Titus Zane returned to the Zane Family home again, without an invitation from his mother, Ariana Evans.
Carrying many gift boxes, he took a taxi. With the experience from last time, he made sure to tell the taxi driver to come back for him later, offering to pay double the fare.
The driver nodded in agreement and left with a smile.
It wasn’t the weekend, so Titus chose to come after work hours.
He rang the doorbell of the villa, and a housemaid opened the door for him.
Walking into the foyer, he found it empty except for a few housemaids.
"Auntie, where’s my mom? Hasn’t she gotten off work yet?" I was told on the phone that she was already on her way back.
"Miss, the madam just got back and is taking a shower in her room."
Ariana Evans is a clean freak, and considering her unique profession, she comes into contact with so many patients every day, so the first thing she does when she gets back home from work is to head to her room to shower and change clothes.
"Oh," Titus gave a nonchalant response, slipped into slippers, and headed to the living room with the gift boxes.
"Where are dad and Lily?" Even if he didn’t care for them much, basic courtesy still called for asking; besides, he came back with a purpose.
"The master is with the madam, and the second miss is in her own room. The son-in-law has come back to take the second miss home."
I’m not sure if it was intentional or not, but the housemaid put particular emphasis on that last detail.
"Oh," another indifferent response from Titus, who only noticed when he set the gift boxes down on the coffee table that it was already filled with other gifts.
A smirk of mockery involuntarily appeared on his lips. Nathan Moore, oh Nathan Moore, playing the good guy, aren’t you? Provoking me with words on one hand, while showering your wife with love on the other.
The coffee table was laden with luxury brands favored by women.
There were clothes, handbags, cosmetics, and a big box that probably contained shoes or something similar.
"Auntie, you can go about your work; don’t mind me."
Titus sat down on the couch and glanced at the housemaid standing in front of him; she must be newly hired, as he hadn’t seen her three years ago.
"Yes." The housemaid gave him a look, indescribable in sentiment, then turned and headed to the kitchen to help out.
Sitting on the couch alone, bored, Titus idly picked up a magazine and started flipping through it.
The ringtone from his cellphone in the bag beside him rang out. Putting down the magazine, he reached into his bag, pulled out the phone, and answered.
"Jon?" Looking at a string of landline numbers, Titus asked uncertainly.
"Carry, how did you know it was me?" From the other end of the phone, Jon’s voice changed from surprise to disappointment. He often changed numbers to call her, yet she guessed it was him every time, spoiling any surprise.
"Jon, I’m busy with something important; I don’t have time to chat with you."
Jon stayed in T city and settled in the room next to Titus; though they were only separated by a wall, Titus didn’t interact with him unless necessary.
"Are you secretly taking samples?" Jon’s voice sounded a bit excited, "Tell me your location; I’ll come over and lend you a hand."
Titus refused, feeling relieved at the thought of not adding to the chaos.
"Carry, how can you be ?" Jon’s tone shifted from excitement to a voice of disappointment and despondency coming through the phone, "I sincerely want to help you. How can you heartlessly refuse?"
Could she say she didn’t need any help?
Just as she was about to respond, Olivia Zane’s voice rang out from the corner of the stairs.
"Nathan, be careful, don’t trip."
"I won’t. You’re so light."
"It’s all your fault for traveling on business all the time, leaving me at home by myself, unable to eat or sleep well, constantly worrying about you—how could I not lose weight!" Olivia’s complaints came down from above, causing Titus to let out a cold snort, his lips curling into a sneer unwittingly.