Chapter 211: Chapter 211

Chapter 211 I Am Your Uncle Henry sat opposite Alfred.

When speaking with someone like Alfred, one must be exceedingly cautious. However, Henry decided to be forthright. “I want to marry Crystal.”

Alfred grinned and took out a box of cigaretes. Next, he extracted a pristine white stick and toyed with it between his fingers.

After a brief moment, he said, “We are well aware of your situation. Initially, Old Mrs. Lodge was the first to disagree. In the past, Krystal regretfully chose the wrong man and led a life of misery. Hence, we need to treat Crystal’s marriage with extra caution.”

David glanced at his son and noticed that his expression remained composed.

Alfred smiled faintly and said, “I believe you and Mr. David can understand where we are coming from. Let me be clear; Crystal is the only girl of her generation in the Lodge family, which makes her exceptionally precious to us. Since we’ve finally found her, there’s no reason to subject her to further hardships.”

David understood the man’s message.

Of course, the Lodge family has done their research. He came here deliberately to cause trouble!

In that instant, David was frustrated at his son.

Hmph! Let’s see how you deal with this.

Most people would find it difficult to endure Alfred’s sarcastic remarks. However, Henry managed to remain calm and refilled the latter’s coffee.

“I’ll remember your teachings, Mr. Alfred. I promise to treat Crystal well and never let her suffer hardships.”

Alfred was slightly surprised by his response. any He had heard about Henry’s sharp wit in the courtroom, but he didn’t expect the younger man to have such a thick skin. After a brief moment, Alfred stood up gracefully and said, “Thank you for your time. I’ll take my leave.”

David and Henry personally escorted Alfred out.

Several black-clad bodyguards surrounded the latter to escort him into the car.

Henry opened the car door for Alfred and said, “Take care, Mr. Alfred, I’ll definitely visit you at Coldbridge one day.”

Alfred’s gaze lingered on Henry’s face for a moment, and he smiled faintly before getting into the car.

With that, the four Audi cars lined up and slowly drove away.

David turned to his son and sneered, “Okay, there’s no further need to discuss whether I agree to your relationship or not. Can’t you see that Crystal’s family is against it? The Lodge family’s background is extraordinary. You and Crystal can’t just have things your way by acting like a hoodlum. The Lodges are known to be ruthless and cunning. There’s nothing they can’t accomplish!”

Henry stood rooted with his hands in his pockets, gazing into the distance.

To his father’s surprise, he chuckled upon hearing David’s words. “Dad, haven’t you noticed how much Crystal resembles Alfred?”

David was infuriated by Henry’s response.

Why the hell is he thinking about that?

Meanwhile, Melora finally decided to head downstairs. She peeked outside and eagerly said, “Crystal’s uncle is so handsome!”

After leaving the Miller residence, Alfred headed to Anna’s place.

Anna’s neighborhood was no longer as luxurious as before, but it still retained a cozy atmosphere. When the four black luxury cars and numerous bodyguards pulled up, she was stunned by the grandeur.

When Alfred spoke to her, he was gentle and refined.

Although she had lived long and seen plenty, she was still impressed by the man.

Even Snowy barked excitedly a couple of times.

“You must be Anna! I’m Krystal’s older twin brother, Alfred Lodge.”

Anna was once again astonished.

She shook her head to confirm that it wasn’t a dream.

Although she didn’t know Alfred well, he seemed to know a lot about her and displayed remarkable gentleness and consideration. “I know you’ve been taking care of Crystal and being her constant support after my sister and her husband passed away. I came here to pay respects to them and also to invite you to Coldbridge and meet Old Mrs. Lodge.”

His words deeply touched Anna.

Although she had never interacted with Krystal, she was happy to see that Crystal’s biological uncle carried himself with such dignity.

As Anna poured coffee for Alfred, she smiled and said, “Mr. Lodge, Crystal is on a business trip in Hulcaster. When she returns, I will have her head to Coldbridge to reconnect with her roots. I’ll excuse myself so as not to trouble anyone.”

However, Alfred was unwavering in his request.

He gently held Anna’s hand and spoke with even more warmth and amiability. “You are being too polite. Old Mrs. Lodge has made arrangements for you to stay for a few days.”

Despite her age, Anna blushed slightly as she found it difficult to resist the handsome man’s charm. She stammered, “I-I can’t make the decision myself. I need to discuss it with Crystal.”

Alfred released her hand and smiled as he sipped his coffee.

After a while, he chuckled. “I never expected Crystal to be so independent. Anna, you seem more like her junior who needs to report everything to her!”

Anna felt a little embarrassed, but she genuinely couldn’t make such a decision on her own.

Hence, she called Crystal and eagerly explained everything.

There was a long silence before Crystal asked softly, “Is he with you?”

“I’ll let him talk to you,” Anna replied and handed the phone to Alfred.

Though the man was an influential figure, his voice trembled slightly as he spoke to his long-lost niece. “Crystal, I am your uncle.”

Worried that Crystal might be feeling uncomfortable, Alfred decided to recount the events of the past.

Crystal felt a lump in her throat.

She had never met anyone from her grandmother’s side since young, so she knew there had to be some conflict there. However, her mood lightened when she learned that the Lodge family had never given up on her mother.

“I’ll visit your mother later. Once you’re ready, I’ll arrange a private plane to pick you up and take you to Coldbridge.”

Crystal agreed and entrusted Alfred, “Please take good care of my... mother.”

Alfred knew she was referring to Anna and nodded with a smile.

After the call ended, the man smiled and requested, “Please lead the way, Anna. I want to see my sister!”

Anna’s eyes welled up with tears, but she nodded and quickly prepared some of John and Krystal’s favorite dishes. She also bought a bunch of small daisies from the flower shop.

Alfred bought pink roses.

After all, the soft pink hue perfectly suited Krystal, who would forever remain eighteen years old in his eyes.

The sky was tinted with a tranquil blue, as if waiting for a drizzle of rain.

Alfred stood in front of the tombstone for a long time. Even though he said nothing, Anna, who was standing by his side, could feel the sorrow emanating from him.

“We were twins, Krystal and I, and we were closer than any other siblings,” he finally said. “She got pregnant and dropped out of school when she was at the Kingdom of Brundela. When my mother reprimanded her for refusing to disclose the identity of the father, she decided to run away from home. The Lodge family searched for her for many years, only to find her in such a tragic state.”

Alfred placed the roses down. His voice trembled slightly as he continued, “Krystal, it’s me, Alfred, your brother!”

Anna’s emotions overwhelmed her, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Despite her past jealousy toward Krystal due to her love for John, Anna’s kind-hearted nature prevented. her from wishing any harm upon others. She couldn’t bear to see anyone suffer, especially not Krystal, who had faced such a tragic fate.

Anna said softly. “Mr. Lodge, Crystal’s biological father-”

Before she could continue, Alfred interrupted, “It’s Joshua Quinn, isn’t it? He’s unworthy! Crystal is the child of Krystal and John, and she’s also your child, Anna. She’s a part of the Lodge family!”

Crystal remained in a daze for a while after her conversation with Alfred..

She couldn’t believe that the influential figure in the southern region, Alfred Lodge, turned out to be her uncle!

While Crystal was processing the shocking revelation, she received calls and messages from Henry. She assured him that she was fine.

In truth, she felt somewhat numb from all the experiences she had been through.

She decided to throw herself into work and focused on the project in Hulcaster. Surprisingly, her progress was smoother than expected, and within ten days, the project was officially launched.

Once she had completed her work, she made a call to Alfred.

Crystal politely declined his offer of a private jet as it might draw too much attention. Instead, she decided to take a regular flight to Coldbridge.

Alfred personally came to pick her up from the airport, but due to his high-profile status, he waited in the car while one of his bodyguards escorted her over. “Mr. Lodge is waiting for you inside, Miss Lodge.

The woman nodded her head before entering the black car.

She was met with the sight of a sophisticated man who radiated an aura of elegance.

He looks so much like my mother!

Crystal remained silent, her lips trembling slightly.

Alfred gently embraced her head without saying a word, cherishing this tender moment.

Twenty-five years have passed since Krystal left home, and now, we are finally reunited. Crystal is our only blood connection.

Alfred cared for her deeply.

After a while, he regained his composure and instructed the driver to start the car. Next, he briefed Crystal on the Lodge family matters. “Besides your mother and I, there are many cousins in the family. However, all of them have only borne sons, which makes you the only female in your generation. Everyone will be so delighted to know you have returned!”

Crystal listened attentively as Alfred spoke. He held her hand gently and whispered, “Your granny has been yearning for your mother all these years and cried so much it affected her eyesight. She wants you to stay in Coldbridge so she can take care of you.”

Upon seeing Crystal’s hesitation, Alfred smiled reassuringly. “I’ve thought about it. We can ask Anna to retire at Coldbridge, along with that little white dog of yours.”

As she gazed at his profile, she couldn’t help but notice how much he resembled her mother in old photographs. She found comfort in looking at him this way, and she genuinely liked her uncle.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Crystal replied. “My career in Barnwood has just started; I can’t abandon everything there.

I’d like to give it another two years to stabilize before dividing my time between the two cities.”

Alfred agreed to her arrangements.

He appreciated her ambition and dedication, qualities that he felt were well-nurtured by John and Anna, As Alfred smiled and affectionately patted her head, Crystal couldn’t help but feel as though he saw her as a reflection of her mother.

The black sedan slowly entered the Lodge mansion.

The atmosphere inside the mansion was filled with warmth and excitement.

Alfred was a core member of the Lodge family. The discovery of the long-lost child was particularly momentous for the Lodges, considering that he had neither married nor had any offspring of his own. All the relatives and well-wishers had gathered to celebrate.

Soon, the car slowly pulled into the grand estate.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, Lucia Torrez, Crystal’s maternal grandmother, rushed over and embraced Crystal tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks.

A mother’s love for her daughter knew no bounds, and this extended to the latter’s children, especially when Crystal was the only remaining connection Lucia had left to Krystal in the world.

Lucia showered Crystal with endearing terms like “darling.” “sweetheart,” and “dearest,” leaving the latter feeling a mix of shyness and gratitude. She had never experienced such affection from an elder.

Alfred gently patted Lucia’s shoulder and said warmly. “It’s a joyous occasion for Crystal to be back. Why are you crying? I was just telling her how you cried so much that your eyes are affected. Crystal felt really bad when she heard that.”

Lucia wiped her tears and scrutinized Crystal from head to toe.

She then turned to Anna with a smile. “Like mother, like daughter! This child resembles Krystal and also has a touch of your likeness!”

Anna was deeply moved.

She never expected such a warm reception from the Lodge family. Lucia even explicitly stated that she wanted to treat Anna as her adopted daughter.

Next, Lucia held Crystal’s and Anna’s hands and exclaimed, “Alfred’s right! Today is a joyous day!”

The Lodge family set off fireworks to celebrate the occasion.

Alfred personally lit them before they proceeded to the feast.

Over a dozen tables were set up to accommodate the Lodge family members. As the dishes were being. served, a household staff member came to Alfred and reported, “Someone from Barnwood has sent a gift!”

Alfred paused for a moment.

A gift from Barnwood?