I caught the flash of panic in Celeste’s eyes. She immediately pulled her hand away from Noah's grasp, saying, “Oh, he’s just Conan’s uncle.”
The woman on the side was taken aback but regained her composure, smiling as if she already knew, saying, “Ah, I see. You must be quite close if the uncle has a key to the house.”
For an instant, Noah nodded and, with a reassuring tone, added, “Yeah! Ms. Jones, you might not know, but he’s staying with us, too.”
When I saw them, it hit me like a ton of bricks; the woman was a staff member from the prestigious private school they wanted Conan to attend. Getting into such a prestigious school wasn’t just about excellent students but also the right connections.
My abrupt arrival seemed to cast a shadow over their moment, and her gaze turned cold, brimming with unspoken warnings.
On the brink of collapse and beyond fear, I refused to be drawn into their game. With a defiant edge in my voice, I exclaimed, “I don’t recall having a nephew!”
“And by the way, this is my home. Everyone, please leave,” I declared.
The very moment I uttered, it seemed the room was about to be chaotic.