Chapter 690

Understanding exactly what his wife wanted, Cale could only let out a long breath and shake his head faintly. He refused her unspoken request. To him, this was not the right time.

Then he looked at Naomi for several seconds. “I did know your father well.”

“That’s not an answer,” Naomi shot back at once.

“It’s the answer you need tonight.”

Naomi gave a short, bitter laugh. “No. It’s the safest answer for you, so I won’t ask more questions.” She stepped forward. “ Please, Mr. Miller. Just tell me this. Where is my family buried?”

“The time will come when you know, Naomi. But for now, you should sleep. It’s late.”

Naomi clenched her fists. “You always speak as if you have the right to control other people’s time.”

“It’s not about rights.”

“Then what is it?”

“Protection,” Cale replied evenly.

“I never asked to be protected.”

“You also don’t realize you’re being hunted.”

The room fell silent.

Lydia looked at Cale, then at Naomi, before her eyes settled on the photograph still clutched in the girl’s hands.

“Could that be possible?” Lydia asked, worry slipping into her voice. “You mean… Don Falcon?”

“More than that, darling.”

Naomi stared at him, stunned by what he had just admitted. “What do you mean, Mr. Miller?”

“Liu, take Naomi back to her room immediately,” Cale said, ignoring her question entirely. Instead, he gave Liu an order, making it clear he had no intention of prolonging the argument.

Naomi looked back at Cale. “Fine. Then answer one more thing. Why am I forbidden from going to my family’s grave?”

This time, Cale’s gaze turned colder.

“Because you are not going there.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s a decision.” Cale emphasized every word.

Naomi lifted her chin. “And who are you to make that decision?”

Cale stepped closer. Not in a threatening way, but close enough to make Naomi realize just how calm this man remained while everyone else was beginning to unravel.

“I’m someone who is still cleaning up the mess your family’s past left behind.”

The words made Naomi’s brow furrow deeply. “What does that mean?”

Cale stepped back once. “It’s late. Go back to your room.”

“I’m not moving until you answer me.”

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“Naomi,” Lydia said gently, trying to calm her. “It’s very late. My husband is right, you should rest. Think about your health.”

“No.” Naomi shook her head sharply. “I’m tired of being treated like a child. You brought me to another country, had other people watch over me, kept my family’s photo here, and now you refuse to talk. Am I a prisoner in this house?”

“Don’t be dramatic,” Cale said.

“Dramatic?” Her tears finally fell. “I don’t even know where my parents are buried.”

The tension in the room tightened even further, and it felt clear now that this would not end simply.

Even Cale had not expected Naomi to be this stubborn. God, how had he forgotten one thing? Naomi was a direct descendant of the Chen family. Of course her mind would be as hard as stone.

Lydia closed her eyes for a moment. Liu turned his face away.

Naomi wiped her cheeks roughly, refusing to look fragile. “If none of you will talk, then I’ll go myself.”

She set the framed photograph down on the table with trembling hands, then looked at Cale with a gaze filled with both challenge and hurt.

“I’ll find their graves on my own.”

Cale stared at her without blinking. His face remained calm, far too calm for a man who had just been met with threats and tears.

“Feel free to try, then.” His voice was flat as he looked at her. “Miss Chen.”

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