<h4>Chapter 56 - Don''t Hold It</h4>


    Robert Collins raised his ss in a toast. "I hope you won''t hold it against this old man, Adam for petetitioning to the court," he said with an easy smile. "I just wanted to make sure that in this race, the two of you don''t forget what matters most—love and life. I never wanted to see the two brotherspeting. That''s why I told your grandmother to make adjustments to the will. But who knew she wouldn''t listen, and then all this would happen?"


    Adam clinked his ss against his grandfather''s. "Of course, Old Man. Who could me you for wanting the happiness of your grandchildren? But I don''t think that grandmother was at fault, really. You, of all people, knew her wish."


    Robert Collins'' face tightened.


    Mnie watched the two men, trying to understand the undercurrents of their conversation. On the surface, they bickered like any normal grandfather and grandson. But beneath that, it felt more like two rival leaders negotiating peace, pretending at cordiality while measuring each other''s moves.


    Robert chuckled at Adam''s words, then turned to Mnie, studying her as if searching for something. "Mnie, you don''t know this child as well as I do, so it will take time for you to understand the reason for my concerns. He''s always been... spirited. His escapades in high school, oh, the trouble he could stir up..." He trailed off, lost in thought, before shaking his head with a sigh. "If only he could keep out of trouble with girls..."


    Adam only smiled, unfazed by the remark. But Mnie couldn''t help raising an eyebrow. This wasn''t the first time Robert had implied that Adam was adies'' man. She wondered why. Spencer hated Adam, and Adam had no love for Spencer. But why was their grandfather so openly prejudiced?


    Robert leaned back in his chair, taking her silence as encouragement to continue. "Now that he''s finally married..." He let the words linger before continuing, his voice deceptively light. "I have to make sure itsts."


    Another pause. Just long enough to let the weight of his words settle. "But I do feel reassured. Even if you''re quite different from Adam''s usual taste..." His lips curled slightly at the edges. "I trust you''ll manage to keep up with him. Good girls like you know how to manage a home and keep rtionships together. Thankfully, Adam here chose a ''girl next door'' like you instead of those beauties."


    Mnie''s grip on her ss tightened. Well, that was an interesting way of calling her in. Not that she minded. She ced the ss back on the table carefully and met the old man''s gaze. "Don''t worry, Grandfather. I can handle a little mischief."


    The old man smiled. Of course, she would need to handle things. How much she could handle, however, was another question entirely. But he''d like to see for sure, the woman who actually had the foolishness to tie herself to Adam without knowing anything about him...But he would begin slowly. The wedding gift was already prepared...


    He gestured for the waitstaff to bring lunch and then stated slowly, "Anyway, my purpose in inviting you to this lunch is actually something else. The previous celebration was originally meant to celebrate Mnie and Spencer''s engagement, which weter changed to a celebration for weing Spencer back."


    He took a sip of his drink before continuing. "However, there are rumors circting about Mnie''s position in the family and why she held her position in thepany all these years and if that was under false pretenses."


    "So, I''ve decided. Tomorrow, we will hold a small gathering to officially celebrate your wedding, wee you into the family properly, and silence any gossip about you, Adam and Spencer. I understand you might be eager to go on your honeymoon, but please, do that after tomorrow."


    Adam leaned back, watching his grandfather with a neutral expression, " I didn''t realize we needed an official event to confirm our marriage. I thought signing the papers was enough. But I am okay with whatever Mnie says." He turned to Mnie then with raised eyebrows and a look of a besotted fool that had her almost rolling her eyes.


    Robert merely smiled at that, "In this family, Adam, nothing is ever just about papers. You should know that. Appearances matter. Stability matters. You two must show the world that your union is strong and that Mnie was never there under false pretenses. So, Mnie, since Adam is leaving it to you, what do you think?"


    "Of course, if that''s what''s best for the family and business." Mnie answered, somehow feeling that Adam wanted her to ept the invitation for this gathering. And she was right. He seemed mighty pleased while she felt only confusion.


    "Good girl," Robert murmured approvingly. "Now, let''s eat. We have much to prepare for tomorrow."


    Mnie could barely eat throughout the meal though as her mind continued to work. She didn''t know why, but she had a feeling that she had somehow turned into a pawn in the game between these two men. And she was not happy about it. The only reason she had married Adam was because she would be able to use him to shield her so that she could be independent but instead she was getting more and more tangled.


    Meanwhile, Robert Collins was actually pleased with the oue of today. At this moment, Mnie and Adam were at the lowest. They''d not had the time yet to know each other and get each other''s back. Striking at this time would be the perfect time to tear them apart... And even if they did not break up now, he had three years to make them lose everything and carry out his ultimate n.


    There was no hurry at all. No hurry.


    Adam, on the other hand, could only clench his hand under the table, almost breaking the fork, he held in his hand, trying to stop himself from stabbing the old man''s smug face...