Chapter 160

Ryan voiced his disapproval of Nicole bluntly. "She's not even part of the Reyes family. You don't need to bother with her."

"But Grandpa…"

As I began to speak, Derek's icy gaze fell upon me. "You should start calling him Dad," he said coolly.

That cold reminder made me break into a sweat. Derek was incredibly perceptive, noticing details others missed. I'd called Ryan "Grandfather" for so long, and the slip was immediate. Derek caught it instantly.

Suppressing my panic, I vowed to be more careful. Smiling at Derek, I said, "Right, I just thought of calling him Grandpa because he and my grandfather are about the same age."

"No worries," he replied.

Ryan seemed to sense my unease; his demeanor toward me was unusually warm. "You've just joined the Reyes family. It's normal to feel a bit out of place at first. Come, sit down, dear."

As I sat beside him, I noticed the disdain in Patricia's eyes. It seemed that whether I was Amelia or Amanda didn't matter; I easily possessed what she craved. She may have fooled Davin, but Ryan saw through her charade.

I knew Ryan favored his grandson, Chase, which was understandable. However, he was genuinely kind to me, and I felt a genuine warmth toward him as well.

He removed his glasses, taking my hand with a touch of emotion. "I'm about the same age as your grandfather. You can call me Dad or Grandpa, whichever feels right."

Patricia immediately interrupted. "Dad, wouldn't that confuse the family hierarchy? She's not Nic…"

Ryan shot her a fierce glare. "Go see if there's anything you can do in the kitchen. As long as I'm alive, the Reyes family doesn't need your opinion."

I sensed Ryan's underlying concern; his pallor suggested worry over my disappearance. After some time with him, he was delighted to learn I'd be moving into the Reyes family home immediately.

"Good. I see you as a good kid. It would be nice to have you around more often. You and Derek are married, and we'll have a proper ceremony. We should prepare your marital home. Any place in mind?"

I restrained my excitement; this was the moment I'd been waiting for. "I haven't been back long, so I'm not too familiar with the area, but I did see a nice villa estate recently."

"Where?"

"Applewood Estate."

At the name, Derek's head snapped up, his eyes locking onto mine. He knew the estate was intended for Chase and me. Only by feigning a house hunt could I lead someone to that statue. And Derek, with his sharp mind, would undoubtedly notice any clues I dropped.

"Why there?" he asked, his expression dark.

I offered an innocent look. "Why not? I just saw it online and thought it was lovely."

"Of course, you're my daughter-in-law now. We will get you as many villas as you want."

Ryan gave Derek a pointed look. "Amelia's from abroad and isn't familiar with the area. You should take her to see more places. If she likes them, buy them all."

"Thank you, Dad," I said, the word still feeling unfamiliar. After years of calling him Grandpa, the change felt strange.

"Alright then, Derek, why don't you show Amelia around and see what else the room might need? I'll have the butler take care of it afterward."