders
Malcolm tried reasoning, “I’ll disuusti with the Callahan family stop being willful
th the rom
Seemg this Malenim
Snowwersation. She walked to the dour and pulled it open it was a silent dismissal
emperbolled over. “You’ve already beaten them up and humiliated Adrian–what more do you want?
By the way, I’ve told your mother to restore your cards. She’ll call the bank tonow “
Indiana repeated fimdy, “The Adcastinationisten negotiable.”
“Volrar being
Malenten could no longer contain his fury
