The 14th and 15th were back-to-back days. Jonathan was concerned that if Cynthia went back on the 15th, it might disrupt their plans."Are you not bringing me along to meet your dad?" Matthew asked, recalling the overheard conversation.Cynthia's body tensed up, and her gaze showed a noticeable hint of nervousness. Then, she pursed her lips and pretended to be clueless, saying, "So soon?""It does seem a bit early. Why don't you freshen up and come down for breakfast? I'll drive you back." Matthew ruffled her hair, not trying to pressure her."No need.""I'm driving you back."Cynthia fell silent. She was well aware that arguing with Matthew was a losing battle. When it came to matters like driving her home, as long as she did not have a strong reason to refuse him, he would insist on taking her back.After breakfast, Matthew drove Cynthia back home. Jonathan and Shirley had been waiting. Upon hearing the sound of a car outside, they stepped out to greet them at the entrance.
"What's wrong?" Jonathan asked when he noticed her silence.Cynthia did not tell him the truth, just responding with, "It's nothing. Let's go in. It's quite cold out here.""Alright." Jonathan and Shirley both accompanied her inside.Once inside, Jonathan fetched her a glass of water and cautiously asked, "Why didn't you tell me that you're dating someone?""I thought I'd wait until things are more stable.""Isn't it stable now?"Cynthia hesitated. Things were stable, but she wanted to wait longer in case Matthew's interest in her was based on their past interactions and not on who she truly was. Cynthia wanted him to know her as she was now before telling Jonathan.Jonathan became concerned, and he said in a serious tone, "Are you two okay? What happened?""We're doing well," Cynthia replied sincerely.Jonathan glanced at Shirley as if seeking confirmation. Shirley hinted and reassured Jonathan that Cynthia and Matthew were doing great.With this, Jonathan felt at ease.
[Cynthia: What's going on?]Felix glanced at his son, who seemed quite different from usual, and replied simply, [Nothing.]At the same time, everyone at the Neal family mansion was taken aback by Joshua's return. Old Man Neal frowned, asking, "Weren't you off to Nexuria to pursue Cynthia? Why are you back?""I'm not pursuing her anymore.""Why not?""She's got a boyfriend."Old Man Neal was shocked.Felix was not surprised by this as Cynthia had always been an exceptional young woman, and having suitors was entirely natural. However, he was curious how his son could accept this so calmly."Who's her boyfriend?" Old Man Neal inquired with concern. He truly regarded Cynthia as his granddaughter. "Is he treating her well? Have you checked his background?""The Quier Group's Matthew Quier. He's honest and trustworthy, someone worthy to be Cynthia's partner," Joshua calmly uttered words that cut deep into his own heart. No one wanted to see the person they liked with someone els
Old Man Neal began to bring up old issues, saying, "Do you remember what you said the first time Cynthia told us about the divorce? You knew Joshua was going down the wrong path, yet you, as his father, didn't offer any advice or discipline him."Felix froze. It was true that he had not handled that situation as well as he could have. He was joking when he teased Joshua for treating Cynthia as a replacement for Jayleen, a passing comment without much thought. Felix knew Joshua had a first love but did not know anything else. Little did he know that Joshua would indeed divorce Cynthia for that person. He would have certainly intervened if he had known the whole story back then. Nonetheless, it was clear that Joshua and Cynthia were not meant for each other and were not meant to spend the rest of their lives together. "I really don't understand what Daphne saw in you. Your mom and I were so deeply in love. How did we end up with a jerk of a son like you?" Old Man Neal could not
Felix smiled, choosing not to expose him, and engaged in a casual conversation. "Since you took over the Neal Group, I haven't seen you sitting in this courtyard much. What brings you here?""Finding inner peace," Joshua responded naturally."Is your mind a mess?""It's manageable.""You're not being entirely truthful with me, are you?""Did Grandpa send you?" Joshua changed the subject."Yes. He's quite concerned about you. When he noticed you were not feeling yourself, he asked me to talk to you. He even scolded me about it." Felix crossed his legs, toying with his teacup. Joshua was in low spirits, only replying, "Oh.""Just an 'oh'?""Do you need comforting?" Joshua retorted.Felix sipped his tea and spoke frankly, "No, I don't need comforting. The one who needs it is you.""I don't need it.""Your state doesn't quite reflect that.""I'm fine. I'm just a bit tired. I want to pause and reflect on the wrong paths I've taken. Once I've sorted things out, I'll move forwar
During this time, Old Man Neal had the butler send Joshua some fruits and snacks. Joshua remained consistently calm, which was strange to Felix, Old Man Neal, and even the butler.In fact, after the butler brought him a cup of hot tea, Old Man Neal inquired about the situation, "How's Joshua doing?""He's just sitting in the courtyard, soaking up the sun. He's not reading or playing on his phone. Although his mood seems about the same, something feels slightly off," the butler reported truthfully, as he had a good rapport with Old Man Neal. "What's off?" Old Man Neal asked."It's his demeanor. While he used to be polite and courteous with me, there's a noticeable difference from before," the butler explained.Old Man Neal sighed. As expected, Joshua was still struggling to overcome his emotional setback. "Mr. Neal Senior is out with Mrs. Neal Senior. Before leaving, he told me to relay a message to you if you asked about him," the butler informed, aware of the family's whereab
"Do you need me to show your schedule to Mom and Dad?" Joshua continued to expose Moses playfully. Moses was a bit overwhelmed, wondering what was happening with Joshua as he used to cover for him. Yet now, he was ruthlessly exposing him! Moses desperately tried to signal Joshua, hoping he would come to his rescue. Unfortunately, Joshua had no intention of helping him out."I really do have a girlfriend," Moses emphasized again. To make his words more convincing, he added, "We met online and confirmed our relationship last week. We haven't had a chance to meet in person yet."Everyone gave him a skeptical look, clearly not believing him.After dinner, Moses went to have a chat with Joshua. Felix and Daphne did not interrupt; they both wanted to find the right time to talk to Joshua together, but they knew now was not the time.Moses walked alongside Joshua in the backyard, recounting his strange behavior throughout the day. Joshua listened attentively. At first, they discusse
Joshua's skeptical gaze fell upon Moses, asking, "Really?"Over the years, Moses had not been in many relationships, nor had he heard him express interest in any girls. Could it be... he really liked men?Moses suddenly felt guilty. He wanted to quickly and firmly affirm that it was indeed true, but he also feared that once word got out, there would be no taking them back. Joshua's expression clearly showed he had taken Moses's words seriously."When did you realize it?" Joshua's voice was somewhat deeper, carrying a hint of seriousness."Huh?" Moses was struggling to keep up.Joshua's gaze remained focused on him, inquiring, "When did you discover you liked men?""Well..." Moses was at a loss for how to respond. After stumbling over his words for a while, he managed to blurt out a vague answer. "I'm not entirely sure.""Do you have a boyfriend?" Joshua asked calmly.Moses was stunned, and he quickly denied it, "No."He could not have one. After all, he was a normal guy and