Chapter 346
The walk back was steeped in awkward and heavy silence, and Rupert grew more anxious with each step.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t figure out what he had done wrong.
He was genuinely in love with Laura, which meant he wanted her family’s approval more than anything.
Along the way, Rupert tried starting multiple conversations to lighten the mood.
While Jeremy and Vic responded politely, their answers were clipped and distant.
The lack of warmth was unmistakable, and Rupert felt downright miserable.
The uncomfortable small talk dragged on until they finally reached Richard.
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Once they moved to a quieter spot for the family photos, Laura stood on the left holding Yvonne in her arms, while Widi stood on the right.
For the first time, Jeremy saw Widi flash the brightest smile he had ever seen on her.
After several formal shots, she snuck her right hand up and playfully flashed a peace sign.
The moment the last photo was taken, Widi dashed off to find the photographer, excited to see how they turned out.
Having stood for a while, Richard felt a familiar ache in his legs. He sat down and pulled Yvonne onto his lap, leaning in to chat with her.
Meanwhile, Rupert gently tugged Laura aside, leading her further from the crowd.
“What’s wrong?” Laura asked, puzzled.
“When I went to pick up Yvonne, Jeremy and Vic, they seemed off. I think they’re upset with me, but I don’t know why,” Rupert said.
Laura blinked in surprise and glanced in their direction.
At that exact moment, Vic met her gaze and offered a calm, well–mannered smile.
Laura smiled back, then turned to Rupert with a doubtful expression. “I don’t think so. They’re always a little reserved at first. Are you sure you’re not just overthinking it?”
She thought momentarily, then added, “Maybe you’re just nervous. Everything was fine this morning, wasn’t it? They probably need a little time to warm up.”
Rupert wasn’t convinced.
“No, Laura. I know what I felt. They weren’t just being quiet–they were distant. We need to address this now before it becomes something bigger,” he said firmly. “If I’m the problem, I want to fix it or at least understand why.”
Rupert wasn’t one to let misunderstandings simmer. He believed in talking things out and clearing the air.
He always felt that allowing misunderstandings to fester would only make them harder to resolve later.
Laura nodded in approval, seeing the sense in his reasoning.
Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Jeremy and Vic hadn’t meant anything by their behavior. In her eyes, Rupert was likely reading too much into it, probably just nerves getting the better of him.
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Chapter 346
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She had watched Jeremy and Vic grow up. Her uncle had raised them well, and they were kind, courteous, and respectful. She couldn’t imagine them deliberately snubbing Rupert.
Still, for his peace of mind, Laura decided to ask them directly. She then reassured Rupert and walked towards Vic.
She had to ask if what Rupert said was true.
As she approached, Vic was the first to notice. He nudged Jeremy, who had been teasing Widi and grinning at Yvonne.
“Laura’s coming,” Jeremy said in a low voice.
Jeremy looked over and saw Laura walking towards them, puzzled.
He hadn’t paid attention to his surroundings until just now. He was busy teasing Widi and having fun with Yvonne.
“It’s probably about earlier,” Vic said, glancing at Rupert.
He had seen Rupert talking to Laura earlier, so he had a pretty good idea why she might be coming their way.
“Seriously? All we did was ignore him, and he already went running and complaining to her?” Jeremy’s jaw dropped a little.
Before he could say more, Laura was already standing before them.
“Jeremy, Vic,” Laura greeted gently, her voice warm and calm. “Can we talk for a minute?”
She then led them to a quieter corner nearby.
Looking at her two brothers, who remained silent, she smiled softly. “I just wanted to ask, what do you guys think of Rupert?”
Vic considered brushing Laura off, but out of respect for her, he paused briefly before saying, “He’s alright.”
Rupert was anxiously watching a short distance away, completely absorbed in the exchange–so much so that he didn’t even notice Carol approaching.
“Rupert,” Carol said, snapping him out of it. “What are you zoning out for?”
Rupert jumped. “Mrs. Adler, I–sorry, I didn’t
see you
there.”
“No worries,” Carol said with a dismissive wave before turning to follow Rupert’s gaze.
“What’s Laura doing over there? I was looking for her,” Carol said.
Carol started to head in their direction, but Rupert instinctively stopped her.
“Wait,” Rupert said. “Laura’s just sorting something out. It’ll only take a few minutes. I can bring her to you afterwards.”
Carol raised an eyebrow, now even more curious. When she pressed him, Rupert eventually explained the situation.
After listening, Carol didn’t think much of it. She gave Rupert a light pat on the shoulder, reassuring him it was nothing to worry about.
However, she couldn’t help wondering what had gotten into those two suddenly.
She’d assumed that skipping school for the afternoon would put them in a great mood, so she didn’t know why they were acting strangely.
Not that it mattered too much, at least not today. There were bigger things to focus on. Any misunderstandings could be sorted out after the engagement party.
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Chapter 346
At least, that’s what Carol thought, and she was about to call out for Laura until something else caught her eye.
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From the corner of her vision, she saw Richard sitting with Yvonne. Her steps slowed, her face neutral, but her mind kicked into high gear.
Wait a minute, Carol thought, pausing in her steps.
Since Richard currently lived with Yvonne and her family, they had unrestricted access to him. Anyone else in the Adler family had to go through his bodyguards to see him.
This unrestricted access meant that if Jeremy or Vic casually mentioned anything about Rupert to Richard, it could easily influence his opinion.
Most importantly, they would be entirely in the dark if that happened. With that thought, Carol’s expression grew tense and
solemn.
Making matters worse, if Yvonne were to hear it from her brothers and repeat it to Richard in her sweet and innocent voice, Richard would believe her without question.
Carol’s expression darkened, and she knew this couldn’t wait.
She was determined to solve the issue today. If those two were to take their opinions home, it would be too late by the time the damage was done.
Without another word, she turned away from Laura and made a beeline for Richard.
If they intended to say anything about Rupert, she would make sure to speak first.
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