Chapter 288


    Stepping through the door, shielded by a simple curtain, his eyes immediatelynded on Ian sitting


    on the couch. Dressed in ck, Ian sat with a straight back, his dark hair falling across his


    forehead, entuating his chiseled features. A shadow of a smile yed in his eyes.


    Joey, who had been smug just moments ago, now felt his face contort, muscles twitching


    involuntarily, his legs shaking uncontrobly.


    ra’s aunt, blind to her son''s distress, eagerly tugged at his arm and urged, "Son, take a good


    look and tell Grandpa Reed here whether these items are fakes."


    Joey was just a department manager in a subsidiary of Hayes Corporation. He had never met Ian in


    person, having only seen him on television. He''d heard rumors that Mr. Hayes had a beautiful


    secretary by his side, but he never imagined that secretary would be his cousin ra nor that they


    were engaged to be married.


    How had such staggering wealth and fortune fallen into Joey''sp?


    He scurried over to Ian like a loyalpdog, offering cigarettes and bowing, eager to make amends. "I


    had no idea you would be my future brother-inw. Mr. Hayes, please forgive anyck of hospitality


    on my part," Joey fawned.


    The room fell silent, everyone stunned by his words.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    ra’s aunt rushed over, confused. "Mr. Hayes? You sure you''re not mistaken?"


    Joey shot her a look, a silent signal, and said in a low tone, "This man is the CEO of Hayes


    Corporation, my ultimate boss. Mom, we need to prepare a feast. I''m going to roast a wholemb


    for Mr. Hayes today."


    At the mention of a feast, the very people who had scrutinized ra now changed their tune,


    tripping over themselves to curry favor.


    "ra loves a good roast goose. I''ll prepare a couple for her right away."


    "I remember ra''s fondness for my sweet buns. I''ll head home and bake some right now."


    ra watched the sycophants with an impassive face. She nced at Ian and said softly, "Grandpa


    Reed enjoys his peace, and he''s not fond of those things. Please, everyone, you can leave."


    Joey, still grinning, interjected, "ra, it''s not often you and your betrothed visit. Let us entertain


    you. Besides, it''s the festive season, and the new year is just around the corner. It''ll be more merry


    celebrating together."


    Reed, fed up with the charade, couldn''t help but scoff, "Now you''re all sweet on ra? When she


    lived here as a child, did she even get a taste of your kindness? You''re her rtives, for heaven''s


    sake, yet you never cared for her and only ganged up with outsiders to bully her. Now that she''s


    doing well, you want to cozy up? Over my dead body. Get out, all of you!"


    With that, Reed grabbed a pillow from the couch and hurled it at the crowd. As the pillow flew


    through the air,nding right before Ian, something fell out. He frowned deeply as he picked it up.


    "ra," he called out, his voice grave as he handed her the report.


    ra''s eyes welled up as she read it. "Reed, why didn''t you tell me?"


    Reed sighed, the truth out in the open. "Your dad''s been unwell, and I didn''t want to worry him.


    Besides, it''s cancer. Treatment seemed pointless and just a waste of money when death''s


    inevitable."


    "But at least hospital care could ease the pain and extend his life..."


    Tears streamed down ra''s cheeks. Reed had been diagnosed withte-stage stomach cancer


    months ago, and neither she nor her father had any clue.


    During these tumultuous months, while her personal life was in turmoil and her father had multiple


    ICU stays, she had neglected Grandpa Reed. He was sick, gravely so, and she had been oblivious.


    She''d always assumed Grandpa Reed was robust, living a simple life in the countryside, immune to


    such ailments.