"Mary, are you sure about this? This plan is quite the risk you are taking." Alfonso asked. It is evident in his voice that he is concerned. Mary has always been a risk-taker, and everything ends up with a good result, but this time, Alfonso is not sure if it will turn out good this time.
Glancing at Alfonso, Mary sighed and put her hand on top of his shoulder and said, "Alfonso, I know it's a risk, but I am willing to go for it because I have trust in my children."
She, too, is worried about what might happen if they continue following the plan, but they have no other option.
"Well, I guess that's all we can do." If Alfonso is going, to be honest, he is quite surprised that Arion agreed to the plan, especially when his children are taking part in it.
"In this line of work, being a parent and as a leader of this organization is hard to balance. Sometimes you have to sacrifice one thing to balance both sides." It may not sound so reasonable, but this is what Arion believes in.
"I thought you are trying to be a better father, am I wrong to think that?" Alfonso may not say it, but Arion can tell that he is still angry at him for leaving. Leaving his family behind, then coming back saying that he wants to become a better father and husband, and suddenly, he is saying this? It's no wonder why Alfonso is not very pleased.
"I am trying, Alfonso. It may sound like an excuse to you, but right now, the situation is not exactly the best one. I can't even relax, even for a second. This is tiring me out." At this point, Arion no longer cares about what his friends think of him as a father and husband to his family. He is doing everything that he can to make things right in his own way.
Alfonso shook his head, then he turned around to see Mary and said, "Mary, your husband said that he is tired. You should really take care of your husband more."
Since Arion is getting serious by every passing second in this conversation, Alfonso would instead change the subject right away. Seeing him that serious is not something he is used to seeing.
Knowing what Alfonso is trying to do, Mary inwardly sighed and said, "Seriously? You're blaming me for my husband's lack of energy? It's his damned fault, you know? He keeps stalking every article related to Anna and Kyle like a lunatic."
Mary didn't want to bring this topic up, but since she has nothing else to say, she might as well share her frustration about her husband being so concerned about Anna and Kyle.
Alfonso already knew that Arion still hasn't approved the relationship between the two, but to think it has come this far, he doesn't know what to say. "Seriously, Arion? Is that your new hobby now? Jeez, you're the worst. Keep this up, Anna will surely rebel against you." It's positively not gonna happen, but there is still a one percent chance.
"Mary, do you really have to share that info with him?" Arion frowned at his wife. He knows that what he is doing is wrong, but Mary should not have shared that fact. It's annoying and embarrassing to hear.
"So you are not going to deny it? Wow. You creepy bastard, what's wrong with you?"
After that, Arion got himself scolded by Alfonso for a whole two hours. He tried to escape, but it was no use. His wife decided to join Alfonso.
~~~
"Young Master, everyone has been expecting you at your father's study office." As soon as Kyle set foot inside the manor, the butler immediately told him that his family wants to see him, which causes him to frown.
"What is going on?" He asked.
"Miss Veronica and her family is currently here, and it seems to me it involves you, Young Master." From the butler's point of view, he doesn't like the fact that Veronica suddenly stepped foot in Robertson's manor out of the blue along with her family. If he had not known any better, he believes that Veronica is using any means to be part of his Young Master's life.
"In what way am I involved with here? As far as I know, I don't interact with that person." Kyle coldly said. Even though he asked that question, a part of him already knows the answer. 'When will that woman stop bothering me?'
Since the day Veronica came back, she has been bothering him a lot. Sending a lot of gifts that always ends up in his trash. She even visits the manor without any notice. Her persistence even got on his mother's nerves.
Upon arriving at his father's study office, Kyle saw everyone looking at him. Veronica staring at him full of excitement and while her father is staring at him with a grin. 'What's with that grin? You're that confident that you'll get something good about this, old man?' Kyle inwardly said.
"Father, I heard that everyone's expecting me here. Is there anything that you need to tell me?" In the corner of his eyes, Kyle can see that his little sister is glaring at Veronica. He can only sigh at Lannie's behavior. He knows that she doesn't like Veronica at all, but she shouldn't be making it way too obvious. Veronica will only take advantage of that.
"I, myself, is not sure why are here. Veronica and her father insisted on you to be present here." Kyle scoffed inwardly when he heard his father say that. His father is not the type to accept such a request, and yet here they are in this situation. It looks to him that his father wants to be entertained.
"Mr. Lace, if you have some business with me, you could have said so and not bother my father at all. I'm sure you understand that my father is a busy person and has no time to entertain a person like you."
Franklin's mouth twitched when he heard that. Kyle is indirectly saying that Stan has no time to talk to a lowly person like him. 'Me? A lowly person? As someone like me is being lumped with those poor lowlives? How dare he.'
Franklin is angry, and he wants to point out Kyle's rude behavior, but he can't. Elijah is in the room, and if he doesn't say it right, he might lose everything in a blink of an eye. He needs to play this correctly so that he can get what he wants.
"It's rude of me to suddenly appear here without any word with my daughter, but it is a matter of importance that I even have to disturb your father."
"Importance?" Kyle tilted his head as he asked that, then he glances at Veronica. 'This girl doesn't even know how to hide her expression.'
Veronica notices that Kyle is looking at him, but the expression that he is showing her indicates that he is disappointed. 'Why? Why are you making that face, Kyle?'
"Yes. I'm going to propose a project, and I'm sure that this project is not something that you and your father will not hesitate to reject." Ever since Franklin heard the news that Stan is letting Kyle lead a group to start a project, he thought that it would be his best chance to have Kyle lead the project he is thinking of doing.
Kyle needs to show the people of the board of what he can do without any help from Stan, but with his help, everything will work out great for both of them. A win-win solution. Kyle is smart enough to understand what he is trying to do. 'It would be stupid of him to reject this offer.'
Kyle stared at him for a minute, then he scoffed. "I'm afraid I have to reject whatever you are thinking of offering me, Mr. Lace. I can make a name for myself. I don't need anyone's help, even from you."
The smiling faces on Veronica and Franklin suddenly disappeared when Kyle rejected their help without giving it much thought. "W-what? It's a good deal for both parties, Kyle. Why would reject-"
"Why would I reject it? Well, the answer is simple, Veronica, I know what kind of scheme you and your father are brewing, and I'm telling you, I don't like it one bit."
Panicking, Veronica faced Stan and said, "U-uncle Stan, Kyle is not thinking clearly. Please make him understand that the project my father is going to propose will benefit him greatly."
"Veronica, didn't you hear what my brother just said? He said no, and asking my father is a waste of your breath because the answer will be the same." Lannie stepped in. She can't stand any more of Veronica's desperate look. The more she sees that face, the more she wants to smack it off of Veronica's face.