Chapter 177: Mrs. Murphy, Uninvited

Allen froze for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh bitterly, shaking his head. "I wish Jocelyn would marry me."

Raymond paused, his brows knitting tighter.

So Jocelyn wasn't marrying Allen. Then who was this man?

Seeing him staring intently at Charles, Allen couldn't suppress a scoff.

"What exactly are you thinking?"

Raymond frowned, looking at Allen in confusion.

Their eyes met, and Allen settled into the sofa, his gaze deep as he watched Simon playing happily with Charles.

"Haven't you always been in love with Nora? Now you've finally gotten what you wanted—why do you still care about Jocelyn's business?"

Raymond hadn't expected Allen to say something like that. After a moment's thought, he replied in a low voice, "What's between Jocelyn and me has nothing to do with you."

Allen didn't get angry. He just gave a bitter smile. "Jocelyn's business has everything to do with me. Even though she and I... I still want her to be happy."

The words came from the heart. Allen sighed softly, his smile growing more bitter.

"Jocelyn is an incredible woman. I missed my chance with her. But I still hope she finds a man who truly loves her, who truly treats her well."

Raymond fell silent at those words.

Allen glanced back at him, his tone meaningful. "I don't think you're that man. So if you actually want her to be happy, stop pestering her."

Raymond's fists clenched involuntarily. He narrowed his dark eyes at Charles's back. "What, you think he's that man?"

Allen didn't answer directly, just let out a soft laugh. "I don't know Charles well enough to judge his character. But at least Simon likes him."

Raymond's knuckles went white.

"Simon's just a kid. He doesn't know any better," he said through gritted teeth.

Allen glanced at him. "I won't comment on whether Simon knows better or not. But Simon's never warmed up to you, has he? What, you can't even read your own son's preferences?"

The words hit a nerve.

Raymond indeed hadn't had many chances to spend time with Simon.

Across the room, Simon finished his game and stood up. Their eyes met briefly. Simon simply smiled at him politely, then cheerfully brought Charles a glass of juice, and the two continued playing happily together.

Raymond's expression darkened further. He immediately instructed Jake to investigate everything about Charles.

Moments later, Jocelyn walked over to Simon's side. Charles said something that made Jocelyn laugh with genuine delight.

The scene was too painful to watch. Raymond's chest tightened with discomfort.

Allen glanced at him and stood up to talk to other guests.

A minute later, Raymond finally couldn't take it anymore. He stood and walked toward Jocelyn.

Seeing Raymond approach, Jocelyn's smile faded slightly, though she didn't deliberately avoid him. She simply leaned a bit closer to Charles, turning her body slightly as if drawing an invisible line.

Simon, oblivious to the undercurrents between the adults, tugged on Charles's arm. "Uncle Charles, let's play one more round! This time I want to use the new combo I learned!"

Charles instinctively glanced at Jocelyn. Seeing no objection from her, he smiled and ruffled Simon's hair. "Alright, but this is the last one. You need to save some energy to greet the other guests."

Raymond stood two steps away, his Adam's apple bobbing, his gaze intense.

Simon was clearly attached to Charles, genuinely so.

Jocelyn looked up, her tone unhurried and distant. "Why are you just standing there? Sit down. Don't be shy."

Polite words, but utterly devoid of warmth.

Raymond didn't move. His gaze shifted from her face to Charles, then back to her eyes, a barely detectable anger in his voice. "And this is...?"

Jocelyn raised an eyebrow slightly. "What, are you trying to make new friends?"

Raymond stared at her, his brow furrowed.

Charles looked up at them both, paused Simon's game, then stood and extended his hand to Raymond.

"Hello, I'm Charles. Jocelyn's friend."

Raymond glanced at him coldly. Seeing Jocelyn's penetrating gaze on him, he reluctantly reached out for a perfunctory handshake.

Raymond withdrew his gaze from Charles and fixed it on Jocelyn's face, finally swallowing down the frustration churning inside him.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at Jocelyn, his tone measured. "Congratulations on your new home, Ms. Ross. I look forward to a smooth collaboration with Ross Corporation going forward."

Jocelyn's response was neither warm nor cold. "You're too kind, Mr. Murphy. As for our collaboration, Ross Corporation will naturally follow protocol. Not a single step of the process will be skipped."

Before Raymond could respond, she turned away, facing Charles instead.

When she looked at Charles, her expression softened noticeably. "Charles, you really shouldn't spoil Simon so much."

Charles smiled. "Don't worry. As long as I'm watching him, he won't pick up any bad habits."

Jocelyn shook her head with a helpless smile. She was about to say more when something caught her eye—a figure entering through the manor's front door. Her brow furrowed involuntarily.

It was Nora.

Nora wore a pale yellow dress today, her makeup flawless, carrying an elegantly wrapped gift box. She was all smiles as she walked toward them, as if she were one of the invited guests.

But Jocelyn remembered clearly—Nora's name was nowhere on the invitation list.

Jocelyn pulled her gaze away and looked back at Raymond, her voice neither loud nor soft, just enough for him to hear clearly. "Mr. Murphy, your fiancée certainly is devoted to you. I didn't even send her an invitation, yet she managed to find her way here anyway."

The comment was pointed. Raymond's frown deepened.

He turned to see Nora approaching, their eyes meeting.

His dark eyes narrowed. He looked back at Jocelyn, his voice dropping. "I didn't tell her to come."

Jocelyn merely scoffed, not even bothering to lift her eyes. "Whether you told her to or not doesn't concern me. But you'd better keep your fiancée in check. Today is my housewarming. Everyone here is my friend, and I intend to enjoy myself. If she causes any unpleasantness, I won't be giving you any face."

Raymond's lips pressed into a thin line. He glanced at Nora again, irritation flickering in his eyes.

Nora pretended not to notice anything, maintaining her gracious smile as she reached Raymond's side and gently linked her arm through his.

But Raymond's attention remained fixed on Jocelyn from start to finish, completely ignoring Nora's presence.

Nora's smile nearly faltered.