?Chapter 1456:


    Just to be safe, Rnd gave a quick instruction to the butler on his way up. “Keep an eye on her. If she tries to sneak up and eavesdrop, let us know.”


    “Yes, sir,” the butler replied promptly.


    Jessica let out short huffs but kept her mouth shut. She waited—more or less obediently.


    To her surprise, she ended up waiting over two hours.


    The sky had grown dark, and there was still no sign of theming down. Finally, she got up and started heading upstairs.


    “Your father said not to let you go up without permission,” the butler reminded her, repeating Rnd’s earlier order.


    “I’m just going up to call them for dinner!” Jessica called out as she climbed the stairs, raising her voice so they could hear. “How long are you nning to stay locked in there? I’m—”


    She called their names a few times, but nobody inside the study answered.


    At that point, the conversation inside was just wrapping up. Melvin hadid everything out on the table for Rnd and Lena. He was ready—whether they agreed or not. He would do whatever it took to win them over. He wanted their blessing, no matter what.


    “Does Jessica know about all this?” Rnd asked, his face impossible to read.


    “She does,” Melvin replied with a nod.


    “Then let her decide,” Rnd said evenly. Even if he wasn’t ready to let go of his daughter just yet, if it was Melvin, it was something he could live with. “If she’s okay with it, then so are we.”


    Melvin hesitated, conflict flickering across his usually cool expression. “But…”


    “Don’t burden yourself with unnecessary pressure,” Rnd said, his tone lighter now. He gave Melvin’s shoulder a reassuring pat. “All we care about is whether you’ll stay true to her and take care of her. That’s it.”


    “I will,” Melvin promised. “She means more to me than anything.”


    “What are you all still going on about in there?” Jessica’s voice rang out from behind the door, followed by a series of firm knocks. “If you don’te out soon, the soup is going to get cold!”


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    “All you ever think about is food,” Rnd muttered as he opened the door, seeing right through her excuse.


    “Well, it is dinner time,” Jessica said, pointing at the clock. She looked at the three of them and asked, “What could you possibly have been talking about for that long?”


    “Rx, we didn’t eat him alive,” Rnd said.


    Jessica blinked those sharp eyes at him and quipped, “As if you even could.”


    Rnd didn’t answer. She was already on Melvin’s side. Little traitor.


    The four of them made their way downstairs together, a little slowly. Rnd walked ahead with Lena, and as the atmosphere finally began to settle, Jessica leaned toward Melvin and asked quietly, “What were you guys talking about? It took you so long.”


    “Family,” Melvin replied simply.


    “Then why didn’t you let me sit in?” Jessica asked, still puzzled.


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