<b>Chapter </b>316
<b>“</b><b>That’s </b><b>not </b>what I ineant. “Lincoln began, but Mono cut him off. “Just leave. There’s no way I’m ever going to take you as my app cance
Mono <b>sald </b>coldly<b>, </b><b>“</b>If you want to see my apprentice’s work, go to the Fine Art Society”
Lincoln knew that pressing further would only make Mons even more annoyed, so with a sigh, he reluctantly Backed off
Before leaving, Lincoln suddenly remembered something. Turning to Aria with genuine sincerity, he asked, “Madelyn, could i get your <b>contact </b>infot ra love to consult you about painting techniques in the future.”
‘Since I can’t be Mono’s apprentice,‘ he thought, ‘building a good rtionship with his apprentice is
the next best thing
“Alright,” Aria said coolly, pulling out her phone to scan his QR code. A momentter, they friended each other as contacts.
Just then, Mono stealthily crept up, his eyes zeroing in on Aria’s phone screen. “You two just friended each other?” he asked.
“Yes,” Aria replied, her voice much softer. “Mono, is something wrong?”
Mono’s face twisted in a sudden grimace as he snatched Aria’s phone and barked, “Unfriend him! Why friend him at all?<b>” </b>
After deleting and blocking Lincoln’s number, Mono shoved the phone back at Aria<b>, </b>red at Lincoln, and snapped, “Get lost! One more disturbance, and I’m calling the cops!”
Lincoln stood there, utterly bewildered.
He wondered, ‘Why did Mono suddenly do aplete about–face?
‘Did asking for his apprentice’s contact info piss him off?
‘But if that was the case, why didn’t he say anything before we friended each other?‘
“Let’s go,” Mono said curtly.
Gael steadied Mono as they made their way toward the gates of Mayen Garden, with Aria following close behind.
Owen gave Lincoln a long, prating look. “You’re Lincoln Saxon?”
Lincoln nodded, then looked surprised. “You… you know me?”
With a sympathetic look, Owen said, “Give it up. You’ll never be Mono’s a
s apprentice—he truly detests you.”
With that, Owen hurried after the others, leaving Lincoln rooted to the spot, his mind <b>a </bplete mess.
‘What on earth did I do to make Mono despise me this much?‘ he wondered anxiously.
Lincoln returned home, his heart heavy with apprehension.
Stepping inside, he found the living room packed with family members.
Upon learning that Lincoln, who hadn’t been home for years, wasing back, Gloria arrived early with Terry Fletcher and Derek to wee him<b>, </b><b>while </b>Tina couldn’t make it due to workmitments.
Even Abigail, who had been separated from her husband Luke, made a special trip back for the asion.
Seeing his youngest son, Lincoln, safe and sound, Joseph bit back his scolding and simply said, “Come join us for dinner.”
Lincoln walked over and sat down beside his father, Joseph.
Chapter 31s
<b>Caleb</b><b>, </b>Silvia, <b>Terry</b><b>, </b><b>Derek</b>, <b>and </b><b>Nathan </b>each called out Uncis Lincoln in turn
<b>Lincoln </b><b>nced </b><b>around </b><b>the </b><b>room </b>and asked casually, <b>“</b><b>Wilson’s </b><b>been </b>studying <b>abroad </b>for <b>four </b>years now, but a about the
Abigail <b>nodded </b><b>and </b><b>replied</b><b>, </b>“He’ll be back in August.”
<b>Lincoln </b>turned to <b>his </b>second brother, Logan, and asked, “What about Aria? Is she still with the Cole family and hasn’te here
Lincoln knew about the baby switch and that Aria had gotten married soon after being reunited with the family.
With everyone here for this rare family gathering, he thought Aria, this niece he’d never met, would surely be there too.
But she was nowhere to be seen.
The moment those words left his mouth, the whole room went dead silent, with a palpable tension filling the air.
Logan and Zoe fell silent. Caleb’s expression turned frosty, Silvia nervously gripped her fork, and Nathan’s face darkened with evident <b>frustration</b>.
The entire second branch of the family looked palpably awkward, as if the atmosphere had suddenly turned tense.
Lincoln sensed something was off and tentatively asked, “Is she not getting along with you guys?”