Chapter 964

Aaron meant what he said—he truly didn't bother Lena again. It was as if life had reverted to how it was when he’d gone abroad. Lena even started wondering if he had left the country again, until she received a call from Briana.

“Your uncle is going to announce his true parentage this Sunday,” Briana said. “Your grandparents haven’t been eating well these past few days. Come back and keep them company, will you? You’re the only one who can cheer them up.”

Hearing this made Lena feel uneasy. Knowing Aaron’s intention to sever ties with the Ace family, she found herself perplexed. Hadn’t he already given up on her? If so, why was he still doing this? Unless… he had always wanted to cut ties with the Ace family, regardless of her.

“Why would he do this?” Lena murmured under her breath.

“What did you say?” Briana asked, not catching her words.

“Mom, has Uncle… been in the country this whole time?” Lena asked cautiously.

“Of course,” Briana replied, her tone revealing the savvy financial mind she prided herself on. “Where else would he go? His career here has been progressing better than when he was abroad. And honestly, the past few years haven’t been peaceful overseas. Even those who left are gradually returning.”

“Does he still visit Grandma often?” Lena probed further.

“He’s been living at home lately, spending time with your grandparents,” Briana said with a sigh. “He said that severing ties with the family is only to let others know he’s not biologically related to the Ace family. Nothing else will change. I just can’t understand why he’s doing this.”

Lena couldn’t figure out Aaron’s thoughts either. “Mom, as long as he’s good to you all, let him do what he wants.”

“Lena, do you think he’s embarrassed to be part of the Ace family?” Briana began questioning herself.

Lena looked up at the sky, feeling conflicted. He had clearly given up on her, yet he still wanted to cut ties with the Ace family. Could it be that he was doing this out of spite?

“You should try talking some sense into him,” Briana scolded. “You grew up together—don’t waste that bond.”

Lena stayed silent. No one else knew the real reason behind all this, but she did. It all stemmed from her. Being reprimanded felt justified.

“Mom, as long as Uncle Aaron is with Grandma and Grandpa, they won’t be unhappy,” Lena said, trying to avoid the confrontation. “I’d just be a disturbance if I went over.” She couldn’t face Aaron right now, and she was certain he didn’t want to see her either. Breakups had their cooling-off periods, and so did heartbreak. Right now was absolutely not the right time for them to meet.

Chapter 964 (continued)

“What do you mean, a disturbance?” Briana fumed. “Your grandparents miss you so much it’s like trying to meet a deity!”

“You have to go,” Briana snapped before hanging up. “If you don’t, then don’t bother ever going again.”

Lena rubbed her temples, feeling the weight of the situation. It was painful when he pursued her, and it was equally painful now that he wasn’t. If she had known things would turn out like this, she might as well have agreed to be with him.

The thought flashed through her mind but quickly faded. She couldn’t face Aaron, so she decided to call her grandparents instead.

“Lena, when are you coming?” her grandmother said warmly over the phone. “I miss you so much. Your grandpa even dreamed about you these past two nights. He said he saw you in a wedding dress, getting married.”

Lena joked, “He probably dreamed about getting married himself and blamed it on me.”

“You cheeky girl, teasing even your grandpa,” Deborah chided her, though her tone was lighthearted. “No respect at all!”

Despite being in her eighties, her grandmother’s vision and hearing were still sharp.

“Tell her to come over,” Grandpa’s voice chimed in from the background. “I’ll make her some stewed pork.”

The warmth in their voices made it hard for Lena to refuse, but she had to. “Grandma, I have surgery today. I’ll come another day. Please tell Grandpa for me.”

Deborah sighed and relayed the message to Grandpa: “Lena has a surgery today. Let’s not trouble her.”

Meanwhile, from the other side of the living room, Aaron spoke up.

“Mom, Dad, I have a friend’s birthday dinner tonight, so I won’t be home for dinner,” he said. “I probably won’t be back to sleep, either. Take care of yourselves and rest early.”

Chapter 965