Maxwell Peary looked utterly bewildered as he turned to Zion Hastings. "Which wire in your brain got crossed to make you think I’d be interested in an airhead like Phoebe Walker?" Zion Hastings nearly choked in frustration. So toxic! Couldn’t he just say no? Did he have to be so scathing? "I was just asking. After all, you’ve never been involved in this kind of scandal before." It’s all over the place! Everyone probably thinks Phoebe Walker is the future Mrs. Peary. Given Maxwell’s capabilities, he probably allowed this rumor to spread tacitly. But why? Yancy Hastings was also a bit confused by Maxwell Peary’s thinking. However, with his father present, Maxwell Peary definitely wouldn’t want him to reveal anything about Nia Mitchell. So, even if he had ten thousand questions burning in his mind, he wouldn’t voice them here. Without another word, Maxwell Peary opened the door and left the Hastings residence. He left Yancy Hastings and Zion Hastings staring at each other, speechless. "You rascal! Don’t tell me you know something you’re not sharing?" He was well aware of the close relationship between his son and Maxwell Peary. Yancy Hastings shrugged, his healthy, honey-toned face a mask of utter innocence. Yet, the words he spoke made Zion Hastings wish he could grab a slipper and smack him with its sole. "I don’t know anything. I’m in the army, right under your nose. Don’t you know exactly what I do?" As the brigade commander of a special forces unit, Yancy Hastings was cooped up in the barracks day in and day out; anyone could vouch for that. "It’d be strange if you didn’t know. I heard you took a team to a hospital the other day." Zion Hastings sat down. Realizing he had gotten a bit agitated, he slowly regulated his breathing. Fınd the newest release on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩 "Executing a mission." Yancy Hastings stated it with an air of perfect justification. If he doesn’t believe me, he can go investigate. However, knowing Maxwell Peary’s methods, even if he, Zion Hastings, were to use all his power to investigate, he probably wouldn’t find anything. "You little rascal! You won’t even confide in your old man. Since you’re not telling me that, then tell me this: now that the Peary boy is married, when are you planning to get married and give me a grandchild?" Yancy Hastings strode out and slammed the study door behind him, cutting off Commander Hastings’ lecture. After Nia Mitchell hung up, she grabbed her snacks and walked out of the buffet restaurant. She wondered where Uncle Peary had gone and how long he would take to arrive. So, she picked a conspicuous spot and bought an ice cream to eat while she waited. Nia Mitchell started, frowning at the middle-aged man before her. He was disheveled, his hair a mess, and he had a haggard look about him. She wracked her brain, trying to recall anyone who matched his description, but she couldn’t place this man who knew her name. "I’m Robert Perez, Victoria Perez’s father." Seeing Nia Mitchell still looking puzzled, apparently not recalling who he was, Robert Perez felt compelled to remind her again. "It was at Madgar Pavilion... that incident where you were falsely accused... accused of stealing a ring..." Robert Perez found it difficult to broach the subject. He had been wandering the streets despondently earlier and, to his surprise, had run into Nia Mitchell. This must be a sign from the heavens! It couldn’t bear to see the Perez family fall into ruin and was giving him a chance! Hearing Robert Perez’s words, Nia Mitchell’s brow furrowed instantly, her displeasure evident. "We have nothing to discuss. Please, you’re blocking my way."