CHAPTER 67: CHAPTER 67: JEALOUSY

Holly looked up at the person next to her, giving Blake Sinclair a "what are you talking about" glance.

But the usually observant one feigned ignorance at this moment, blatantly lying, "What’s wrong, tired? You did go to bed a bit late last night. Do you want to go back and rest a bit more?"

Holly almost couldn’t catch her breath.

What nonsense was he spouting in broad daylight!

This man clearly understood her look, yet he was talking nonsense!

Her gaze stayed on Blake Sinclair’s face, completely oblivious to the momentary frozen smile on Aiden Jenson’s face across from her.

Blake Sinclair’s eyes slowly shifted to Aiden Jenson, and the stares of the two men clashed mid-air.

Silent sparks exploded in the air, tautening the atmosphere.

Aiden Jenson was the first to break eye contact, smiling as he looked at Holly, speaking familiarly, "Time flies, doesn’t it? I never thought that little girl who always used to run after me when she was younger would be getting married in the blink of an eye."

He deliberately emphasized the words "when she was younger," as if highlighting some past no outsider could intervene in.

Blake Sinclair gently tapped his fingers on Holly’s waist, his face showing a sudden realization.

He looked at Holly, indulging and helpless, "So you had this clinging nature from so early on."

Aiden Jenson’s gaze fell on the hand around Holly’s waist, smiling without true mirth, "How long are you staying this time? Why not come over for lunch at our place? Your aunt always mentions how you used to scramble for her plum spareribs as a child, and she’s curious if your tastes have changed."

Blake Sinclair listened to the "as a child" and "at our place" in his words, chuckling softly.

"What a pity, we have to head back by noon today."

He wore a smile that was appropriate yet distant, "But thank you, Mr. Jenson and aunt, for your thoughts. Holly does love plum spareribs. Maybe next time I can learn the recipe from her to make at home for Holly."

Aiden Jenson’s smile faded slightly, fingers curling subtly by his side, "Mr. Sinclair is quite considerate."

"Naturally."

Blake Sinclair lifted his gaze, meeting Aiden’s eyes with nothing but a competitive spirit in them, "After all, when you intend to spend a lifetime together, her preferences should naturally be kept in mind."

The tension in the air crackled audibly.

Holly, caught in between, was at a loss.

These two, why were they suddenly competing over this?

Aiden Jenson’s smile dwindled further, choosing not to reply.

Just then, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen and said to Holly, "I have to go now. Let’s find a time to get together soon."

Holly nodded, unconsciously feeling relieved.

Aiden Jenson smiled again, and before leaving, he turned as if he remembered something, looking at Holly, "The Kiln Opening Festival is happening soon, and my mentor is coming from Brelond to attend. Will you be there?"

Holly was momentarily stunned.

Aiden Jenson didn’t say anything further, as if assured she would definitely agree, leaving with a parting "See you at the Kiln Opening Festival," then nodded politely to Blake Sinclair before leaving.

Holly’s gaze instinctively followed his retreating figure for a few seconds.

Just then, her waist was gently pinched, not hard, but with an obvious hint of possessiveness.

She was startled, instinctively shifting sideways, turning to look at Blake Sinclair, meeting his deep, unreadable eyes.

For some reason, Holly felt a bit guilty, but she hadn’t done anything wrong—why was this ancestor upset?

Blake Sinclair withdrew his gaze, his voice deep, "Let’s go."

His hand slid down, holding hers tightly as they headed home, his pace slightly quicker than usual.

As Holly was pulled along, watching his tense back, she felt the atmosphere was too bizarre to bear and couldn’t help but explain.

"Um... actually, I didn’t always follow him around when I was little. We just lived close, and I always saw him as an older brother..."

Halfway through her speech, she wondered why she was suddenly explaining this.

But no sooner had she spoken than Blake Sinclair suddenly halted. His back was stiff, even clutching her hand tighter.

"What’s wrong?" Holly asked.

He slowly turned around, stepping forward a tiny step, pressing against her toes, almost enveloping her, his voice tinged with repressed grievance, "How many neighbor brothers do you actually have?"

Holly was utterly confused.

"Huh?"

What neighbor brothers? How did the topic veer off in this direction?

Blake Sinclair stared into her eyes, as if trying to find something there. Deep down, he was incredibly jealous, but he restrained himself so as not to frighten her.

He sighed, a mixture of dejection and helplessness in it.

Holly was just about to ask what he meant by that when he took her hand again, pulling her forward.

"Nothing. Let’s go home."

As Holly was led forward, her mind was a jumble.

Nothing?

His look was like he was about to eat someone!

...

Not long after lunch, it was time to prepare to leave.

She’s been so busy with work these past few years that her health has deteriorated and her spirit’s drained.

Every time she came home it felt like a battle, coming and going in a hurry, unlike these two days.

The car’s trunk was packed to the brim, almost as if Josephine Lennon had cleared out the house.

Looking at the stuff piled up, Holly felt something stuck in her heart, overwhelmingly sour and aching.

She truly didn’t want to leave.

Just before departure, Jasper Crowe pulled Blake Sinclair outside, while Josephine Lennon called Holly into the room.

When she came out again, Holly’s eyes were red.

Blake Sinclair gently patted her shoulder, "We’ll come back often, spend more days at home with mom and dad."

Josephine Lennon’s eyes were also rimmed with red, but she spoke tersely, "Your dad and I are so busy at school that our feet don’t touch the ground; a few trips a year are enough, we don’t have time to entertain you all the time."

Holly pursed her lips, sniffed, and hooked her arm into her mom’s, "We’ll come back, we’ll come back, annoying you as much as we can."

"You know you’re annoying."

Josephine pretended to scold, but couldn’t bring herself to let go of her hand, "Eat more when you’re back, look at how thin you’ve become."

Jasper Crowe looked at his daughter, the reluctance in his eyes almost overflowing.

He turned to Blake Sinclair, his voice earnest, "She’s our only daughter, you must treat her well. Marriage is a long road, with its ups and downs, if one day...."

His voice choked, "If one day, your destiny truly ends, please make sure not to harm her, return her safely... safely to us."

"Dad! Why are you saying this...." Holly’s nose stung, she choked out her protest.

Jasper Crowe turned his face, discreetly wiping his tears, waving his hand, "Alright, alright, off you go now, your mom and I have to get back to school this afternoon."

Blake Sinclair gave them a respectful nod, "The wedding is already being prepared, and we’ll bring mom and dad to Beldon to stay with Holly for a while when the time comes."

The Maybach drove away slowly, and the figures in the rearview mirror grew smaller and smaller until they became two blurred dots and finally disappeared.

Holly withdrew her gaze, sneakily wiping the moisture from the corners of her eyes, letting out a long sigh.

She feigned nonchalance, turning to him, "Blake Sinclair, what did my dad say to you earlier?"