“Of course.” Nathaniel didn’t seem angry at all. Then, he changed the topic. “Anyway, make sure Anthony enjoys his vacation. I’ll see him at the company.”
At the mention of the company, my expression froze slightly, but seeing that he had no intention to continue speaking, I pursed my lips into a smile and boarded the car.
Even after the car roared to life, Nathaniel’s smile did not falter as he stood in place and saw us off. However, it was a superficial smile that concealed his scheming ways.
After the car drove a distance away, Anthony’s voice filled the car. “What did Nathaniel say to you just now?”
I was coincidently trying to figure out the deeper meaning in Nathaniel’s words. A brief pause later, I relayed, “He said to return to the company after your vacation is over.”
John interjected from the front seat, “He didn’t even come forward to stop you from resigning before. Then he visited late at night, but it was about his own art exhibition. He didn’t show any concern for the company, but look, he’s finally showing his true colors.”
He wasn’t deliberately making a jab at Nathaniel, but his actions in the past two days were too phony. One second he pretended to be unconcerned about the grudges between the Hall family and Anthony, and the next, he was making insinuations through the oil painting and the art exhibition. Unbeknownst to him, it was all merely a clown act to us.
Anthony didn’t display much of a reaction. He only lowered his gaze, as though immersed deep in thought.
His subtle mannerisms were all too familiar to me. I could tell at a glance that he was already formulating a plan in his mind. But as usual, he would keep everything to himself and carry the plan out in secret. In the end, we would only get to know the outcome and not the process.
This seemed to be a habit he had developed when he dedicated his life to avenging his parents over twenty years ago. After falling in love, he gradually changed his ways, but after experiencing amnesia and breaking out of the hypnosis placed on him, his temper and habits spiraled out of control and everything went back to square one.
But I knew that change couldn’t be rushed. Reaching out to gently nudge his arm, I took the initiative to ask, “What have you thought of?”
Anthony turned his head to look at me as surprise flashed across his eyes, but it vanished as soon as it appeared. In a calm voice, he explained, “Let’s see it to the end. Since Nathaniel is so keen on becoming a successful hunter, then let’s work even harder to play the role of a trapped prey and return to the company because we’re left with no choice.”
His thoughts coincided with mine. It seemed like the hypnosis didn’t cause him to lose the tacit understanding he shared with me for more than a decade.
I failed to stifle the smile on my face and slid my hand toward Anthony’s to interlace our fingers.
“Oh God, save me.” Upon noticing this from the front passenger seat, John held his forehead in agony. “Please get me away from this place this instant. I’m going to die from all this public display of affection.”
At her age, Audrey couldn’t understand her uncle’s joke. Tilting her head, she asked with concern, “Uncle John, are you not feeling well? Me too. Just follow me, Uncle John!” She proceeded to demonstrate a breathing exercise. “Breathe out all the bad energy and you’ll be as good as new!”
Due to my previous experience with Summer, I was worried that Audrey had come down with some sort of illness. “Are you not feeling well, Audrey? Tell me where it hurts,” I asked anxiously.
Audrey shook her head first and peered at me innocently. “No. I just don’t like the smell of that man’s place.”
I immediately realized that she was talking about Nathaniel’s art gallery. Indeed, oil paint gave off an unusual smell, but it was already much better after drying up. The paintings had also undergone special care and maintenance. Hence, the smell usually wouldn’t affect its viewers. I never expected Audrey’s nose to be so sensitive.
No wonder Anthony brought her outside within a few minutes of exploring the gallery. He probably noticed Audrey’s discomfort.
My eyes snapped to Anthony, to which he calmly explained, “She’s allergic to oil paint, but she didn’t come in direct contact with it, so she’s fine.”
I was taken aback for a moment, not expecting him to be so attentive when it came to matters regarding our child.
But in the next second, I noticed that something didn’t add up. If Audrey is allergic, then why did he buy that painting?
As if reading my mind, Anthony added, “I would never spend my wife’s money if it wasn’t for a good reason. You’ll understand when we get back.”
Since he put it this way and Audrey was fine, I didn’t inquire further.
Immediately afterward, Anthony instructed Joseph, “Head to The Jade first. We’ll go back after eating.”
Audrey absolutely loved food. Thus, she immediately bubbled with excitement. “Yay! I wanna eat lots and lots of cakes!”
At the mention of cakes, she turned to look at me with puppy dog eyes. “Mommy, does that mean Greg has to eat alone?”
It was just a meal. It was good for boys to learn to be independent from a young age. Besides, the school wasn’t on the way.
Just as I was about to explain to Audrey, Anthony stated his decision, “Pick Gregory up from school first.”
“Thanks, Daddy! You’re the best! Love you!” Audrey clapped her hands with joy.
After passing an intersection, Joseph replied, “Yes, sir.” Then, he swiftly switched to another lane and drove in the direction of Gregory’s school.
Glancing at Anthony again, I noticed the gentle look on his face that was bordering on fatuous. Needless to say, this look was only reserved for his precious daughter.
Never before had he shown such unconditional indulgence to anyone, not even me.
Indeed, this was the magical bond of blood ties. A daughter would always be the apple of her father’s eye.
Thinking about this, I couldn’t help but feel slightly despondent.
John told me before that Summer recovered very well under Jared’s care. Because of her great aptitude for mathematics, she was accepted into a program for gifted children in a well-known university in M Country and Jared had constantly stayed by her side to take care of her.
Although she was a genius in her own right, she was still a teenager after all. Without the warmth of her family, she undoubtedly missed out on many happy moments.
I had been absent for six years of her life. At present, the crisis was still unresolved. I didn’t know when I could finally be a part of her life again. At the thought of this, I struggled to breathe through the pain of failing Macy.
I could only hope that Anthony was right and Jared had truly turned over a new leaf.
If he was merely bidding his time to exact revenge, she wouldn’t be able to handle that kind of betrayal.
…
An hour later, we arrived at The Jade.
Emery seemed to be expecting us as she was already waiting by the entrance when we got there. As soon as Audrey hopped out of the car, Emery walked forward with a wide smile and reached out to hug her. “You’re finally here. Come, give me a hug!”
Audrey frequently spoke to Emery on video calls, so they weren’t strangers to each other. Hence, she allowed her aunt to hug her.
After greeting everyone, she turned around and led us in.
Getting too carried away often resulted in accidents. When we passed through the lobby, a waiter happened to be escorting some guests away. Emery was so focused on talking to Audrey that she almost ran into them.
Luckily, Anthony had quick reflexes, stepping forward at lightning speed to block the similarly oblivious waiter. Only then did I release a breath of relief.
The waiter was shocked when he saw Anthony’s face and apologized profusely. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Featherstone and Ms. Moore. I didn’t see where I was going. Are the two of you alright?”
Emery only realized the situation after a beat and immediately chided the waiter with a stern expression. “Didn’t the manager make sure that you passed basic training? If you run into a guest, can you afford to bear the consequences?”
This was her own business after all and there were still guests waiting beside them. Hence, Emery held back her anger and said, “Alright, send our guests off first, then bring a good bottle of wine over later.”
“Yes, I’ll go right away!” The waiter didn’t dare to meet Anthony’s gaze at all, lowering his head while he spoke and hastily leading the guests away.
Anthony stood there with a face devoid of expression, but the moment the waiter left with the guests, he lifted his hand to dust off the spot he was bumped into.
I initially thought he wouldn’t pursue this matter, but Emery frowned and immediately called over the front desk manager.
“Transfer the employee from just now to logistics. He’s not allowed to come to the lobby anymore.”
Of course, the manager didn’t care much about a small fry’s welfare. He quickly nodded and bowed respectfully. “Yes, I’ll arrange it right away.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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