Chapter 389

Chapter 389

After Alice left with Arthur, the party had to end early.

Valeria sat in the living room, seething. She ordered the household staff to bring Arthur back, but Michael stopped them. The servants reported directly to Michael—when he said no, they didn't dare defy him.

Valeria was so furious she started smashing things.

Mason watched her rage. "Valeria, you need to calm down."

"Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down? She's not even married to Michael yet, and she's already doing whatever she wants. It's outrageous! But at the end of the day, Michael, this is your fault—you spoil her too much. She hasn't even agreed to be your girlfriend, yet you give in to her every whim. She runs wild in the Miller family like she owns the place. Is that acceptable?"

Valeria glared at Michael, eyes blazing.

Michael sat on the opposite sofa, meeting her gaze with cold indifference. "I'm happy to give in to her every whim."

Valeria felt her vision darken. She had to close her eyes for a moment. Mason saw her complexion worsening and, unable to reason with her, tried a different approach. "Why don't you head back to the office? You've got a lot to deal with, right? Your assistant's been calling nonstop. You should go."

Mason shot Michael meaningful looks.

Though Valeria had been faking her heart pain earlier, she did have genuine heart problems. Michael was angry about Valeria's awful treatment of Alice, but he hadn't intended to retaliate or make her ill. Since Mason was offering him an out, he might as well take it.

But just as Michael stood to leave, Valeria snapped, "Stop right there! You're not going anywhere. Don't think I can't see through this little performance—you two just don't want to deal with me. I may be getting old, but I'm still the eldest member of the Miller family. Don't my words carry any weight anymore? Michael, you are not going back to the office!"

"I need to have a serious talk with you today about this pursuit of Alice. What's so special about her that she's got you this bewitched? You're practically throwing away family loyalty!"

"How am I throwing away family loyalty?" Michael turned back, displeasure written across his face. "Grandpa treats Alice well, and I get along with him just fine, don't I? Besides, she didn't do anything wrong today. She asked Arthur ahead of time what kind of gift he'd like, then thoughtfully prepared it. She wasn't disrespecting the Miller family—you twisted her intentions and deliberately made things difficult for her."

"You're the one who turned Arthur's birthday party into a disaster. You should be reflecting on your own mistakes instead of saying we need to 'talk.' And I've chosen Alice for life. Nothing you say will change my mind."

Michael said everything he wanted to say in one breath.

"If you're going back to the office, just go already! Stop talking!" Mason felt a surge of panic and a pounding headache. Couldn't Michael just keep quiet and leave?

But Michael had never been the type to swallow his words just because someone was an elder. And today's incident—Valeria really had been in the wrong.

"You shut up! Don't interrupt!"

Mason hadn't expected to catch a scolding himself.

"Valeria, stop arguing with Michael. Think about your own health, please. And I think you have a serious misunderstanding about Ms. Baker. She's really not the terrible girl you imagine. You could try getting to know her gradually—you'd discover that Michael has good reasons for liking her!"

"Oh yes, reasons—like she drugged him. No, wait—she must have used some kind of spell on him. Or maybe she just used that pretty face to bewitch him!"

Seeing how stubborn Valeria was, Mason couldn't find words to respond.

"Michael, when did you become so lovesick? She won't agree to date you because she's stringing you along. Don't tell me you can't see that?"

"I heard from today's guests that you've been pursuing her for a long time, and she's kept you at arm's length the whole time. She's playing games with you. Are you really willing to let her toy with you like this?"

"Alice has her reasons for not accepting me. Actually, she never asked me to pursue her—I chose to express my love for her. And even if she never accepts me for the rest of my life, as long as I can stay by her side, I'll be satisfied."

Valeria gasped, unable to believe that one day she'd hear such absurd words from the mouth of the Miller family's most outstanding member.

She felt like she desperately needed an oxygen machine.

Having stated his position, Michael left without looking back.

"Stop! Stop!"

No matter how much Valeria shouted herself hoarse, she couldn't stop Michael. She could only vent her frustration on Mason, standing beside her, glaring at him viciously. "Michael's become this irrational, this deluded—it's not just because that Alice woman has bewitched him, but because you, as his grandfather, have been seriously negligent. You think just because you're old, you can enjoy retirement and that's enough? You didn't even properly vet Michael's future wife?"

"If I hadn't come back, were you just going to let Michael marry that conniving woman, let her steal the Miller family fortune, and throw this household into chaos?"

Mason had been worried about Valeria's health, trying to keep his emotions in check and not argue with her. But now, watching her argue with Michael for so long without even pausing for breath, and still having energy left to criticize him, he began to think his concern might be unnecessary.

Mason's expression turned cold. "Valeria, give it a rest. I think the person trying to throw this household into chaos is you."

"Actually, Arthur was right at the party today. If it weren't for Ms. Baker urging Michael to be a good father and care more about Arthur, Michael would probably still be ignoring him, not caring about his growth. And I do need to reflect on whether I've shown Arthur too little care and love. I've been very negligent."

Thinking about this, Mason recalled the scene of Arthur confronting them earlier. The child understood everything, knew they didn't love him. The more Mason thought about it, the tighter his chest felt, guilt weighing heavy on his heart. They owed Arthur so much.

Mason's throat tightened as he sighed.