Agreed To Reunite

Kareena pretended not to know and picked up her chopsticks to eat.

Old Master Pratap coughed lightly. "Kareena, I've agreed to let Yash Pratap acknowledge us as his family again."

"Dad, he's your son. You can make your own decision," Kareena said calmly.

"I hope you understand—"

Kareena put down her chopsticks. "Your decision is yours to make. I can respect it, but it doesn't mean I agree. You can't ask me and Shivam to understand you. I'll never understand such a decision in my life."

Old Master Pratap sighed. "He's the Pratap family's bloodline, after all."

"Yes, that makes sense," Kareena said. "What about Shivam? He was stabbed in the back by his father a few years ago, then by his family. Now, it's happening again. Maybe the people he'll consider his family will be fewer and fewer in the future. Fortunately, he still has Isha, Abhay, and Gungun."

These words were extremely harsh. No matter how good Old Master Pratap's self-restraint was, he could not help but slam his chopsticks on the table.

It had been many years since Kareena had spoken her mind, but it felt good to say these things out loud. It was much better than pretending to be magnanimous.

In truth, she had long ago ceased to value her own interests. What did it matter? She had lived like this all her life.

But what about her son? Did her son have to give everything he had worked so hard for to an outsider? Then what was the point of everything her son had contributed?

The spoils of war obtained from close combat were given to the enemy.

And in the name of kinship too.

If this was the case, just what sort of family could be trusted?

Kareena only wanted to sneer.

Old Master Pratap said, "I'll tell Shivam about this myself. You don't have to worry."

"Alright, I can't tell this to Shivam anyway." Kareena stood up. "I'm full. Enjoy your meal."

Kareena carried her bag and was about to leave when she saw Shivam and Isha walking in.

It seemed that Old Master Pratap was determined to let Yash Pratap acknowledge his family. There was no room for discussion.

Kareena looked at her son and daughter-in-law. At this moment, she only felt sorry for them, but she was filled with helplessness.

What could they do anyway? When words like 'kinship' and 'morality' were used, even she was rendered helpless.

"Shivam, Isha." Kareena's voice was a little weak.

"Mom."

"Mom."

Kareena said, "Yash Pratap came by. Your grandfather might have made some decisions."

She gave her son an advance warning.

Her son would also be unable to surrender in matters tied to kinship. Old Master Pratap and Old Madam Pratap had watched Shivam grow up. The shackles of kinship could not be cut off.

Shivam frowned and said, "I understand."

Kareena sighed softly. "I'm sorry."

Shivam adjusted his cufflinks. "We don't need to say those words with our relationship."

He and Isha said goodbye to Kareena and walked in.

Old Master Pratap said, "Shivam, I'm sure you know that your father came today."

Shivam remained silent and sat down with Isha.

Old Master Pratap sighed softly. He picked up his teacup and took a sip. "I've agreed to let them acknowledge us as their family again. In a few days, their names will be written in the genealogy. Other than Shina, the Pratap family will acknowledge their family of three."

Isha reached out and held Shivam's hand.

His usually dry and warm palm was still the same, but Isha knew that he must be feeling cold inside.

Old Master Pratap said, "Shivam, my actions are for your own good. If word gets out that you defeated your father, what will others think of you? They'll no longer remember Yash Pratap's hatred. They'll only remember his pitiful state and your cruelty. If you can even defeat your father and brothers, how will the people outside believe you in the future?

"Also, it's risky to let them wander outside. It'd be wise to keep the tiger by my side. However, I'll clearly state that the three of them can enjoy the dividends from my inheritance, but not Pratap Group.

"I'll acknowledge them, but they won't interfere with you."

"Grandpa, since you've already made such a decision and it has nothing to do with me, why did you ask me to come here and inform me of this?" Shivam looked up and asked frankly.

"This family is ultimately yours. In any case, I have to tell you. But don't worry, their return definitely won't affect you."

"Really?" Shivam asked.

Old Master Pratap was rendered speechless by his extremely light question.

Would there really be no effects? That was absolutely impossible.

As long as they returned to the Pratap family, it would definitely affect them.

However, Old Master Pratap believed that Shivam could solve the problems that occurred.

It was true that his heart had softened. His son, grandson, and granddaughter were wandering outside with a tiger beside them. It was better to keep them by his side and watch over their safety. That way, there was nothing they could do.

Shivam said calmly, "Grandpa, they're not tigers. There are no tigers with such low combat power. But they're not pigs either. They won't be willing to just be raised and eat and sleep in peace. You think that you still have the strength to control Yash Pratap, but maybe you've overestimated yourself and underestimated him."

Old Master Pratap heard the resistance in his voice.

However, as the head of the family and the oldest elder in the Pratap family, he could not help but take into consideration all factors.

Was he going to let his children and grandchildren stay outside forever?

"Shivam..."

"Grandfather, I can't stop you from doing anything, and I have no right to make any decisions for you. But likewise, that's also true for you to me."

Old Master Pratap knew that Shivam disagreed with him.

Even if he forced himself to do something that Shivam wouldn't agree to, it would be meaningless in the end.

Before Old Master Pratap could answer, Shivam stood up and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll leave first."

Isha clasped his fingers and could feel him trembling slightly.

He was powerful. He was never afraid of any predicament. He could handle any enemy with ease.

However, when he was hurt by the person closest to him, the vulnerability he revealed made Isha's heart ache.

She understood that feeling. She really wanted to hammer the heads of these people in front of her.

But she held herself back. The old master was an elder who had raised Shivam. She had no right to make a move in this situation.

Shivam and Isha left together.

Old Master Pratap wanted to ask him to stay. He opened his mouth a few times, but no words came out.

Old Madam Pratap said tearfully, "Look at what you've done! If you're too soft-hearted and want to get the best of both worlds, you won't get anything in the end."

Isha and Shivam walked out together.

Shivam held her hand and said softly, "I'm sorry for making you suffer with me."

"I didn't suffer any grievances. You, on the other hand, are under too much pressure. It's really too much for them to do this. Just because you're capable and better than others, they want you to tolerate it and exchange your forbearance for the peace of the family. It's really too much. Are the weak more powerful, then?"

"The weak are not powerful. They're thinking of ways to leech off the strong."

"What's the difference between that and a parasite?" Isha was indignant. "I shouldn't judge your elders, but I really can't help it. They want you to sacrifice too much for the so-called big picture and balancing act. Grandma was like this before, and now Grandpa is like this..."

Shivam lowered his eyes. "I didn't have a father when I was young. They raised me. I owe them."

Isha held his hand and felt her heart ache even more. He had to let them be so unreasonable just because he owed them.

The strongest must be entangled in the weakest of vines.

"Don't worry. Even if they want to enter the genealogy and acknowledge the family, I have plenty of ways to stop them."

"But it'll be hard on you again."

Shivam smiled. "Even without them, there will be all kinds of issues in the company that I'll need to solve. Just treat it as practice."

Seeing his relaxed smile, Isha smiled too. "Then what good ideas do you have?"

"It's fine if Yash Pratap wants to come back to the family with his children, but his children have to first have the true Pratap family's bloodline. There are other obstacles too. If Shina really commits a crime, will the others in the family allow them, who have a stain on their names, to return to the family?"

Isha understood. "They definitely won't agree."

"Therefore, we have to speed things up with Shina's matter. Also, Tapas Pratap and Tinki need to provide DNA proof. The Pratap family's door isn't open to just anyone."

"Yes, it won't be that easy." Isha felt more confident now.

"Don't worry." Shivam reached out and patted her head.

Isha smiled at him and said, "Let's go for a barbecue, then? There's nothing that can't be solved by a barbecue meal. If there is, let's go twice."

"Okay," Shivam agreed dotingly.

Although Old Master Pratap had promised Yash Pratap to let the three of them return to the family, he had also arranged for his trusted doctor to do a paternity test report.

Although Old Master Pratap had opened the door to the Pratap family, they still needed basic proof.

As for the others in the family, Old Master Pratap was not too worried. Those people were all collateral relatives, so there would not be much interference.

Actually, as long as the DNA proved that there was no problem, everything else would be smooth sailing.

Yash Pratap also quickly cooperated with the DNA test.

Now that Shina was still in custody and had not been convicted for the time being, he wanted to go back to the Pratap family before Shina was convicted. Otherwise, if these two children had the bloodline of a sinner, it would be troublesome if someone interfered.

Once they went back to the family, he could also use Pratap Group's connections to protect Shina. He could even reduce her crimes to nothing.

Everything had been planned.

Isha's work had not been intensive recently, but there were two auditions.

One was an internal audition. In other words, the director had long thought highly of the artists who went for the audition. They were just going to have a chat again.

When Isha went to the first audition that day, she found that two other female artists were going for it as well. There was Tinki too.

Including Isha, there were four in total.

Meera specially came with Isha today. She instructed softly, "Director Gagan is famous for fooling around, so I have to come with you. Just do whatever you want. It doesn't matter if you get it or not. But I hope you don't."

Jio said, "Then why did you accept this audition, Sister Meera? Couldn't we just not come?"

"You're silly. Although Director Gagan isn't much, his production team is very impressive. If we can really cooperate, it's actually not bad."

"What's the production team thinking, using such a director?" Jio muttered.

Isha answered on behalf of Meera, "Because many men don't take this kind of thing seriously. Even many women don't take this kind of thing seriously. Some people aren't afraid of the director being too greedy and lecherous. Instead, they're afraid that the director won't have any hobbies that they can exploit."

"Damn, that's too scary. Are there any clean people in this circle?" Jio exclaimed.

Meera smiled and shook her head. Jio had a simple personality. Even after so long, she still hadn't adapted. However, this personality was sometimes rare.

Meera reminded Isha, "In any case, we won't care what others do. We just have to follow our own principles. Don't worry too much and don't let your guard down."

"Understood." Isha nodded.

After Isha went in and followed the procedure, she sat at the side and waited for the results.

After a while, Tinki came in.

She glanced at Isha arrogantly as if everything that had happened in the past few days had nothing to do with her.

The moment Tinki entered, Director Gagan's expression changed.

Although he hid it well, Isha still noticed it.

Meera had told her to pay more attention to Director Gagan. She kept staring at his expression. The subtle changes in expression did not escape Isha's eyes.

Huh? Tinki and Director Gagan... were not that close, right?

Isha knew that Tinki had married well and her husband's status was not low. Tinki did not have to take this route of accompanying a director to get a role.

She was not yet at the end of her tether.

'So this is about Shina again?'

Isha knew that she probably had no shot with the audition today. It had been decided that Tinki would get the role.

She quickly went out. Meera had just sent away a middle-aged woman. When she saw Isha coming out, she asked in surprise, "The results are out so soon?"

"I might not be able to get it. Tinki is inside. Director Gagan thinks highly of her."

"That's fine." Meera didn't want to force it. "It'll be troublesome if you get this role anyway. It's fine to miss out on it."

"Who was that who just left?" she asked.

"Director Gagan's wife, Mrs. Gagan. We met a few times. She came in a huff just now. I was afraid that there would be too many paparazzi and it would affect you, so I persuaded her to leave. Perhaps she's here to catch Director Gagan in the act. It's so difficult to be a woman." Meera sighed.

Isha felt the same way.

"If there's nothing else, let's go," Meera said.

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