Chapter 240


    Pax''s school was indeed organizing a study trip to Italy, but Connor found it hard to believe. "What are the odds?" he muttered, closing hisptop and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "What brings you here?" he asked, noticing Teddy''s unexpected visit during lunch break.


    "Miss Diana was looking for you. She called, but you didn''t pick up, so she reached out to me instead." Teddy exined.


    Connor nced at his phone and saw the two missed calls. "Got it. You can go now," he said, motioning for Teddy to leave. Once alone, he dialed Diana back.


    "Hey, what''s up?" he greeted, his voice calm and gentle as always.


    "Uncle Connor, I need to tell you something. Please don''t be mad," Diana''s voice held a hint of worry.


    "What is it? Just tell me. I promise I won''t get mad," he reassured her, his tone still soothing.


    "I don''t want to go to Hollywood," she confessed.


    "If you don''t want to go, then don''t," Connor replied casually.


    Diana sighed in relief. "I thought you''d be upset since you went through all that trouble for me. I didn''t want to disappoint you."


    Connor chuckled softly. "Silly girl, I thought it would be a great opportunity for you. But if you''re not into it, that''s fine. Your happiness matters most to me. I''ll never force you to do something you don''t want to."


    "Thank you, Uncle Connor. You''re the best," Diana''s voice brightened with gratitude. "Oh, and can I join anotherpany''s variety show? It''s Ruben''s new show, and I think it''s going to be amazing."


    "Ruben? The king of variety shows? If he''s behind it, it''s bound to be a hit. Go for it," Connor encouraged her. "But howe I didn''t know he was working on a new show? What''s it about?"


    Connor usually kept a close eye on Diana''s career, mainly to shield her from ire, who controlled a significant portion of the


    entertainment industry''s resol


    and could easily pull Diana into her sphere of influence.


    "Uncle Connor, let''s keep it a surprise for now," Diana teased.


    Connor was still preupied with thoughts of Chloe and the recent encounter with the model, so he didn''t press further. After hanging up, he returned to his desk, his eyes drifting to a photo frame. Inside was a picture of a little girl, around four years old.


    He recalled the first time Chloe saw the photo and asked if the girl was his daughter. He couldn''t help butugh and feel a bit annoyed. How could she not recognize herself at five?This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    The memory took him back to when


    he first met Chloe. She was five, and he was ten, at Eldridge Hospital, near Snow River. The river was fenced off, and patients often took walks along its banks during the day But that night, the ce was deserted except for a small, lonely figure.


    Ten-year-old Connor had stood by the river for a long time before climbing over the fence. Just as he was about to jump, a tiny voice called out, "Hey, are you nning to jump into the river?"


    He looked up to see a little girl with pigtails, sitting on a tree by the river, sucking on a lollipop.