"Why would that be? Doesn’t he treat both of us the same?" A gentle breeze blew, lifting Nia Mitchell’s hair lightly; the plane trees on both sides of the road rustled. Nia Mitchell’s voice was still soft and sweet, a gentle smile on her face. "He must be too busy in the USA. I believe he’ll be back once he’s done." Fiona Sutton gave an unnatural smile. "Nia, do you really think he went to the USA just because of work?" Nia Mitchell paused, turning to look at Fiona Sutton, somewhat puzzled. "Isn’t that the case? He told me that day he was going to the USA for a business trip and couldn’t attend my engagement ceremony." The three of us have been a close-knit trio since high school. Would he really leave on such an important day without a compelling reason? "So that’s what he told you," Fiona Sutton mumbled to herself. Just as she was about to change the subject, Mellisa Moreland dashed up to them. "Damn it, Fiona! You actually came back and didn’t even bother to tell me!" Mellisa Moreland yelled, slapping Fiona Sutton’s arm. Fiona Sutton also reached out, hooking her arm around Mellisa Moreland’s neck. "Big Boss Mellisa, if I’d told you I was coming, would you have felt obligated to prepare a welcome gift?" she teased. A roguish look spread across her face as she raised an eyebrow. Mellisa Moreland mirrored her expression, a meaningful smile on her face. "Were there any handsome guys in the USA? Why didn’t you find one to bring back?" Fiona Sutton gave her a playful slap. "Your sister here is as pure as they come! How could I just casually pick up some handsome guy and bring him back?" Her exaggerated expression amused Nia Mitchell. Seeing her two friends talking happily, she became cheerful as well. In a flash, she forgot all about Charles Northwood. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✶𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✶𝕟𝕖𝕥 Just then, she received a call from Maxwell Peary. "Uncle?" Nia Mitchell asked, moving a little to the side with a smile in her eyes. "Hmm, where are you?" This feeling of waking up to an empty bed was truly awful. "I’m at school, working on my graduation thesis," she said, biting her lip as she slowly walked, following Fiona Sutton and Mellisa Moreland. "Oh, do you need me to pick you up?" Maxwell Peary asked. He took a sip of his health soup, his voice growing even softer. "No need. I’ll take a cab home later," Nia Mitchell immediately declined. She couldn’t let Fiona Sutton and Mellisa Moreland see him pick her up. Otherwise, it would be another storm. Maxwell Peary nodded helplessly, though Nia Mitchell, on the other end of the phone, couldn’t see his actions or expression. "Alright. Make sure you’re safe then. Call me when you get in the cab." Nia Mitchell smiled and agreed, unconsciously looking at the plane trees by the road. "Uncle, have you eaten?" Maxwell Peary looked at the food before him, devoid of appetite. "I’m eating right now." The butler said she had gone out after lunch, so he didn’t bother asking if she had eaten. "Will you be attending the banquet tonight, Uncle?" she asked, needing to confirm it one last time. "Do you want me to go? If you want me to, I’ll be there." Maxwell Peary wouldn’t tell her he had already decided to go. This was Nia Mitchell’s first banquet; how could he not be there? Besides, she’d be dressed so beautifully, so revealingly tonight. If he didn’t go, what if someone tried to make a move on his dear Rabina? He was very protective of what was his, wasn’t he? "Of course, I don’t want you to go! Haven’t you always said you never attend these messy banquets? If you go, Phoebe Walker will definitely think you’re interested in her."