Read Novel Full Chapter 360: Rivalry?
Chapter 360: Chapter 360: Rivalry?
Ivy’s expression grew thoughtful. She had indeed noticed. After Silas proposed to her, he had barely had time to be around her. He spent nearly every night in the military base, shoulders tense, eyes weary.
Henry continued softly. "I thought his father was unhappy that he spent too much time with you..."
Ivy nodded slowly as Henry finished his previous sentence.
The breeze brushed past them, carrying the faint scent of damp soil and wood, making the quiet corner where they stood feel more intimate and strangely suspenseful. Henry shifted a little, then continued.
"I’m telling you, from the look of it, General Dante was extremely dissatisfied," Henry explained, gesturing animatedly with his hands.
"He kept piling work onto Silas... task after task... especially during the past few days. He practically buried him alive with assignments."
A faint glimmer of amusement flickered in Ivy’s eyes. Henry laughed softly and added,
"There was a high chance Silas was going to collapse from overwork. But maybe... just maybe, Dante realized how much you mean to Silas. Because after some time had passed, he started reducing the workload. And later, he even invited Silas to talk privately."
Ivy motioned with her hand, urging him on. "Continue."
Henry leaned forward, lowering his voice. "The real reason Dante kept assigning him so much wasn’t that he wanted to punish him. It was because Dante himself wanted to leave the military base. He wasn’t targeting Silas at all."
Ivy froze mid-breath, her eyes widening. "What?"
Henry nodded, his expression earnest.
"I even heard Dante say that if he were given another chance to go back in time, he would make sure he never behaved so rudely toward you. He’s been regretting it all this time."
Ivy narrowed her gaze, a faint smirk touching her lips. "Are you telling me this to please me?"
No way in hell would her father-in-law ever say those words. He hated her to the point that even when she was proven correct, he kept on saying otherwise.
Henry immediately stiffened. His fingers twitched nervously before he pressed the tip of his index finger against his little finger and raised his other hand dramatically.
"If I’m lying to you, may God strike me with thunder right now."
Ivy paused, staring at the sky with exaggerated anticipation. Nothing happened. She looked back at him and waved her hand calmly. "Go on."
Henry almost laughed at her innocent seriousness.
’She really believed that no thunder meant absolute truth. She’s too cute sometimes...’
He can even understand now why his captain likes Ivy. Though she is capable and independent... her beauty and cuteness make her stand out among others.
Still, he continued. "I also heard Dante mention that he’s slowly trying to shift things toward your base. He has even asked another person to stand in line on his behalf. After he finished with his..."
Before he could say another word, Ivy interrupted sharply. "Did you just say he is standing in line?"
Henry nodded.
Ivy blinked twice, utterly speechless.
’My father-in-law is really something... He requested a favor on Bella’s behalf, yet not once did he think to ask a favor for himself. Instead, he wants to keep his pride so badly that he would willingly stand in line for hours like everyone else. He’s suffering just to maintain an image...’
Should she feel proud or feel that... Silas needs to tell him that she doesn’t hold grudges against him?
She rubbed her temple, exhaling softly. "Continue."
Henry cleared his throat. "After that, I thought everything was done. But then Dante asked about your family. He said he heard Silas accompanied you to bring your parents back to the current state."
Ivy straightened immediately. "And?"
Henry hesitated, biting his lower lip. "I don’t know if I should continue..."
Seeing his green tea look, Ivy almost wanted to laugh at him. For whom was he even pretending? He had already told whatever he shouldn’t have... heck, if she confirmed it with Dante, Dante would most likely make Henry run 100 laps of the military base, but now he looked hesitant.
Just what kind of news will make him hesitate so much?
She refused to accept it, but curiosity was ignited in her heart.
Ivy rolled her eyes at him. "You’ve already said so much. Stopping now would be even more inappropriate."
Henry laughed lightly at her bluntness.
"Alright, fine. From what I heard... There might be some kind of enmity between your family and Silas’s family."
Ivy stared at him, waving her hand with utter nonchalance as if she didn’t even take his words seriously at all.
Then she scoffed. "Impossible. My family were researchers. His family came from a strict military bloodline. How would either have the time or reason to develop enmity with the other?"
Silence fell between them.
Henry watched her with an expression too serious to ignore.
Only then did Ivy feel a small knot of uncertainty tighten in her chest. Why would he look so grim if he wasn’t convinced?
But she pushed the discomfort aside almost immediately.
’There’s no way. In my past life, even Nightbane never mentioned anything like this. There was never a hint of conflict between our families. Henry must have misunderstood something.’
Still, a faint chill slid down her spine as the possibility lingered quietly in the air.
Taking a deep breath, she was suddenly reminded about Silas’s mother.
Wasn’t she a researcher too?
Maybe... maybe somehow... Silas’s mother and her mother had some enmity regarding some research topic?
The more Ivy thought about it... the more she felt that was the case, but Henry’s words poured cold water on her.
"I heard the reason was General Dante and your father’s youthful fights. Though it was vague... my best bet is... either General Dante’s wife was liked by your father and General Dante, or your mother liked Dante, and..."
"Wait a minute!" Ivy stopped him; her head was buzzing with the wild speculations thrown by Henry.
"Why can’t it be my mother who was liked by both Dante and my father?"
Henry lowered his head as if he knew an unspeakable secret.