Chapter157GeorgeMakesHisEntrance
ThemorningstartedlivelyforMillyasshewasrousedbythesoundsfromdownstairs.
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Headingdown,shespottedStephanie,whomshe’dthoughtwouldbebusyonset,nowinthelivingroom,havingastandyfullyclingingtoPhilip’sarm.Theiughterfilledtheroom,withPhiliplookingnotablymorespirited.
Jonathan<b>and</b>Anthonywerebarelyoutofbed,hairalloverthece,standingintheirpyjamas,yetstrikinglyreadyforaction.
Onthecouch,Jordan<b>was</b>calmlygoingthroughsomepapers,withXavierbyhisside,lookinglikehe’dpulledanall–nighter,shadowsunderhiseyes.
Millywasintrigued.
CouldshepossiblyresistXavier’sallure,appearingsoexhaustedandweary,hiseyesshadowedwithgrey?Itlookedasifhehadn’tmanagedtogetanysleepatall.
Despiteheryouthfppearance,herheartwasthatofadoctor’s.
Choosingtokeephersecretfornow,shedidn’twanttopileontohisstress.
StephaniewasthefirsttoseeMillyonthestairs,greetingherwithabigwaveandabrightsmile.“Milly.you’refinallyawake.Comejoinusforbreakfast,shesaidwithahintofmischief.
Millyrolled hereyes,notinthemoodforearly–morningtheatrics.
Stephanie’syfulwordsquicklyturnedPhilip’swarmthintoafrown.
Hetappedhiscanewithadecisivesoundandreprimanded,“What’sthetime?Backin ourday,we’dhavealreadyfinishedchoresbynow.”
Observinghergrandfather’sirritation,Stephanierespondedwithagleamingsmile. Shegentlynudgedhisarm,coaxinghim<b>,</b>“Comeon,Grandpa,noneedtogetupset.Milly’sprobablyjustreallytired,whichiswhyshesleptin.Unlikeme,whohadaminorroleandwasn’taswornout,Imanagedtogetupearly.”
ButPhilipwashavingnoneofit.HismoodsouredfurtherashedirectedMilly,“Youyoungonesaretoorxed.Jointheothers<b>and</b>standatattentionforanhourbeforebreakfast!”
Stephanie’sgringrew,andtherewassatisfactioninhereyesasshelookedatMilly.
Somuchforthebrother’sbacking,eventheymustlistentoGrandpa!
Aslongastheirgrandpaisthere,StephaniewillkeephertitleastheesteemedButMaster,andnobodycanchangethat!
Meanwhile,AnthonyandJonathan,whohadbeenontheirfeetforthirtyminutesandwerevisiblyufortable,protestedatoncewhenGrandpasuggestedMillyshouldstandstraightaswell.“Comeon,Grandpa,Millyisagirl.It’sunfairtoaskhertodothisearlyinthemorning!”Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.
“Exactly,Millyjustreturnedfromashoot,andshe’sprobablyexhausted.Howaboutwetakeherceforabit?”
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Chapter157GeorgeMakesHisEntrance
don’tsingleanyoneout!”
“That<b>makes</b>sense!”
AwaveoffrustrationwashedoverStephanie.
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She couldn’thelpbutwonderwhenAnthonyandJonathanstartedcallingherbyhername,creatingacold.distancebetweenthem.
Andheretheywere,enduringdiforttostandupforMilly.
Butbefore,theyweretheoneswhowouldprotecther,afraidofmakingStephanry.
ButsinceMillyarrived,everythingchanged,andStephaniefelttheiraffectionslippingaway.
Jealousyandangershedinhereyes,hernailsdigging intoherpalm,butshewastooconsumedbyheremotionstofeelpain.
Justasshewasabouttoaddfueltothefire,shecaughtherJordan’schillinglook.
Jordan…
Stephaniecouldn’thelpbutwhisper,slightlyafraid.
Hisgazeseemedtoswallowthespacearoundher,piercinginto hersoul,andsuddenlyshefoundithardtobreathe.
HadJordannoticedsomething<b>?</b>
Withoutaword,Jordanthrewthefolderontothetablewitha“<b>Bang-</b>”makingeveryonejump.
“Let’seat,”heannounced.
The newsimmediatelyrelievedthetwostandingastheyrxedtheirstiffmuscles,cheering.“Yes!LongliveJordan!”
Philipisquitesternwiththem,butthey’rehisgrandkidsattheendoftheday,andheadoresthem.
Whenhesawhisoldestgrandsonhadspokenup,heoptedtolooktheotherway,lettingthetwooffthehookthistime.
Aftereating,aservantrushedin,announcing,“Old Mr.But,Mr.Jordan,Mr.Georgehasstoppedbyfor
<b>a</b>visit.
ThementionofGeorge’svisitinstantlyputthethree<b>men</b>onedge.Anthony,inparticr,couldn’tstandtheTates<b>and</b>askedimpatiently,“Why’shehere?”
Theservantstraightforwardlyreported,“Mr.GeorgeheardOldMr.Butwasbackfromoverseasandmadeaspecialtriptoseehim,bringingmanygifts.”
JonathanandAnthonysharedaknowinglook,rollingtheireyes.TheyknewGeorge’s truemotives.
Hehadn’tshownanyinterestinvisiting<b>while</b>theirgrandfather<b>was</b>away.Still,whenMillyreturned,he<b>was</b>hereinash,clearlyuptosomething.
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AndconsideringhisannoyinghabitofshadowingMilly,theirarmoyancewasheightened.
Insync,theyboth<b>said</b>,“Sendhimaway!”
Theservantpaused,uncertainifheshouldpassontheirharshmessage.
Jordan,noticingthehesitation,gavehimasternnce,“Well,didn’tyouhearthem?”
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Theservantwasjolted backtohissensesandhurriedly<b>said</b>,‘Ofcourse,Mr.Jordan,I’lllethimknow.”
“Absolutelynot!”
The<b>servant</b>wascutoffmid–sentencebyOldMr.But’sintenseinterruption.
Gazingatthemsternly,OldMr.But criticized,“IfGeorgehaewithgoodintentions,itreflectshisrespectandconcernforme.What’swithyourdreadfttitudes,huh?Youkidstodaydon’tgetit.
He orderedtheservanttoletGeorgein.Understandingtheelder’simportantstatusinthehouse,theservantnodded,saying.“Rightaway,”andwasoff.
JonathanandAnthonygrewworried,“Grandpa,thisisabadidea.He’sdefinitelyuptonogood!”
“Exactly.”Philip’slookturnedserious,histoneharsh,“Itseemsyoutwoareharbouringbadintentions<b>,</b><b>So</b>quicktojudge,clearlynotwithpurethoughts.”
Thetwofeltincrediblymisjudged.TheirgrandfatherhadbeenoverseasallthiswhileandwascluelessabouttheButs‘andGeorge’sstrainedrtionship.
HisviewofGeorgewasstistheexcellentkidnextdoor,unawareofhismaniptivetendencies.
Plus,sincePhilipalreadyhadagoodrtionshipwithAndrew,henaturallyhadafondnessforGeorge,
HearingthatGeorgewashere,he<b>was</b>genuinelydelightedandhadnothoughtsofturninghimaway.