Anneliese and Wendy walked ahead. Jonathan followed, carrying Ellie and Steven.


    Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "See? Your girl''s enthusiastic."


    Steven said, "Ellie naturally likes people close to those she cares about."


    Before, Ellie saw Jonathan as just another adult.


    Now, she willingly let him carry her. Clearly, it was because of Anneliese, not


    Jonathan''s appearance.


    Jonathan scoffed, ncing coolly at Steven.


    Earlier, Steven watched Anneliese closely while she held Ellie. The scene irritated Jonathan.


    If Jonathan hadn''t seen that Steven''s gaze was innocent, he''d have been suspicious.


    How could Steven not know what he was thinking? He patted Jonathan on the shoulder. "I haven''t congratted you. I specially prepared a wedding gift a few days ago. I''ll have someone deliver it to you and your wifeter. Anyone Ellie likes is a good pick. You''re lucky."


    Jonathan finally looked away. He guessed Ellie saw Anneliese as her mother, since she''d never met her real one.


    He didn''t mind; Ellie was too endearing to argue with.


    Still, he couldn''t help but feel possessive, though Steven''s words were reasonable.


    Jonathan nced at Anneliese''s back, lips curving slightly. "Good fortune. Not something you can envy."


    Steven froze. So he''s showing off-saying my luck doesn''t stack up.


    Yet as he looked at his daughter in Jonathan''s arms, her expression still innocent and confused, a certain memory surfaced, and Steven''s eyes dimmed slightly. D*mn it. Looks like my luck''s nothing next to his.


    ...


    As the group left, Gianna and Pepper also emerged from the sports arena. Unlike the rxed atmosphere on the other side, Gianna''s eyes were red and swollen— clearly, she had cried again.


    Pepper looked equally upset.


    Even with advanced questions, Gianna had still failed.


    She thought about Gianna. Gianna had returned from an elite Ivy League school overseas and joined Alexander''s researchb. But her time abroad was spent livingvishly-clubbing, attending parties, and watching fashion shows


    wherever she went.


    Gianna''s grades were bought, her coursework done by others.


    Pepper could only sigh.


    She spent a long timeforting Gianna, telling her that now was not the time to vent her anger or despair. What mattered most was calming Adrian down quickly.


    Only then did she finally regain herposure.


    The mother and daughter caught up with Adrian and spoke to him one after another, leading him to believe that Gianna''s poor performance stemmed from her deep care for Adrian and the Malone family''s reputation.


    She was terrified she might not truly


    be Arian''s daughter. She feared losing her father''s love if she failed thepetition. That fear became overwhelming Under pressure her nerves spiraled out of control Everything fell apart.


    Adrian had already been feeling deeply embarrassed. Before thepetition, the


    fact that Gianna was his daughter had been exposed.


    On top of that, Gianna had caused him trouble. People started to specte that he manipted things to get her the win. Some thought he revoked the defending champion''s qualification.


    Gianna''s deadst ranking in the third round was like a silent p across Adrian''s face. He truly felt humiliated and had even been mocked a couple of times by Levi Dathce from a rivalpany just moments earlier.


    His face dark, he had nned to scold Gianna severely. But with her swollen eyes and repeated cries of "Dad, I''m sorry," "Dad, dont be disappointed in me," and "Dad, are you going to abandon me?", most of his anger dissipated.


    Pepper mentioned that she had booked a restaurant and invited Adrian to join. She


    said they could discuss how to persuade Wendy over dinner.


    Adrian agreed.


    When they arrived, they saw Anneliese''s group had already arrived.


    He spotted Wendy and walked over, leaving Gianna and Pepper. "Wendy, are you


    eating here too? Let''s eat together."


    He knew Wendy would likely refuse, so he turned to Jonathan.


    "Perfect timing. AeroAir and CM Logistics are discussing cooperation. Jonathan, let''s talk about the details. Anneliese, your model impressed me today.


    "I think we could integrate it with our system and optimize further. Interested, Anneliese? You won''t lose out."