Masked In Nobility Secrets Of Mrs.Chavez201-300

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Chapter_271

Ronald and Walter exchanged baffled glances as James mentioned his granddaughter. Both couldn’t help but blurt out in unison, “Where did you get a granddaughter from?”

They had initially thought the old man was just playing some strange game, but now, with the way he was speaking, they couldn’t deny that something was seriously off. ‘But Michael’s his only grandchild—how could there be a granddaughter out of nowhere?’ They were left in confusion. Ronald, still processing the bizarre situation, shook his head and walked into the house. Meanwhile, Walter and Yusef stood still, their minds racing. “Has someone else gone mad, or is it really him?” they silently wondered.

Jase, ever the observant one, called out to Ronald just before he entered the house. “What’s going on with him now?” His tone was a mix of concern and irritation, as if trying to make sense of the absurdity of the moment.

Ronald halted in his tracks, turning to face Jase. “I’m starting to think I need to call a psychologist for this old fool,” he grumbled. “He’s been in that lab for too long, and now, look at him—he’s completely gone off the rails.”

At this, James’s temper flared. He shot up from his seat, anger flashing in his eyes as he retorted, “The granddaughter I’m talking about is my newly recognized god-granddaughter. What do you three old fools think you’re talking about?!” He didn’t mince words, practically daring them to question him.

The three of them were momentarily speechless. The idea of James, at his age, suddenly deciding to acknowledge a new relative was almost too absurd to grasp. It wasn’t like James to get caught up in family drama at this stage in life.

Ronald eyed him suspiciously, his skepticism evident. “Are you sure you’re not the one with mental issues?” he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

James, red-faced with frustration, continued to insist that he was perfectly fine. The scene became comically chaotic—three old men in various states of confusion, watching James practically shout at them in his defense. To Yusef, who was standing at the doorway, it looked like the four of them might be losing their grip on reality, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit entertained.

Jase, clearly curious and perhaps a little suspicious himself, finally asked, “What made you think of adopting a granddaughter, James? Are you trying to set up a wife for Michael?”

It seemed like a logical assumption, given James’s position and influence. Any girl he chose to recognize as family would certainly be someone of importance. But James’s response wasn’t what they had expected.

James looked at Jase, surprise flickering across his face. He gave a slight chuckle. “Oh, I wish! But she already has a boyfriend,” he said, shaking his head with a grin. “The problem is, her boyfriend’s grandfather is a real piece of work. In his youth, he used his looks to charm married women. Now, even as an old man, he still steals people’s companions. So annoying. But what can you do? He’s completely oblivious to the damage he causes.”

Jase felt a strange unease at James’s words. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: Is he subtly throwing shade at me? The insinuation, intentional or not, made Jase feel like something deeper was being communicated, though he couldn’t put his finger on it. It lingered, making him more cautious in their conversation.

Ronald and Walter, on the other hand, weren’t as concerned with the subtext. In their eyes, if James had decided to recognize someone as his granddaughter, she must be exceptional. After all, James had very high standards when it came to people he considered close.

“Well, when your granddaughter visits, I’ll be sure to prepare a grand gift for her,” Ronald said, his tone still slightly dubious but ultimately accepting of the situation.

Walter chimed in, “I’ll do the same, don’t worry. You’ll be pleased with what I prepare.”

Jase was about to respond, but James cut him off before he could speak. “Don’t bother,” he said dismissively.

Jase blinked, surprised. It was rare for James to turn down something like this, especially when it came to gifts. Has he grown a conscience? Jase thought to himself, but before he could voice his concern, James mumbled, “Anyway, when you’re gone, everything will go to my granddaughter.”

The three old men missed the subtle implication, but Yusef, who had been paying attention, couldn’t help but chuckle. He thought, Even if Jase loses everything, the inheritance still belongs to the grandson. It has nothing to do with James’s newfound granddaughter. But Yusef wisely kept his thoughts to himself.

As the conversation wound down, James turned to leave but stopped, fixing his gaze on Ronald and Walter. His silent stare made both of them uncomfortable. The intensity of his look made them uneasy, as if he was trying to convey something unspoken.

Walter, unable to stand the tension, blurted out, “What is it, you old coot? If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you staring at us like that?”

Ronald, equally perplexed, nodded in agreement. “Yeah, if there’s something on your mind, spit it out. Don’t just stand there staring—it’s creepy in broad daylight.”

After a brief moment of silence, James finally spoke, his tone authoritative yet casual. “The gift you two are preparing for my granddaughter needs to be nicer and more expensive, understand?”

Both Ronald and Walter hesitated. This doesn’t feel right, they thought. “Isn’t that a bit much?” Ronald asked, a furrow in his brow. “Jeremiah’s girlfriend is supposed to be the future matriarch of the Chavez family. If we make the gift for your god-granddaughter more expensive, won’t that upset her?”

James scoffed confidently. “No, don’t worry about it. She’ll understand. Just make sure it’s a nice gift.”

With that, Ronald and Walter reluctantly agreed. “Alright, alright, no problem. It’ll definitely be something valuable,” they said in unison, each mentally calculating how they could afford to follow through with James’s unusual request.

James, pleased with their response, gave a satisfied nod. “Good. They’ll arrive on the same day. Ronald, you’ll take care of the blue-and-white porcelain. Walter, the emerald screen will do for my granddaughter. She’s not picky.” With that, he waved them off and walked out, clearly satisfied with his manipulations.

Ronald and Walter exchanged a look of disbelief. Not picky? they thought. That blue-and-white porcelain cost thirty million dollars, and the emerald screen is a family heirloom! This is definitely asking too much. But they didn’t dare argue further.

As the two men made their way out, they thought, What did we get ourselves into? Their plan to prepare a simple gift had turned into an impossible task, and both were secretly dreading the upcoming visit. James, for all his eccentricities, had certainly made things complicated.

Meanwhile, outside the National Physics Lab, James arrived to find Yvette sitting on the curb under a small tree, sipping a milkshake. He raised an eyebrow at her casual posture. She’s a great girl, but sometimes her carefree attitude gets on my nerves, he thought, walking over.

“How long have you been here, Yvette?” James called out from a distance, his voice carrying over the summer air.

Yvette stood up, brushing off the leaves from her clothes, before tossing her empty cup into a nearby trash can. Her striking features were enhanced by the dappled sunlight, and she raised an eyebrow at him, her voice laced with a cool edge. “Only just arrived two minutes ago.”

James walked up to her, eyes glancing at the discarded milkshake cup. With a tone of concern, he said, “Girls should drink less milkshake. If you like them, I’ll have the housekeeper make some for you. This store-bought stuff has too many additives. It’s not good for your health.”

Yvette nodded, shrugging. “The homemade ones just aren’t as tasty as the store-bought ones. Besides, they don’t have all those additives.”

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