?<strong>Chapter 486:</strong>


    His Uncle Cory had meticulously styled his hair,vishly applying gel until it gleamed, sculpting a dramatically slicked-back look. Attempting a youthful ir, his ensemble—featuring a high-end sweatshirt adorned with whimsical cartoon prints and casual jeans—shed strikingly with his more mature, lined face, lending him a somewhatical appearance.


    Ailyn’s gaze drifted from Cory to Kristopher, who stood confidently beside Carrie, then to Albin, who was casually leaning near Camille. To her side, Cory, who could easily be mistaken for her father in terms of age, and to her other side, men who seemed to have stepped out of the pages of fashion magazines—charming and poised. For the first time, she truly perceived the ring contrast.


    Previously, Cory hadn’t seemed so out of ce. Born into wealth, his demeanor carried an effortless elegance that distinguished him from the typical youthful crowd. When Ailyn brought him to her old neighborhood, her neighbors would often whisper in awe, “Ailyn, your boyfriend looks like a high-ranking executive.” As they strolled through the mall, even the charming, youthful sales associates showered Cory withpliments, a fact that had always filled Ailyn with a sense of pride.


    But now, standing there, Ailyn felt apelling urge to vanish into the background, to meld into the shadows on the wall. She hoped fervently that Cory would not spot her, that he would simply continue on his way, oblivious to her presence.


    A man previously acquainted with the Myers family was the first to stir, his excitement palpable. With a gesture of recognition, he eximed, “Mr. Myers, you’ve arrived? Ailyn is just over there!”


    Before Cory could even nce in Ailyn’s direction, his gazended on Kristopher at the head of the table. His smile vanished, reced by a cold stare as he demanded, “Kristopher, what brings you here?”


    Kristopher, meanwhile, gathered a few tes, gently setting them down before Carrie with a tender smile. “Please, try these; they’re the handiwork of our new chef,” he murmured.


    Drying his hands methodically, he answered in a deliberate tone, “I’m attending the reunion with my wife, Uncle. And you? Surely, you aren’t one of Carrie’s ssmates, are you?”


    Nearby, Camille leaned toward Albin, her voice a hushed murmur filled with concern. “Kristopher’s remarks are quite biting.”


    Albin responded with a tight-lipped smile, “It seems your best friend shares the same traits.”


    The people around were far from oblivious. Witnessing Kristopher’s overt disregard for Cory, they grasped the underlying tension between Mr. Norris and his uncle. Those who had entertained thoughts of ingratiating themselves with Cory now discreetly focused on their tes, feigning ignorance.


    Humiliated in front of the younger onlookers, Cory marched up to the table, mmed his briefcase down with a resounding thud, and eximed, “Kristopher, remember, I am your uncle! You’re supposed to uphold the Norris family’s dignity with your behavior. Is this how the Norris family taught you to address your elders? Have you no respect?”


    Kristopher delicately brushed his fingertips against the edge of his cup, his voice gentle and quiet as he remarked, “Respect isn’t handed out freely; it’s earned. Reflect on your own deeds—do any truly reflect the dignity expected of an elder? Or…”


    His voice trailed off as he slowly shifted his gaze to Cory, a subtle smirk ying at the corners of his mouth. “Perhaps I should ask Aunt to intervene and settle our little dispute?”


    Cory’s face hardened as he processed Kristopher’s direct challenge. The stability of his position in thepany hinged on his wife’s influential family. The revtion of his affair would surely plunge his year into turmoil.


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