Clara gave her son a long, heavy look—confused, too—but she was calmer than her daughter. "Jethro, if this is the choice you made after careful thought, I'll respect it. But don't say I didn't warn you. I will not allow that child into my home. You should come by less from now on." Arthur was taken aback. Was she cutting ties with her own son? "Clara!" he chided softly. "Don't speak nonsense!" Clara let out a bitter laugh. "I mean every word. Furthermore, I'll be visiting you less as well, to avoid running into people I'd rather not see." Arthur's face flushed with anger. "You—" But Clara didn't give him the chance. She strode off without looking back. Arthur was left seething, a knot of frustration tight in his chest. The vast chapel was suddenly quiet, leaving only Arthur, his two grandsons, and the butler. The four of them stood in awkward silence. Finally, Arthur waved a hand in weary dismissal. "Enough. Let's leave it here for today. Cindy and Clara are just having a hard time accepting it. I believe in time, they'll come to understand that blood is thicker than water, and family ties are paramount." With that, supported by the butler, he shuffled unsteadily out of the chapel. Behind him, Jethro and Jasper walked side by side. Jethro narrowed his eyes slightly. "Jasper, you didn't seem surprised by Grandpa's words today." Jasper's back stiffened. He averted his gaze uncomfortably. "I was surprised, but it was expected. Grandpa has been pushing for marriage and great-grandchildren for years. Now there's one right in front of him. People say grandparents dote grandchild the hardest. A great-grandchild? That's even more precious. I'm sure seeing that child made him overjoyed, eager to bring him into the family." Jethro raised an eyebrow. "You're saying Grandpa has met Jett? How would you know that?" "I—" Jasper faltered, his mind racing. "I... I assumed. If he hadn't met him, why would he agree to acknowledge him? He must have met him, liked him, and then decided." "Heh." Jethro patted Jasper's shoulder. "Nice analysis. I was too foolish to figure out why Grandpa suddenly changed his mind. Your explanation clears things up." Jasper couldn't tell what game his cousin was playing. He just had a deep, instinctive feeling that Jethro was dangerous at this moment. When a smart man suddenly calls himself dumb, you should be wary. He's either genuinely humble or he's up to something. Given Jasper's understanding of his cousin, it was almost certainly the latter. Back in the living room, Arthur instructed the kitchen to begin serving the meal. Jasper, however, picked up his coat from the sofa. "Grandpa, I've got work to deal with. I'll head out." Without so much as a nod to his cousin, he walked straight out. Arthur looked at the dishes being laid out on the table and sighed, "Alright then. Just the two of us will enjoy this feast." Jethro remained standing. "Grandpa, what are your plans now?" Arthur's clouded eyes seemed to focus for a moment. "I asked a fortune-teller, and the beginning of next month is a lucky day. I plan to host a banquet and formally announce Jett's status to all our guests." Jethro gave a simple "Mm," indicating his assent. From the moment Arthur declared his intention to acknowledge the child, Jethro had guessed a series of follow-up actions were already planned. So, hearing about the banquet was no surprise. Arthur asked, "Shall you inform Annie, or should I have someone do it?" "Of course it should be you, Grandpa," Jethro replied smoothly. "After all, you're the one who wants to bring the child into the family." "..Fine, fine. I'll have the butler inform her when the time comes." The butler acknowledged this and gently reminded them, "The meal is ready. Shall we begin?" He helped Arthur to his seat. Just then, Jethro's phone vibrated. He glanced at the number and didn't answer. He looked up at Arthur. "I've got something to handle. I'll take my leave. I'll be back for the banquet." A table laden with food, and only Arthur remained to eat it. He let out another heavy sigh, then gestured to the butler and the maids. "Stop all your work. Come, sit down and eat with me."Jethro drove out of the Manor grounds, pulling over onto a quiet, tree-lined road before returning the missed call. "Sorry, I couldn't take the call earlier," he said. The person on the other end assured him it was fine and proceeded to report their findings. Jethro's deep-set eyes stared through the windshield, fixed on some distant point ahead. He gave a low hum of acknowledgment, then instructed, "Keep digging. Be careful. Don't expose yourself." Another Workday— Darcy was waiting for her coffee at the café on the ground floor of the office building. When her order was ready, she took the cup and headed for the elevator. As she passed through the main lobby, a familiar figure entered her line of sight. A woman with a child was arguing emphatically with the receptionist. "What do you mean I can't go up? I told you, I know Mr. Blackwood! We have a... special relationship!" The receptionist remained patient. "I'm sorry, Ms. Roby. Without an appointment, I can't let you upstairs. Please wait a moment. I've already contacted Mr. Kerr and am waiting for his response."