Chapter 208 Out of Place
Jonah took a sip of tea and suppressed his surprise. “It’s him.”
“Charmaine was that rude to him, and he didn’t even scold her? That’s new,”
Jonah glanced at him. “I know right.”
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Then, Milo casually pulled Charmaine over and introduced her one by one. “Jonah, you already know him. This is Zayn. He had just got off the plane this afternoon. You two have met before, right?”
Zayn remained seated, his gaze indifferent as he scrutinized Charmaine again. “Yes, just once.”
Charmaine didn’t respond.
Seeing this, Zayn frowned, his tone carrying superiority. “Did the people you used to live with never teach you basic manners?”
Charmaine answered flatly, “No.”
Zayn’s expression darkened. He was just about to reprimand her when Milo cut in impatiently. “The Reads. was a garbage dump. It’s great that they didn’t teach her anything–whatever they taught wouldn’t have been any good anyway.”
The moment he said that, the door swung open. Willard, Olympia, and Leah stepped in just in time to hear his remark.
Leah’s smile nearly faltered.
Charmaine turned her head slightly, her gaze swept over Leah’s face before letting out a barely audible chuckle.
That laugh made Leah feel even more humiliated.
However, she quickly recovered, putting on her signature sweet smile and calling out in a soft, pleasant. voice, “Hey, Jonah, Milo, Zayn.”
Compared to Charmaine’s cold indifference upon entering, Leah appeared far more well–mannered and lovable.
Zayn got up and walked over to Leah, greeting her with a brief hug. He frowned as he took a closer look at her. “It hasn’t even been that long, and you’ve lost even more weight. Are you skipping meals again?”
Leah pouted playfully. “Zayn, you’re accusing me! I’ve been taking pilates classes. My weight hasn’t changed–it’s just that my figure is getting better.”
She rolled up her sleeve to show him. “See? If you don believe me, feel for yourself! I even have muscles now. If you’d come back any later, I might’ve developed abs!”
Zayn chuckled and shook his head. “That would be something. Are you going to enter a bodybuilding competition if I stay away too long next time?”
Zayn
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Chapter 208 Out of Place
The two siblings laughed and teased each other, creating a picture of warmth and harmony.
Finishe
Willard and Olympia warched the scene with fond smiles, but the moment their gazes shifted to Charmaine, their expressions instantly cooled. Their eyes carried a distant indifference as if she were nothing more than an outsider.
Charmaine wasn’t surprised. She naturally took a seat in the farthest corner from them.
She was here to have dinner as a favor to Milo, nothing more. No one said she had to put on a smile and play along.
Jonah spoke up, “Dad, Mom, have a seat. I already ordered and everything is to Zayn’s taste.
“Good, good. With you looking out for your younger siblings, your father and I can rest easy.” Olympia patted Jonah’s shoulder gently.
Everyone took their seats. Milo, sticking close to Charmaine, poured her a cup of tea as if it were second
nature.
As Zayn observed from the side, he couldn’t shake off his suspicion. As Zayn observed from the sid
Among their brothers, Milo had always spoiled Leah the most.
Zayn wondered why he was acting completely different today.
Milo was circling around Charmaine while he seemed distant toward Leah.
Even if Charmaine was their biological sister, there was no way she could be more important than Leah.
The thought left Zayn staring at Charmaine with a hint of discontent.
The conversation at the table revolved mostly around Zayn.
Willard asked about his research overseas, while Jonah occasionally chimed in with his own thoughts. Olympia, ever the doting mother, was more concerned about whether her son was eating well and staying
warm.
The family dynamic was warm and affectionate and Charmaine couldn’t have been more out of place.
Leah casually brought up a topic. “Zayn, when you were at the research institute, did you ever run into Master Field or Mr. Robin?”
Zayn shook his head. “Even though our project was classified as SS–level, Master Field has already retired, and Mr. Robin is notoriously elusive. There was never a chance to meet them.”
“I see.
“I heard from Milo that you wanted to introduce me to Mr. Robin.”
Leah gave a sheepish smile. “Sorry, Zayn… I messed up
Zayn ruffled her hair fondly. “What’s there to apologize for? You were just trying to help me and do something good for the family. You just got tricked by outsiders–it’s not your fault.
Willard spoke un at this moment. There’s been talk the the higher–ins are working on an important
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Chapter 208 Out of Place
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project and need industry veterans like Master Field to come out of retirement. He’s expected to arrive in Eragos soon. When that happens, I’ll pull some strings and see if I can get him to take you as his apprentice.”
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