For some reason, she found this information slightly unsettling. "Before the incident at Queneska Island, did you and Joshua make any sort of deal? Just tell me. In the future, if you need my help, I'll assist you once free of charge." Cynthia, after careful deliberation, posed her question. Sean was surprised to hear that. Such a tempting offer. Cynthia's fees were quite high. However, the success rate was always one hundred percent when she lent a hand. "This puts me in a difficult position," Sean confessed, his tone gentle. Cynthia did not respond. After a long pause, Sean finally made a decision, "Telling you now wouldn't make any difference. Moreover, I promised Joshua that I wouldn't." "Are you sure you won't tell me?" "I can't." Sean was firm. Recalling her previous negotiation with Sean during the rescue mission, Cynthia spoke, "You remember what you promised when you asked me to bring Yves to save Joshua, right?" Sean paused, recollecting the conditions s
Cynthia wanted to ask more, but given Sean's current state, she knew she would not get anything else. She decided to end the call. In the next two days, she took good care of Joshua, who was well-behaved. A few days from New Year's Eve dinner, Felix, who had previously said he would come to the capital, arrived. "Do you want to go to the airport with me to pick up your father or wait for me at home?" Cynthia asked him, letting him make the decision. Joshua replied promptly, "I'll go with you." He did not want his father of his to come. However, given the current circumstances, he could not stop it. It was better to go with Cynthia, so his father would have no opportunity to say anything bad about him. After Cynthia agreed, she took him to the airport. In the car, Joshua seemed somewhat ill at ease. "Cynthia, is my dad a very serious person?" "Not at all, he's a nice person, and he loves you very much," Cynthia answered truthfully. Yeah right. That was Joshua's f
However, given the current situation, Joshua could not afford to fall out with his father, especially with Cynthia around. At half past eleven, the car stopped in front of the restaurant. Cynthia, Felix, and Joshua got out and entered. Led by the manager, they were shown to the private room that had been booked in advance. While they were waiting for the food, Cynthia explained Joshua's situation to Felix. After hearing the story, the first concern Felix raised was, "So, aside from incomplete mental recovery and memory loss, he's fine otherwise?" Cynthia nodded in affirmation. "Joshua." Felix turned to the young man. Joshua, sensing a vague feeling of dread, lifted his gaze to meet his. His instincts told him that his father was about to stir up trouble. "Since you are basically fine now, you should return to Jiverton with me tomorrow. Your mother and grandfather miss you and would love for you to come home for the New Year," Felix said without missing a beat, his tone ca
Joshua was skeptical. Was this man really his father? "If you're worried about being discovered, I can introduce you to the Neal family. I can also fill you in on some basic information, so you'll be able to handle things," Cynthia offered, her resources enabling her to easily gather information. "Do you really want me to go back?" Joshua asked, feeling unhappy. Cynthia did not lie. "Yes." "Can you come to Jiverton to pick me up after the New Year?" "Me?" "I want you to pick me up." This was Joshua's final compromise. "I can, but I can't come directly to the Neal family." Cynthia did not refuse. If she were to go to the Neal family, it could cause Old Man Neal and Daphne to misunderstand. Considering her nature, she would not go there unless absolutely necessary after the divorce. The moment they saw her, Old Man Neal and the others might indeed assume that they were remarried. Joshua mulled it over, even though he was well aware that he no longer had a choice in the
Was it not Cynthia who had persuaded him? Moses, burning with curiosity, stepped up to him and whispered in his ear, "What have you been up to? Finding women?" Joshua shot him a sideways glance. He also noticed that the joy Old Man Neal had expressed at seeing him had gradually faded. "Why waste your time on all this. If you don't want to return, then don't. This house is big enough without him," Old Man Neal huffed dismissively, revealing his stubborn yet tender heart. He was visibly upset. In the past, no matter how busy he was, Joshua, that brat, would call him monthly to check in and would always return home early for the New Year to keep him company. Now, not only had he not heard from him in months, Joshua had returned home without telling anyone and acted like a lord, standing there arrogantly. This brat definitely needed a lesson. "I didn't want to come back either. It was him who forced me," Joshua retorted, proving he was not the same person he used to be. He co
"Are you still angry?" Old Man Neal spoke with a deep voice, resembling a gentle elder at that moment. Joshua's attitude softened, though a tinge of bitterness lingered in his words. "I'm not angry, I just don't understand why you asked me to come back when it's clear you're not welcoming." "We did not unwelcome your return. You're the most accomplished child in our family. This is how we've always interacted, it was my mistake not to notice your unhappiness," Old Man Neal answered slowly, his concern evident. Joshua's expression showed a hint of surprise. His grandfather... truly seemed to care about him. Cynthia had not lied. "Could you tell me what happened?" Old Man Neal inquired gently, hoping to have a heart-to-heart conversation. Adhering to Cynthia's request to maintain his former personality, Joshua was sparing with his words. "No." "It's because of Cynthia, isn't it?" The words escaped Old Man Neal's lips. Joshua looked over at him again. Old Man Neal was pickin
"Really." Daphne felt her husband was being overly cunning. Just as she was thinking of another way to interrogate him, Felix embraced her, his touch extremely gentle and tinged with an enticing aura. Daphne could never resist him when he was like this. After comforting his wife, Felix sought out Joshua. Having just returned and causing his wife to worry, he ought to give Joshua a good talking-to. When he found Joshua, Joshua was on the phone with Cynthia, likely complaining about being reprimanded upon his return, expressing how upset he was. "Cynthia, can you come and pick me up earlier? I'm really not happy here." Joshua's attitude had done a complete one-eighty. "Really now?" Felix stood outside the door, his voice casual. Joshua furrowed his brows. His instincts were telling him this man was about to spoil his plan. "Your grandfather and Cynthia are quite close. If I tell Cynthia about the attitude you just displayed toward your grandfather, what do you think will ha
"Brother, what's this...?" Moses glanced at Joshua's phone, then back at Joshua. Joshua tensed up. Almost instantaneously, he knew he had been caught. "None of your business. True gentlemen don't speak while watching a game of chess. Don't interrupt us," Old Man Neal said without offering him much chance to speak, his face set in a stern expression. Moses threw Joshua a few more glances. Joshua offered him a cursory glance, then continued his game, showing no signs of panic. His composure was exemplary. Moses, although curious, did not press. Instead, he sat down to the side, intending to discuss this intriguing development after the game had ended. Using an app to cheat? This was not his brother's style at all. Joshua did not play for long against Old Man Neal. After only three games, he found an excuse to stop playing. The reason was simple. His phone's battery had died. "What's wrong with you today?" Old Man Neal, eyeing the pieces on the board, furrowed his