Chapter 660 She Might Dominate You
Day Seventy-Two…
~~*****~~
[ At Sparks Mansion… ]
Nathan and Jane strolled gracefully through the entrance of the villa, their fingers lovingly entwined. As they ventured further into the mansion, the air was filled with an air of anticipation. Ethan and Old Man Xu had been eagerly awaiting their arrival.
Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, Ethan rushed towards them the moment he spotted them, his eyes filled with excitement.
"Miss Jane! Dad!" Ethan exclaimed joyfully, his voice echoing through the grandeur of the mansion. In a burst of boundless affection, he leaped into their arms as soon as he reached their side, embracing them tightly.
Old Man Xu was taken aback witnessing the scene which looked like a heartwarming family reunion. However, his astonishment turned into shock when he realized who the woman was.
'Wait! This woman... She resembles Phantomflake. Is she Phantomflake?' Old Man Xu's eyes widened, and his mouth hung open in disbelief. 'What is going on here?' Old Man Xu turned to his son with a questioning gaze.
It was as if Nathan could discern his father's thoughts, for he simply nodded in confirmation of his assumption. Disregarding his father's reaction, Nathan assumed the role of host and gracefully led Jane toward the dining area together with Ethan. Old Man Xu could only follow them from behind.
As he made his way towards the dining area, Old Man Xu impulsively seized Butler Li by the hand and leaned in to whisper urgently, "I can't believe that this woman is here. Can't you recognize her?"
Butler Li's brows furrowed in confusion upon hearing the question. "Why, Master? Do you know her?"
Old Man Xu smacked his forehead in frustration and vented his exasperation. "Of course! I know her! She's Phantomflake, the assassin who killed Monica! I thought she was in a coma. I had no idea she had regained consciousness. How could Nathan bring this woman here and introduce her to Ethan? Are they in a serious relationship?" Old Man Xu realized that he was no longer up to date with his son's personal life, and a wave of concern washed over him.
Butler Li was left in a state of shock as Old Man Xu disclosed Jane's true identity. It suddenly made sense why he had sensed such a strong and intense aura emanating from her. Turning his gaze towards Jane's retreating figure, Butler Li observed her with a sense of intrigue.
"She exudes the same aura that Abigail did when I first met her," he murmured, a reminiscent smile playing on his lips.
"Master, why don't you observe them if your son and this woman are just faking their relationship? You can also confront your son directly after the meal," Butler Li suggested.
Old Man Xu nodded in agreement. "Alright, please assist me in monitoring and observing them," he conspiratorially whispered to his devoted servant.
"Okay, Master. Leave it to me," Butler Li reassured him, winking at him.
The two exchanged knowing glances as they joined Nathan, Jane, and Ethan. The young boy couldn't contain his joy; a wide grin stretched from ear to ear as he chatted with Jane.
However, in contrast to Ethan's jubilant mood, Jane felt a touch of unease. She had not anticipated Old Man Xu's presence at the lunch today, and it caught her off guard. She tried to compose herself but couldn't help but ask Nathan if he had been aware of this surprise guest. Nathan, too, appeared unaware of his father's presence, shaking his head in response.
As Old Man Xu settled into a seat beside Ethan, the young boy immediately reached out and took his hand, introducing Jane with enthusiasm. "Grandpa, this is Miss Jane, my father's girlfriend," he announced proudly.
"Cough! Cough!" Jane choked on her water when she heard Ethan's last words. She didn't expect that the young boy would introduce her to his grandfather as Nathan's girlfriend.
Jane was momentarily flustered and unsure how to respond. She discreetly tried to regain her composure, her mind racing to process this unforeseen development. She couldn't help but steal a furtive glance at Old Man Xu, attempting to gauge his reaction.
A question loomed in her mind: 'Will he be fine about this?'
Old Man Xu maintained an impassive expression, his poker face revealing no emotions. He simply nodded in acknowledgment of Jane's introduction. However, beneath his composed exterior, he was engaged in a silent assessment of both Nathan and Jane.
Despite his efforts, he couldn't quite discern their true relationship. The couple appeared composed, refraining from any overt public displays of affection, leaving Old Man Xu in a state of curiosity and intrigue.
But unknown to him, Butler Li and the maids in the Sparks Mansion had already witnessed the passionate kiss shared by Nathan and Jane in the living room a few days ago. Consequently, when Ethan introduced Jane as Nathan's girlfriend at the dining table, the maids who were serving them remained unfazed, having already gained insight into the true nature of their relationship.
"Nice to meet you, Chairman Xu," Jane greeted him with politeness.
"Likewise," Old Man Xu responded in a straightforward manner.
Once again, an uncomfortable silence filled the room. Nathan decided to break the tension by prompting everyone to begin their meal.
Ethan pursed his lips, a tinge of disappointment creeping over him as he sensed his grandfather's chilly reception toward Jane. It was evident that Old Man Xu was not extending a warm welcome to her at all.
As Old Man Xu met his grandson's sharp gaze, he couldn't help but be troubled by the disappointment etched across Ethan's face. It was a rare occurrence for Ethan to display such a chilly demeanor towards him, leaving Old Man Xu to wonder if he had unintentionally committed some wrongdoing.
*****
Thirty minutes later, Old Man Xu dragged his son toward the balcony while Jane and Ethan went upstairs to play with his robotic friends. The old man decided to confront his son as he found it increasingly difficult to grasp the true nature of the relationship between Jane and Nathan. He refused to believe that his son was dating Jane.
"Nate, tell me the truth," Old Man Xu pressed his son, his tone heavy with concern and suspicion. "Are you and Phantomflake pretending to be a couple to spare Ethan's feelings because Abigail is now engaged to another man? And why her? Why did you let her get close to Ethan? She's the one who took his mother's life, remember?" The old man's interrogation left no room for evasion; he demanded a truthful response.
"No, Dad. We're not pretending. Our feelings are genuine. It's not about Abigail," Nathan replied earnestly. He paused briefly before continuing, "And I want to clarify your wrong assumption. There's something else you need to know."
Old Man Xu found himself speechless, his mind racing to process what his son had just revealed.
"Jane didn't kill Monica. Monica is alive," Nathan dropped yet another bombshell, leaving Old Man Xu in stunned silence.
Old Man Xu: "..."
"We've all been deceived by her— you, me, and even Ethan," Nathan's voice quivered with bitterness. "She made the choice to abandon us," he continued. "She's now living under a different identity, Helena Carlsen. I suspect she underwent plastic surgery."
"What?! That woman?! Monica is none other than Maximilian Carlsen's daughter, Helena? But why? Why did he insist on arranging a marriage between you two if she had already left you?" Old Man Xu was thoroughly confused by this startling revelation. He couldn't help but recall the threats made by Maximilian Carlsen to coerce him into arranging a marriage between Nathan and Helena in the past.
"I have two deductions," Nathan responded, "Either Maximilian is unaware of Monica's true identity, or he is a part of this alliance, actively working to destroy me."
"I will find out soon. It depends on how Maximilian Carlsen will react after receiving my package." Nathan elaborated. His voice was resolute as he continued, "Inside that package, I've included irrefutable evidence that the Helena Carlsen he's familiar with is nothing but a counterfeit persona." Nathan's words held an air of anticipation, as he eagerly awaited Maximilian's response to the revelation.
Old Man Xu could only nod his head in understanding. "Alright, it's all becoming clear now. I suspected as much. Monica is a shrewd and manipulative woman. I have no fondness for her whatsoever." Old Man Xu made no effort to conceal his strong animosity towards Monica. His feelings ran deep; he despised how she had toyed with his son's emotions. The only redeeming aspect he found in Monica was Ethan, the precious gift she had given to their family.
"If it weren't for Ethan," Old Man Xu confided in his son, "I would have considered separating the two of you a long time ago."
Nathan smirked at his father and shot back, "Yet, you attempted to get rid of her yourself."
Old Man Xu couldn't deny that fact.
"Now, I'll ask you," Nathan asked his father with anticipation, "How do you feel about Jane?"
"If you don't like her, simply refrain from interfering in her life," Nathan cautioned sternly. "I'm warning you, Dad, do not intrude into my personal matters anymore. And, most importantly, never harm her in any way."
Old Man Xu was taken aback by his son's newfound protectiveness towards Jane. It became clear to him that his son no longer harbored any hatred or resentment towards her.
"Hmm, as long as you and Ethan have taken a liking to her, I won't raise any objections," Old Man Xu admitted. "In fact, I quite like her myself. She appears to be capable and talented, a truly remarkable woman. Do you think you're up to the challenge of being with her?" Old Man Xu teased his son playfully.
"She might dominate you," Old Man Xu added, grinning from ear to ear.
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