Chapter 38
Chapter 38
As the rumors had suggested. Edward seemed to have some deep feelings for his long–lou granddaughter.
But Tisa thought it was better to raise a child with love than just be biologically connected.
However, not everyone shared her opinion
At least Quinlyn didn’t flinch at Edward’s legs. She didn’t gasp in shock or burst into tears like Harriet had In fact, it was safe to say that Harriet had completely ruined her earlier behavior with that one scream when she first saw Edward’s legs
Meanwhile, Tina spent quite a bit of time trying to calm Harriet down, gently saying. “Now’s not the time to be scared. Open your eyes and look around. So many big families are here, and Quinlyn’s here, too. Do you want to lose to her?”
Harriet, not wanting to be outdone, waped her tears and tried to push past her fear. She stood up, walked over to Edward. and apologized, her voice soft. Grandpa. I’m really sorry for earlier. I didn’t mean to react like that”
Edward wasn’t holding onto grudges, especially not against a child. He just shook his head and said, “It’s okay. Go on and play now. Don’t crowd around me?
Harriet nodded, still feeling uneasy. But when she saw Quinlyn hadn’t left, she didn’t want to walk away. And especially when her eyes landed on Quinlyn’s gorgeous new dress. A wave of jealousy hit her, sharp and bitter as if she could bleed from it.
“Hailey, how did you get this beautiful dress so dirty?” Harriet’s voice oozed with mockery, and with that, she quickly drew everyone’s attention to Quinlyn’s clothes
Until now, everyone had been focused on how beautiful the dress was, but now that Quinlyn stood up straight, they could spot several black smudges. The green ribbon that had once been tied around her waist was missing, leaving her waist looking loose and unflattering.
Showing up late to the party and ruining a dress like that was just so rude.
Then, they noticed her messy hair and slightly darker complexion. The contrast with Harriet, who looked as elegant as a little swan made Quinlyn seem almost pitiful in comparison.
“Figures, no proper upbringing. She’s ten, and she still doesn’t know how to behave. Looks like she’s been spoiled,” one woman said, her voice dripping with judgment.
“She probably doesn’t know anything about music or etiquette, either. Let’s just hope she’s not invited to dance with our son later. Id be embarrassed,” another woman added, a look of disgust on her face.
The crowd started whispering to each other.
Harriet didn’t have to guess who they were talking about. It was definitely Quinlyn. And Quinlyn, with her sharp hearing caught every word of it.
But despite Harriet’s smug look, Quinlyn stayed calm the whole time. As soon as she noticed the door, she quietly said to Edward, Grandpa, I need to talk to you.”
Knowing Quinlyn was always level–headed and wouldn’t speak unless necessary, Edward gave her a quick nod. “Alright, let’s go to the lounge”
That was exactly what Quinlyn had been hoping for.
She stepped behind Edward, expertly maneuvering his wheel hair, and without hesitation, she started heading toward the lounge.
Realizing she was being ignored, Harriet finally pieced it together. Her fists clenched, and she felt the urge to stomp her feet in frustration. Before she could lose her temper, Tina grabbed her by the arm.
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Chapter 28
“Isn’t it better that she walked away? Now you’ve got the chance to meet some new people, Tina said, guiding her gently. “Let
me introduce you
Haier pauses and then nodded, figuring This was right. She stood up straighter and decided to mingle with the guests at the party.
But the damage was already done. People were still polite to Harriet, but after just a few words, their attention quickly. shifted to Quinlyn. It was clear they were much more interested in her.
Harriet felt her face heat up with embarrassment and resentment. She shot a venomous glare toward the lounge, silently wishing Quinly would just stay there and never come out.
In the lounge, Edward could smell the strong smell of blood and saw a man lying on the couch, barely clinging to life. His jaw tightened with anger as he shot a sharp look at Stanley, who was standing off to the side.
“Did you do this?” Edward asked, his voice low and icy.
It wasn’t hard for him to think that way. Stanley had a reputation for causing trouble, and he’d gotten himself into plenty of messes before.
But this time, Stanley immediately threw his hands up in defense. “Grandpa, I swear it’s not my fault! We found him when we were just trying to help. People who were hunting him down outside sneaked into the party. You’ve got to help us!”
Edward’s temper flared, but before he could explode, a small figure stepped forward and blocked his path.
“This man came to see me, Quinlyn said, speaking carefully as she pieced the story together. “While we were talking, some foreign group started attacking me online.” She paused, trying to connect the dots, but then she added. The people chasing him are foreigners, too.”
Edward’s frown deepened. He took a moment, his gaze fixed on Quinlyn. “You think it’s an overseas group behind this?”
Quinlyn thought for a moment. She felt confident in her answer, so she nodded. “Yeah.”
Standing nearby, Stanley stared at them in shock, his eyes wide. “So, you didn’t just help him for no reason? But he’s just the boss of a game company. Why would anyone go after him?”
Before Stanley could finish his sentence, Quinlyn shook her head, cutting him off gently. “When I was working on their company’s firewall, I found another system buried inside–something unrelated to the games.”
“What?” Stanley blinked, clearly confused. “What kind of system are you talking about?”
Before Quinlyn could answer, Edward stepped in. He grabbed her arm gently, his expression turning serious. “Is he working for someone higher up?”
There was no mistaking who he meant by “higher up.”
Quinlyn nodded slightly, understanding exactly what he was getting at.
Edward’s expression softened, a small smile tugging at his lips as a wave of relief washed over him. He patted Quinlyn on the shoulder. “Alright, that makes sense now. Nice work. You didn’t save the wrong person.”
Quinlyn blinked, feeling the warmth of his hand on her shoulder and the approval in his eyes. It reminded her so much of Matthew.
She smiled shyly, her lips curling up as she glanced down, a bit embarrassed. Stanley, however, couldn’t believe his eyes. He stared at them in disbelief, his mouth hanging open.
“Wait, are they already this close?‘ he thought.
20:34 Tue, 18 Mar
Chapter 38
CA
A spark of jealousy flickered in his chest.
Feeling Edward’s envious gaze, Stanley glanced over at him, muttering. “What are you staring at? Go grab the first aid kit from the other mom, and call the family doctor. Tell him I’m not feeling well. Stop wasting time and don’t hold up Quinlyn.”
Stanley thought. Is this really my grandfather?
After Stanley was urged out of the room, Edward turned to Quinlyn, his tone sharp as he spoke to her about their next steps.
It wasn’t until the family doctor arrived in a hurry that Quinlyn finally made her way back to the banquet hall. Scanning the room, she spotted Maurice and walked over to him. “I want to go up on stage and introduce myself, she demanded.
“Introduce yourself?” Maurice frowned, glancing down at her as he held his wine. Seeing she had no idea how out of place her request sounded, he almost laughed but kept his expression neutral. “The stage is right there. Go if you want,” he said dismissively.
Then he turned and walked away, mingling with the other guests, certain that Quinlyn wouldn’t have the guts to go up without an adult to guide her. He assumed once he rejected her, she’d back down.
A minute later, however, a loud crackle came from the sound system, cutting through the chatter in the hall.
The crowd immediately turned to see what was happening, and to their surprise, Quinlyn was standing at the center of the stage. She tapped the microphone, ensuring it worked, and then she said calmly. “Hello, everyone. I’m Quinlyn Yates, and I have something to say.
The crowd quickly recognized her. Some were surprised by the unfamiliar last name–Yates–rather than Anderson. Others couldn’t help but admire her composure, especially since she was so young, standing confidently in front of so many people.
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