kingnovel Chapter 299 - 297: The Father Found Out
Chapter 299 - 297: The Father Found Out
Night had fallen.
Yuri Sinclair had a few drinks with an old friend and was drowsy on the way back.
He hadn’t been resting well these past few days either.
To be honest, he wasn’t very fond of Jynsia.
Jynsia’s winters were too dry and the temperature was low; he wasn’t acclimated to the climate.
The car rounded a corner, its headlights shifting, and the driver let out a surprised, "Sir."
From the back seat, Yuri Sinclair pressed a hand to his forehead and answered with a low hum.
"Up ahead... is that Miss...?"
"Who?" Yuri Sinclair opened his eyes, his gaze clouded with fatigue.
The driver slowed down, the car crawling along.
"Miss Mia Grant? I’m not mistaken, am I?"
The driver wasn’t entirely sure either, glancing at the man in the back seat through the rearview mirror.
Yuri Sinclair narrowed his eyes and looked out the window.
The car glided slowly past a couple standing under a streetlight.
The girl was held in the man’s arms, seemingly unaware of the approaching vehicle. The man in front of her never looked up, paying them no mind at all.
As they drew closer, Yuri Sinclair tried to get a better look.
The girl’s face was hidden, so he couldn’t be sure.
Truthfully, he hadn’t known Mia Grant for very long; he wasn’t yet able to recognize her from her silhouette alone.
Fortunately, however, he recognized Yates Donovan.
Frowning, Yuri Sinclair saw Mia Grant struggling in Yates Donovan’s arms, hitting and kicking him.
Yates didn’t let go, nor did he get angry. Instead, he looked as if he was enjoying it.
Seeing his expression, Yuri Sinclair became even more certain that the person in his arms was indeed Mia Grant.
The car had already entered the underground garage.
On the ground floor.
Yuri Sinclair stepped out of the elevator and stood in the lobby, looking outside.
Sure enough, Mia Grant and Yates Donovan were still there.
But they had separated.
Just as Yuri Sinclair was about to turn and go upstairs, he suddenly saw Yates cup Mia’s face and lean down to give her a kiss.
...
The old father’s heart skipped a beat.
’Better not to look. Out of sight, out of mind.’
Before he could leave, Mia pushed Yates away and started hitting him again.
After waiting a little longer, Yuri Sinclair couldn’t help himself and started walking outside.
—
Under the streetlight, Mia Grant glared furiously at Yates Donovan. "Let go of me!"
"So you can hit me?"
"You deserve it!"
Yates snorted, gripping her wrist tightly. "You hit me now, but I’ll get you back for it in bed. Think carefully, little one."
... Mia let out an exasperated cry and kicked his leg.
"Do you have any idea he’s going abroad for treatment? This is his last chance! If it doesn’t work, his life is over!"
Hearing this, Yates raised an eyebrow. "He told you that?"
’Funny, I hadn’t heard about that.’
"Yes."
"No wonder you suddenly cursed me out, blocked me, and then hit me the moment you saw me."
"So you were sticking up for him."
Yates released his hold on her.
Mia Grant took a step back and looked up at him.
He had suddenly fallen silent, and Mia felt a little scared.
"Hey!"
She frowned. ’Did I really go too far just now?’
’But he was the one who started getting handsy with me first.’
’He deserved it when I hit him.’
’I told him to let go, Carla and the others would see from upstairs. A car’s headlights just flashed past, which means there were people around, and he still wouldn’t let go.’
’Honestly.’
’All he knows is how to be a rogue with me.’
"Why aren’t you saying anything?"
Mia put her hands on her hips, exasperated. "Me hitting you has nothing to do with him. But I did block you, yes. It was just a heat-of-the-moment thing, not me trying to draw a line between us."
"You’re not that fragile, are you?"
"It’s true that what happened to him is my responsibility, and I apologize. But I’m wondering, if I were the one who broke a leg, would you be this nice to me?" Yates leaned back against the utility pole, a desolate look on his face.
Mia was instantly at a loss for words.
She hurried forward. "What kind of strange idea is that?"
"I’m good to you even when you haven’t broken a leg, aren’t I?"
"Are you?"
"Have a heart," Mia chided, but she still coaxed him, taking his hand to soothe him.
"Alright, alright, I won’t bring it up again."
"Don’t overthink it."
She lowered her head, trying to get a clear look at his expression.
’He couldn’t be... crying, could he?’
At that thought, Mia’s heart tightened.
Just as she lowered her head, a certain someone’s lips suddenly curled into a smile. He leaned in and stole another kiss.
"Thanks, but... I was just teasing you."
...
Once she realized what had happened, Mia raised her fist to punch him again.
"Mia."
Yuri Sinclair’s voice suddenly cut in, making Mia jump.
Yates followed her gaze, then slowly straightened up, calmly smoothing the wrinkles on his shirt.
’He had to be extra careful about his image in front of his future father-in-law.’
"Mr. Sinclair," he said with a warm smile, greeting him.
Yuri Sinclair looked at him and gave a slight nod.
But he said nothing, his gaze shifting to Mia Grant.
"Why are you out here so thinly dressed?" Yuri Sinclair sighed. "If you have something to discuss, do it upstairs. Not out here."
Mia froze for a moment, then asked, "When did you get back? How come I didn’t know?"
’Why did he come from inside?’
Yuri Sinclair pointed nearby. "Just got back. I parked in the underground garage."
’Just now?’
’Doesn’t that mean...’
Mia’s eyes widened as she snuck a glance at the culprit beside her. He met her gaze, raising an eyebrow as the amusement in his eyes deepened.
The sight made a nameless fire ignite in Mia’s heart.
’He’s asking for a beating!’
"She asked me to drop something off, and I was just handing it to her. It’s gotten too late, so I won’t come up and disturb you." Yates nodded his head in greeting. "I’ll pay a proper visit another day."
Hearing this, Mia silently breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mm," Yuri Sinclair didn’t expose the lie. He said to Mia, "Let’s go up."
"Be careful on your way."
After that polite remark to Yates, Yuri Sinclair withdrew his gaze, his expression unreadable, and followed Mia.
Inside the elevator, Mia studied Yuri Sinclair’s expression in the mirror’s reflection.
’From Yuri Sinclair’s perspective, I spent a lot of time with Kian Keller at the resort.’
’And now I’m all tangled up with Yates Donovan...’
’No matter how you look at it, this seems bad.’
Mia’s head ached. "He and I..."
Yuri Sinclair glanced at her. "Did he force you?"
She froze for a second, then realized he was asking about Yates kissing her and quickly shook her head.
"No."
Yuri Sinclair nodded, then broke into a smile. "As long as he didn’t, that’s good."
Mia waited, but nothing more came.
"So... what then?" she couldn’t help but ask blankly.
"What then?"
Yuri Sinclair looked down, not understanding what she meant.
...
Meeting her father’s profound gaze, Mia instinctively fell silent, not knowing what to say.
The elevator doors opened, and Yuri Sinclair came back to his senses. "Let’s get out first."
Mia had just stepped one foot out of the elevator when she heard Yuri Sinclair say, "Actually, having a few options isn’t a bad thing."
Yuri Sinclair had only just understood what she was asking, so he continued, "You’re so exceptional, it’s only natural that you’ll attract equally exceptional people."
"There’s nothing wrong with that."
"It’s just..." Yuri Sinclair paused, choosing his words carefully. "It’s best to keep the one who’s easy to handle and stay away from anyone who tries to control you."