Chapter 157
As Austin listened to Gabriel’s report, his heart calmed. He marveled at how formidable Suzanne was. The sheer excitement made him wish he had been there himself. Austin posed, his hand still gripping the document as he leaned back in his chair. His usually indifferent gaze now held a glimmer of amusement. The line fox had finally bared her fangs.
Looking up, he met Gabriel’s eyes. “Was she…hunting?”
Gabriel shook his head, his smile widening. “Not at all. In fact, she broke Henry’s hand.”
It was nothing short of satisfying. Austin raised a brow and then casually ordered, “Buy a latte for everyone in the company today.”
Even the sun seemed warmer today. Gabriel grinned. “Yes, Mr. Hall. I’ll arrange it immediately.”
Suzanne had been standing outside the Yateses’ villa for over an hour. As she gazed at the house she had lived in since childhood, a mix of emotions stirred within her. Everything looked the same, yet nothing felt familiar. A sudden longing for her grandparents washed over her. What were they doing now? It had been half a year since she last saw them.
Pressing her lips together, she turned and drove toward Frost Estate. Frost Estate was as grand as ever. To the left of the villa, a vast garden flourished with all kinds of flowers, the climbing roses in full bloom. Beneath the trellis, several neatly sectioned vegetable plots bore ripe, red tomatoes that looked so fresh one could pluck them and take a bite.
As Suzanne stepped into the garden, she spotted Amelia Sinclair and Tristan Frost bent over, picking vegetables. Amelia wore a deep-blue silk blouse embroidered with various flora; the intricate patterns danced with her every movement. Her graying hair was pinned up with a wooden hairpin, giving her a lively, refined appearance.
She was arguing with Tristan over something, her expression slightly annoyed as she muttered, “I can do it myself.” Tristan, who was ever composed, simply sat back and watched her with a smile. “Alright, alright, you do it.”
Despite his simple white T-shirt, it only accentuated his straight, confident posture. His sharp, arched brows and well-defined features carried a depth and refinement. He had aged perfectly, looking calm, composed, and full of quiet intensity. Tristan sat there, perfectly poised, exuding an air of steady tranquility.
A soft smile played on Suzanne’s lips. Her voice was warm as she called out, “Grandpa, Grandma.”
Amelia hesitated, then turned to Tristan in confusion. “Did I just hear Suzanne’s voice?”
Tristan lifted his gaze and spotted Suzanne walking in, carrying several bags. His eyes softened with warmth. “It’s her. She’s at the gate.”
Following his line of sight, Amelia’s expression shifted from doubt to joy. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she quickly set her vegetables aside and stood up. “Oh my, my little sweetheart is back!”
Suzanne had already reached them. She placed her things on a table before wrapping her arms around Amelia in a tight hug. Leaning on Amelia’s shoulder, she murmured, “Grandmother, I missed you so much.”
The past few weeks had been exhausting for Suzanne, but at this moment, all the fatigue seemed to fade away. Amelia smiled warmly as she gently stroked Suzanne’s back, though her voice held a playful scolding. “Did you miss me? Why didn’t you visit more often?”
She pulled away slightly, scanning Suzanne from head to toe. The concern in her eyes deepened. “My little sweetheart, you’ve lost weight.” She gave Suzanne’s apron a gentle squeeze—there was barely any flesh on her at all.