The matriarch''s voice left no room for discussion, and Morris, perhaps weighed

down by his recent troubles, didn''t argue.

Just then, a maid burst in, looking flustered.

"Ma''am, there''s amotion out front."

The matriarch set her teacup down, eyebrows raised. "What happened?"

"Mike''s back. But he brought a gorgeous girl with him. As soon as she set foot in the Sharp house, she acted like she owned the ce-Mike tried to stop her, but no luck. They''re yelling at each other now. Mike even told her to get out of Vincent Estate."

"Oh? Someone that brash? Marching into our home in broad daylight and making a scene?" The matriarch''s face clouded over.

She grabbed her cane and rose to her feet. "Come on, let''s see what this is about."

A whole group followed her through the long hallway. Before they reached the front, the matriarch caught the unmistakable voice of her usually mild-mannered grandson, Arthur.

"Vivian, how can you be so thick-skinned? I told you the Sharp family doesn''t want you here. Why would you still force your way in? This is the private wing, where the family lives. Don''t you know that''s out of line? Want me to call the cops?"

The matriarch mumbled, half to herself, "Vivian? Isn''t that the CEO of Stewart Enterprises?"

Morris looked surprised, but after a beat, a gentle, almost doting smile yed on his lips.

"It''s her," he said quietly.fn4744 N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on fι?dnοvel/fn4744

The matriarch''s expression grew stern. "She''s a big deal-I never thought she''d

be so out of line. Breaking into someone else''s home?"

Morris jumped in, wanting to smooth things over. “Grandma, I invited her."

The matriarch froze, as if someone had hit pause.

Just hearing Morris say "Grandma" made everything click in her mind.

"So, you finally call me

''Grandma all because of her. Ske must really be something to you." She turned to her staff. Go tel Mike not to hassle Ashley Tell him she''s Morris''s guest."  s

Soon, the maid brought Nathalie and Arthur in front of the matriarch.

Arthur wore the look of a man deeply wronged. “Grandma, she didn''t even have an invitation and barged right in. She''s impossible."

The matriarch waved him off, impatient. "That''s enough. She''s here because Morris invited her."

Arthur shot Morris a re sharp enough to cut ss. "You actually invited her?"

Morris nodded, cool as ever. "Yeah."

Nathalie beamed. Only she knew Morris was sticking his neck out for her.

But when she really saw Morris-his face thin and pale, looking so frail-her smile faded.

He''d lost so much weight.

He looked sick, weak.

She wanted to kick herself for not noticing sooner how unwell he was.

Arthur huffed. "Morris, you really treat the Sharp family like it''s yours, huh? How can you just bring people over without asking?"

Nathalie''s expression turned icy. "If

this isn''t his home, why did Jules go all that trouble to bring him back? If it is his home, then he has just as much right as any of you to invite guests."  s

Then, with a voice full of steel, she added, "If the Sharp family doesn''t want him here, stop pretending. Wherever he goes, he''s weed as an honored guest. He doesn''t need to put up with being treated coldly here."  s

Morris couldn''t help but let out augh.

Nathalie, so fierce when she stood up for him, was honestly adorable.

The matriarch rubbed her temples, exasperated. "Enough. That''s quite enough. Arthur, Vivian is our guest-how could you be so rude?"