Chapter 488

Leo bristled with indignation. How dare this child question my authenticity as a tiger! The AI tiger flicked its tail angrily, suddenly finding little Oliver far less adorable than before.

Oliver Sinclair scrunched his nose in suspicion. To test the tiger's legitimacy, he grabbed a piece of beef jerky from the table and shoved it toward Leo's mouth. "Prove you're real then, kitty!" Leo desperately struggled against the boy's grip but found itself powerless. The humiliation burned.

Just as Evelyn Sinclair moved to intervene, Leo waved its front paws frantically. "I can't eat! I'm synthetic!" The once-proud tiger's dignity evaporated under a child's scrutiny. With a defeated flick of its fur, Leo slumped in Oliver's arms, shooting Evelyn a wounded look.

"Mama didn't defend me..." The thought made Leo's ears droop as Evelyn quietly resumed eating. Since Preston Sinclair had previously shown interest in her, she carefully masked any discomfort.

Neither adult acknowledged their earlier encounter, though Preston occasionally placed choice morsels on Evelyn and Oliver's plates with attentive care. Evelyn felt the weight of Preston's lingering gaze but maintained perfect composure. After dinner, the father-son duo escorted Evelyn home.

Exhausted from the evening, Oliver fell asleep during the drive. Evelyn stepped out cradling Leo while Preston retrieved her package, offering an apologetic smile.

"Oliver still doesn't understand white chrysanthemums symbolize mourning. I'll educate him properly," Preston murmured. Evelyn chuckled. "Children mean no harm." Preston's smile turned tentative. "Perhaps roses next time?" The unspoken question hung between them.

Evelyn understood instantly - roses meant romance. "I'd prefer a cactus. The kind that keeps people at arm's length." Preston laughed, ducking his head. "I excel at accommodating preferences."

Meanwhile at Highland Estates...

The excitable husky pounced on Nathan Blackwood the moment he entered. Nathan shoved the dog aside with his cane, scowling. "Didn't Tristan take this mutt yet?" Theodore "Teddy" Winslow chased the dog with a food bowl.

"Mrs. Whitmore returned but dislikes dogs, so Master Tristan asked us to keep it here temporarily." Nathan's expression darkened. "Tristan enjoys inconveniencing me." He dialed angrily.

"Damn it, Tris, are you blind now?" "Meaning?" "Evelyn and Preston took his son to a Michelin-starred dinner. They bought out the entire restaurant - looked like a perfect little family." Nathan's eyes turned glacial.

"Are they still there?" His voice vibrated with suppressed rage. "No, they left together." Tristan tried elaborating but Nathan hung up abruptly, fury radiating from every pore.

Teddy approached cautiously with the husky, having overheard everything. "Mr. Blackwood..." Nathan's glare could freeze lava. "I don't care how you do it. Get Evelyn here now."

Teddy's matchmaking failures weighed heavily. These weren't ordinary people. "I don't think-" Nathan's icy stare cut him off. "Feeling immortal today, Teddy?" The butler backpedaled. "No problem at all!"

As Nathan stormed upstairs, Teddy collapsed onto the floor. "Since when did Mr. Blackwood become so terrifying? And people call him easy-going!" He frantically dialed Evelyn, voice trembling. "Ms. Sinclair, Mr. Blackwood just took a nasty fall down the stairs..."