Old Mr. Quintin wasn’t his usual gentle self today; a hint of sternness marked his
features as he spoke, “No need for that. Just be good to Estelle.”
Jonathan, taken aback, struggled to recall a moment when he had ever
neglected Estelle.
Beside him, Old Mr. Jarvis chimed in, “You old coot, when your grandson-in-law
offers you a toast, you should grab the glass, not put on airs!”
Old Mr. Quintin shot him a glare, “Then why don’t you take it and drink it
yourself!”
Geoffrey stood up, “If Jonathan has fallen short in the past, I’ll apologize to Old
Mr. Quintin on his behalf. Or perhaps, should I personally offer you a toast?”
Enter title…
Estelle approached Old Mr. Quintin, tugging at his sleeve.
In a tempered voice, Old Mr. Quintin said, “Your grandpa’s not here in J City, but
as long as I am, even though I’m getting on in years, I can still watch over you. If
anyone gives you grief, they’ll have me to answer to!”
Jonathan, accustomed to respect and authority, had never been dressed down
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtlike this, not even by Geoffrey. Yet, he didn’t show a trace of irritation and
retained his composure, speaking gently,
“Rest assured, I fear for Ella’s well-being more than anyone else.”
“Master!” Estelle called out again.
Old Mr. Quintin looked at her, his features softening. Finally, he accepted the
cup from Jonathan’s hand, “I’m not some stubborn old relic. As long as you treat
Estelle well, I’ll see it.”
Jonathan offered a warm smile, “Thank you!”
After the ceremony, Estelle said her goodbyes to the elders and quickly whisked
Jonathan away.
Once they were out of the banquet hall, Estelle let out a sigh of relief, “He was a
bit harsh with you earlier. I didn’t expect him to call you out in public.”
“It’s okay, I’m actually happy!” Jonathan said, holding Estelle’s hand with a
tender voice, “I’m truly glad that before I came into your life, there were so many
who cherished you!”
Estelle looked down with a soft smile, “Yes, he has always been good to me,
just like Grandpa.”
“Is Grandpa planning to settle in J City? I can arrange a place for him,”
Jonathan offered.
“He’ll probably stay a couple of days,” Estelle replied. “Staying at Master’s is
fine. They might always quarrel, but decades of friendship won’t be affected by
that.”
She paused, then turned to Jonathan, “When Grandpa leaves, I’m thinking of
going back to C City with him for a few days. My work with the crew is done,
and I have some time off.”
Jonathan nodded, “I’ll come with you.”
“No need!” Estelle shook her head. “It’s not a holiday, and you have things to
look after at the company. I’ll be back soon.”
Jonathan frowned, “We’ve just reunited, and now we’re separating again?”
Estelle hugged his waist, “I’ll stay for a couple of days before I go.”
Jonathan stroked her face gently, “We’ll talk about it in two days then.”
“Mm-hm,” Estelle nodded lightly.
After they left, Mr. Scott thought of Manley, who had also returned. Concerned
about a potential clash with Jonathan, he decided to leave the party to find
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Manley and persuade him not to butt heads with Jonathan.
Downstairs in the banquet hall, Mr. Scott ran into some old friends. While
chatting, one of them laughed, “Manley’s back too, even acted as a
groomsman. Scared me when I saw him step out!”
“Yes!” Mr. Scott agreed. “He’s on good terms with the bride and groom, made it
a point to come back!”
“Manley’s doing a bang-up job managing the company in Australia, really
impressive. No matter where he is, he stands on his own two feet,” his friend
praised. “Perfect timing, my daughter just got back from Sydney. I should
introduce them.”
Mr. Scott was eager for Manley to find a girlfriend and settle down, smiling he
nodded, “She’s twenty-three this year, right? I heard she’s had a few successful
tours, quite remarkable!”
“She’s been passionate about ballet since she was a little girl, and we fully
support her career!”
As they conversed, Mr. Scott caught sight of Manley passing through the foyer
and called out to him, “Manley, come here!”
Manley approached with a casual smile, “Mr. Bradshaw.”