Sophia Hamilton...

Staring blankly at Willow Lancaster, Sophia didn’t know what she had done to offend her, making her dislike her so much, even hostile.

Aurora Lancaster also turned to her niece, eyes full of obvious disdain beneath her furrowed brows.

Good-for-nothing girl, a typical ne’er-do-well, always looking down on others, truly spoiled!

Although she didn’t like Sophia Hamilton, Violet Zimmerman equally disliked this niece; due to family ties, she couldn’t say anything and pretended not to see.

Seeing Sophia’s embarrassment, Evander Lancaster naturally encircled his arm around her waist, his phoenix-like eyes falling on her ghostly pale face, fingers gently stroking, speaking with a half-smile, "That’s not necessarily true. Even though I’m close with my second brother, if I ask him to let you be his secretary, he probably won’t care about my face."

"Why?" Willow Lancaster was a typical dimwit, though not sweet, turning her head to look at Evander with confusion, clueless about the lipstick on the apple she held near her lips.

Evander chuckled softly, glanced over, obviously mocking, but Willow inexplicably found it charming. Her slightly furrowed brows lifted, eyes unintentionally widened, mouth agape in a foolish daze.

Evander deliberately slowed his speech, "Because second brother won’t pay a high salary to someone who can’t take care of themselves."

Willow Lancaster...

Realized belatedly that Evander was mocking her, immediately got upset and started whining, pouting and wriggling her body demandingly, "Aunt, look at second brother, he’s always making fun of me..."

Violet Zimmerman barely managed a smile, "I can’t be bothered with you siblings’ issues." After speaking, she stood up, "You chat, I’ll go check on the lunch preparation."

Despite her words, Violet didn’t head to the kitchen immediately but first approached Joseph Lancaster, taking the grandson still perched on his neck down, patiently coaxing, "Sweetie, be good, second grandpa is tired; let grandma hold you, let second grandpa rest a bit, okay?"

The little boy was a bit worn out too, nodding his flushed little face, "Okay."

Violet, holding her grandson, headed to the kitchen. Joseph returned to the sofa, leaned over to pour himself a cup of tea, while Evander slyly queried, "Second Uncle, you really are hale and hearty; since you love children so much, why not marry an aunt and have a few while you’re still healthy."

Having grown accustomed to his "nephew’s" sarcasm, Joseph sighed, shaking his hand, sipping tea, "Ah, aging now, the body’s not up to it, just waiting for you all to have babies to entertain me."

"Second Uncle, what are you saying?" Evander feigned disapproval, his brows furrowed, "There are people in their sixties having children in their twilight years; you’re just over fifty, with your strength, marrying a young aunt and having two in three years would be no problem."

Joseph lifted his gaze while sipping tea, seemingly smiling as he asked, "Do you really wish for me to marry you a second aunt?"

Evander chuckled, looking at the man opposite him; as their eyes met, there was a shared understanding in the glances exchanged, "It’s not wishing, it’s considering for you. Believe me, if Dad were alive, seeing his own brother remain unmarried for life, he’d worry."

Evander deliberately emphasized the words "own brother," as if reminding Joseph of his identity; a blood uncle who slept with his sister-in-law, without qualms, wasn’t he afraid of being too ashamed to face his brother in the afterlife?