Jasper held the phone to his ear, and William's furious voice roared loud and clear. The intensity of it made Jasper instinctively pull the phone away as if the old man's frustration could leap through the device. "Did you hear me? Get Georgina here immediately!" The line went quiet for just a moment before William's voice thundered again, "Playing cute won't work! She has to come today! Do you hear me?" "Yes, I heard you. I'll call her now." "It has to be quick. She has to be here within 30 minutes." "Alright, alright," Jasper replied hastily, ending the call before William's irritation could turn on him. William still had more to say, but the line had already gone dead. He sighed inwardly, grumbling about how his grandchildren always hung up before he was finished."William, you're so efficient—it's appreciated. Please, take a seat and eat something," Matthew said with a smile. William's firm tone earlier had clearly impressed Leon, who was sitting nearby. It would have been better if William had acted like that sooner! Leon thought bitterly about all the time he'd wasted arguing with the old man. What a pointless drain on his energy. He leaned forward and pulled out a chair for William. "You must've skipped breakfast coming here so early. The food at The Daves is plain, but you should have something to eat for now." With most of the matters settled, Leon's demeanor shifted back to one of politeness, his tone carrying a touch of elegance. Meanwhile, Matthew's expression grew noticeably softer. He idly stroked his beard as he began adding food to Addison's plate. His improved mood was evident in the speed with which he loaded her plate, piling it high in no time at all. Addison stared at the overflowing plate, feeling a bit stunned. She hadn't even finished the food she already had."That's more than enough, Grandpa. I can't eat all of this," she said helplessly. Matthew gave her a gentle, affectionate smile. "Angel, you need to eat more. Look at you—you've gotten so thin these years." His eyes scanned her closely, noting how much slimmer she looked. Her face, arms, waist, and even her legs seemed smaller than before. Her arms, in particular, were shockingly thin—less than half the width of his own. "You've become far too skinny," he muttered, shaking his head in disapproval. "Now that you're back home, it's time to make up for that. Eat well and get your strength back. None of the mistreatment you endured at the Johnstons will happen here. "We'll always stand by you. So tell me, have you ever been mistreated, like being locked in a dressing room?" Once something happened the first time, it could easily happen again. The thought troubled Matthew deeply. He worried that Addison might have faced bullying and loneliness in Halton but chose to stay silent and endure it alone. To him, such a situation was unacceptable. Imagining that his granddaughter might suffer humiliation or even physical harm and keep it to herself, he tightened his fists with anger. "If anything like that happens, don't hold back. Speak up. We're strong and capable. "If anyone dares to hurt you, I'll make sure they face the consequences." Addison blinked. Those words sounded so familiar. Those words reminded her of something her grandfather used to tell her when she was just a little girl, back in her kindergarten or early school days. But now, she was fully grown—an adult, married even—and yet her grandfather still addressed her as if she were a child. To her elders, it was as though Addison would always remain a child in their eyes. "Don't worry about me. No one bullies me. Really," she said, blinking her bright eyes in an attempt to appear more convincing.Matthew gazed at her earnest expression, but doubt lingered in his mind. Addison immediately claimed she was fine when he checked on her. Yet, if that were true, how could she have ended up locked inside the dressing room by William's spoiled granddaughter? Holding her hand gently, he spoke gently, "Angel, you need to remember that even if I'm not here one day, your father and uncle will always be there for you. The Daves will always have your back. "Just live your life without worries. Leave the rest to us." Matthew silently vowed that as long as he was alive, he would never let anything harm his granddaughter. Upon hearing that, Addison quickly shook her head. "Don't say things like that, Grandpa. You'll live for a long time." Live a long life? I hope so. Matthew smiled faintly as he shook his head. "I don't need to live forever. Watching my family live in peace is all I could ever ask for." ...Elsewhere, Jasper ended a call, and his bodyguard immediately stepped forward, offering him the cigarette he had barely smoked. "Mr. Jasper, here's your cigarette." The bodyguard, eager to please, held the cigarette carefully with both hands, as if preparing to place it directly into Jasper's mouth. Jasper's expression darkened with irritation. He pushed the cigarette away and lifted his chin. "I'm done smoking. Get rid of it." "Right away, sir," the bodyguard replied, bowing slightly as he hurried to extinguish the cigarette in the ashtray. Jasper reached for a glass of vodka resting on the table, took a sip, and instantly spat it out. The alcohol hadn't even made it down his throat. His gaze shifted to the bottle, and his face tightened into a frown. "This vodka needs replacing," he said, his tone sharp with dissatisfaction. "Yes, sir," another bodyguard responded quickly, nodding and bowing before grabbing the bottle and leaving the room without hesitation. Jasper settled onto the couch, pulled out his phone, and scrolled to Georgina's number. He hesitated briefly before pressing the call button. When the line connected, he skipped any formalities and asked bluntly, "Where are you?" Meanwhile, Georgina stood in a hospital ward in Kreshill, her phone pressed to one ear while her other hand rested lightly on Virginia's forehead, checking her temperature. "Did you get hurt? What caused you to faint?" Georgina asked with concern. Virginia smiled faintly, attempting to reassure her. "It's nothing serious. I just got a little too worked up, and my body couldn't handle it. You know how fragile my health is. There's no need to worry." Georgina frowned, her tone skeptical. "Even with poor health, this seems excessive. Fainting so easily and needing to stay in the hospital for days? That doesn't sound normal." Virginia lowered her gaze, staying quiet. If not for Lance insisting the doctors keep her there under observation, she would've left the hospital long ago. The thought made her clench her hand into a fist beneath the blanket. "I brought some supplements from home to help you recover," Georgina said, signaling the bodyguard behind her. He stepped forward, carrying several bags filled with items. When Virginia looked up, her breath caught for a moment. The bags were packed with rare and valuable supplements. She immediately smiled. "Thank you, Ms. Hamilton." The Hamiltons were well-known in Kreshill, and everything they provided was of the highest quality. Those supplements must have cost a fortune. "You're welcome—" Georgina began, but her words were cut off by a sharp voice from the other end of the line. "So, you've got time to meddle in other people's lives, but none to care for your brother?" Jasper's tone was dripping with irritation. "I'm practically on my deathbed, and you haven't bothered to check on me." He had been listening long enough to figure out what his sister was doing. It turned out she was busy focusing her attention on someone else entirely.