?


    Roseanne chimed in, "Would you like to try some lemon squares? I can grab one for you?"


    Just as the elderlydy was about to respond, Corley''s phone rang.


    Whatever was said on the other end immediately darkened his expression. "Alright, I understand. Keep things under control, I''ll be there as soon as I can..." he said before hanging up.


    He then turned to Roseanne, apologetically, "I''m really sorry, there''s an emergency at work, I have to go."


    After saying this, he faced the elderly couple, "Grandma, Grandpa, let me take you home first. We can go out another day when I''m free, okay?"


    "That''s fine. But we haven''t seen Roseanne''s parents yet..." the elder trailed off.


    Roseanne quickly interjected, "It''s okay, you have urgent matters to attend to. We can always meet another time."


    "Alright."


    By the time Madge and Norris joined them, Corley was already escorting the elders out of the café and into his car, speeding off.


    Madge peered outside and questioned, "Who were those two elderly folks?"


    "They''re Corley''s grandparents. We met them by chance at the book signing the other day, and it''s such a coincidence to bump into them again today."


    Madge didn''t suspect a thing, "What a small world. Are you tired of walking? Do you want to head home?"


    "Let''s hang around a bit longer, we haven''t even reached the end of this street," Roseanne yfully tugged at Madge''s arm.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Madge chuckled, "Alright, let''s keep exploring."


    In the car-


    Corley was steering with one hand and talking to his assistant on the phone with the other, "...do as I said, calm everyone down first, we''ll handle the rest when I get there."


    Neely spoke up, "Is it urgent? If you''re pressed for time, you can drop us off here, and your grandma and I can take a cab home."


    "It''s not urgent, my team is handling it."


    "That''s good to hear."


    After a moment of silence, filled with


    hesitation, Corley ventured,


    net


    "Grandpa, do you have any ns while you''re back in the country? How long are you nning to stay? | know a couple of good doctors; I can arrange for them to give Grandma a check-up, what do you think?"


    Neely responded, "You can arrange that."


    "There''s another thing," Corley cautiously began, "Mom has been missing you guys a lot. She''s been worried about Grandma''s eyes and has always told me to keep an eye out for good doctors. You''re back now, and she doesn''t know yet. Maybe... we could all have dinner together? It''s still family, after all."


    Corley wanted to smooth things over between his mother and grandparents, despite not wanting to upset his grandmother. He thought it might be worth trying to mend their rtionship.


    However, the moment he mentioned it, the car''s atmosphere turned icy.


    Neely frowned, remaining silent.


    Geneva didn''t bother to hide her disdain, bluntly stating, “I''m not feeling well, it''s not convenient for me to entertain guests. I appreciate her concern though."


    To them, Kathleen was merely a guest.


    Out of consideration for Corley, the grandmother didn''t outright reject the idea, but her stance was clear. Corley knew better than to push further and dropped the subject.


    The car fell into a brief silence.


    Recalling something his assistant


    had mentioned that morning, Corley brought up,.“Years ago, we signed ten-year Contract with the


    government to keep the Rodriguez Mansion open to the public for free. That contract is about to expire. Should we renew it?"


    The Rodriguez Mansion was a Rodriguez family private property, originally opened to the public for free but not given away or surrendered.


    Thus, the government only had stewardship, not ownership.


    Neely''s cloudy eyes dimmed further, he sighed, “Let''s renew it, sign for another ten years."


    If Aberdeen ever returned, at least he''d find something familiar waiting for him.