Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Is It Related to Me?
Thea Lynch’s face was flushed. Her aunt helped tidy her hair, "Why drink so much? This wine has a strong aftereffect. You might not feel it now, but you’ll be uncomfortable soon."
"I’ll get you some hangover medicine. Make sure you take it later, okay?"
"Okay." Thea nodded obediently.
Only then did her aunt smile, feeling relieved.
"Eat something first." Her aunt offered her some food.
Thea had been well-mannered since she was a child. No matter how delicious the dish on the opposite side was, if it wasn’t placed in front of her, she wouldn’t stand up to get some.
Even though she was slightly picky, she hadn’t forgotten her manners.
"No need, Aunt. I’ve almost finished eating."
"You’ve hardly eaten anything." Her aunt frowned. There wasn’t much noodle in the longevity noodle bowl she was given earlier.
She’d barely taken a few bites when she said she was full.
"The piece of cake my fourth brother cut for me earlier was too large, I’m feeling a bit full."
Coupled with the alcohol she drank, Thea couldn’t eat much more now.
Her aunt had to give up.
When Thea said she was almost done eating, she meant it.
Within five minutes, she set down her chopsticks and sat quietly on the side.
Since it was her birthday party, she didn’t feel right leaving first.
Her aunt noticed Thea was slightly drunk and discreetly touched her hand under the table, "Want to rest upstairs?"
Thea shook her head, "I’ll sit for a bit longer."
The elders at the table didn’t eat much in the evening, so it seemed like it was almost over.
She’d wait until they left before going.
As for her second brother and the others, she didn’t have the energy to entertain them further.
The night outside the window was deep. Thea leaned back in her chair, sipping water and gazing out the window.
"Thea, your phone." Her aunt suddenly came in, holding her phone.
Thea was startled for a moment, stood up and greeted the elders before leaving.
She walked out of the dining room, took the phone and checked the caller ID carefully: an unfamiliar number.
Local to Coronet.
She hesitated for a few seconds and the call disconnected automatically. Thea didn’t intend to call back, but the persistent caller rang again.
Thea walked to the living room balcony and answered, "Who is this?"
Her voice, softened by alcohol, was smoother, and even her tone lacked its usual hardness.
The caller paused in their breathing, remaining silent. Thea asked again, this time with a hint of impatience.
"Ah, it’s me, it’s me." The caller finally reacted and replied immediately.
"..."
Thea frowned, "Don’t you have a name?"
Being prodded, the caller quickly answered, "I’m Norbert Rhodes."
Norbert Rhodes.
That name... Thea remembered.
"You remember me, right?"
"Is there something you need?" She didn’t respond directly.
"Are you free to come out for a bit now? I’m outside your house, by the gatehouse."
He was referring to the entrance of the compound.
Thea didn’t even think, "I’m not available."
"Then can I ask someone to give you something?"
Thea didn’t waste time, "If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up."
"..."
"Hey, I...," Norbert didn’t finish before hearing the busy tone.
The person on the other side had hung up.
At the entrance, the guard glanced at Norbert again, asking, "Is someone coming to fetch you?"
Norbert had been here before, but it wasn’t this guard on duty earlier.
So the guard didn’t know him.
"She’s not here." Norbert handed over the item, "Please pass this to her for me."
The guard looked at the item briefly, recognizing it as a branded bag.
As for its contents, it was unknown.
"Sorry, we can’t help you."
"It’s for the Lynch Family, you know them. Just give it to Thea Lynch, the granddaughter." Norbert hoped for the guard’s cooperation.
The guard remained emotionless, suddenly asked, "What’s your name?"
"Norbert Rhodes. I’m Norb..." he tried to mention his father, knowing the guard wouldn’t recognize his name.
But before he could finish, he was interrupted.
Still the same response, "Sorry, we can’t help you."
"..." Norbert didn’t quite understand, "Then why did you ask my name?"
Was there any difference in asking?
The guard redirected his gaze, looked ahead, continuing to stand guard, ignoring him.
There was, of course, a difference.
The difference was that Ian Preston had reiterated earlier to never allow anyone named "Norbert Rhodes" inside, no matter what.
But this explanation couldn’t be shared with Norbert.
——
Thea hung up and prepared to go back.
She turned around, "Boom," colliding with a wall of flesh.
"..."
The phone fell to the ground.
It was Ian Preston.
Thea bent down to pick up the phone, but he was quicker and stooped first.
"Thank you, third..." She reached out to take it.
But he had no intention of returning it, fiddled with her phone, glanced at the top of the call log.
"Whose call was it?"
"Nina Sinclair?" He feared it might be Nina bothering her again.
Though he warned Nina privately, things always held unexpected changes.
His brow was full of irritation, seemingly contemplating how to deal with Nina fully.
Thea had heard some recent aftermath involving Nina.
Nina and her mom had supposedly fled abroad. As for Nina’s dad, he couldn’t escape a prison sentence.
Not just Nina, Thea hadn’t seen a glimpse of Auntie Rong in these days either.
At today’s dinner, Auntie Rong was absent as well.
She hadn’t asked, but her aunt had vaguely hinted that Auntie Rong wasn’t in Coronet now.
Where she went, probably only Ian knew.
Thinking of this, Thea couldn’t help but ask directly, "Where’s Auntie Rong? Why didn’t she come today?"
Ian: "On vacation."
Thea: "..."
She tugged at her lips but ended up saying nothing.
"Whose call was it?" The man was unusually fixated on the call.
"Not Nina Sinclair."
After a pause, Thea said, "Norbert Rhodes."
Ian’s fingers paused on the number, lifting his eyes to glance at her.
Thea thought he was going to ask more, but he didn’t.
He simply said, "Don’t answer unknown numbers next time."
"Okay." She nodded, thinking she could get her phone back now. Her hand hadn’t reached out yet when Ian pressed that number, directly adding it to the blacklist.
Only then did he return the phone to her.
"Then I’m heading back now."
The wind on the balcony was strong, and without knowing if it was because of the wind, she felt a little dizzy.
Ian glanced at her, finally locked the balcony door under her gaze.
Thea paused her step...
She looked up, puzzled, toward him.
"We haven’t finished discussing the earlier topic."
"Which topic?" Thea didn’t know which one he meant.
"Birthday wish."
"...I already said it’s a secret."
"I just have one question." Ian pressed on, forcing Thea to retreat, her foot bumping into a rattan chair, causing her to sit down.
The man leaned down following her move, his fiery gaze lighting sparks all over her, "Related to me?"
