Chapter 634: I Have My Rules
"Do you really agree?" Stephanie asked incredulously as she looked at Tina.
Tina nodded, "Yes, I agree."
"But you... you..." Stephanie was at a loss for words for a moment.
Marie was also surprised by Tina's agreement. "Tina, are you really willing to help Stephanie?"
Tina affirmed, "Yes, but I have my rules, as you know I don't lend a hand for nothing."
Stephanie knew it; Tina was not so kind-hearted to help her for nothing.
"I know, but I don't have any money now. Can I write you an IOU and pay you back when I have the money?" Stephanie asked. Tina smiled, her red lips curving up beautifully, "I don't want money."
Stephanie's heart trembled as she stared at Tina's smile, suddenly feeling as if she had fallen into a bottomless trap.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
A trap that could doom her forever!
After leaving the hospital, Jared drove Sophia back home.
Sophia seized every opportunity to stick close to Tina. "Tina, what was the condition you just agreed on with Stephanie?" Tina held Sophia in her arms, meticulously parting her hair to create a sweet little hairstyle.
"I'll tell you when you're older."
Sophia sat steadily, leaning back against Tina, her small shoulders pressed against her chest.
After a while, Sophia slowly said, "Tina, your chest is so big."
Jared nearly choked on his own saliva.
Tina remained composed; Jared's face, however, turned a bright red, as if he had mixed a new shade on a painter's palette. "Children shouldn't speak like that," Jared cleared his throat.
Sophia scoffed, "Jared, how can you be so conservative? I just think Tina has a nice figure, why can't I say that? It is big."
Jared abruptly pulled over to the side of the road, forcefully moving Sophia to the passenger seat.
"Say one more word, and I'll send you to boarding school tomorrow!"
Sophia muttered under her breath.
Soon after, Jared dropped Sophia off at home where Asher was waiting.
As Sophia stepped out of the car, she whispered to Jared, "Jared, you can't possibly not have noticed how good Tina looks."
"Sophia! You're going to boarding school tomorrow!"
Having vented her feelings, Sophia ran into Asher's arms, urging him to hurry and take her home.
Asher, observing his son's anger and his daughter's triumph, was utterly baffled.
What was going on?
After Sophia left, Tina couldn't hold back any longer, laughing in the backseat.
Jared's face grew even redder. "Tina, stop laughing."
"Hahaha."
She couldn't help it!
Tina had never expected Jared to be shy about such a topic.
And to blush like that!
Listening to the laughter from the backseat, Jared felt for the first time that his masculinity was being challenged.
He pulled at his tie and then stepped out of the driver's seat, opening the rear door.
Decisively, he moved to stop the bright laughter.
Inside the car, things were heated, while outside...
Asher awkwardly shuffled his feet, holding the soup Mrs. Brown had prepared for Tina, unsure of how to begin.
"Ahem... um... excuse me, could you stop for a moment?"
Jared paused sharply, lifting his head and bumping it hard on the car ceiling. Without pausing to rub it, he hurried out of the car.
"Dad," Jared said, trying to appear calm as he faced Asher.
Asher nodded slightly in acknowledgment, handing over the insulated box to Jared with a meaningful expression, "The soup has just been made; don't rush to sip it, no hurry at all." What a pun!
After saying this, Asher turned and entered his house, leaving Jared standing awkwardly alone.
He could never return to that place again!
Brookes family.
Natalie was tending to Ian's health.
"Dad, did you stay up late last night again?" Natalie asked, checking his pulse while frowning slightly.
Ian shook his head firmly, "No, no, how could I possibly stay up? You saw me go to my room to sleep!"
Natalie let out a sigh of relief, "You only went to sleep between 3:40 and 3:45 AM. Spent all night reading comics, didn't you?"
Ian smacked his lips, amazed at how traditional medicine could even reveal the exact time he fell asleep.
"Alina, are you hungry? Dad's stomach is upset; I'd like something to eat," Ian said, holding his stomach.
Natalie understood and pointed to some snacks, "You just had two pieces."
As soon as Tina entered, she saw Ian being playful and whiny with Natalie, while Brandon was clapping and enjoying the spectacle.
"Is this how you team up to bully a defenseless old man?" Tina walked in, handing Ian a bag.
Brandon commented, "Defenseless? Which defenseless old man can bend a steel bar with his bare hands? He even used it to teach me a lesson!"
Ian finally found his savior, "Exactly, you guys are annoying. Only my granddaughter is nice to me."
"Grandpa, here's the latest comic book for you," Tina said, standing protectively beside Ian.
The grandfather and granddaughter enjoyed their time together, exclusive to all others.
Just then, Jack returned, picking up Kiki and Mimi, and brought back an invitation, handing it to Tina.
"What's this?" Tina took the invitation, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes.
It was an invitation from the Pace family.
"Today at the office, I ran into Boris. He mentioned that Leo wants to invite you and Alina to have a casual meal with the Pace family," Jack explained, puzzled by the sudden invitation. Tina raised her eyebrows, "Perhaps because I saved him earlier? Mom, shall we go?"
She casually passed the invitation to Natalie.
Natalie looked at the invitation intently, then said solemnly, "Go, where there's a meal, how can we not?"
Tina laughed, "Alright."
Pace family.
Boris was busily setting up for tonight's dinner.
Though busy, he was essentially just bustling about needlessly.
He didn't need to cook or wash dishes, so he busied himself by directing the servants in arranging the plates.
He listened to the laughter coming from the study, a steady elderly voice mingling with the crisp, bell-like laughter, sounding somewhat mismatched but not entirely inappropriate. Boris pursed his lips, to the uninformed it might seem like his father was having a fling with a grandchild.
Soon after, Tina and Natalie arrived. Despite holding an invitation personally written by Leo, they underwent a series of checks before finally entering the Pace family home. Boris was waiting at the door, "Ms. Brookes, Miss Reed, right this way."
Natalie scrutinized Boris, trying to find a hint of familiarity in him, but found none.
"Mr. Pace," Natalie greeted.