With his head down all along, Theo seemed to have been infused with strength from that gaze. He abruptly lifted his head, meeting Vic's eyes directly.
His gaze was filled with determination and longing."Dad, I want to go to school because I believe that only by interacting more with people outside and associating with more diverse individuals can I better manage various interpersonal relationships in the future.
And I assure you, I will absolutely not neglect my studies at school.
As for the lessons taught by Secretary Vera, I will complete them conscientiously as well; I won't let you down!"
Though he spoke with such resolve, his hands gripping the hem of his clothes betrayed his inner tension.
The slightly trembling fingertips revealed the significant pressure he was enduring at this moment.
He didn't dare to glance sideways, fearing to catch Diana's glare, twisted with anger.
Vic's expression remained calm, his eyes narrowing as he fell into a brief contemplation.
Moments later, he nodded lightly in agreement:"If you wish to go, then go. Have Butler Joseph arrange everything properly afterward. Just remember, you must not slack off on your promise regarding your studies."
A flash of surprise and delight crossed Theo's eyes. He had expected his father to oppose him just as strongly as his mother, but never thought he would receive permission so easily.
Overwhelmed with excitement, he nodded rapidly."Okay, Dad! I promise I'll keep my word!" His tone was brimming with joy and determination.
Diana's face flushed with alternating hues of green and white, her lips quivering. Clearly unwilling to give up, she seemed poised to make one last attempt at dissuasion.
But Vic didn't give her the chance, speaking in a grave tone,"Alright, let's eat. If we delay any further, the food will grow cold." His words carried an unquestionable authority that instantly silenced Diana's unspoken objections.
Reed had braced himself for unwarranted accusations from them but hadn't anticipated that this storm would pass by him so effortlessly.
He shrugged indifferently. Since it turned out this way, he was more than happy to enjoy the peace. So, he picked up his bowl again and resumed eating heartily as if nothing had happened.
Even after the other three left the table, Reed remained seated, battling on with his meal. The dishes piled up like a small mountain before him, and more than half of the dishes ended up in his stomach.
Only when his belly was round and full did he finally belch contentedly. Slowly standing up, he prepared to return to his quarters.
Just as he rose, Theo popped up like a little shadow, blocking his path.
Reed's eyebrows arched, a look of confusion and wariness flashing in his eyes. He wondered if this little brat was about to pick a fight.
To his surprise, Theo bent deeply at the waist, offering a respectful bow, his face full of sincerity."I'm sorry, Brother! My mother's words were inappropriate just now. Please accept my apologies on her behalf and don't hold it against her."
The tender voice carried an unexpected maturity and understanding beyond his years, with sincere regret shining in his eyes.
Reed was genuinely taken aback. He had expected a child raised by a woman as sharp-tongued and bitter as Diana to be spoiled and arrogant, but he hadn't anticipated Theo to be so reasonable. His expression softened, and his tone became somewhat milder."As long as she doesn't cause trouble for me again, I won't go out of my way to provoke her."
"Brother, rest assured, I will make sure to keep her in line and not let her cause you any more displeasure," Theo said, looking up with a determined gaze that made him seem like a little adult– a sight that almost brought a smile to Reed's face.
"Let's hope so," Reed replied indifferently, then turned to walk towards the door.
"Brother, wait!" Theo called out hastily as Reed started to leave.
Reed turned back with impatience."What is it now?"
"Father said to find you after dinner and asked you to go to his study upstairs," Theo said cautiously, worry clouding his eyes as he speculated what Father wanted with Brother.
Seeing Theo like this, Reed couldn't help but tousle Theo's meticulously combed hair into a mess.
"Alright, I got it!"
Reed hesitated for a moment, quickly sorting through the fragmented memories of this house left in his mind, before heading steadily upstairs.
Watching Reed's retreating figure, Theo's eyes widened in disbelief. Then, without realizing it, a smile crept onto his face.
But he soon resumed his usual serious demeanor. Glancing around to ensure no one had noticed the earlier scene, he carefully tidied up his hair and then hurried back to his room.
As Reed stepped into the study, he saw Butler Joseph was also present.
He knew all too well that if he wanted to continue living his easygoing life without a care, he couldn't afford to lose Vic's protection or risk offending him.
Thus, he quickly put away his usual lax attitude, stood upright, and respectfully greeted,"Father."
Vic sat at his desk, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny as he spoke in measured tones,"Hmm, according to Butler Joseph, you had someone take care of two suspicious characters?"
"That's right," Reed replied, lifting his chin slightly, with a trace of defiance in his eyes, admitting it openly."They were just small fries, paying the price for nearly costing me my life last time."
"Hmph, you've certainly grown bolder than before," Vic mused, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the desk."Do you know they were from the Ryan Group? The Ryan Group's influence here is not something we can easily provoke."
His tone remained steady, betraying no emotional fluctuation, yet it filled the air with an invisible pressure.
Reed, however, shrugged indifferently and crossed his arms."So what if it's the Ryan Group? In my view, that's exactly why we should have taken them out. Whatever they're expending so much effort to investigate must be no ordinary matter. As long as they can't find solid evidence, this won't be traced back to us."
As he spoke, his left hand subconsciously rose to rest on his right wrist, which was empty. After a moment, as if making a decision, he continued,"Since nothing has been found after all these days, it's best to leave it at that! We should act as if nothing happened and avoid getting entangled in unnecessary trouble."
He knew that if anything were to happen to Vic, his newly acquired peaceful life would come to an abrupt end.
Vic was taken aback for a moment before throwing his head back in laughter."Hahaha, I didn't think you'd finally start using your head!" The laughter echoed through the study, almost making Reed's eardrums buzz.
Reed's face turned grim, inwardly grumbling: What had the original owner done to earn such a reputation for being brainless? He didn't want to carry this black pot, but couldn't immediately find a suitable reason to refute Vic, so he could only sigh silently to himself.
The complex situation left Reed feeling both frustrated and resigned, knowing that changing perceptions wouldn't be easy, yet understanding the importance of treading carefully in this household.