Chapter50 Father
Father
It was a woman with a mellow voice.
A shadow of a smile touched his mouth.
He spoke, “Isabelle, Jason was about to get marry.”
“Miss. Graham, here is your coffee.”
A pretty girl opened the door of Novia’s office and came in. She put down a cup of coffee and a bundle of papers on the table.
Novia was reading the newspaper. She lifted her cup and had a sip of it. Then she was surprised and stared at the girl. After a while, she asked, “Why do you know I like my coffee with milk instead of sugar?”
“Mr. Moore told me that.”
The girl felt a bit unnerved.
Novia paused for a while and then said, “What’s your name?”
“Miss Graham, I’m Katie.”
Novia nodded and then put down the cup.
“The fact that you are designated as my secretary by the company has shown their trust of you. I hope that you will complete your work carefully. And you may come to ask me if you have any questions. After all, nobody knows me better than myself, right?”
Katie stood upright and said carefully, “I see, Miss Graham.”
Novia nodded, “You may leave now.”
“Yes.”
After Katie went out of her office, Novia read the news again. Then she stood up and came to Toby’s office with the newspaper.
She knocked at the door.
“Come in.”
Toby did not expect it would be Novia. He was surprised, then he stopped his work and asked, “Novia, what’s the matter?”
Novia lowered her eyes and put down the newspaper in front of him, saying in a low tone, “Dad, I’ve got something to ask you.”
Toby was bewildered. He took a look at the newspaper and then frowned.
“Go on.”
“Who proposed to cooperate with F&R Group?”
Toby thought for a second and said, “It was Lucie. I did not expect that F&R Group would agree at first.”
Then he paused for a moment and asked, “Novia, do you know the boss of F&R Group?”
He thought of the news.
“He is also from the Chapman family.”
It was the same as she thought. Brandon agreed to cooperate with the Graham Group at first. Then he asked Asher to admit Brandon was his son. What did he want to do? Novia realized that she had been with Brandon for a year but she knew nothing about him. He left her suddenly and then came back. What did he want?
“Dad, I have to tell you something.”
Her face grew solemn, so Toby did not dare to neglect.
“What?”
“I had a boyfriend when I was in high school.”
Toby was shocked. He didn’t know that. Thinking of this, he felt guilty. When Novia was in high school, he had just married Lucie. He knew she was resisting quietly, but he chose to ignore her. Her eyes often reminded him of his ex-wife, which annoyed him. He wanted to escape from that right away. Then he thought that he did not even knew she had finished the college entrance exam until he came home after the business trip. It was hard to purge the guilt in one’s mind. Now every time when he saw Novia, he would think of her calling her “Dad” calmly in the hospital.
“Ella and Lucie knew that.”
Novia said slowly and calmly, as if she was talking about others.
“But I wonder you may not know my ex-boyfriend is Brandon.”
Toby was jolted with a deep frown. He knew what did she mean. Lucie knew Novia once went out with Brandon, but she still asked Toby to cooperate with him on the day when Jason came to propose to Novia. What a coincidence. It was all very suspicious. Lucie cared about him and played a part in his every decision, which he had already get used to, so he never doubted her.
He lifted his head and looked at Novia. She was still calm and distant. He knew she would not lie to him because she disdained to lie. But he could not believe Lucie would do that as well. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
Novia knew Toby was too shocked to believe her. She already expected that. But she was still disappointed when he really chose to believe Lucie.
“I don’t know why Brandon would cooperate with the Graham Group. But he must have his intention. Dad, the Graham Group was founded by you and mom. I don’t want to see anyone do something harmful to it for any reason.”
Then she paused a while and continued to said in an undertone, “Dad, pay attention to your wife.”
Seeing him being distressed, she turned and opened the door.
Standing outside the office, Ewan was about to knock at the door. Novia paused for a second and then passed by.
Looking at her, Ewan went blank for a moment. Then he came in when Toby spoke to him.
“Ewan, what’s the matter?”
Ewan glanced at the newspaper brought by Novia and then asked, “Toby, Novia is really going to marry Mr. Chapman?”
Toby was jolted. He apparently didn’t know that.
Ewan did not lie to him. He told him directly, “Mr. Asher Chapman has published an announcement. Don’t you know that?”
Toby thought of what had happened just now with a frown, sighing. Was Novia afraid that he would weigh the benefits of her marriage? He gave a wry smile – he did not know she would consider him like
this.
“I know.”
Ewan was surprised and did not respond. He just wanted to confirm. But it turned out to be true. Novia was going to get married. He knew that when he went out with Ella. But it was the first time that he had realized that clearly. He felt like someone was holding his throat so tightly that he could barely breathe. It was depressing for him. He wanted to stop her. But he clenched his fists and restrained the desire, trying to calm himself down.
“Ewan, what’s wrong between you and Ella? Why would she come to us last night?”
Speaking of Ella, he could not help scowling and then replied, “It’s my fault. We had a quarrel yesterday.”
“It is commonly seen that a couple would have a quarrel. But as a man, you should make concession to her. She was a sensible girl. Try to talk to her and make her happy. Then she may come home with you. You can’t leave her to our house while she is pregnant.”
“OK, I know.”
Toby waved his hand.