âMaster Nolan has returned!â
The staff buzzed with surprise, their relief palpable after the suffocating tension that had gripped the mansion just moments before. Yet to their astonishment, the matriarch insisted everyone leave the parlor upon Nolanâs arrival.
The servants, well-trained in the art of discretion, didnât question the familyâs decision and quietly withdrew.
âWhatâs got into you, Granny? Youâre all furrowed brows. Have I been away too much recently? I thought Iâve been pretty diligent about visiting.â
Nolan flopped casually onto the couch beside the old lady, his demeanor as carefree as ever.
His mother Alineâs frown deepened at his nonchalant attitude.
âWhatâs with this approach of yours?â she chided.
Nolan tugged at his tie, weary from a day trapped in his business suit. It was only at home that he could finally unwind, âWhat attitude should I have? You all seem so wound up. Whatâs the big deal?â
âShouldnât we be worried? Thereâs a video circulating accusing you of indiscretions, and a certain gentleman is demanding you take responsibility for his daughter! Explain yourself,â his father Palmer demanded, his face sour with anger.
âDonât be so harsh. We canât just assume itâs Nolanâs fault, and that footage could very well be doctored,â Aline defended. She had raised Nolan single-handedly; no one kne etter than she the kind of man her son was. He would never be involved in such a s âI know exactly what kind of person he is, and thatâs exactly why Iâm shocked a disappointed. Whatever the reason, heâs been caught in a compromising situati being used against him. Moreover, the accuser isnât just anybody; the Tanner fa a renowned company,â Palmer said as a headache brewed at the thought of his latest debacle.
âI say, theyâre just trying to hit a jackpot with us. If there was any real affection betw them, it might be a different story, but thereâs none! How can we let Nolan marry the That would be irresponsible to her as well,â Nolanâs grandfather Preston interjected, a the grandmother nodded in agreement.
âExactly. No matter whatâs happened, weâll compensate as needed, but we canât treat marriage as a joke. Two people with no love between them canât be pushed together. Maybe we should ask what the Tanner family wants, meet their demands within reason, Aline suggested, looking up at Nolan, who seemed utterly unconcerned.
âYouâre all getting worked up over nothing. I havenât done anything untoward. So, letâs not get ahead of ourselves. Iâll handle this situation, and I assure you our family wonât be dragged into this mess,â Nolan reassured.
Aline fretted, âStill, we canât ignore that the girl is a victim in all this. How else would her own father use such a video to blackmail us? Perhaps I should meet with her.â