Chapter 894
Chapter 894:
His suit, impeccably pressed, sat against him like a second skin. Not a single strand of hair dared stray from its proper place. Even the way he held himself exuded discipline and control, setting him apart from the throng of middle-aged men who lacked his polish.
Then, his eyes found Cristian.
A heartbeat later, they dropped to his clasped hands with Fernanda’s. Martin’s expression stiffened like a blade tempered in cold steel.
The polite curve of his lips vanished, replaced by a blank, hardening expression. The air thickened, laden with a silence that carried more weight than words ever could.
Bobby swallowed hard and instinctively edged back.
As Martin’s son, he knew better than anyone what it looked like when his father was about to unleash his anger.
Concerned for Fernanda and Cristian, Bobby approached Martin and suggested in a hushed tone, “Dad, let’s talk about this elsewhere. It’s better handled privately.”
Martin, however, disregarded him, his attention unyieldingly on Cristian and Fernanda. His expression revealed a storm of emotions—shock, confusion, and then a spark of recognition.
Cristian’s firm grip on her hand tightened as he escorted Fernanda towards Martin. The earlier group that had been conversing with Martin sensed the mounting tension, especially Jade, who had tagged along just for the spectacle. Watching Martin’s stern face, she secretly wished he would berate Fernanda, chastise her, and embarrass her publicly.
Fernanda approached Martin and greeted him with a gentle, “Martin.” Martin acknowledged her with a terse nod. He then questioned Cristian, “When did you get here?”
“Yesterday,” Cristian replied. “Before you, Uncle.”
Martin scoffed, “Of course, you’re always ahead of us all.”
Bobby refrained from probing the meaning behind his father’s words, merely hoping Martin would maintain his dignity and refrain from any outbursts at the funeral.
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The crowd was drawn not just by the tension but by Cristian’s manner of addressing Martin. Cristian referring to Martin as “Uncle” suggested a family connection through marriage—Martin’s wife would then be his aunt.
Indeed, Martin’s wife, Judie Harper, belonged to the distinguished Reed family of Litdence.
This revelation subtly shifted everyone’s attention towards Cristian, including Toby’s. Curiosity arose among the onlookers, prompting one to inquire, “Mr. Harper, who are these individuals?”
“This is my son, Bobby Harper,” Martin introduced, indicating Bobby. “And my nephew-in-law, Cristian Reed,” he continued, motioning towards Cristian.
Everyone learned that Cristian was a member of the illustrious Reed family from Litdence. Toby was taken aback, having perceived Cristian’s polished manner but not anticipating such a notable lineage. Jade shared this astonishment, suddenly regarding Cristian as an exceptionally remarkable individual.
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