Chapter 458
Chapter 458
Riana smiled warmly. “That’s wonderful. It means the more you practice, the better your drawings will become p>
Nathan nodded in agreement. “Hard work always shows results p>
Grace smiled proudly, then went back to focusing on her toast.
Josh finally set his spoon down. He looked at Riana with an expression more serious than usual. “Grandma,” he said softly but clearly.
Riana lifted her gaze. “Yes p>
Josh took a short breath. “If… Eli wants to meet you later, will you see her p>
The dining table fell briefly silent–not an awkward silence but one filled with consideration. Althea paused mid- movement and slowly turned toward her son, then glanced at Lydia. Lydia, catching Althea’s unspoken cue, simply nodded and waited, sensing that Josh had something important to say this morning
Both women focused their attention fully on him.
Riana didn’t answer right away. She took a sip of her tea first, then set the cup down gently. “I’ll check my schedule,” she said at last. “If it’s possible, I’ll meet her. Would you mind accompanying me p>
“Of course not.” Josh nodded immediately. The tension in his shoulders visibly eased, and the light in his eyes grew brighter. “Thank you, Grandma p>
Althea watched Josh with a soft gaze-a mix of pride and concern. She knew her son was learning how to stand between empathy and boundaries, something far from easy.
Lydia offered a faint smile. “You didn’t do anything wrong by asking about Grandma’s schedule, Josh,” she said lightly. “As long as it’s done the right way p>
Josh turned to her and nodded. “I know p>
Daven rose from his chair, straightening the jacket he was wearing. His eyes swept over the dining table—Riana, Nathan, Lydia, Althea, and his children. Even without Chris and Cale present, their place in this family mattered just as much to him. This was what he always wanted to protect, no matter the cost.
“I have to leave early,” he said simply.
“Right now?” Althea asked, a little surprised. Normally, Daven didn’t leave for another hour.
“Cale wants to discuss something important. That’s why I need to see him,” Daven said, pressing a brief kiss to Althea’s forehead.
Althea couldn’t exactly stop her husband from going. “Then be careful p>
“Of course p>
Nathan, meanwhile, studied Daven for a long moment, reading far more than the words he had just spoken. “Keep me informed about anything that happens, Daven. And… be careful,” he said calmly.
Daven nodded. “I will, Mr. Miller.” After making sure he hadn’t forgotten anything, he took his leave.
As Daven’s footsteps faded, breakfast resumed its warm rhythm. Grace’s small laughter rang out again, Lydia began casually joking about her schedule for the day, and Riana occasionally chimed in while chatting with her beloved grandchildren.
Althea hoped this warmth would last for the rest of her life. That no one with ill intentions would come along to destroy her family-especially not something that could shatter her bond with the Miller family.
1/3
“I don’t want that to happen, God,” she whispered softly.
“What did you say, Althea?” Riana asked, standing closest to her daughter-in-law. She looked puzzled, having caught the faint mitmur Althea had just uttered.
“Oh, nothing ” Althea broke into a wide smile. “I didn’t say anything. I was just hoping that we’ll always be together like this p>
Elsewhere, Cale stood inside an enclosed room with a man seated across from him. The man’s face was pale, a thin sheen of sweat clinging to his temples, his hands trembling despite his attempt to hide it by clasping them together. Again, his gaze darted away-anywhere but toward the man facing him.
Cale Miller watched him with a sharp, unblinking stare.
The room was in the western harbor district-still within the same complex where Oscar was being held, yet the atmosphere was entirely different. If Oscar’s room had been deliberately kept dark, cramped, and oppressive, this one was brightly lit with steady white lighting. Neon lamps glowed overhead. The concrete walls were painted a light gray, clean, almost sterile. There were no bloodstains, no damp stench-only a faint metallic scent mixed with disinfectant that lingered in the air.
In one corner stood a simple steel table and three chairs. There were no signs of violence whatsoever. The guards Cale had hired weren’t stationed at the room’s entrance either; instead, they stood at the main gate, while a supervisor paced the corridor outside.
It was an atmosphere utterly uncharacteristic of a place of confinement. And yet… it was precisely that calm that made anyone sitting there feel even more cornered.
Moments later, hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor. Voices followed-welcoming a guest, giving brief directions toward the room where Cale was waiting.
“This way, Mr. Callister,” one of the guards said.
Daven followed him into the room. His suit was still impeccably neat, despite the long journey it had taken to get here. He had driven a roundabout route, passing through increasingly desolate industrial zones, towering stacks of shipping containers lined up like silent walls, until he finally reached a section of the harbor rarely used by public traffic. The long, empty roads had given him plenty of time to think-to piece together worst-case scenarios, to steel himself for a confession that might change everything.
“Am I late?” Daven asked as he stepped inside.
Cale turned and gave a faint smirk. “I actually thought you’d arrive a bit later than this.” He stood to greet Daven, then glanced at the man who had been fidgeting nervously in the middle of the room.
“This is Daven,” Cale said. “And Daven… this is the man I wanted you to meet. A doctor from SunCity Hospital. Dr. Noel Abraham p>
Daven studied the man closely. “Aren’t doctors working at SunCity Hospital supported by the TnC Group p>
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