Joseph Lancaster smiled slightly, leaned forward to put the teacup back, looked at his "nephew," and said, "If my brother were alive, he might prefer me not to marry."

Although Sophia Hamilton beside Evander Lancaster didn’t understand the cryptic talk between the uncle and nephew, she knew their conversation wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

Confused, she lifted her head and found Evander apparently facing off with the elder at a diagonal. She quietly tugged at his shirt, and Evander withdrew his gaze, letting his eyes drop to Sophia’s face, seeing her looking at him with pursed lips. The oppressive burden in his heart intensified; he wanted a place to vent. His sexy Adam’s apple rolled up and down once, and his slender fingers pinched Sophia’s chin, bending down to lightly bite her lip.

Afterward, he pressed his thumb on her lip, gently rubbing it, and smiled as he asked, "What, are you unhappy with being neglected?"

Evander’s openly affectionate behavior caused Joseph Lancaster to cover his mouth and lightly cough. He leaned forward again, poured himself a cup of tea to mask his embarrassment.

Aurora Lancaster was initially listening in a fog and felt their verbal sparing had some underlying meaning, secretly trying to figure it out. Suddenly, Evander caused such a scene. Although society is more open now, she was still an elder; seeing it inevitably led to awkwardness. She reminded him with a laugh and exasperation, "Evander, be mindful, your second uncle and I are still here."

And me! Humph!" Willow Lancaster, who was watching TV, suddenly spoke up. She bounced up from the sofa and threw the half apple she was holding onto the carpet, making a disgruntled sound before turning her arm to leave through the door.

Sophia blushed, biting her lip like a child who had done something wrong, not daring to lift her head.

Evander nonchalantly leaned back against the sofa and exhaled.

Watching Willow leave, Aurora spoke to herself in confusion, "What’s up with this girl? Why is she bothered by a couple getting affectionate?"

Joseph chuckled lightly, perhaps understanding the true reason. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Willow’s attitude toward Sophia was marked by a woman’s inherent hostility.

Just as Willow left, Violet Zimmerman came out of the kitchen holding Darling, and hearing the "bang" of the door, she looked towards the sofa and asked in perplexity, "What’s wrong with Willow?"

Aurora was about to say she didn’t know when her second brother Joseph chuckled and replied, "Ask your darling son."

Violet sat down with her grandson, "Evander, did you make Willow unhappy?"

Evander casually played with Sophia’s ponytail and said indifferently, "How did I upset her? It’s her own choice to throw a young lady’s tantrum."

Violet turned to Joseph, but before she could speak, Aurora laughed and explained, "Just now Evander gave Sophia a kiss; Willow is young and thin-skinned, got upset and left."

Violet...

She looked at her son, then turned to Joseph, the latter’s lips curled slightly, holding a shared emotion understood only between them in his phoenix-like eyes.

Violet chuckled and said, "Let her be; she’ll return once dinner is ready."

As she spoke, Robert Lancaster and his wife pushed open the door and entered, politely greeting the elders in the living room.

Looking at the couple’s attire, Sophia couldn’t help but marvel at how rich people truly enjoy fussing. Living in the same "community," the furthest distance being ten minutes away, yet they still dressed up so elaborately without finding it bothersome.

If it were her, living this close and being a daughter-in-law for many years, she’d probably just come over in a set of plush pajamas, convenient and comfortable.