Chapter 168
A slight smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I watched quietly.
After the pleasantries, Hestia got straight to the point: "You've been divorced for so long now, it's time to find yourself a girlfriend."
"You're not getting any younger. If you don't find a girlfriend and have kids soon, it'll be even harder later."
"Your grandmother is getting up there in age, too. Can you really bear to let her die without holding a great-grandchild?"
Indigo wasn't having it: "I'm perfectly healthy, what do you mean 'die'?"
Hestia gave an awkward laugh: "I'm just exaggerating a bit to make him take this seriously, no other meaning."
Indigo snorted: "I'm still alive and well as his grandmother. This isn't your place to bring up."
Sensing the tension, Cecilia jumped in to change the subject: "Mr. Smith, I've been working on an investment analysis in the tech industry lately. I heard the Smith Group is way ahead in artificial intelligence. Would it be possible to ask you some questions?"
James put down his cup, his voice flat: "For work matters, you can schedule a time with my assistant first."
Cecilia bit her lip.
Hestia quickly tried to smooth things over: "No rush on work stuff. James, why don't you show Cecilia around the garden?"
Just as James was about to refuse, Aura suddenly came running down from upstairs.
"Daddy! Something's wrong, my puzzle is missing a piece! I've looked everywhere and can't find it. What should I do?" She held up the puzzle board and ran to James's side, completely oblivious to the strangers in the living room.
James took the puzzle board and examined it carefully: "Did it fall somewhere in your room? Daddy will help you look."
"Let's go together!" Aura grabbed his hand.
Cecilia watched this scene, a dark gleam flashing in her eyes: "Did Mr. Smith adopt this child from an orphanage?"
Before James could answer, she walked closer to Aura on her own: "Hi there, sweetie. You're so cute. Can you tell me your name?"
Only then did Aura notice her. She hid behind James and said quietly: "My name is Aura."
"Aura, what a beautiful name." Cecilia reached out to pat her head, but Aura dodged.
Hestia frowned: "This child, how rude."
"I... I wasn't being rude." Aura said, looking hurt.
"Still saying you weren't?" Hestia's face hardened. "When an adult talks to you, what does it mean to keep hiding like that?"
"As expected, she's not really our family's child. Her behavior is nothing like our family."
"James, I don't know why you insisted on adopting a child, someone with no blood relation, and already this old. Can you really raise her properly? What if you end up raising an ungrateful person?"
My expression immediately darkened.
They could say what they wanted about me, but talking about my daughter—even if they were an elder—I couldn't tolerate: "Hestia, you're so bored at home that you came here to make trouble."
Hestia snapped at me unhappily: "You shut up! This is none of your business."
Hestia first insulted Aura, then insulted me—James's expression grew darker and darker.
Out of respect for Hestia as an elder, he didn't say anything too harsh: "Hestia, Aura is my biological child. She's only just over three years old, still young. Being shy around strangers is normal."
Having been scolded by James, Hestia couldn't save face.
She gritted her teeth and started talking nonsense: "James, I don't mean to meddle, but do you really think the child Sophia gave birth to is yours?"
"You and Sophia have been divorced for so long, and she never came back. How did she get pregnant? Does the timing even add up? Don't let her fool you!"
James's expression completely darkened: "Hestia, watch what you say."
As if she'd found some loophole, Hestia thought she was right and raised her voice: "This is obviously suspicious!"
"Don't be so foolish as to protect her and accept this kind of loss. I'm telling you, blood relations aren't something you can just claim randomly!"
"Enough!" James cut her off sharply, his voice suppressing anger. "Aura is my daughter. This fact doesn't need to be proven to anyone, and I won't allow anyone to question it."
He paused, taking a deep breath, as if trying hard to control his emotions.
"James, I'm doing this for your own good! How can you treat me like this?" Hestia sat on the floor, throwing a tantrum.
James had never seen such a scene. He pressed his lips together—couldn't scold her, couldn't hit her.
"Hestia, before James and Sophia divorced, Sophia was already pregnant. After the divorce, she went abroad and had the child. I knew all this, James knew it too. James has been going abroad regularly to see Aura all these years."
Hestia felt a bit embarrassed. She got up and started making excuses: "I was just looking out for you. Don't blame me for being nosy."
But Hestia still wasn't satisfied and turned her attack on me.
"So what if she's your child?" She looked at me sideways, her tone bitter. "Sophia is so stubborn! Pregnant and still insisting on divorce, running off to another country without a word, letting the Smith family's bloodline be scattered abroad! What kind of behavior is that?"
"She has no sense at all! Now she comes back with the child—who knows what she's up to?"
James's face was grim: "Hestia, I respect you as an elder, and I'm speaking to you nicely, but if you don't want to talk nicely, then don't blame me."
I was also furious at these words and walked over with Aura.
Seeing us, Hestia pointed at me and cursed: "You're such an ungrateful person, running around everywhere while pregnant. Did the Smith family starve you or deny you anything?"
"Hestia, I was once the Smith family's daughter-in-law, that's true, but I wasn't sold to the Smith family. I'm free to do what I want and go where I want."
"What does this have to do with you, an outsider?" I shot back without mercy.
Hestia's eyes widened with rage: "You bitch, is that how you talk to your elders? No wonder the daughter you raised is also an bitch!"
I had already covered Aura's ears when Hestia started cursing. Aura buried herself in my arms.
I was also furious and spoke without restraint: "You crazy woman!"
James came over and put his arm around my shoulder, patting it gently. He stood in front of me.
"Hestia." His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, carrying an undeniable pressure. "Please leave. If you don't leave now, I'll have to have someone escort you out."
He turned around, no longer looking at Hestia's flushed face, and said sternly to the butler standing nearby: "Noah, show them out. From now on, without my permission, don't let irrelevant people in."
"Yes, Sir." Noah immediately stepped forward and made a "please" gesture to Hestia, his manner respectful but firm.
"James, don't let this woman cloud your judgment. Think about it—she was abroad all those years, why did she suddenly come back now?"
"And when she gave birth, were you by her side the whole time? How can you be sure the child is definitely yours?"
"What if she had the child with someone else when you weren't around and pinned it on you? Wouldn't you be a complete fool?"
James had had enough: "Noah, what are you waiting for? Get her out of here now!"
Noah called two more people over. They each grabbed one of Hestia's arms to "escort" her out.
Hestia had probably never been treated like this before. She shook off their hands and pointed at James, her finger trembling: "You... you're treating me like this for this woman? I'm your elder!"
James didn't even bother to give her a glance.
Seeing this, Hestia knew she wouldn't get anywhere today.
She glared at me viciously, the hatred in her eyes almost tangible.
She stormed out angrily, her high heels making harsh sounds on the floor.
The living room finally returned to quiet.
Aura seemed to sense that the atmosphere had calmed down. She poked her head out from my arms and asked quietly: "Is that mean person gone?"
"She's gone." James turned around, took her from my arms, and held her, "Aura, don't be scared. Daddy won't let anyone be mean to you."
Aura nodded hard and hugged his neck, "Daddy's the best!"
Watching James and Aura's affectionate interaction, the gloom that Hestia had caused in my heart dissipated quite a bit.