The Queen's Back

Chapter

39

"I'm sorry, Grandpa, Grandma. It's my fault for not taking better care of Mona," Maxwell said, his voice filled with guilt. "I'll make sure to be more attentive when we return." He hadn't realized Mona had lost weight. She was already light, and now the thought of her getting thinner filled him with

remorse.

Mona, however, didn't feel she had lost weight. Hearing Maxwell's words warmed her heart.

"Come on, let's s go inside

and talk!" Bernard said, smiling. He could see the affection in Maxwell's eyes when he looked at Mona, much like the way he looked at his own wife, Jane. Words could deceive, but the eyes could not. When someone was in love, their gaze was filled with warmth. Maxwell's gaze at Mona was full of love, something Bernard had never seen in Teddy.

Mona and Maxwell followed her grandparents into the living room. Mona linked arms with Jane, while Maxwell walked behind them.

The four of them sat in the living room, chatting about Mona and Maxwell's life abroad. Before they knew it, Albert had returned home. He acknowledged Mona's presence with a slight nod. "Grandpa, Grandma, is Albert upset?" Mona asked.

Mona wasn't sure how to feel about her half-brother; Albert. She remembered his tragic life in her past and felt a pang of sympathy. Yet she knew that in Albert's eyes, she could never compare to Barbara. She also wondered if

if Barbara had played a role in Albert's past struggles with addiction, given her interest in his shares of the Clem Group. Mona resolved to expose Barbara's true intentions and make Albert see her for who she really was. In Barbara's eyes, there was no family, only self-interest. Albert's distance from Mona

om Mona was partly due to Barbara's meddling and partly due to Mona's own lack of initiative in building their relationship.

"Let's not talk about that. Albert is still upset with us for expelling Beatrice and her daughter

family dynamics were indeed complicated. Beatrice had been with them for so long, and now Barbara was revealed to be Albert's half-sibling. It was a tangled

Bernard said, trying to lighten the mood. "I heard my granddaughter got the opportunity to design a gown for Artemis Rain. That's quite

being your granddaughter, I'm thrilled to have this

start as a design assistant. I wanted you to take things slowly, so you'd have credibility with

might have sparked gossip, so he decided she

sense, Grandpa. I understand,"

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with a smile. Sitting with her family felt like a dream to him,

kitchen. This delighted Mona's grandparents, and she secretly told them

went to Albert's room on the second floor. She knocked and said, "Albert, it's me. I'm coming in." Albert, now a high school freshman, was in his rebellious

Come in," Albert

with headphones on, embodying the rebellious teen image. Mona pulled up a up a chair and sat beside him, silently watching him play. His fingers were long and agile, and with a few quick taps, he skillfully maneuvered his character. Soon, she saw the virtual opponents around Albert's character

bad, I guess. But you didn't come here

nodded. "Why not? I just wanted to

Albert gave

questioning why she had the