Chapter 265: The Old-Fashioned Man
After my evening bath, as I settled into my skincare routine, I nudged Nolan to head off to bed. Then, in she burst, Elissa, wearing a shocked expression. "Sarah's making headlines!"
I continued my skincare regimen nonchalantly. "Would've been weirder if she hadn't."
Given Sarah's lineage as Madison's daughter, she naturally commanded significant attention.
The public wasn't aware of Sarah's past disappearance; they merely assumed Madison had shielded her, safeguarding her privacy for over two decades, away from prying eyes. With her sudden plunge into a reality TV show, the public's curiosity over Sarah surged, eager to uncover more about her background.
Elissa handed me her phone, excitement evident. "But this article is something else. Check it out. It's all about Sarah's beauty and kindness, showering her with praise."
Glancing at the screen, I noticed an array of trending topics centered on Sarah. What struck me was the absence of any detractors; the praise seemed unanimous.
It was evident that Sarah was poised to skyrocket in popularity once the reality show aired.
After a brief skim, I returned the phone to Elissa. "Let them sing her praises; it's none of our business."
Considering Madison's reaction to my own history from yesterday, any further interactions between us, let alone involving Sarah, seemed improbable.
Elissa rolled her eyes. "Why can't anyone see through her facade?"
Elissa harbored a deep animosity towards Sarah, aware of the incident where Sarah had drugged me.
I chuckled softly. "Strangers don't witness her everyday antics. How could they see beneath her mask? Don't stress it; I've had a feeling these past few days."
Curious, Elissa inquired, "What kind of feeling?"
I disclosed, "Sarah isn't Madison's biological child."
I hadn't suspected anything at first.
But Sarah's repeated attempts to hide the fact that she had impersonated Bella two years ago from Madison made me sense something was off.
If Sarah were truly Madison's biological daughter, what was she afraid of?
Given Madison's love for her, she'd probably think Sarah had no other choice back then.
But Sarah was always scared, even of my interactions with Madison.
So, there was a chance Sarah wasn't Madison's daughter at all.
If Madison found out about what happened two years ago, she might start to question Sarah's identity.
And Sarah's identity probably couldn't withstand another investigation.
Elissa got excited. "Really? Why?"
I decided to share my suspicions with Elissa. "If it's true, no matter how good an image she builds, Madison could tear it apart."
Madison didn't get to where she was today by being soft-hearted. Loving her daughter was one thing, but being used by someone who exploited that love was another.
Elissa sat cross-legged on the bed. "I'm suddenly not mad anymore. Sooner or later, someone will avenge you."
Then she brought up the main topic. "The store contract with Jared is signed. Shall we check out the location tomorrow?"
"Sure," I agreed.
This was ElevateJoy's first physical store, a big deal for both the company and us.
The next day, just as Elissa and I were about to head out, the doorbell rang.
I opened the door to find a stranger standing there.
The guy was in an elegant suit vest, tall and upright, with a dark coat draped over his arm.
He looked to be in his thirties but had this deep, authoritative vibe.
I didn't recognize him, so I was momentarily confused. "Hello, who are you looking for?"
He nodded slightly. "Hello. I'm looking for Nolan."
"Nolan?" I was stunned for a moment, then I smiled and asked again to confirm, "Are you looking for Nolan Ortiz?"
"Yes."
"And who are you?"
"I'm his father, Neil Ortiz."
Neil Ortiz's formal manner of speaking instantly matched the brief description Nolan had given me about his father—a rather old-fashioned guy.
Neil didn't look inside but instead looked me in the eye. "We have a dinner today. I'm here to take him back."
As far as I knew, the Ortiz family was one of the major families in the city, along with the Hammer family and the Harris family—low-key but deeply rooted.
But Neil didn't have an overbearing demeanor, which made me quite like him.
I smiled at Neil. "Can I call Sophia to confirm first?"
"Of course."
Neil stepped toward the elevator to give me space to make the call.
I took out my phone and called Sophia. "Sophia, Nolan's dad is here. He says there's a dinner today and wants to take Nolan back. Is that okay?"
Sophia said unhappily, "Did that old-fashioned Neil come over? Give him the phone!"
Sensing the tension, I walked to the elevator and handed the phone to Neil. "Mr. Ortiz, Sophia wants to talk to you."
I hadn't walked far when I heard Sophia start to argue.
Neil's tone, however, was gentler than when he spoke to me.
"I called you before I came, but you didn't answer. Okay, it's my fault. I should have kept calling until you picked up. Alright, don't be mad."
Neil looked very serious and formal in his suit, but he seemed like a henpecked husband.
I smiled and went back to pick up Nolan, who had just changed clothes. "Nolan, you probably can't go to Jerry's company today."
The store location was very close to Apex Technologies.
During lunch earlier, Nolan's empathy kicked in, leading him to suggest taking a homemade meal to Jerry, citing today's soup as one of his favorites.
I readily agreed, the soup already packed and ready to go.
Hearing my words, Nolan furrowed his brow. "Why not?"
I gestured toward the elevator. "Your dad's here."
Nolan craned his neck, spotting Neil, his face alight with joy as he dashed over on his stubby legs.
But he halted halfway, his gaze landing up at me. "But what about Jerry's soup? Jerry often skips meals. If we don't give it to him, he'll go hungry for sure."
I recognized Nolan's attempt to portray Jerry as needy.
Playing along, I gently squeezed Nolan's plump cheek. "I'll take care of that, alright?"
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