Betrayed by Fiance, Embraced by Hidden Tycoon-Chapter 81: The Topic He Hated The Most

Sawyer took a deep breath. He had noticed his father sitting on the sofa beside his grandpa, holding a cup of tea, but he had intentionally avoided eye contact. He felt he had nothing to say to him.

However, seeing his grandpa’s pleading gaze as if asking him to go easy on his father, Sawyer’s heart slightly softened. They were already in the same room anyway, and it would be awkward not to greet him.

He stood up again and offered him an awkward handshake.

"Father..." Sawyer looked at the man, closely resembling him. The only differences were apparent: his father’s hair was graying, and the wrinkles on his face were becoming more noticeable.

"Oh, Sawyer..." Walter Jones smiled warmly as he accepted his son’s handshake.

"Happy belated birthday! Sorry, I didn’t bring you anything for your birthday present. I’m too broke to buy a present worthy of your...caliber," Sawyer said casually as he sat back in his seat, ignoring the tremor in his father’s gaze.

...

The awkward atmosphere thickened as Sawyer sat beside his grandmother while his father and grandfather sat across from them.

He didn’t engage his father and grandfather in boring conversation. Instead, he enjoyed the warm tea with Grandma, who also seemed to be ignoring them.

This was unusual. Usually, Grandma would let him be, but today, she seemed eager to ask him several questions. As usual, he responded briefly.

Sawyer couldn’t understand why his grandfather insisted he come, only to leave him out of the conversation. He had sat with them for almost thirty minutes, but his grandfather chatted with his father instead of including him.

However, just before Sawyer planned to excuse himself and go to sleep in his room upstairs, he overheard his father and grandfather’s conversation shifting from business to marriage. He dismisses the idea and stays to hear more. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Sawyer could tell these two men were trying hard to steer him toward the topic he hated the most: arranged marriage.

Sipping his tea, Sawyer smiled and listened as Grandma discussed her plans to visit family in the rural area. Still, he could faintly hear his father and grandfather discussing their concerns.

"Walter, I’m baffled about your children. All of them," Nathaniel Jones said, placing his empty cup down. He continued in a worried tone, "Why are all your children so unwilling to get married and continue our family name’s line? Do you plan to let the Jones line end with just three of your kids? Well, I don’t. And I want you to do something about it."

Nathaniel’s gaze then shifted to Sawyer. A thin smile slowly appeared on his lips when he saw his grandson chatting with his wife, seemingly oblivious to the conversation surrounding him.

"Dad, I share your confusion about why none of my children want to get married," Walter Jones replied helplessly. "Harvey is too busy with the company. His close friends and staff all say it seems like he’s dating his work—no one ever sees him with a woman."

"Angela, my only daughter, is too busy with her hobby slash work, the boutique business. She’s just like her older brother. Never once have I heard her mention having any male companion. And—" Walter’s sentence trailed off as he looked at Sawyer.

Walter let out a long, deep sigh, feeling the weight of his emotions. Sawyer was the one he loved the most, yet also the one who seemed to resent him the most. He never understood why Sawyer felt this way, and whenever he tried to ask, it always ended in an argument.

"Sawyer, what are you busy with now? I have no idea what you’re doing with your time and wealth, and you never bothered to tell me," Walter smiled at his youngest son, who rarely returned home. He only showed up once a year on his mother’s birthday, and he could only see Sawyer if he returned to visit his grandparents, like today.

Sawyer chuckled to himself, already anticipating that question would come from his father. He turned to see him. Just as he was about to respond, Grandma interrupted.

"Walter, what kind of question is that?" Martha’s voice was gentle, but her cold, sharp gaze was enough to silence Walter, causing him to press his lips tightly and remain silent.

Walter let out a deep sigh, feeling frustrated. His youngest son, Sawyer, often ignored him because his mother or father always sided with him whenever he tried to speak to him.

"How could you not know what your son is doing? This is why none of your children are close to you; you are too busy with your own matters. You abandon your family for your business, Walter. I’m disappointed in you..." Martha said, narrowing her eyes at her son with annoyance.

"Mother—" Walter’s voice trailed off as his mother continued her scolding.

"You should look at your father. He loves and dotes on you and always prioritizes you and your little brother on top of everything." After scolding her son, Martha turned her gaze to her husband, smiling sweetly at him. "Right, Niel..."

Nathaniel smiled at his wife. He wanted to help his son, Walter, talk to Sawyer because it seemed that Sawyer was ignoring him. However, it looked like his wife didn’t understand what they were trying to do; instead of encouraging Sawyer to speak, Walter ended up getting scolded.

Nathaniel didn’t want to take a risk; his beloved wife also scolded him, so he agreed with her while apologetically approaching his son.

"Yes, my darling wife. Walter, you should pay more attention to your children. There’s no need to work so hard if you abandon your family. Let the new generation lead the company, son; you need to retire soon and enjoy your well-earned hard work," Nathaniel said while gently patting Walter’s shoulder.

Walter was speechless at how fast his father wanted him to be replaced by any of his children.

When Walter and Nathaniel thought their plan to discuss marriage arrangements for Sawyer had failed, Martha’s words caught them off guard.