Chapter 1672:
âYes, Mr. Happer. Iâll dig into Ms. Sandersonâs background without delay. You can count on me,â Moshe said.
Errol responded with a subtle nod, his confidence in Moshe unwavering. Over the years, Moshe had proven himself flawless in carrying out missions.
Errol drawled, âDonât rush this. Pace yourself. Since Harlee set foot in Uwhor, sheâs playing in our sandbox. Once we uncover whoâs backing her, we can decide if she needs to be permanently removed from the board. For now, letâs let the younger ones handle their own skirmishes.â
âUnderstood.â
Moshe was already on the same page. He too had sensed that there was more to Harlee than met the eye. Errol had been weaving this plan together for a decade, and he wouldnât allow anyone to unravel it.
The next morning, Harlee returned from her morning jog. As she entered the living room, she was greeted by the sight of Lexus Moreno lounging on the sofa with his grandson, Ableson Moreno, while Robbie and Serena perched nearby.
Lexus had been Harleeâs mentor in college and had always treated her like family. However, since his son, Gilmore Moreno, had ascended the political ladder in Uwhor, Harlee had kept her distance.
Their divergent political views made coexisting with Gilmore tense, and Harlee didnât want to drag Lexus into the fray. She limited her interactions to sending cards during the holidays.
Harlee greeted Lexus, âProfessor Moreno.â
Lexusâ face brightened at the sound of her voice, but he quickly adopted a stern expression, as though she owed him a fortune. He let out a theatrical sigh and addressed her as she approached, âSo, you still remember me? I was beginning to think Iâd faded from your memory!â
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Robbie and Serena quickly rose, offering their seats.
âHarlee, youâre back. Professor Moreno has been regaling us with tales of your college escapades for the past half hour.â
Lexus shot them a covert glare. He was merely voicing his complaints. Did they really need to spill the beans?
Harlee allowed a smirk to play on her lips as she approached leisurely. Upon spotting Harlee, Ableson dashed over, stopping in front of her with wide eyes filled with wonder.
âGrandpa, is this the legendary Harlee?â
Ableson gestured toward Harlee, giving a thumbs-up, then gazed up at her and declared, âHarlee, youâre even prettier than my grandpa said.â
Robbie and Serena exchanged knowing looks. Was this the quiet little genius who hadnât spoken a word to them since their introduction? His charming act was quite the surprise.
Harlee crouched down to Ablesonâs level, gently tousled his hair, and quirked her lip.
âHow many advanced math problems have you cracked today?â Ableson typically retreated into his mind to tackle math puzzles, something only Lexus knew about. Everyone else, especially his father, dismissed his quiet moments as signs of autism.
Usually, Ableson would clam up if asked, but something about Harlee sparked his trust. He stepped closer, blinked his large eyes, and shyly confessed, âJust one. It was really tough, and I pondered over it for quite some time.â
Seeing this, Lexusâ eyes brimmed with tears. He felt a wave of relief knowing that, even in his absence, Ableson would have Harleeâs affection.
Gilmoreâs disappointment that Ableson hadnât brought him any prestige led him to focus on his other children, leaving Ableson deprived of parental affection since he was three. All Ableson had was his grandfatherâs love.
Lexus wasnât haunted by the specter of death itself, but the thought of leaving Ableson without a guardian was a different kind of torment. That was why Lexus had unabashedly arrived at Harleeâs doorstep today, hoping she would agree to shield Ableson until he could fend for himself.
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