?Chapter 985:


    Neil had initially sought Aelfric’s cooperation, drawn by his influential position as deputy chief instructor at Doomsday Base. That role had held real weight, and Neil had seen value in an alliance. But now that Aelfric had lost that standing, Neil felt no obligation to defer to him any longer.


    It was time toy his own groundwork and reach out to the mysterious figure who might offer a more promising alliance.


    Just then, Melinda emerged from the hospital room and called out, “Neil.”


    Previously, Neil had gone out of his way to treat Melinda kindly, almost ingratiating himself, all in the name of staying in Aelfric’s good graces. Now, with that connection no longer useful, a noticeable chill seeped into his attitude toward her.


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    He found Melinda to be headstrong and somewhatcking in judgment; the truth was, he had never been pleased with the idea of her as his daughter-inw.


    Feeling his indifference take hold, Neil let it surface in his behavior. He cast an indifferent nce at Melinda and spoke with the authority of an elder.


    “What is it, Melinda?”


    Melinda was caught off guard by Neil’s sudden indifference. In the past, Derek’s family had always treated her like royalty, a fact she had grown quite ustomed to. Neil’s coolness, therefore, left her feeling particrly uneasy.


    Yet, aside from Neil’s standoffishness, he hadn’t actually said or done anything offensive, leaving Melinda without grounds forint.


    After a brief silence, she said, “Nothing specific. I just came out to look for Derek and happened to bump into you.”


    “Oh,” came Neil’s t response.


    “If you don’t need anything, I’ll be going.”


    With that, Neil turned to leave.


    “Neil,” Melinda called out quickly, stopping him.


    “Has your family discussed any ns for mine and Derek’s wedding?”


    She had deeply fallen for Derek and was eager to advance their rtionship. She expected Neil to share her enthusiasm, but instead, he looked at her sarcastically.


    “Melinda,” Neil said, his tone almost instructional.


    “I’m not trying to lecture you like a parent, but marriage is a seriousmitment. It’s not a topic for you, a young woman, to discuss directly with me. Ideally, it should be your grandfather or at least your brother discussing this with me, right?”


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