Chapter 26

Chapter 26:

Nina sat down, lost in thought.

Alcott and Bart exchanged a glance before sitting on either side of her.

“Nina, my concern lies in the fact that this girl has publicly severed ties with her family. Without any social standing or a strong background, she is far from worthy of marrying into our family.”

Nina refrained from commenting on the subject. She simply said, “Let’s wait for Aiden to arrive and clarify things. I trust that he has his reasons for doing what he did.”

Alcott sighed and gave her a wry smile. “You spoil him too much.”

“Could it be that Aiden just married her to secure the shares left by Grandpa?” Bart asked in a low voice.

As the words escaped Bart’s lips, both Alcott and Nina frowned. “Bart, how did you know?” Nina’s voice was sharp, her eyes boring into him with intense scrutiny. “To my knowledge, only Aiden, your father, and I were privy to that.”

Bart hesitated for a moment before admitting, “Aiden told me.”

“He told you?” Nina’s eyebrows furrowed, her piercing gaze unwavering.

A wave of anxiety washed over Bart, but he managed a nod, his voice barely a whisper. “I regret speaking out. However, I hoped to prevent any misunderstandings between you and Aiden.”

“Bart, rest assured, neither Nina nor I will hold this against you,” Alcott said, his voice calm and reassuring.

Bart cast a grateful look at Alcott before continuing, “When I was brought back to the Green family, Aiden warned me against desiring the family’s fortune. Despite his disability, he claimed he would remain the rightful heir. He believed that marrying Janice would ensure his claim on Grandpa’s shares and solidify his control over the Green family.”

“Is that truly what he said?” Nina’s tone was incredulous, her gaze locked firmly on Bart, as if trying to decipher his thoughts.

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Bart, feeling the weight of her stare, quickly averted his eyes. His voice was filled with sincerity. “Aiden is thinking too much. I am just thankful to be taken in and have no intentions of challenging Aiden’s claims. My only desire is to take care of you and my father when you’re older.”

“Oh, you truly are a considerate boy.” Alcott exhaled a deep breath of relief, his voice tinged with newfound ease. “Neither Nina nor I hold any grudge against you.”

Nina remained quiet, her eyes fixed on Bart with a contemplative gaze.

Initially, she had been skeptical about accepting Alcott’s illegitimate son, but following Aiden’s accident, Alcott had proposed that Bart return to support Aiden, and she had reluctantly consented.

Since his return, Bart had shown nothing but exemplary behavior and unwavering commitment to the family. Over time, Nina’s defenses softened, and she began to accept his presence, albeit just on the surface.

“It seems everyone’s here.”

A crisp voice cut through the quiet, snapping Nina out of her reverie.

“Aiden, you’re back!” Nina exclaimed as she moved towards him, only to halt abruptly upon noticing Janice standing a step behind him.

With a smile, Janice introduced herself smoothly. “Hi, I’m Janice.” The introduction caught Nina off guard, unsure of how to respond.

“Allow me to introduce her,” Aiden interjected with a warm smile, turning to face Alcott and Bart. “This is Janice, my lawful wife.”

“Bullshit!” Alcott bellowed, slamming his hand on the table with force and pointing at Aiden in a mix of shock and anger. “Since when is marriage a matter to be taken so lightly?”

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