Chapter 1757:
Jalen, who had long since grown accustomed to the Harper family’s wealth and refined lifestyle, was genuinely pleased by his aunt’s increasingly warm manner toward him.
“Auntie, I’ve been promoted,” he said. “I actually came today to thank Shepard and Ernst. It’s a pity they’re not here—my promotion wouldn’t have gone so smoothly without their support.”
He went on with evident enthusiasm, and Giselle listened quietly until he finished, then offered a measured nod. “That’s good news. Just make sure you do the work properly. Don’t take shortcuts.”
Jalen caught the warning in her words immediately. He smiled. “Of course, Auntie. I know better now. My daughter is graduating and about to enter the workforce—I have to set a proper example. I can’t carry on the way I used to. I’ve been saving these past two years. When my mother was ill, Conor covered all the medical bills, so I’ve already given him three hundred thousand to repay him. I can’t let him carry everything alone.”
Giselle gave a small nod. She had been aware of the situation all along but had kept her distance—she had no wish to get drawn into their tangled affairs.
Conor smiled. “Jalen did give me the money. And the law firm has been doing very well lately. Shepard and Ernst have entrusted me with all of the Harper Group’s legal work, which has brought in considerably more income. Other clients followed, and the firm has grown to nearly triple its original size. My family is finally in a good place.”
“That’s good,” Giselle said. “Keep working hard. The children are watching—make sure you set the right example for them.”
Throughout the meal, Nola quietly noticed that Dalton was nowhere to be seen. She had visited the Harper residence several times now and had only managed to cross paths with him twice. She hadn’t realized, until recently, that the celebrated actor—the award-winning star—was actually her uncle. Now that she knew, she found herself looking forward to seeing him every time she came. Unfortunately, his schedule was so relentless that he was rarely home.
𝘉𝖾 p𝘢𝘳𝗍 o𝖿 оu𝗋 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝘪𝗍𝘆 о𝗇 𝘨a𝗅𝗻o𝘃е𝗅𝗌.𝘤𝗼𝘮
“I missed Uncle Dalton again,” she muttered, deflated. She had even promised her classmates she would bring back autographs.
Giselle heard her and laughed softly. “He already prepared some for you.” She asked Julia to go upstairs and retrieve them.
Nola’s face brightened at once. “That’s wonderful! Do you know when he’ll be back?”
Giselle shook her head with a faint sigh. “I’m not sure. He has several filming commitments—he’s either on set or abroad. I haven’t seen him myself in months.”
“Top actors really do have no free time,” Nola said. “I heard he’s planning a concert soon. Could you help me get a few tickets? I tried to buy some, but they sold out immediately.”
“Of course,” Giselle said without hesitation.
A short while later, Julia returned with a neat stack of signed photographs Dalton had prepared in advance. She passed them to Nola, who could barely contain her excitement. “My classmates are going to be so jealous! They kept begging me to bring them here to meet him, but I said no.”
Jalen laughed quietly. “You made the right call. This is your uncle’s home—never bring fans here. If people found out he lived here, the family would have no peace.”
“I know, Dad. I would never tell anyone his address,” Nola replied. “Celebrities need their privacy. They deserve quiet lives just as much as anyone else.”
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