Callix Linton knows exactly what he’s worried about, but he doesn’t say it. He follows Easton Holmes out of the room, heading to the living room.

When the grandfather and grandson briskly reach the living room, Amelia Linton hasn’t come in yet, and without realizing it, their pace slows.

Seeing Callix Linton and Easton Holmes come in together from their rooms, Lily Turner looks puzzled, "Grandpa! Weren’t you resting in your room already? How come..."

"Lily, dear! Go upstairs with Easton. I’m expecting a guest here." Not waiting for Lily to finish her sentence, Callix Linton decisively cuts in, giving Easton a knowing glance, signaling him to take her upstairs quickly, as he wants to face the arriving guest alone.

Lily Turner, unaware of the situation, truly believes that there’s a guest coming. She quickly stands up and walks over to Easton Holmes, "Grandpa! We’ll head up then."

She can tell that her grandfather doesn’t want them to stay and entertain the guest together. Arm in arm with Easton, she leaves the living room.

"Honey! Who is the guest Grandpa wants to meet? Why wouldn’t he let you stay with him?" She can understand not wanting her there, but not letting Easton stay makes her puzzled. She wonders what important guest it must be that even he is not allowed to see.

"You don’t know them, even if I tell you, you wouldn’t recognize them." Easton understands Callix Linton’s thoughtful intentions. Since Grandpa wants to keep it secret, he goes along to keep it from her, to stop her from overthinking.

Lily agrees with a nod, "You’re right."

She doesn’t ask any further, and together with Easton, they head upstairs.

Just as Easton Holmes and Lily Turner have gone upstairs, Amelia Linton arrives. Aunt Li is startled to see her but quickly recovers, stepping aside to make way for her to enter.

"There are some things outside in the yard, go bring them in." Amelia Linton glances at a certain spot in the yard and instructs Aunt Li before entering the house with items in her hands, heading to the living room.

Callix Linton ignores the things she’s carrying, looking at her coldly, "What were you doing all day? Why come at such a late hour?"

He questions her verbally, but his gaze remains gentle.

"I couldn’t manage it during the day." Amelia Linton bends to place the items by the sofa, then sits beside Callix Linton, "Where are Easton and his wife?"

Since entering, she hasn’t seen her son or Lily, thinking they’d be in the living room, only to see her father alone.

His wife?!

Callix Linton, sharp-eared, catches the different wording of Amelia Linton’s sentence. He discreetly examines her, "Did you need something from them?"

He emphasizes the word "need" deliberately, ensuring she pays special attention to these words. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"No, I just wanted to see you and them, nothing more." Amelia Linton wants to add that she’s not here to cause trouble, but she fears her father might misunderstand and think she’s trying to cover up something.

Callix Linton observes Amelia for a while, noticing her demeanor differs from usual; the arrogance is gone, replaced with gentleness. His own tone softens as he speaks, "Lily was tired, so I had Easton take her up to rest."