Chapter 468
“Oh,” Elise murmured calmly.
“Oh?! What does that even mean?” Nathan put on a sullen face; he couldn’t help thinking that Elise was up to some mischief. As such, he 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 he truly experienced what it felt like to make a fool of himself
In the end, it was Robin who saved him 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 she rose unsteadily to her feet, she 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 her at a complete loss for what to do with some spoons and forks in her hand. Not knowing whether to put them down or not, she turned to look at the Sinclairs for help.
Elise said, “It’s okay, Maria. Just let her 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 she could serve anyone as a maid with her skinny arms and legs, she thought. However, since Elise had said so, she didn’t say anything else and nodded in silence.
Maya plonked the dishes on the tray with a loud clatter as if she 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 her 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, he couldn’t help but ask, “Are you gonna let her 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 she 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 her shoulder. “Land No. 6 is the land Faye has her 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 her 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 she stared at the phone’s screen. To think that he would be so meticulously attentive to me! He didn’t even overlook my family’s honor and needs, she thought.
Seeing that she hadn’t responded for a long time, Alexander put out his hand and placed it on her soft, fine hair. “What’s wrong? Don’t feel like confronting Faye head-on yet?” he asked, before pausing for a moment. With a thoughtful look on his face, he 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 he 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 he spoke, he came up with an idea in his mind. Now that I’ve finally learned that Elise is A, how can I let her 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, he thought.
However, just as he 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 him 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 him in a whisper, “Did you make Grandpa angry?” –
“No, I didn’t.” Alexander shook his head and gave her 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, he 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 she hasn’t been formally acknowledged as his daughter, her relationship with him is no longer a secret in Tissote’s upper-class circles. And now, you’re taking her on a long journey to s****h what her 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 her back, knowing full well how dangerous the Anderson Family is. Trevor’s such a fine young lad, but he 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 her out in the spotlight, fooling around and stirring up trouble with her! Do you really want to get Elise killed?!” The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, and he 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 she 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 her while she does what she wants. What you’re considering is her reputation as an unmarried young lady, but I just want her to live the rest of her life as she pleases. I want her to smile more.”
Robin’s expression slowly eased at his words, but he still looked conflicted as he 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 her up. She may do whatever she wants, and I’ll take care of all the trouble. I can keep her 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, he thoug
