SWNOVELS Chapter 1719
Chapter 1719
“Grandpa, I know which path to take into the future, so you don’t need to worry about me. What’s most important right now is for you to take care of yourself and not let those people get under your skin.”
Zavier’s voice suddenly echoed from the doorway, interrupting their conversation.
Skyler whirled around, startled. Zavier, who had supposedly left earlier, had reappeared at the living room entrance without her noticing. “You-you didn’t leave?”
Striding in with a light and graceful gait, Zavier seemed unaffected by the earlier melancholy. His eyes shone with a bright intensity.
Hudson frowned disapprovingly, “What do you think you know? If you really knew anything, I wouldn’t be an old man losing sleep over your future.”
Zavier sat down next to Hudson, “Grandpa, I know everything you’ve been doing is to help me. You kept Skyler here to show those sharks that even though I’m not fit to take over Rivera Inc., I’m still your grandson, and you wouldn’t just leave me high and dry. But have you considered what all this is doing to this scaredy-cat?”
Hudson replied confidently, “I’ve got her back. They wouldn’t dare touch her.”e2
Zavier pressed on, “But you know what they say about this scaredy-cat behind her back, don’t you?”
Hudson said firmly, “Skyler is your fiancée. Stop calling her a scaredy-cat. She was just defending you a moment ago.”
Zavier turned to Skyler, “You were speaking up for me?”
Skyler responded matter-of-factly, “I was just telling the truth.”
Little did she know, she was the real naif, thinking the grandfather and grandson were at odds when they were actually putting on a show for everyone to see. She hadn’t seen through it at all before. And she wondered if those smarter than her had caught on. Zavier chuckled, “When everyone else thinks I’m down and out, you stand up for me. I can’t decide if that makes you foolish or something else altogether.”
Skyler was speechless. This man sure had a sharp tongue. She wished she hadn’t bothered defending him.
Hudson reached out, tapping Zavier on the head, “You’re a good kid with a mouth that could start a riot. Even your concern comes out sounding like an insult.”
Zavier shot back, “If I weren’t sharp-tongued, how would I deal with those vipers?”
Hudson, wishing to bypass the banter, took Skyler’s hand and placed it in Zavier’s, “Skyler is a good kid. You better treat her right. No more letting her get pushed around.”
Zavier clasped Skyler’s hand firmly in his, “Since she’s spoken well of me, I won’t let anyone bully her again.”
Skyler’s hand was cold, but Zavier’s was warm and comforting. It felt as if a steady stream of warmth flowed from their clasped hands into Skyler, thawing her chilled body and heart.
She glanced up at Zavier, but he wasn’t looking at her. His expression turned serious, “Grandpa, have you found any leads?”
Hudson sighed, “We’ve ruled out some suspects, but the real culprit is still out there.”
Zavier echoed the frustration, “I’ve eliminated Matthew and Owen as possible assailants. Grandpa, now I can’t help but suspect someone we never doubted before.”
Hudson knew exactly who Zavier was referring to. They communicated in a silent understanding, leaving Skyler feeling utterly confused.
Hudson mused, “I used to think she was the least likely since even if something happened to your father and brother, she wouldn’t be next in line for Rivera Inc. But now, it seems more possible than ever.”