The Unveiled Rose
Chapter 296

Douglas turned to look questioningly at Sasha.

She mouthed at him, "I'll explain everything when we get back home!"

Only then did he look away and start asking Zane questions about his projects. Zane was perfectly cooperative, answering his questions one by one.

Through their question-and-answer session, Douglas finally realized that every single project in his hands had issues to them, and they were major ones too. All color seemed to drain from his face in an instant.

"Is there any hope for them?" he asked tentatively.

"There is," replied Zane, proceeding to provide him with the solution.

As he listened intently to Zane's words, Douglas looked at Zane with increasing approval in his eyes. Zane was young and capable of independent thinking a qualified husband candidate.

Without regard for Sasha's previous admonishment, Douglas asked slowly, "What do you think of my daughter?"

Sasha felt like breaking down on the spot. Hadn't she already made it painfully clear to Douglas not to mention anything involving her and Zane?

Why did he have to bring it up?

Afraid that Zane would misunderstand, she hurriedly interjected, "Why, I'm definitely a qualified employee in Mr. Huxham's eyes!"

In order to prevent disaster, she decided to take the initiative to smooth things over. Forcing a smile on her face, she picked up a glass of fruit juice and said to Zane, "Don't worry, Mr. Huxham! I'll definitely work diligently at the company in the future!" Zane nodded. "Alright."

Once they finished talking about work-related matters, they started eating dinner.

Willow, for her own part, had her own tricks up her sleeves. She wanted everyone to know that her relationship with Annalise was great, so she spoke at a volume that was neither too quiet nor too loud, "Mommy, I want a muffin."

I handed her a muffin.

Willow then speared some beef brisket on her fork and moved it toward my plate. "Mommy, I know you love this!"

I hurriedly lifted my plate to accept the beef brisket from her. "Thank you, sweetie."

Willow smiled widely. "You're welcome."

Sasha watched the two of us with a smile, while Zane pitched in to try and compete for Willow's attention.

"What about me?" he asked.

Willow hadn't originally intended to include Zane, but since he had asked of his own accord, she still ended up serving him a bowl of mushroom soup.

"I tried it just now," she declared. "Their mushroom soup is really fresh. Try it, Daddy."

Zane then accepted the soup from her, feeling satisfied. "Thank you, Willow."

When everyone had finished eating, Sasha escorted us to the entrance. Once she had seen us off, she returned to her parents' side.

...

Sasha looked at Douglas and asked, "I reminded you so many times earlier not to direct the topic toward Zane and I, so why did you have to keep doing it?"

Douglas replied unhurriedly, "Doesn't he like you?"

In response, Sasha threw her hands up in exasperation, "It's obvious that he has no feelings for me."

Of course, she didn't like him either.

Her mother, Helena Rowland, asked, "Then, why is he still willing to help you out?"

Sasha sat from across them and said, "Do you remember that lady sitting next to Mr. Huxham?"

Douglas and Helena nodded in unison.

"Her name is Annalise Jamison, and she's the woman that Mr. Huxham likes," she explained curtly. "He's currently racking his brains trying to figure out how to court her. If you end up driving a wedge between them by making her think he has feelings for me..." Sasha paused and snorted before she threatened, "You'll end up suffering the consequences."

But Douglas still didn't believe it.

"Oh, that's right," she continued. "He also helped me partly because I've been really chummy with Annalise recently. It was simply for her sake that he was willing to warn the both of you about the projects."

Douglas and Helena exchanged glances, both looking rather disappointed.

"Alright then," they said at last.