After comforting her daughter, Ariana Evans stepped out of the room and came to the coffee table, bent down to pick up the teapot and said with a smile, "I’ll make you all a fresh pot of tea."
"Where’s Olivia?" Julian Zane moved a pawn forward and asked casually.
Ariana Evans picked up the teapot and headed for the kitchen, "Ah, she said she was tired, she’s lying down on the bed to rest."
The casual remark from Ariana Evans caused the two men from Chessboard Mountain to look up, turning their heads to look at her simultaneously.
Nathan Moore furrowed his handsome eyebrows.
"Auntie, can you carry her?"
Ariana Evans stopped in her tracks, realizing she had misspoken, something gleamed and flashed across her eyes, fleeting before she turned back with the teapot still in hand, smiling as she explained.
"Olivia isn’t heavy, and the bed isn’t high. I can still lift her."
Nathan Moore didn’t say anything, his handsome eyebrows creased almost imperceptibly, then he turned back to continue studying the chess game.
After dinner, everyone sat in the living room and chatted for a while before Nathan Moore stood up, ready to leave.
"Dad, Mom, we’ll head back now. We’ll come see you again next week."
Olivia Zane, sitting in her wheelchair, was pushed by Nathan Moore towards the villa’s grand entrance, her doll-like porcelain face bearing a smile.
Seeing that her sister Titus Zane was still standing next to their parents, with no intention of following, she turned her head to remind her.
"Sis, we’re heading back."
Olivia’s demeanor was gentle and friendly, a stark contrast to how she had been in the room earlier.
After a glance at her sister, Titus Zane didn’t respond but instead turned to look at their mother, saying in a tone suggesting negotiation,
"Mom, I’d like to stay at home for a few days."
"Okay..." Ariana Evans had just uttered the word when she was interrupted by Nathan Moore.
Nathan Moore stopped in his tracks and turned back, his handsome face showing little emotion.
"If it’s not convenient for your health, don’t bother Uncle and Auntie. It’s more convenient with the many caregivers at home."
A statement that sounded considerate and kind, yet carried an unmistakable force and dominance.
Titus Zane’s lips twitched slightly, meeting Nathan Moore’s indifferent gaze, she did not persist.
Because she clearly understood, even if she stayed at her parents’ place by force, there would come a day when she had to return, and then she would inevitably face punishment.
Her hand clutching her purse tightened, her lips faintly curved in a vague smile, she said, "Dad, Mom, I’m leaving."
Unlike Olivia Zane, Titus Zane used the word "leaving," because that place was not truly her home, so that was the term she had to use.
Having said that, without waiting for her parents to respond, she lengthened her stride, passing by Nathan Moore and Olivia Zane, and walked toward the Bentley parked in front of the villa’s gate.
Nathan Moore’s eyes narrowed slightly, the dim night concealing the emotions deep in his eyes.
Titus Zane opened the passenger door and sat down first, her cool gaze fixed straight ahead.
Watching her daughter’s stubborn back, Ariana Evans stretched out her hand, wanting to speak up to ask her to stay, then turned to look at her husband standing next to her, and seeing that he had no reaction, she ultimately remained silent.
"Dad, Mom, we’re leaving, bye."
Hoisted into the car by Nathan Moore, Olivia Zane waved to her parents with a smile.
"Hmm, be careful on the road," Julian Zane also waved to his younger daughter, the nearly sixty-year-old man’s well-maintained face showing a loving smile.
Ariana Evans followed with a wave, her lips curving slightly, not saying anything more. Only when the black Bentley slowly pulled away did she turn to look at her husband with a reproachful expression.
"Julian, you could have said something just now. Titus wanted to stay with us for a few days..."
"What’s there to stay for? A daughter married off is like water splashed out," Julian Zane interrupted Ariana’s words with displeasure, turning to go back into the villa.
Watching her husband’s retreating back, Ariana’s eyes darkened, and she quickly followed after him.