Jase sat down, leaning on his cane, while Yusef stood by his side and handed him the coffee that had been prepared in advance. Jase took a small sip and set the cup down. “I hear you,” he said calmly. “My body can still hold up, so there’s no need for you all to worry.”


    Ronald and Walter both sighed. At Jase’s age, still holding his position, rumors had started circting that he was clinging to power, unwilling to let go, driven by a love of authority. But only these old friends knew the truth–Jase wasn’t concerned with power at all. He couldn’t let go of his duty to the country. It wasn’t as if his son, Jeremiah’s, position was in any way threatened. And with Jeremiah’s current standing, even if Jase were to step down, no one would dare touch the Chavez family.


    Hearing those words, James remained silent, though his expression had softened quite a bit. However, Jase had already noticed his sour look from the moment he walked in. He turned his gaze to James and said, “What’s with the long face as soon as I walk in, old man? When did I ever offend you? Why the attitude, all grumpy and upset?” Ronald and Walter both turned to look at James, waiting to see how he would respond. All eyes were on him, anticipating his reaction.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    James snorted, “Can’t I just dislike your face?”


    Jase frowned. He had looked the same for decades, yet now James was acting like he couldn’t stand the sight of him. It seemed like the old man must’ve been chewing on gunpowder today. Back in their younger days, James had been jealous of his good looks, and even now, he was still pulling the same stunt.


    James remained silent, not offering any further exnation.


    Jase never expected that the resemnce he shared with Jeremiah–those simr eyebrows and eyes–would make James so unweing toward him.


    Seeing the tension between the two, Ronald quickly changed the subject. “Hey, did you hear that Jeremiah has a girlfriend now? Why didn’t you mention it, Jase?”


    Walter nodded as well, “I’ve heard about this too. It seems like almost everyone in Betrico knows now. ver expected Jeremiah to actually have a girlfriend.”


    James chimed in with a grumble. “That kid must have racked up some serious good karma in hisst life tond such a great girlfriend.”


    Ronald and Walter exchanged a nce, questioning the meaning behind James’s words. Given the Chavez family’s status and the fact that Jeremiah was such an exceptional young man, it was clear that anyone who ended up with him would be the one benefiting from good fortune.


    Before they could ponder further, Jase furrowed his brow from the sofa and asked, “What do you mean by that?”


    Walter noticed Jase’s confusion and exined, “Yesterday, at a dessert shop, your daughter–inw got into a fight with somedies. It seems they said some gossip, and she overheard it. Now those women are in the Betrico police station, and Jeremiah is nning to sue them for defaming a soldier. Their families are scrambling to find connections to plead with him to let it go.”


    Ronald added, “That move by Jeremiah is quite ruthless. If he doesn’t back down, those women are definitely going to jail.”


    James, who had been in theb all day yesterday and was unaware of the situation, immediately asked, “What does this have to do with Jeremiah’s girlfriend?”


    Ronald, noticing that James was even more anxious than Jase, patiently exined, “I heard that Jeremiah’s girlfriend was also there. She helped Aurora in the fight.”


    James stood up, mming his hand on the table. “Did Jeremiah’s girlfriend get hurt? Those women attacked both of them- did she suffer any injuries? Those ruffians must be locked up, no question about it.”


    The three in the living room looked at James in confusion. They thought, ‘Isn’t his reaction a bit excessive? Anyone unaware of the situation would think it was his daughter–inw or granddaughter who had been attacked! Jase was equally baffled; he thought, When did this old man start caring so much about my family’s affairs?‘


    Ronald, worried that James’s agitation might raise his blood pressure, quickly tried to calm him down. “Why are you so worked up? I haven’t finished speaking yet. Don’t worry, Aurora and Jeremiah’s girlfriend are both fine. They were the ones dishing out the punishment. I heard one of those women even lost her hair after arriving at the police station.”


    James sat back down, taking in the bewildered expressions of the others. He calmly took a sip of coffee and said with aposed tone, “Oh, as long as they’re fine, it’s no big deal. Losing some hair is nothing to make a fuss about.”


    Jase, Ronald, Walter, and Yusef all exchanged nces, their eyes twitching slightly. They thought, ‘Isn’t this double standard a bit too obvious?‘ They all stared at James, silently questioning his sudden change in demeanor.


    up at th


    James, relieved to hear that Yvette was fine, resumed sipping his coffee nonchntly. He looked others and asked, “What are you all staring at? Keep talking.”


    Jase and the others thought James was acting a bit strange; old age sometimes brous out peculiar behavior. Jase turned t


    Ronald with a serious expression. “Has someone contacted you?”


    Ronald let out a wryugh, knowing that none of them could keep secrets from each oth


    “Yeah, one of the deputy ministers from the Treasury Department had his wife trying every possible way to reach me, hoping I could intercede for them.”


    Before Ronald could finish his sentence, Jase’s expression turned noticeably cold, and James also cast a disapproving nce at him.


    Ronald, fearing that the two old men might turn on him, quickly raised his hands in a defensive gesture. “I didn’t agree to anything. I know what your family’s temper is like. I’d have to be crazy to say yes


    I turned them down right away, so don’t worry.” Jase and James’s expressions finally softened a bit.


    Jase lowered his gaze, his expression serious. “This matter is up to Jeremiah. Hesh out without reason; there must be something that provoked her.”


    decide o


    to handle it. Aurora wouldn’t


    He then turned to Yusef and instructed, “Make sure my message gets across. The Chav shouldn’t y any underhanded tactics, or else they’ll face severe consequences.” amily won’t budge on this. They


    Yusef nodded and promptly left. Within an hour, everyone in the upper echelons of Betrico was aware of Jase’s words. Those who had nned to leverage connections quickly backed off; with Jase personally weighing in, no on dared to take any risks. It would be tantamount to asking for trouble.


    In the living room, James’s expression softened a bit as he asked Jase, “What do you think of Jeremiah’s girlfriend?” He ground his teeth, thinking that if Jase said anything negative about Yvette, he would surely confront him about that old face, which bore a resemnce to Jeremiah’s.


    Jase nced at him and replied, “She’s a great youngdy–smart, beautiful,posed, strong, and decisive. It’s truly rare to find someone like her.”


    Upon hearing this, Yusef and Walter exchanged nces, realizing that the girl had already won Jase’s approval. It seemed that the position of Mrs. Chavez was secure. They were genuinely curious about a girl who could receive such high praise from Jase, especially since they knew better than anyone how high his standards were.


    James took a sip of his coffee, sighed with relief, and looked at Jase with appreciation, saying with a hint of pride, “Well, you do have good taste and vision.”


    Jase and the others were already immune to James’s unusual behavior today. It seemed the dailyb work was affecting his mind. Jase decided it was time to schedule an appointment with a psychologist for him–no one should go crazy at this age, especially when their health was otherwise fine.


    At the end of the dinner, Ronald turned to Jase and asked, “When will you bring Jeremiah and his girlfriend over to the house? I should really give them a wee gift, right?”


    Walter added, “Me too. I’ve got everything ready, just waiting for them to arrive.”


    Jase replied, “Alright, I’ll ask that little brat if he has any timetely. Let’s see how his schedule looks.”


    The twoughed, but then James nced at the harmonious trio and suddenly said, “Make sure to prepare an extra portion -my granddaughter ising too.”