On the Ruins of His Regret I Soar novel Chapter 169

Arthur was still furious, so Bryan chose his words carefully. “Please, calm down. Everyone is young and reckless once, aren’t they? And you know George’s temperament better than anyone. The more you forbid it, the more he’ll pursue it. You always said he had a rebellious streak.”

Arthur ground his teeth. “A rebellious streak? It’s rebelling against his own family!”

“What young person doesn’t suffer for love?” Bryan said with a placating smile.

Arthur snorted. “No wonder he turned down all the respectable young ladies I introduced him to. He has a thing for married women. What is wrong with him?”

Bryan wisely kept quiet.

Arthur took a deep breath. “If he had just told me sooner. If he had come to me five or six years ago and said he liked Ms. Brown, I would have arranged a proposal, even if our families aren’t a perfect match. But no. When she was single, he said nothing. Now that she’s married with a child, he decides to get involved. Does he have some kind of secret fetish?”

Bryan remained silent.

Arthur stood up, pushed past Bryan, and stormed upstairs alone.

Bryan stood in the hall and sighed softly. He had been with Arthur for decades and had rarely seen him display his emotions so openly. He was truly at his wits' end.

…

A party was underway at the Brown family home. It was Gabriel Brown’s birthday, and the whole family had gathered to celebrate.

Gabriel stood up, raising his glass to Isabella Charles. “Isabella, thank you for organizing all of this. I’m a grown man, but you still treat me like a child, throwing me a birthday party. I heard you cooked everything yourself today. I don’t know how to thank you. To you.”

“Of course,” Mr. Foster said with a nod. “Well, I’ll be on my way. Happy birthday, Gabriel.”

Gabriel managed a tight smile. “Thanks.”

After the lawyer left, Isabella broke the silence with a forced smile. “How thoughtful of Mrs. Smith. Gabriel, this is a token of her love for you. You should put it away safely.”

Gabriel’s lips thinned. “She just feels guilty.” Despite his words, he placed the gift among the others.

Gabriel’s cousin, Willie Brown, had just returned from overseas with his wife, Lillian Clark, for the party. Unaware of recent events, Lillian asked casually, “Isn’t Jessica coming to celebrate Gabriel’s birthday tonight?”