Chapter 71

Chapter 71:

Robert awoke to find the remnants of the previous night’s alcohol still clouding his senses. His head felt heavy, as if wrapped in a dense fog.

Fragments of the prior day slowly came into focus—lunch, drinks, and the celebration with his friends and business partners.

And then it struck him: Fernanda had achieved the highest score in Esaham University’s entrance exam and had been accepted into the program.

Snatching his phone from the nightstand, he opened the photo album. There it was—the image of Fernanda’s acceptance letter. A grin spread across his face, and a chuckle escaped his lips as joy bubbled within him.

When Robert came downstairs, Selma was perched on the sofa, eyes fixed on the TV.

“Good morning, Robert,” she said without looking away from the screen.

“Good morning,” he replied, settling on the sofa and sipping from a glass of water.

Selma’s eyes flitted toward him briefly. “You really overdid it yesterday. Came home completely drunk—poor Michelle and Erika were so worried. You’re middle-aged now. Maybe you should take it easy on alcohol. It’s not good for you, you know p>

“I know. I’ll cut back. Thanks for the reminder,” Robert said with a nod.

He didn’t mind her fussing; he knew elders found solace in such gentle scolding.

Selma leaned back, her tone shifting. “Do you remember what you said yesterday p>

Robert frowned, his brows knitting together.

“What do you mean? Did I say something embarrassing when I was drunk p>

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The thought made his stomach twist. The idea of spouting nonsense at his age was anything but dignified.

“Not really,” Selma said, waving it off. “You were slurring your words—we couldn’t make much sense of it p>

Robert exhaled, the tension easing from his shoulders.

Selma hesitated, her gaze sliding away before returning.

“But I do recall you mentioning something about Fernanda working at your company after she graduates p>

Her voice carried a lightness that didn’t quite match the intensity in her eyes, which clung to Robert’s face, awaiting his reaction.

Robert rubbed his temple, trying to summon the memory.

“Did I say that p>

“You did. Michelle and Erika heard it too. It’s really thoughtful of you—planning Fernanda’s future like that p>

Selma’s words were careful, each one laid out with deliberate tact. She knew better than to prod Robert too directly; he wasn’t one to tolerate interference lightly.

As a result, she spoke of Fernanda with careful warmth, her tone laced with politeness, aiming to mask her true intent and make her inquiries seem innocuous to Robert.

“We’ll see,” Robert said, swirling the water in his glass. “She hasn’t even started university yet. There’s plenty of time, and if she can build her own path, I’d prefer it p>

“Of course, Fernanda’s so talented—she’ll go far, no doubt about it,” Selma agreed with a fervent nod.

But behind her enthusiastic agreement lay a quiet relief. She wasn’t keen on the Morgan family’s assets benefiting someone outside the immediate fold. The company was for her grandchildren—not for Fernanda.

Satisfied that Robert’s words from the night before had been nothing more than alcohol-induced ramblings, Selma allowed herself a smile.

“Oh, speaking of which, what time will Kevin arrive? I want to cook his favorite dishes,” she said, changing the subject.

“If his flight’s on schedule, he should land by one,” Robert replied, glancing at the clock and realizing it was already past ten.

“I’ll head to the airport now to pick him up,” he added, rising to his feet.

The drive to the airport would take nearly two hours, so it was the perfect time to leave.

Selma stood as well. “I’ll pick up some groceries. You can drop me off on your way p>

As Robert prepared to leave, he paused outside Fernanda’s door. He hesitated for a moment before knocking lightly.

Fernanda opened it, her figure framed in soft morning light, still in her pajamas. Her sleek, dark hair cascaded down her shoulders, its contrast against the beige fabric of her dress giving her an air of quiet elegance.

Robert’s lips curled into a warm smile.

“Just woke up? It’s the holidays, after all. You should take the time to rest—it’s good for you p>

Fernanda’s eyes dropped to the floor, her expression flat.

“Do you need something p>

She wasn’t convinced he had come simply to offer advice about rest.

“Ah, yes,” Robert said, his tone shifting. “Your brother Kevin’s coming home today. His summer camp abroad is over. I’m heading to the airport to pick him up. Want to come along? He’d be thrilled to see you p>

Thrilled? Fernanda couldn’t bring herself to believe that.

If Kevin took after Ector, it wouldn’t be so bad. But if he was anything like Selma or Erika, he’d likely see me as nothing more than an unwelcome intruder. I realized suddenly: Selma’s visit was because her grandson was returning home. She couldn’t afford to miss welcoming him, hence her presence here.

I shook my head. “I have plans later, so I won’t have time to go with you p>

Robert’s brows furrowed. “Plans? What could be more important than greeting your brother p>

My lips curled slightly, my eyes gleaming with quiet confidence. “Yesterday, Bobby and I tried a restaurant. The food was great. He wants to go back today p>

At the mention of Bobby, Robert’s frown melted into a wide grin. He patted my shoulder lightly and chuckled. “Ah, of course—I nearly forgot. You young folks should make the most of your time together. Go on, enjoy your meal with Bobby. I won’t keep you p>

I stepped back and closed the door without another word. Robert, however, wasn’t offended by my curt dismissal. On the contrary, the idea of me spending time with Bobby pleased him immensely. It was exactly what he wanted. Bobby’s affection for me meant I would hold sway with the Harper family—a key advantage for Robert. If I could strengthen my position after marriage, it would bring countless benefits to him.

Already, Robert’s mind was dancing with visions of a prosperous future. Even as traffic delayed him for half an hour on the way to the airport and Kevin’s flight was pushed back by another thirty minutes, his good mood remained unshaken. By 2 p.m., Kevin strode out of the arrival gate, his luggage tossed.

Kevin carelessly tossed his luggage to the waiting driver before climbing into the car. With effortless ease, he unwrapped two sticks of gum and popped them into his mouth, bobbing his head to the rhythm in his headphones.

As the car pulled away, Kevin flung his feet onto the empty seat in front of him, stretched out languidly, and pulled out his phone to launch a game. His retreat into music without so much as a greeting grated on Robert’s nerves. He ordered him to remove the headphones at once.

Kevin clicked his tongue in irritation but obeyed, answering Robert’s questions with obvious disinterest. His outfit—a mix of trendy oversized pieces, baggy jeans, an exaggerated jacket, and limited-edition sneakers—screamed youthful rebellion. His blue-dyed hair only added to the clash of styles that irked Robert.

“You could learn a thing or two from your sister,” Robert said pointedly. “Stop wasting your time on e-games. Fernanda just topped the Esaham University entrance exams p>

Kevin didn’t even look up, rolling his eyes. “What does that have to do with me? I have only one sister—Erika. Fernanda is not my sister p>