Chapter 558 Who To Follow
Rose wasn't fond of being the center of attention, and she sighed inwardly. But then, she noticed several familiar figures approaching her from the edge of the crowd.
First, there was Elijah, her biological father, who possessed a calm and reserved demeanor that felt inexplicably familiar even during their first encounter.
Then there was Clover, who had once been her sworn brother but was now revealed to be her blood-related cousin, exuding a bold and protective aura.NôvelDrama.Org content.
Next to him stood Miles, her refined older brother, who could have easily kept the Young family's fortune hidden but chose to honor Oliver's will and pass everything to her. Lastly, there was Jonathan.
As the group made their way toward her, their presence brought Rose an unexpected sense of calm. Each had a commanding aura, and just one of them could silence a room.
Therefore, when the crowd of socialites and noble ladies noticed their approach, they instinctively parted, creating a path for them.
"Rosie, you seem a bit weary. Would you like me to take you home?" Elijah inquired with concern, observing Rose's discomfort at the social gathering.
In his eyes, his cherished daughter, the esteemed young lady of the Xanth family, didn't need to entertain anyone. Her happiness and well-being were paramount.
"That's right, Rosie. I've already arranged for a hot bath to be prepared at the villa. You can relax as soon as you're back," Clover chimed in with a doting smile.
For him, this banquet was more than just a gathering. It was an opportunity to announce to the world that he now had a sister-a true, biological sister.
He had even invited the media, knowing that this revelation would send shockwaves throughout the business world. Now that their objective was achieved, Rose did not need to exert herself any longer.
By "home", Clover naturally meant the villa at Royal Garden, where Rose had been staying for quite some time.
However, his words didn't resonate well with everyone. Even Elijah's brow creased slightly. Just as he was about to speak, someone else interjected.
"Rosie, you hardly touched your food earlier. I asked the chef at the Young Estate to prepare your favorite beef stew and a few other dishes you enjoy. By the time we arrive home, everything will be ready," Miles said, beaming warmly at Rose. "The only home that Rosie will be returning to would be the Young Estate since that's where she truly belonged!" he mused.
Clover, however, was unconvinced. He shot Miles a dismissive glance, stating, "The chef at the villa can also prepare Rosie's favorite dishes."
Unbeknownst to him, the chef at the Young Estate who made the beef stew had once accompanied Oliver to Aquastead. The dish held sentimental value as it was not only Rose's favorite but also Oliver's. Ignoring Clover's remark, Miles calmly stated, "Rosie, now that we've honored Grandpa's wishes, I believe it's time to visit him and share that everything has been settled. This will bring peace to his spirit." Clover was momentarily stunned by Miles' bold move to bring up Oliver.
Even he couldn't argue against the sentiment, and after a moment of contemplation, Elijah nodded in agreement. "Rosie, it's only right to let Mr. Young Senior know we've honored his wishes." Touched by his words, Rose glanced at Elijah gratefully. "You're right."
The four of them accompanied Rose downstairs where the Young family's car was already parked out front, waiting. When Rose saw it, she instantly recognized it as Oliver's vehicle.
The driver stood respectfully by the car, opening the door for Rose. Once she was comfortably seated and the car disappeared from view, the three men finally averted their attention. Almost simultaneously, the tenderness in their eyes vanished.
Their thoughts drifted back to the troubling security footage they had witnessed earlier. Each of them had kept their concerns hidden from Rose, none wanting to drag her into the looming danger. Regardless, no one would dare lay a hand on Rose as long as they were around.
As a car sped by in front of them, their gazes sharpened, narrowing as they focused on a figure inside. They watched silently as it disappeared into the distance.
Clover's expression darkened. "If Rosie goes to the Young Estate, do you think that imposter Harriette might try to do something?"
Jonathan's voice remained steady and confident as he spoke. "Miles won't give her the chance."
Clover raised an eyebrow. "You seem awfully certain."
"I am," Jonathan affirmed. "In fact, Miles probably despises the imposter even more than we do."
No one truly understood the depth of Miles' feelings toward Harriette. They weren't just siblings who had grown up together-there were deeper, more complicated emotions involved. When the fake Harriette returned, she manipulated Miles, taking advantage of his feelings for the real Harriette and even scheming against Rose. Miles had every reason to despise her. No matter what underhanded tactics the fake Harriette might attempt, she was no match for Miles.
Clover did not press on the issue further. Instead, a sudden thought occurred to him, and he murmured, "Beef stew? Didn't Uncle Elijah love beef stew as well?
"It's a shame I didn't bring the chef to Regalia, but it's not a problem. I'll call him right away to have him come here and prepare it for Rosie!"
His face brightened as he quickly reached for his phone to contact the chef.
As Clover busied himself with his phone, Jonathan glanced at Elijah. The once-legendary figure of the Xanth family stood nearby, head bowed slightly, seemingly lost in memories. "Beef stew... It was one of Henrietta's favorite dishes too," Elijah mused.
Over the years, he had unknowingly adopted her preferences as his own. Little did he know, Rose had done the same.
He thought about the information Jonathan had given him regarding Celeste... Just moments ago, he had already ordered a thorough investigation into Celeste.
It wasn't to verify Rosie's identity. Elijah merely wanted to know what Celeste had experienced all these years while he had been searching for her.
When Elijah raised his gaze to meet Jonathan's, a sense of gratitude flickered in his eyes. A small smile formed on his lips as he spoke with sincerity. "Thank you, Mr. Finch." "You're welcome, Mr. Xanth. And, please, just call me Jonathan," Jonathan responded, his sharpness softening as he faced Rose's father with nothing but respect.
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It was unmistakable to Elijah how deeply Jonathan cared for Rose, particularly when he had risked own life to save hers. This selfless act left a lasting impression on him and seemed to confirm that Jonathan had successfully passed his initial test.
"Do you wish to marry Rosie?" Elijah asked.
Although he was satisfied with
Jonathan, Elijah had high
expectations for his future
son-in-law. At the very least,
Jonathan had to face challenging trials and prove beyond any doubt that Rose would have a lifetime of happiness upon marrying him.
However, Jonathan's composed response caught Elijah entirely off guard. "We're already married."
Elijah's eyes widened in shock. "What? You're already married?"
"Yes. We registered our marriage in Aquastead about a year ago. But don't worry, Mr. Xanth. I intend to give Rosie the grand wedding she deserves," Jonathan explained. Elijah found himself at a loss for words. "They're already legally married?" he thought.
For the first time in his life, he understood what it felt like to laugh from sheer disbelief. Drawing a deep breath, he attempted to process the revelation, his face betraying no emotion.
After a prolonged silence, he finally pursed his lips, nodding slowly. "Good... Very good..."