CHAPTER 522: WHO’S DATING WHO? WE DON’T KNOW EITHER!

The chandelier cast a soft golden glow over the long mahogany table at the Du Pont mansion. Silverware clicked faintly against porcelain as the three cousins sat together for dinner. The air was warm with the aroma of roasted chicken, creamy soup, and herbs melting into butter.

Clyde’s seat at the head of the table was empty. He had been stuck in the company all day after taking two days off, those he had spent secretly with Micah and Darcy before he was kicked out.

Emile leaned forward, stabbing at his green beans as though they had personally offended him. He let out a long sigh. "Why does the person I like have to be my Uncle’s ex?"

Jacklin paused mid-cut, her knife hovering over her chicken breast. Her lips twitched. "What ex?" she said sharply, giving him a look. "Don’t start spreading gossip before the dessert even comes!"

"But you won’t let me go after her!" Emile whined, his fork clattering as he threw it down beside his plate.

Dean sat across from them, silent. He had barely touched his food, idly pushing a piece of carrot around his plate with his fork, distracted.

Jacklin cut her chicken again. The meat was tender and glistening, and she sliced it neatly. She chewed slowly, swallowed, and spoke again. "She is so perfect. It would be such a pity if she ended up with you."

"Cousin!" Emile shouted. "How could you say that?" His voice cracked between indignation and disbelief.

Jacklin did not even flinch. She dabbed her mouth with a napkin and turned to Dean, ignoring Emile entirely. "Every time I see her, I think she is such a fine girl. Honestly, how can someone be so noble? She risked her life to save a child. I really like her."

Dean blinked, looking up at her, unsure where this was going.

Jacklin leaned her elbow on the table, chin resting on her palm. "You know, Dean, what do you think about her? I’d love for her to be part of our family."

Dean choked on air.

Jacklin looked at him in surprise as he coughed violently, grabbing his glass of water.

Emile shot to his feet. "Cousin! You can’t be serious! When I said I fell in love with her, you scolded me. But now you suggested Dean be with her?"

Dean thumped his chest lightly, trying to recover. "Emile. Sit down," he said hoarsely. "That’s not going to happen."

Emile glared at Jacklin and slumped into the chair again.

Jacklin turned her head toward Dean. "What do you mean?"

Dean hesitated. He looked down at his plate, knife resting in his hand. "I didn’t tell you something," he began carefully. "In the company, there is a rumour going around."

"What rumour?" Jacklin asked, curious.

Dean’s voice lowered slightly. "That Uncle is dating a girl with silver hair."

The fork dropped from Jacklin’s hand with a soft clink. "Huh?!"

Dean nodded grimly. "Someone said they saw Uncle dining with her at the restaurant. I think it should be Asena."

"When was that?" Jacklin asked, her mouth wide open.

"The day Micah was kidnapped. The same day little uncle got hospitalised," Dean replied. "I think that was why Micah had vanished for two weeks."

Jacklin leaned back, frowning. "They had a fight over Asena?"

Emile tilted his head. "No way. Is it really true? After Micah cried like that in the hospital, Uncle went and did that..." He clenched his fists. "How could Uncle do this? Poor Micah! I have to go and give him a piece of my mind."

"Calm down. One look from little uncle and you’d probably wet your pants," Jacklin said disdainfully.

"Hey!" Emile protested, deflating instantly. He sulked as he stabbed at his peas.

Jacklin ignored his pout. "So...Are they now together?" she asked. "I mean Micah and uncle."

"I don’t know," Dean said, stirring his soup absentmindedly. "Have you seen them together lately?"

Jacklin shook her head. "No, I haven’t." Her gaze shifted to Emile. "What about you?"

"I saw Micah at the dorm. But because Darcy was sick, he went to check on him most of the time..." Emile replied, then his brows furrowed. "Crap! Is this real? They broke up?"

Dean set his spoon down, lost his appetite. "Better not to jump to conclusions."

"Right." Jacklin nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "Still, why would Uncle do such a thing? Wasn’t that basically cheating? And after all that lecture he gave us?"

Dean shook his head. "Maybe we are mistaken. You know how rumours spread. It could be someone else. Or a coincidence. Anyway. Emile, keep an eye on Micah. See if he mentions little uncle at all."

"What do you want to do?" Jacklin asked, looking at Dean.

"I can’t tolerate this. I am going to confront little uncle if this turns out to be true." Dean said firmly.

"Me too!" Emile added, puffing out his chest. "Micah is my friend. If uncle’s really playing with his feelings, I’m not letting it slide."

"You two..." Jacklin gave them both a long look, then sighed, "...are hopeless. You never once could stand against him."

Dean and Emile looked away, pretending not to hear Jacklin’s words.

Jacklin shook her head and resumed her eating. "But tell me, if Uncle really is with Asena... then why did she act like she didn’t know us when we met her today?"

"Because she is ashamed!" Emile blurted, waving a fork dramatically. "She probably knows she’s the third party! That’s why she avoided us. Guilty conscience. Hmph!" he huffed loudly.

"You changed your tone fast," Jacklin said, lips twitching. She was amused by her cousin.

"I thought she was a noble, kind-hearted person. But if she is meddling in someone else’s relationships, ugh! I can’t stand people like that." Emile said with an air of righteousness.

"Tone it down." Dean exhaled loudly. "I already told you, it’s just a rumour. We might be wrong."

"Yeah. Let’s just observe for now." Jacklin nodded. "If it’s true, we’ll know soon enough."

Emile slumped against his chair. "Fine," he mumbled under his breath.