Chapter 497
Chapter 497
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Chapter 497
“Maybe I won’t feel calm until this is all resolved p>
Riana smiled gently. “There’s nothing for you to worry about. Do you want to come with us p>
Josh shook his head firmly. “No. I’ll stay home. Mommy said I should wait patiently. Whatever Grandmom and Granddad decide, I respect it. Besides…” He hesitated, then added, “maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have a sister around my age p>
The words sounded simple enough, yet they made everyone nearby exchange glances. Because of that, Nathan stepped closer to Josh and rested a hand on the boy’s head. “Thank you for saying that to us p>
Josh returned a small smile, though inside him stirred feelings he couldn’t put into words.
Earlier, he had even asked his grandmother to make time so he could meet Eli. He did it because of the way he’d seen Selena treat her-there was something forced about it, as if Eli were being pushed by her mother’s own desires.
But what had he received instead?
News so far beyond anything he’d expected. Something he never imagined could be spread so easily.
“Well then, we’ll be heading out now, Josh,” Riana said, stroking his hair affectionately. “Go play with Grace p>
Once again, Josh nodded, watching as Riana and Nathan left the living room near the front lobby. Several men in black shirts-likely the Miller family’s legal team-followed behind them.
Even after they were gone, Josh remained standing there.
With Chris.
“Do you think… they’ll be okay?” Josh asked softly.
“You don’t need to worry about that, Josh,” Chris said, wrapping an arm around his nephew. To him, Josh seemed to be growing up far too fast. Time really did move quickly. He still remembered holding Josh’s hand everywhere, afraid the boy might stumble and fall with his tiny steps. Now, it felt like before long, Josh would even surpass his height.
Josh let out a long breath.
“Oh, by the way-how’s your match preparation coming along?” Chris asked brightly. No. He couldn’t let Josh sink too deeply into this problem.
Josh shouldn’t have had to worry about anything at all. But Chris couldn’t tell him that yet. It wasn’t time.
And when the time finally came, Chris wouldn’t care if that girl ended up hurt, unable to accept the truth. Because all this time, he was convinced her mind had been shaped by Selena’s honeyed words-moved, step by step, by Harold’s careful manipulation.
And whatever sadness came from it wouldn’t sway Chris.
Because the fallout of all this had already wounded his family. Especially Josh, who had grown increasingly withdrawn and restless. Josh was no longer the seven-year-old boy Chris had first known.
Josh was a teenager now. In the end, he would understand that the Miller family wasn’t bound to him by blood. Unlike Grace. And perhaps because of that very fear, Josh didn’t want Grace to be pushed aside-to lose the attention and affection that rightfully belonged to his younger sister.
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Chapter 497
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“So far, I’ve done a lot of preparation,” Josh said, his smile noticeably wider now. His face looked far brighter than it had moments earlier. “Just last night, we were discussing a new formation p>
Ah. The matter with Callister Group could wait. Spending time with Josh was something Chris wouldn’t miss. With only one match coming up, there was no harm in it-right?
“How about a game?” Chris suggested. “I want to see how many points you can score p>
“Oh? Are you challenging me, Uncle Chris?” Josh teased.
Chris narrowed his eyes in mock annoyance. “So now that you’re team captain, you think you’re unbeatable on the court p>
Josh burst out laughing. “Alright. Let’s play p>
“Yeah, sure! Who’s scared p>
The black car slowed as it approached the restaurant’s main lobby. Through the tinted windows, a crowd was already visible. At first, it seemed like nothing more than a group of patrons heading to the restaurant-but the crowd grew closer, flashes of light darting back and forth.
Riana noticed it first. “Darling,” she said quietly, tension threading her voice. “Aren’t those reporters p>
Nathan frowned. He leaned forward, studying the mass of people blocking the entrance. The driver tried to maneuver around them, but it felt impossible. There were simply too many people-clearly waiting for their arrival.
Microphones were raised, cameras aimed at every car that came to a stop. “This shouldn’t be happening,” Nathan muttered.
The car halted right at the steps leading up to the restaurant lobby. The driver glanced back uncertainly. “Sir, should we get out p>
“Wait,” Nathan ordered shortly. He reached for his phone and dialed the restaurant manager.
The call connected almost immediately. “Good afternoon, Mr. Miller p>
“What’s going on outside?” Nathan asked without preamble. “Why are there so many reporters p>
On the other end of the line, a short breath was audible. “Mrs. Selena and Miss Eli arrived about twenty minutes ago, sir. They were also confronted by reporters,” the manager explained, worry threading his voice. “There was even a minor disturbance in the lobby p>
“A disturbance?” Riana turned sharply toward Nathan.
“We’ve secured the area and prepared a private room as requested,” the manager continued. “But they came in waves. We did not leak information about this meeting, sir. I can assure you of that p>
Nathan ended the call. From the way the manager spoke, there was no reason to doubt him. Besides, many high- ranking officials and business associates often held meetings at this restaurant. Beyond the quality of its cuisine, the establishment was known for strictly guarding its guests’ privacy. That was precisely why Nathan had chosen this place.
So why was this happening?
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