All the relatives, including Samir, were taken aback by Chasel's intense gaze. They were stunned for a moment!
But then, his aunt snapped back to reality. "Samir was just trying to help you find a job, and you act like an ungrateful fool! Do you even know your place?"
Chasel stood up, his eyes fixed on his aunt as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. His piercing stare made her swallow the rest of her words.
"Chasel, you've really let everyone down," Nora said softly, her eyes filled with disappointment.
There was an opportunity, and he didn't even try to seize it. She had covered for him, claiming he left school voluntarily. If Samir found out the truth, who knows what he'd think? She risked her relationship for Chasel, and he didn't appreciate it. She wondered why she ever saw anything in him.
Chasel didn't argue with Nora. Just then, the doorbell rang again.
"Who could it be now?" Monica wondered, puzzled When she opened the door, she saw a young, striking woman standing there, dressed in a sharp uniform.
"Who... who are you looking for?" Monica asked nervously, fearing she might be there for Chasel.
"Hello, ma'am. I'm Suzaku, here to see Chasel!" Suzaku's voice was clear and confident.
Hearing this, Monica's face fell. Could Chasel have escaped from somewhere? Was he a fugitive? She didn't dare stop Suzaku and led her inside, shooting Chasel a look full of resentment. How embarrassing!
As Suzaku entered, everyone noticed her and her distinctive uniform.
"Is she here to arrest Chasel?" his aunt speculated, gloating. The other relatives also looked uneasy, sharing Monica's suspicion that Chasel might be a fugitive. If he were arrested at home, the whole neighborhood would surely hear about it and the family's reputation would be completely shattered.
Nora glanced at Chasel with disdain before turning her gaze elsewhere, refusing to look at him any longer.
Samir's eyes lit up when he saw Suzaku's figure and appearance, but when he looked at Chasel, his expression was full of schadenfreude.
Only Gilberto quickly stood up to greet Suzaku, his voice trembling, "Miss, could... could there be a mistake?"
Suzaku had just mentioned she was here to see Chasel, and Gilberto had heard it.
"Hello, sir. No mistake, I'm here to report to Chasel!" Suzaku explained quickly, seeing everyone tense up.
"Oh, that's good, that's good," Gilberto sighed in relief.
Looking at Suzaku's attire, he realized her identity.
But in an instant, Gilberto's eyes widened again, his voice excited, "Young lady, you... you said you're here to report to Chasel, does that mean... he is...?"
At this moment, Gilberto was so excited he stammered.
"That's right, I'm his subordinate!" Suzaku stood tall, showing genuine respect for Chasel's adoptive father.
Upon receiving confirmation, Gilberto was suddenly overwhelmed with joy. His old face beamed with a smile, tears streaming down his eyes.
"Good boy, I knew it, I knew you weren't that kind of person. So, all these years, when we couldn't find you, you were in the military, making a name for yourself. You've really brought honor to the Mills family!"
Gilberto gave Chasel a hearty slap on the shoulder, filled with pride and excitement.
Meanwhile, Monica, Nora, and all the relatives were left dumbfounded. Chasel wasn't just out of prison? He had been in the military? And seemed to have made quite a name for himself!
The shock was overwhelming for them. Nora's face turned a shade of deep red, like a beetroot. Those who had mocked Chasel were now looking at each other, lowering their heads in embarrassment.
Nora trembled slightly, looking at Chasel with newfound respect.
Chasel stood there, his emotions a whirlwind. "Dad, I've retired!" he said with a smile, not hiding anything.
"I don't care, retired or not, you're still the pride of the Mills family!" Gilberto exclaimed, his face still filled with excitement.
Chasel decided not to say more. As long as his adoptive father was happy, that was enough.
"Report, Aurelian, I've completed the task you assigned me!" Suzaku approached Chasel, her expression serious.
"Good!" Chasel nodded.
He then turned to Gilberto and Monica. "Dad, Mom, I have some matters to attend to. I can't stay with you now, but I'll come back to see you once I'm done," he said respectfully.
"Chasel, your work is important. Don't let us hold you back. Go on," Gilberto urged. "And remember, if you have time, come home often. This will always be your home."
"Dad, don't worry. This will always be my home," Chasel assured with a smile.
Then he looked at Nora. "Nora, I wish you happiness."
"Samir, Nora is a good girl. Don't let her down," he said, turning to Samir with a piercing gaze and a chilling tone.
Samir felt a shiver run through him, understanding the underlying threat in Chasel's words. He felt uneasy but didn't argue.
Without waiting for their reactions, Chasel left with Suzaku, his steps steady and firm.
His not-so-broad back seemed majestic and powerful at that moment.
Soon, Chasel and Suzaku disappeared from sight.
It took a while for everyone to recover from the moment.
The once lively dining room fell silent, with no one touching their food.
Especially Nora, who bit her lip and clenched her fists tightly.
Was he not the despised criminal?
Did I misunderstand him?
Impossible!
Five years ago, he was indeed arrested and sentenced. That was an undeniable fact.
But today's events were clear as day.
Regardless of the truth, Nora felt as if she had lost something in her heart.
Samir noticed Nora seemed a bit lost. Ever since Chasel showed up, she seemed to keep a slight distance from him, whether intentionally or not.
A flicker of frustration passed through Samir's eyes but quickly vanished. He smiled and said, "I don't want to assume the worst about people, but I should point out that the person we just saw, Suzaku, didn't have any rank insignia on her shoulders!"
Huh?
Nora was taken aback by this. Not just her, but her aunt and others also realized it.
"Yeah, I remember now, there were no insignias!"
Her aunt exclaimed. "Could it be that her uniform is fake?"
"That's possible. Everyone knows what happened five years ago. How could he suddenly become a soldier?"
"And even if, by some miracle, he did join, how could he have subordinates in just a few years? In the military, experience is everything. He doesn't qualify!"
"Now that you mention it, you're right. Look at his frail frame, pale as a ghost, like he's sick. No way he's the real deal. I bet he's just putting on a show!"
"Absolutely, and claiming he's retired is just a cover-up in case he gets caught."
The relatives, now like a group of Sherlocks, picked apart the details and shared their theories. One after another, they reached a conclusion: Chasel was faking it, and Suzaku was just an actor he hired.
Gilberto initially wanted to scold and argue with the relatives, but in the end, he stayed silent. Though their words were harsh, they weren't entirely baseless. Could Chasel really have hired someone to deceive them? Even Gilberto, who had unwavering faith in Chasel, felt a twinge of doubt.
"Five years in prison didn't make you realize your mistakes or help you grow. Instead, you come out and play these tricks," someone said. "For the sake of pride, you deceive your parents and reject a hard-earned job. Chasel, you're hopeless!"
Nora listened to the relatives' accusations against Chasel, feeling utterly disappointed. Meanwhile, Chasel and Suzaku had already left the neighborhood.
Outside, a green Jeep was parked. Once inside, Suzaku handed Chasel a photo. It was of a sophisticated, elegant woman with a gentle demeanor.
"Report, Aurelian. Her name is Michelle Allen, daughter of the Allen family in Riverborough. Five years ago, by chance, she saved your life!"
"Michelle Allen is still unmarried, and she has a daughter—your daughter!"
"Due to the child, Michelle has broken ties with the Allen family and now runs a small company in Verdant City, living with her daughter."
"Yesterday, she posted a job listing for a personal assistant. According to my investigation, the job's sole responsibility is to pretend to be the child's father, occasionally playing with her to make her happy."
Upon hearing this, Chasel was taken aback!
His eyes were sharp and commanding, his tone icy: "Make sure all the applicants stay far away. My daughter can only have one father—me. No one else is qualified!"
Suzaku paused, then spoke with some complexity: "Michelle seems to harbor deep resentment toward the child's unknown biological father, which is you."
Chasel was stunned, and his eyes filled with guilt. Back then, Michelle had saved him, intending to take him to the hospital, not to offer herself as a remedy.
However, at that time, Chasel had lost his senses. Meeting Michelle was like finding a lifeline in a vast ocean, acting purely on instinct.
That night brought Michelle a memory akin to a nightmare.
Finally, Chasel sighed: "If that's the case, I can't reveal my identity. Submit a resume for me. Tomorrow, I'll go to the interview!"
Michelle Allen, I'm back! I'll do everything I can to make up for the harm I've caused you!