Chapter 2269

The corner of Adrian’s mouth twitched.

He knew exactly where he stood now. He didn’t dare get upset with Miranda.

“I was just asking. Why are you so worked up? If I interrupted you, I’m sorry.”

He paused, then added, “I just wanted to see if you wanted something to eat. It’s fine—I’ll head downstairs.”

Miranda looked at how submissive he had become.

Her eyes were full of disdain.

He hadn’t been particularly capable before, but at least he hadn’t been this spineless.

Now he had changed—and it wasn’t a change she could respect.

“Got it. You can go. I’m not eating. I’m not in the mood.”

“Okay. If you get hungry later, just tell Auntie to make you something fresh.”

After saying that gently, Adrian finally left.

Once he was gone, Miranda walked over and shut the door.

After making sure he wouldn’t come back, she resumed her call with the man.

Talking to him was nothing like talking to Adrian.

Her voice carried a clear energy, bright and animated.

Every so often, her laughter drifted out of the room.

Outside, Adrian hadn’t gone far.

He caught a hint of that laughter and paused, but didn’t think much of it.

He had never been much of anything.

Work, family—Miranda handled it all.

Because of that, he was even more unwilling to upset her.

This time, Robert had truly been hospitalized.

He looked like he had aged years overnight.

Lying in the hospital bed, he let out one long sigh after another.

He couldn’t make sense of it.

He had dominated the business world for decades—how had he ended up losing to a young man?

Just thinking about the money he’d lost made his chest tighten.

Then came a knock at the door.

“Who is it? Come in.”

Wren entered first.

Nathaniel and Cecilia followed behind him.

The moment Robert saw them, his expression shifted.

“Brother, how are you feeling?” Wren asked as he walked over. “I heard you were in the hospital, so I brought them with me to visit you.”

Robert forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“I’m fine. When you get older, these things happen. You get sick more easily.”

“Come on, you’re only sixty. That’s not old at all,” Cecilia said.

Robert gave a faint sigh. “You can deny it all you want, but age catches up with you.”

Even as he spoke, the weight in his chest only deepened.

If he were still in his prime, how could he have been outplayed by Nathaniel?

“Why are you all still standing? Sit, sit,” Robert said, putting on a show of hospitality. “I’m getting old—look at me, I even forgot to ask you to sit.”

Wren sat down beside him.

Nathaniel pulled out a chair for Cecilia first. After she sat, he took the seat next to her.

The two of them were only there for appearances.

Wren was the one who truly cared, his face full of concern.

“Brother, what’s done is done. Don’t dwell on it,” Wren said. “Focus on your health. Leave work aside for now.”

Robert nodded. “Mm. I understand.”

Then his gaze shifted to Nathaniel.

“Nathaniel, I’ll have to trouble you to handle the ancestral gravesite for now.”

Nathaniel nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

He paused, then added casually,

“Oh, right—Uncle, were you the one who told Miranda to go to Cecilia and ask for the money?”

The room fell silent.

Even Cecilia was caught off guard.

She hadn’t expected Nathaniel to put it out there so directly.

Robert froze for a moment.

Something stiff flashed through his eyes.

It was obvious—Miranda hadn’t gone yesterday on her own.