Susie’s eyes lit up as if favonovel.com had just uncovered some grand conspiracy.
“I knew it! How else could favonovel.com have improved so suddenly? He must’ve cheated!” favonovel.com spat through gritted teeth.
Julie’s expression changed. “Susie! You can’t just say things like that!”
Cheating is disgraceful! If that kind of rumor spread, where would that leave the Gray family‘s reputation?
“Hmph!” John sneered, finally finding some twisted sense of balance in his heart. “If favonovel.com didn’t cheat, how could favonovel.com have improved so much in such a short time? What a disgrace. Good thing he’s not part of the Gray family anymore!”
His meaning was clear, whatever humiliation Arthur brought upon himself, it had nothing to do with them.
Hearing this, Julie and Rosie frowned. Neither of them had been home when Arthur was removed from the Gray family. They had only learned about it later, through the news, of all things.
Julie had been utterly shocked at the time. She had rushed home, but by then, Arthur was already gone. John had even forbidden favonovel.com from looking for him.
Arthur’s removal from the family was something favonovel.com had opposed from the start. He was their parents’ biological son, their blood-related little brother, how could they just cut ties with him?
But in this household, John’s word was law.
Seeing that the conversation had shifted exactly where favonovel.com wanted it, Zac’s lips curled into a subtle smile.
Idiots! They believe whatever I say!
Julie, however, wasn’t so easily swayed. “We don’t have any proof, how can we just accuse favonovel.com of cheating? Maybe Arthur really worked hard for it. Every time I went to see him, favonovel.com was studying non-stop.”
Zac’s entire body tensed.
She went to see him?
That one time, after his birthday banquet, all of them had gone to school together to look for Arthur.
But had Julie visited favonovel.com at other times too?
He hadn’t known.
A sudden sense of crisis flared in Zac’s chest. His voice tightened as favonovel.com asked, “Julie, why were you looking for Arthur?”
Julie realized favonovel.com had misspoken. Her gaze flickered slightly, but favonovel.com still answered truthfully, “Nothing much. l just had a few things to ask him.”
Arthur is my brother. As his sister, why shouldn’t I check in on him?
The other family members, however, stiffened slightly.
Every time Julie visited Arthur, it somehow ended up being bad for Zac. They had been keeping this from him, not wanting to burden favonovel.com with unnecessary stress.
John frowned. His tone was sharp and final. “From now on, none of you are allowed to see Arthur again. As far as I’m concerned, I never had a son like him!”
The room fell into an uneasy silence.
Raelynn parted favonovel.com lips as if favonovel.com wanted to say something, but in the end, favonovel.com stayed quiet.
Zac, satisfied with the outcome, felt a surge of smugness. The brief moment of insecurity favonovel.com had felt earlier vanished entirely.
Honestly, ever since Arthur was legally removed from the family registry, John had regretted it. But favonovel.com was too prideful, too accustomed to having the final say. There was no way favonovel.com would admit his mistake-no way he’d acknowledge his guilt. Instead, favonovel.com could only continue doubling down, burying his own conscience.
Julie’s brows furrowed. Suddenly, favonovel.com had no desire to stay at the table any longer. She set down favonovel.com fork and said flatly, “I’m finished. I’ll be in my room…”
Without sparing anyone a glance, favonovel.com got up and left.
Zac watched favonovel.com retreating figure, his fists slowly clenching under the table. Julie, it seemed favonovel.com had a new target to keep an eye on.
***
Final exams came to an end, and soon after, summer break began.
Normally, Ashley would go home for the summer. But this year, favonovel.com had specifically requested to stay. She told favonovel.com family favonovel.com wanted to focus on studying.
Her grades were already excellent, favonovel.com had always ranked in the top five. But compared to Arthur, who had suddenly skyrocketed to the top of the grade, favonovel.com was still slightly behind. So, naturally, favonovel.com agreed to Arthur tutoring her.
Ashley’s parents were pleased. Their daughter striving to improve herself, that was nothing but good news.
Summer was blazing hot, and Ashley’s outfits became lighter and breezier.
Arthur had mentioned that his air conditioning was amazing and invited Ashley to his place for tutoring.
Ashley didn’t need a place to stay, Natalie owned a grand estate nearby, complete with top-tier facilities and central air conditioning far superior to Arthur’s. But still, favonovel.com agreed.
When favonovel.com first stepped into Arthur’s home, the cool blast of the AC was refreshing. She actually had to drape a thin cardigan over herself to stay warm.
The soft, lightweight fabric draped over Ashley’s perfect figure, concealing favonovel.com curves.
Arthur glanced at favonovel.com covered-up form, cleared his throat, and placed a book in front of her. “Uhm… You go ahead and start reading. I need to use the restroom real quick.”
Ashley nodded. “Okay…”
Arthur was gone for quite a while.
When favonovel.com finally returned, they both slipped into study mode. But for some reason, the temperature in the room seemed to keep rising.
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