Chapter 498

498
Tom pulled up a chair and sat beside Owen . He asked , “ Mind if I join you ? I haven’t had breakfast yet . ”
“ Dad , didn’t you already … ” Anabel started , but caught her father’s stern look and immediately shut her mouth .
Owen didn’t harbor any deep grudge against Tom . He wouldn’t kick Tom out at a time like this . “ Make yourself at home , Uncle Tom , ” he said .
Tom didn’t immediately pick up his fork . Instead , he turned to Lily with a warm , kindly expression and said , “ Lily , if you’re considering an internship during your school holidays , you’re welcome to join us at the Shaw Group ,
“ I heard you’re planning to major in physics . My wife is a well – known physicist . I’d be happy to introduce you to her . It could be tremendously helpful for your academic and career development . ”
Lily looked up , her polite but distant smile never wavering . “ Thank you, but I’ll have to pass . ”
Tom was stunned by her blunt refusal . Looking puzzled , he asked , “ Is there something you’re concerned about ? ”
Lily replied firmly , “ My sister Aria is a shareholder at the Stars Group . If I were to intern anywhere , it would be the Stars Group , nowhere else . ”
Tom thought , ‘ Aria’s sister ? But as far as I know , Aria doesn’t have a sister .”
Tom glanced at Aria , his mind clouded with confusion . ‘ Did I miss something important ? ‘ he wondered .
After a brief pause , he conceded gracefully . “ Very well then . Since you’ve decided , I won’t trouble you further ,” he said . “ Anabel , let’s go . ”
Anabel didn’t even look up , her mouth full of food as she mumbled , “ I’m already on break . I’m staying to hang out with Owen and the others . ”
Tom said , “ Anabel , you’re bothering them . ”
Anabel looked up at Aria with puppy – dog eyes and asked , “ Aria , am I bothering you guys ? ”
“ No , ” Aria replied gently .
Anabel turned to Owen . “ Owen , am I bothering you guys ? ”
“ No , ” Owen said .
Anabel turned to her father with a smirk . “ See , Dad ? I’m not bothering them . You can go now . Bye . ”
Tom was speechless .
He turned to Owen and said gently , “ I heard your brother already has a daughter . And now that you’re with Aria , you should visit the family more often . After all , we’re all family . There’s no need for such hostility . ”
Owen’s eyes turned cold . He put down his fork and said , “ Uncle Tom , when Isaac used your name , he didn’t cross any lines . Yet you were so disappointe in him that you came here to apologize .
“ When Isaac broke the law , you brushed it off as an accident. When he kidnapped someone , you made excuses for him . If he’d stolen someone else’s
identity instead of yours , you wouldn’t have lifted a finger , much less be standing here arguing with me .
“ You’ll never know the pain until you feel the knife yourself . Accepting your apology doesn’t mean I’m coming back to Kanit City . I don’t want anything more to do with you people .
“ Uncle Tom , don’t come looking for me or contact me again unless necessary . ”
Perhaps Owen’s gentle demeanor had lulled Tom into a false sense of security , emboldening him to speak so presumptuously today . Now , confronted with Owen’s merciless and barefaced sarcasm , Tom’s expression shifted through a spectrum of emotions .
1/2
UTO F11 , 27 Jun
70 % O
498
Tom had always been fiercely protective of his reputation , not only because he was the patriarch of the Shaw family , but also because he was the husband of Mabel , the renowned physicist .
He would never tolerate anyone tarnishing his reputation .
But on second thought , Tom admitted to himself , ‘ Owen’s right . If Isaac had used someone else’s identity instead of mine , i might have thought it wasn’t a big deal and just let it slide . ‘
Tom instinctively turned to his daughter , his expression conflicted as he asked , “ Anabel … Do you think that way too ? ”
AD