Chapter 756
Chapter 756:
Much to her surprise, within fifteen minutes, the group had arrived. She soon learned they had all been gathered at the studio since early morning, exchanging updates about Neal.
The moment everyone piled into the living room, the once spacious area suddenly felt a bit cramped.
“This is perfect timing,” Levi said, adjusting his glasses with an air of authority. “It serves as both Neal’s housewarming and a well-earned celebration of last night’s victory.”
Alex agreed with a bright smile, his enthusiasm clear. “Exactly!”
Gifford had positioned himself next to Neal, his arms crossed as he eyed him intently. Neal, feeling the stare, looked up. “What’s with the look?”
“I was just looking at you,” Gifford let out a small laugh. “I always thought you were fearless, but after seeing you run away so quickly yesterday, I’m not so sure.”
Sloane’s eyes widened in alarm, silently signaling Gifford to halt his words.
Ignoring her, Gifford continued teasing, “You even left before finishing your speech yesterday. I think that’s a first at the award ceremony.”
Sloane looked as if her eyes might pop out of her sockets.
What was Gifford thinking? Everyone knew how sensitive Neal was about yesterday’s incident, and they had all carefully avoided bringing it up. Gifford—of all people, the calmest and most level-headed—was now jabbing at the sore spot.
Fernanda noticed Sloane’s rising panic and gently placed a hand on hers, giving a subtle shake of her head. Her expression was calm, almost reassuring.
She could see through Gifford’s intentions. Pretending the incident never happened wasn’t an option. Neal’s dramatic moment yesterday would inevitably come up again and again. The only way he could confront it was by acknowledging it, letting it go, and moving on.
Neal needed to realize that the shadow of a father with a tarnished reputation looming over his shining moment wasn’t a disaster. His achievements belonged to him alone, and he and his father were separate individuals, with separate lives.
He shouldn’t have to carry the weight of his father’s mistakes.
After Gifford spoke, a heavy silence fell over the room.
𝓣𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝓿𝓲𝓼𝓲𝓽 𝓽𝓸: gⱥ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗍𝖊𝗅𝘀．𝖼𝗈𝗺
Neal’s jaw tightened, his whole face a mask of tension. Even though the air conditioner kept the room cool, a thin sheen of sweat dotted his forehead, betraying how hard he was trying to control himself. His father’s face kept flashing before his eyes. He could almost feel the crowd’s gaze, but his father’s presence was suffocating everything, stealing the moment that should have been his alone.
With a soft sigh, he shut his eyes, inhaled deeply, and slowly exhaled, trying to ground himself.
“It won’t happen again,” he said with determination. “Next time, when I win, I’ll finish my speech before I leave the stage.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Gifford said, clapping him firmly on the back.
“Exactly! Don’t care what others think,” Alex chimed in with an exaggerated shrug. “Honestly, Neal, you were so cool up there yesterday. If I were a girl, I’d be head over heels for you. Those other things wouldn’t even matter.”
“What?” Levi recoiled, taking a few steps back as he hugged himself.
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