“After all, his biological father is involved. You can’t expect too much,” Nelson said, picking up a pair of scissors and cutting the stem of a rose with a smile.
Ahmad squinted slightly, showing his disapproval. “When do you plan to let him out?”
Even he knew that Nelson had the final say about it.
Nelson glanced at Callie, who was sitting in the corner, and placed the rose in a vase, its petals swaying gently.
“Maybe when this viper stops biting,” Nelson chuckled. “But Mr. Ellison, a viper is still a viper. You have to hold it by its vital point.”
Ahmad took a sip of tea, his brows relaxing. “Don’t chase a desperate enemy. If this viper fights back like a cornered beast, you won’t come out unscathed.”
Nelson neither agreed nor disagreed; he simply acknowledged Ahmad’s words.
The housekeeper stepped forward to refill the tea. “The Hudson family just sent word that their lady has passed away.”
Ahmad expressed his surprise. “Is it Mrs. Hudson, the one who rose to power as a mistress?”
Sienna responded, “Why are you looking at me? I haven’t been involved in worldly matters for years and am not aware of these things.”
The housekeeper interjected, “Yes, it caused quite a stir a couple of years ago. They said she was very cunning.”
“How did she die?”
“They say it was sudden.”
Ahmad snorted, as if he had heard a joke. “In the prestigious Hudson family, not just anyone can rise to power. She did many dirty things to seduce men back then, and now she’s getting her comeuppance!”
His words were not wrong. Callie, sitting on the side, understood the hidden meaning-it was an indirect insult.
Charlotte asked curiously, “Father, what happened?”
“You only need to know that women who interfere in other people’s marriages meet bad ends.”
Ahmad’s meaningful gaze fell on Callie as he finished speaking.
She wore thin clothing and felt cold on this rainy day, her fingers especially pale.
Last night, Ahmad had seen her interaction with Jaquan. It was normal for him to say such things today.
However, Callie thought these words were more suited for Charlotte.
She didn’t get angry; instead, she slightly curled her lips and met Ahmad’s gaze openly and directly.
Faced with her bare gaze, Ahmad frowned slightly, a complex emotion rising within him.
Callie looked around and suddenly said, “Mr. Ellison, I’ve always wanted to know the structure of the Ellison family mansion when I was a designer. Is there a chance I could tour it today?”
She sensibly added, “Regan can accompany me.”
With her request made so politely, it seemed impossible for the host family to refuse. Ahmad sarcastically remarked, “I thought Miss Marsh had toured our entire Ellison family mansion.”
Callie got it and smiled.
Before Regan could get up, Sienna held her down. “I’ll go; Regan is busy.”
At this, Charlotte couldn’t sit still. She stood up. “Mother, the house is big and your legs aren’t good. Let me take Miss Marsh on the tour.”
Her words were reasonable, but Ahmad glared at her. “You are the eldest daughter of the Ellison family. You should be drinking tea and arranging flowers with Nelson. Not everyone can order you around.”
His words were clearly meant to belittle Callie.
She remained outwardly calm, though inside she felt waves of emotion. Such criticism and belittlement were nothing new in her twenty-plus years of life.
But imagining Ahmad as her father made it exceptionally humiliating.
Callie caught Nelson’s obscure gaze. He looked at her and spoke lightly, “The rain has lessened. Just go before it stops completely.”