The room fell silent, the light-hearted atmosphere shattered by his icy tone. In a single sentence, Jas stripped away the romantic illusion Lila had carefully built around their ti together.
It was his business trip, but Lila had believed it to be sothing more—a couple’s getaway, perhaps even a prelude to a honeymoon. When she’d asked to join him, he had agreed without protest.
She thought it ant he wanted her there. He’d even made ti for her: strolling through Milan, indulging her request to visit cafes, and treating her to dinner and shopping amidst his packed schedule. He had even suggested visiting Ro.
Those weren’t just dates—they had shared late-night talks, laughter, and deep conversations. On so nights, they’d stayed up so long that they ended up lying side by side. She had hugged him from behind, and he hadn’t pulled away. Did none of it an anything to him? Was it all just a business trip in his eyes?
Lila stared at Jas in disbelief, but he didn’t so much as glance her way. His attention remained on Kyra, as though no one else existed in the room. The indifference cut her deeply, but what hurt more was the faint glimr of happiness she caught in Kyra’s eyes, even through her apparent surprise.
So, he’s denying for her? Lila’s thoughts turned bitter. This is what he calls a niece? A family?
Her initial shock gave way to a wave of humiliation, her tears threatening to spill. She clenched the hem of her dress tightly and lowered her head, hoping to hide her sha.
Cressida wasn’t faring much better. She was stunned by Jas’s bluntness. He hadn’t just dismissed the trip; he’d extinguished any suggestion of romance without a second thought.
Lila was supposed to be his girlfriend, wasn’t she? Even if nothing intimate had occurred, they had spent ti together. Shouldn’t a boyfriend show so regard for his partner’s feelings? Why so coldly sever any hint of connection?
Vincent furrowed his brows, displeased by his nephew’s cold deanor. His wife had told him about Lila and how she first t Jas. He had been quite pleased with the matchmaking plan.
Lila ca from a prestigious family, one well-acquainted with his own. Their union would benefit him in the long run, so he fully supported the idea. Yet now, things didn’t seem to align with what his wife had described.
The old lady, Jane, was equally puzzled by her grandson’s behavior. ’What’s with his tone?’ she thought. ’Doesn’t he care for Lila? If he keeps this up, he’ll drive her away!’
Seeing Lila’s obvious distress, Jane decided to ease the tension. "Oh dear, this old lady apologizes for Jas’ attitude, Ms. Lila. You’ve only recently started dating him, haven’t you?"
Though struggling to maintain her composure, Lila straightened her back and replied with poise. "Yes, we agreed to start dating three days before his birthday."
"I see, then you might not be familiar with his behavior yet! This child..." Jane said with a warm laugh. "He can be awkward sotis and it’s understandable since you are his first girlfriend. He has never dated before so, please don’t misunderstand."
Jas turned sharply to his grandmother, frowning at her comnt, but Jane continued before he could speak.
"Just look at him!" she teased. "He put on a cold expression even to us, his grandparents, yet we know how much he cares. He’s simply stiff by nature. I’ve often worried about whether he’d ever find a wife, and then you ca along!"
With Jane’s lighthearted words, the mood in the room softened. Lila’s expression brightened, and she smiled shyly. "Okay, Grandma. I’ll be patient," she said sweetly.
"Good girl!" Jane exclaid, her face lighting up. She felt relieved, believing Jas had found a thoughtful, understanding partner.
It was hard to fault the old lady for her optimistic outlook. Jane genuinely believed her grandson’s aloofness stemd from his awkward personality, not indifference. She assud he hadn’t ant to sound so dismissive, and in her own way, she was trying to smooth things over for the sake of his relationship.
Seeing the atmosphere lighten, Jane felt a surge of pride in her efforts. She glanced at Jas with a triumphant smile, raising her eyebrows in silent confidence.
Jas, however, felt utterly exasperated. "Grand..." he began, ready to clarify, but Creighton’s stern gaze stopped him mid-sentence. Reluctantly, Jas pressed his lips together, swallowing his words.
Creighton quietly sipped his tea, his deep, thoughtful gaze betraying none of his inner thoughts.
anwhile, Lila watched the exchange closely. Seeing Creighton’s silent intervention, she was elated. In her mind, the elderly couple had firmly taken her side. Her earlier disappointnt evaporated, replaced by smug satisfaction. With newfound confidence, she cast a triumphant glance at Kyra, who returned it with a look of subtle displeasure.
But her triumph was short-lived.
Jane unknowingly struck a nerve with her next words. "Of course, there’s always an exception. My sweetheart is the only one who can lt that icy expression."
Jane sighed fondly. "I guess my grandson prefers his niece over his own grandparents."
Lila’s smile froze instantly, her confidence crumbling in an instant. Kyra stifled a laugh. She bit her lower lip and cast her gaze to the side, hiding behind her hair. Jas was no better, he lowered his head but an amused smile spread across his face.
Apparently, he didn’t have to explain himself. His grandma was really his grandma.
anwhile, Jane was utterly confused by Jas and Kyra’s reaction. She turned to look at Cressida who tried to maintain her smile and Victor who picked up his tea.
’Did she say sothing wrong?’ She wondered.
She was about to look at Lila when Creighton cleared his throat to break the awkwardness. "It’s getting late. Let’s eat!"
Jane clapped her hands excitedly. "Oh, yes! Let’s eat. How about we eat outside instead of at ho? Paradise Dynasty is a good place. We can count this as a greeting to Jas’ girlfriend."
"That’s a good idea!" Cressida chid in. She really wished to get out of this embarrassnt right away and so did Vincent who imdiately stood up.
"I’ll get the car," he said. Jas followed suit.
Not long afterwards, a Bentley, a black Rolls Royce, and a tallic grey rcedes-Benz S-Class stopped right outside the front door where the ladies and the elderly couple had been waiting.
Creighton and Jane went towards the Rolls Royce with the help of their driver while Cressida walked towards the Bentley. As she held the door, Cressida turned to beckon the young woman.
"What are you waiting for, Kyra? Co!"
Kyra widened her eyes slightly but she didn’t move a single step. Even a kid knew what Cressida was aiming for, she wanted to open a chance for Lila to ride with Jas. Who didn’t know that Kyra had always ridden with her uncle?
It wasn’t an exaggeration when people said Kyra was the apple of Jas’ eyes. Wherever Jas was, Kyra would be by his side. They were practically one package. Over ti, it beca natural for Kyra to always be with Jas on any occasion and the current situation wasn’t an exception.
She had actually moved towards Jas’ rcedes when Cressida stopped her. She tried to hold back her displeasure and put on an innocent smile.
"No, thank you. I’d like to ride with my uncle as usual, Great-aunt." At this mont, Kyra would call uncle a thousand tis if she had to as long as she could prevent Lila from being alone with Jas in an enclosed car.
"This child!" Cressida was annoyed but she maintained her kind elderly smile. "Why are you disturbing your uncle’s ti with his girlfriend? Don’t be spoiled! Co, you’ll be with your uncle again when we arrive."
Kyra was about to reject her again when Lila’s obnoxious voice rang from behind her, "Let’s go, Darling."
Lila shalessly linked her arm with Jas and stuck her body close to him to the point that her chest rubbed against him. However, instead of feeling seduced, Jas frowned from discomfort.
For so reason, his body reacted defensively against Lila today, completely different from how he had felt during their trip to Italy. At the very least, they had been amiable akin to a man and a woman in their getting-to-know-each-other phase.
Jane, who noticed the silent argunt outside, rolled down the car window and said, "What’s wrong? Why aren’t you moving?"
"It’s nothing, Grandma. Little Kyra was just being spoiled with her uncle," Lila responded smilingly, yet her words not only separated Kyra by a generation but also referred to her as a brat. Unfortunately, such unkind insinuation was lost in Jane’s positive mindset.
"Oh dear," Jane chuckled with her hand covering her mouth. "Kyra, you’ve grown up now. Why do you keep sticking to your uncle? Let him be with his girlfriend."
She giggled teasingly, "Don’t you wish for an aunt who can dote on you too? Co here and ride with us."
Kyra felt like throwing up at the word ’aunt’. Whose aunt? Who will dote on her? Based on that bitch glaring eyes back in the living room, she would be lucky if she even got to know how she died if Lila really beca her aunt. Imagining it, Kyra couldn’t maintain a natural smile and ended up looking like she had slled shit.
"Kyra, honey, what are you waiting for? Co here," Jane called once again.
She turned to look at her uncle but the latter only sighed and gestured with his head. Kyra pursed her lips in displeasure. She had no choice but to leave with Jane and Creighton. Cressida was absolutely happy with her mother-in-law.
"Sotis your mother’s air-headedness is a good thing."
Cressida grinned at her husband as soon as she closed the door. Vincent glanced at her, snorting.
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