All too late for his love

Aaron's eyes welled up with tears, but he didn't respond to Matthew. Instead, he gently tugged at Willow's sleeve.

"Mom, let's go home."

Deep down, he yearned for his Uncle Matthew to hold him once more, but the man standing before him was no longer the warm, caring figure he remembered. He didn't want his mom to worry any longer.

"Alright, Aaron, let's go home."

Willow felt grateful and handed the laptop back to Eric before turning to lan. "Mr. Nightingale, thanks for the laptop. Your jacket's still at my place. I'll bring it down later."

"No need," lan replied, though he wanted to offer to go up himself. He paused briefly before adding. Willow, I'll swing by another day to grab it. Take care."

Feeling genuinely exhausted and in considerable pain from her ankle, Willow was relieved not to have to climb back up to deliver lan's jacket. She nodded politely to him before taking Aaron's hand and slowly making their way back into the apartment complex.

As they crossed through the gates of the complex, Aaron abruptly stopped and turned around. Biting his lip as if wrestling with a weighty decision, he fixed his gaze on Matthew.

"You're not my Uncle Matthew anymore. My Uncle Matthew was the best person in the world. He loved me and my mom. He just forgot how to find us.

"Even if he never comes back, he'll always be important to me, irreplaceable. Mr. Mayer, you're not him. You're just Mr. Mayer.

With those words, Aaron tightly gripped Willow's arm and marched forward without a backward glance.

Matthew stood motionless, observing their departure. He instinctively pressed a hand to his chest, feeling an unexpected pang. He had convinced himself he didn't care about the kid, but now he felt a sense of abandonment.

It was as if the world around him had turned frigid and desolate, leaving him isolated and unable to find any semblance of warmth.

After slipping into the car, lan felt the urge to call his grandfather, Moses, and let him know he wouldn't be making it to the arranged date tomorrow. Meeting Willow had made the whole blind date seem pointless.

Moses, being a night owl, hadn't hit the hay yet and picked up the phone right away.

"lan, what is it?"NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.

"Grandpa, I won't be going to that blind date tomorrow night," lan said, keeping his words brief and to the point. It was a habit even when speaking to his cherished grandfather.

"What did you say?! I've already booked the private room, and now you're telling me you're not going?

"lan, I'm telling you, you must go tomorrow night! If you don't, then... you're no longer my grandson!" With that, Moses hung up abruptly As lan stared at the darkened phone screen, his expression grew increasingly grimn.

He loathed manipulative women.

Many had tried to ingratiate com themselves with Moses in the past, resorting to desperate measures like drugging him. None succeeded, and all met miserable ends.

This woman had Moses wrapped around her finger, and disgusted him seeing lan's dark expression,

Eric instantly grasped his thoughts.

He cautiously said, "Boss, that woman really doesn't know her place."

lan's face remained impassive. Til make sure she receives a propem gift," he said coldly.