Chapter 469: Uncle Joshua’s Girlfriend
Everyone entered the house upon invitation, and Joshua was startled to see Vivienne in a wheelchair. “Vivienne, what happened to you?” Logan had not informed Joshua about Vivienne’s illness, merely mentioning that a lot had happened at home and he needed to come back to handle things. The sudden sight took Joshua by surprise. Joshua had always been particularly fond of his nephews, and with Vivienne as his only niece, he cherished her like a treasure.
Vivienne smiled and shook her head, “Uncle Joshua, I’m alright, it’s just a heart condition, I can’t stand for too long.”
“How did you end up with a heart condition all of a sudden? What did the doctors say?” Joshua asked anxiously. Clara snorted coldly, “Joshua, for how she got sick, you might want to ask our dear Tina, she knows very well.” Tina looked up indifferently, a sneer escaping her, “Vivienne knows better than I do, doesn’t she?”
Vivienne pursed her lips and stopped Clara, “Mom, don’t blame everything on Tina. Uncle Joshua has just come back, and the little aunt is here too, please don’t do this.” Joshua glanced at Tina with a hint of reproach but refrained from asking more. Abigail stayed close to Joshua, also choosing not to speak.
Clara, however, was relentless, “Not letting me speak about what you did?” Marie was so angry she wanted to slap someone, “You…”
“Clara, that’s enough, how has Tina offended you? Do you want me to tell Dad all the things your family has done and see who ends up embarrassed?” The room was taken aback by this harsh rebuke, coming from none other than Orson, the youngest except for Sophia.
Tina was also surprised. Orson had actually spoken up for her! Seeing everyone looking at him, Orson’s face turned red. Ever since he learned that Tina was Lysander’s coach, he didn’t know how to face her, yet he now thought she was worthy of Jared.
Hearing Clara continuously picking on Tina, in a moment of urgency, he just blurted it out. It was Joshua who broke the silence, stepping forward with a smile to ruffle Orson’s hair, “Orson’s grown so much? He was just this little when I left, and now he’s so tall? I hear you’ve become a popular esports player.”
Orson was a child Joshua had found. Initially, he had tried to find Orson’s biological parents, but after a long search with no leads, he considered having one of his brothers adopt Orson. However, due to many family issues at that time, the matter was never resolved. Unmarried and feeling it unrealistic to adopt alone, he planned to send Orson to an orphanage. But the boy seemed to bond well with him and, seemingly aware of his impending departure, gave him a tearful look that melted his heart, prompting him to adopt him. Lacking experience with children, he mostly relied on his brothers to educate Orson. Over time, although legally his, Orson might as well have been Clara’s child.
“I was taught well by my brother,” Orson said, his head half-bowed and still a bit embarrassed. Joshua chuckled, “You used to run after your brother’s heels as a child, and you still do.” With a few laughs from everyone, Clara’s issue was sidetracked.
Mrs. Brown then called everyone to dine. Logan walked over with the support of Tina and Abigail. Joshua and Jared followed behind. Glancing at Jared, Joshua smiled and said, “You have good taste, son; Tina is quite exceptional.”
Jared responded nonchalantly, “How do you know our Tina is outstanding?”
Joshua glanced back and said, “Your mom told me, and then Abigail saw her. Knowing Tina is Waverly Underwood and Q, she almost went crazy. She wanted to come back just for an autograph.”
Jared just smirked and said no more.
At the dinner table, everyone paid special attention to Abigail. Sophia, ever the cheeky one despite her small size, bluntly asked, “Uncle Joshua, you’re so old, how did you chase after her?”
Joshua almost choked on his food, “Little brat, just a few days ago you said I was better looking than your brother, and now I’m old?”
“That’s because I hadn’t seen Abigail. Abigail is so young and pretty, like Tina. Next to her, you do look old.”
Sophia’s words made everyone burst into laughter, leaving Joshua with no comeback.
After all, Abigail really was younger than him.
“True, Abigail is only twenty-five this year, fifteen years younger than me,” Joshua said fondly as he looked at Abigail. “She’s still in graduate school. We met back in college.”
“So, it was love at first sight for Uncle Joshua!” Sophia exclaimed excitedly looking at Abigail.
Abigail blushed and smiled, “Not really. Your Uncle Joshua was giving a lecture at our school, and many girls had a crush on him. I was the one who fell for him first.”
Joshua held Abigail’s hand tenderly and said, “Out of all those girls, my eyes saw only you. To call it love at first sight wouldn’t be an exaggeration.”
A sweet atmosphere lingered between them, with Logan smiling contentedly and Sophia covering her mouth to giggle, “So cheesy, even cheesier than my brother and Tina!”
Meanwhile, Jared, who was feeding Tina meat, looked at his sister indifferently, “Tina and I are not cheesy.”
Tina, eating the meat from Jared’s hand, nodded in agreement.
Jared casually wiped a spot of grease from Tina’s mouth corner.
Joshua clicked his tongue, “Right, right, you two are definitely not cheesy at all.”
“Of course,” Jared affirmed as he offered another piece of meat to Tina.
The dinner progressed with the two couples displaying their affection openly!
After the meal, the family gathered to catch up. Vivienne, feeling unwell, went back home with Clara.
Sophia, tired, was taken upstairs to sleep by Marie.All content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.
Orson, feeling awkward to stay longer, hurried back to his room.
Logan then led Joshua and Jared to the study.
On the ground floor, Tina and Abigail were discussing perfumes and fashion design.
Abigail, studying fashion design, had many questions she wanted to explore with Tina.
The atmosphere in the study was not as lively as before.
“Joshua, Garrett has let us down and I’ve already dismissed him from the company. Jared has told you about it, right?” Logan asked.
Joshua nodded, “He mentioned it, but I still want to know what’s up with Vivienne?”
Jared looked up slowly and said calmly, “She broke the law!”
His words were succinct.
Joshua was momentarily stunned; that statement was enough.
Jared had his own affairs; he had known about them for a long time, so he never pried, to avoid unnecessary trouble for his nephew.
Logan continued, “Joshua, Jared handling the company alone can be overwhelming. The mess Garrett left behind, I’m handing it to you. What do you say?”
Joshua pursed his lips, pondering for a moment, “Dad, I’ll join the company, but after Jared fully takes over, I still want to pursue my own interests.”