Chapter 736

Haylee shook her head, her voice tinged with hesitation. "Josie, this gift is way too much. I can't accept it."

Josefina smiled warmly. "Oh, come on, just take it. I don't live on campus, and I could really use your help saving me a spot or reminding me about classes sometimes."

Handing out the gifts to her three friends, Josefina added, "Please, just accept them as a small token of my appreciation. If you feel awkward, you can repay me by saving seats and reminding me about class times. Does that sound fair?"

Joelle, practically bouncing with excitement, clutched her gift and exclaimed, "Let's just take them, guys! We can't ignore Josie's kindness. Besides, helping her out with reminders and saving her a spot is no big deal."

After a bit more persuasion from Josefina, they finally agreed to accept the gifts.

Watching Joelle's enthusiastic reaction, Josefina knew she had picked the right gifts. She was curious to see what this gesture would bring in return.

Rowan stepped into his house, immediately hit by a foul smell.

"Shea, are you eating Limburger cheese again? It reeks! I've told you, if you want to eat that stuff, go to a deli, not here!" he shouted.

Sydney, caught in the middle of her meal, froze, feeling utterly embarrassed.

Rowan, trying to contain his disgust, walked further in and found not Shea, but Sydney eating.

"Okay, if it's not Shea, then what's going on? Sydney, what on earth is making this house smell so bad?"

Sydney struggled to find the words, her discomfort evident.

The servants quickly looked away, not wanting to get involved.

The source of the smell remained a mystery, with everyone too scared to speak up.

Rowan, sensing something was off, sat down, noting the unusually bland dishes. "What's the deal here? Someone better start talking!"

He fixed his gaze on Sydney, his brow furrowed in frustration, demanding an answer.

Left with no choice, Sydney confessed, the truth making Rowan feel nauseous and instantly changing his view of her.

Sydney pleaded softly, "Rowan, please don't be mad, and don't blame Oliver. I know he wouldn't do something like this."

Until Sydney spoke, Oliver hadn't crossed Rowan's mind, but now he was the prime suspect.

"That boy-is he trying to kill me with anger?" Rowan fumed.

Sydney continued gently, "Let's just let it go don't want to cause any more trouble. Please, don't confront Oliver about this. I don't want to come between you two."

Rowan retorted furiously, "What relationship? I'm so mad I could strangle him!"

Over the years, Oliver's manipulations had restrained Rowan, preventing him from acting out as he used to.

Being ousted from the company and frequently having his freedoms restricted by Oliver was humiliating enough for Rowan. But what he

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found utterly intolerable was Oliver making him knieël and repent on the anniversary of his mother's death.

Rowan, fueled by rage, declared, "I'm going to confront Oliver right now and see what he's up to!"

As Rowan stormed out, Sydney verbally tried to stop him but didn't physically intervene.

Once Rowan was gone, Sydney's anxious expression vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating look as she watched him leave.

She then called Dominic, advising,

"Your dad's headed to the office now. You should go too Take this

chance to see if you can stayen and work there."

This was an opportunity too good to miss.