I stopped in the courtyard and spotted a lazy figure leaning against a wooden pillar nearby. It was Ryan, the one I kicked out last night.

“Ryan, can you speak properly?” Another deep voice came from an elegant private room–it was Edward.

I was totally confused. ‘Why are these two together?’ I wondered.

‘And why did they have to call me over for dinner too?’ I thought, still trying to wrap my head around it.

I shot them both an angry glare. ‘They set me up in such an awkward situation, and now they expect me to put on a smile and act like everything’s fine?’ I thought.

“I’m full. You two can finish the meal without me. I’m leaving,” I said, not wanting to get caught up in their family drama. I’d rather get some air by the beach.

Ryan just stood there, not moving, while Edward walked around the little pavilion and came over. “Victoria, it was Ryan who suggested we have a meal together and talk things over.”

“Why do all three of us need to talk? Can’t you two just work it out yourselves?” I shot Edward an angry glare. “Edward, when will you ever grow up?”

Edward just stared at me, lost for words.

Ryan looked like he was enjoying all the drama, smiling as he said, “Uncle Ryan, come on, don’t argue. Let’s just chat, okay?”

Hearing Ryan’s words, I suddenly realized Edward might’ve gotten tricked by Ryan too.

Edward looked at me with a hint of helplessness in his eyes. He softened his voice. “If you don’t want to eat here, I can take you back to the hotel.”

I was about to leave, but then I thought, ‘Ryan wants to see a show? Well, I haven’t even started yet. Leaving now would be too easy.’

“Forget it. I’m already here. Let’s just eat,” I said, reining in my temper and gave Edward a smile.

Edward looked surprised at first, but then, as if he could read my mind, he gave me a helpless smile.

When Ryan saw that the argument had died down, his grin vanished just like that. ‘Well, that killed the fun,’ he thought, a little disappointed.

I followed Edward into the private room, with Ryan trailing in right behind us.

He poured us some coffee from the coffee machine, casually saying as he did, “The Leigh family’s mall is opening in the next couple of days. Your ex–wife should be around here too, right?”

Edward nodded. “Yeah, she’s here.”

Ryan shot me a meaningful look. “So, did you introduce them to each other yet?”

Edward shook his head. “No, Victoria said there’s no need for them to meet, and I agree.”

“Uncle Ryan, if you’re thinking about getting remarried, shouldn’t you have a talk with Nora first?” Ryan said, his eyes sparkling with mischief, clearly plotting something.

Edward looked completely at ease. “I’ve already talked to Nora about this. She’s fine with me getting remarried. Jane and I love her not a bit less than before. Every year, we put money into her education fund, and when she’s grown up, she’ll get a big surprise.”

Hearing that, I couldn’t help but marvel to myself.

‘If there really is a next life, I wanna be the daughter of a big–hearted boss like Edward,’ I thought.

‘He’d set up an education fund for me the day I was born, and by the time I turned eighteen, I wouldn’t have to lift a finger–just spend money for the rest of my life,’ I mused.

I must’ve been spacing out, because Edward turned to me and said, “Ryan said he has something to tell you.”

I looked up at Ryan. “What do you want to say?”

Ryan took a slow sip from his coffee cup, his voice cool and steady. “I’m fine with you and Uncle Ryan being together.”

“Wait, what?” I thought I must’ve misheard him.

Ryan set his coffee cup down, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and leaned forward, looking genuinely sincere. “Uncle Ryan married Jane from the Leigh family years ago, and now Nora’s all grown up. He hasn’t really tried to find anyone else all these years. He’s put all his time and energy into the family business. Without him, the Jennings family wouldn’t be what it is today. He deserves to find someone to love.”

I was shocked out of my mind. I glanced at Edward, then stared hard at Ryan again.

What he was saying now was totally different from what he said last night.

‘Which one’s real and which one’s just BS?’ I wondered.

“Oh, really?” I perked up. “So, does that mean we can just move on from whatever happened between us?”