Chapter 98
Andrew just stood there, sweating bullets, his face going from red to pale in seconds. Like he’d ever have the guts, much less the chance, to actually date her.
…
The dining hall was buzzing with quiet voices as everyone gathered around the polished mahogany table. Patricia sat at the head, her snowy white hair done up neatly. She wore a red and purple silk tunic embroidered with peonies, looking every bit as sharp and lively as ever.
Anthony took the seat to her left. He had those chiseled features and that air of effortless confidence, all the best traits from his parents, only somehow even better.
On Patricia’s right sat her second son, Daniel, next to his wife Dorothy and their son Andrew.
Something about the air felt heavy, like everyone was holding back.
Dorothy set her chopsticks down, glanced across at Anthony, and flashed a bright smile. “Anthony, do you know which country your parents are in now?”
Patricia’s face tightened at the question, clearly annoyed. Years ago, Matthew had used his health as an excuse to hand over the entire family business to Anthony, then taken his wife traveling around the world. Last time Patricia was seriously ill, the two of them had flown back from Egypt. As soon as she got better, they vanished again. If they hadn’t given her such a talented grandson, Patricia might have lost her patience with them long ago.
“No idea,” Anthony answered, voice flat, head slightly bowed. “Honestly, Dorothy, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve forgotten I even have parents.” Probably, his parents had forgotten about him too.
Dorothy couldn’t think of a response. Anthony had been the perfect kid growing up, never causing trouble, never making his parents worry. They got to live their lives stress-free. Then she looked at her own son, who was busy shoveling food into his mouth, and felt her blood pressure spike.
“You got a thirty on your test and you can still eat?” she snapped.
Andrew grinned, completely unfazed. “Mom, let me finish eating before you start yelling, okay?”
“You little-” Dorothy started, but just then, a phone rang.
Anthony set down his utensils, wiped his hands with a napkin, and picked up his phone. He glanced at Dorothy and Andrew, who were still mid-argument. “Quiet.”
Instantly, the whole room went silent.
Anthony answered the call, listening intently. His eyebrows drew together in a frown.
“I understand,” he said, then hung up. He looked over at Andrew. “No evening study session today?”
Andrew blinked, a little lost. “No, school ended at five.”
Anthony’s expression turned even darker. “Grandma, Uncle Daniel, Aunt Dorothy, please enjoy your meal. I have something I need to take care of.”
He started to stand, but Patricia stopped him.
“Sit down. I have something to ask you.”
Anthony glanced at his watch, his Anthony glanced
eyes growing stormy, but he sat back down. In the past, he’d faced company disasters, ever
billion dollar fosses without batting an eye. But just now, Patricia had
caught something new in his
gáze—a flicker of panic and worry.
If it wasn’t about the company, then what could possibly get under Anthony’s skin
like that? Could it be about a girl? Did Anthony finally have a girlfriend?
“I want to ask you Patricia began, her voice full of energy. But as she looked at him, she froze, staring at his forehead. “Oh what happened to your head?
It didn’t look like a bump or a scratch. The shape was odd… almost like a bite mark.