Chapter 143: A Better Proposal

"I apologize," Selina held his gaze. She pressed her lips together, guilt flickering across her face. "The truth is... I was the one who suggested it," she admitted softly. "After I visited her school."

"It’s you?" Gray asked Selina before turning back to Conrad slowly. He was still trying to process everything.

"It’s not charity, Gray," the old man said firmly. "And it’s not because I think Lily isn’t being cared for. It’s quite the opposite."

Conrad smiled faintly, folding his hands neatly in front of him. His voice remained calm, yet there was something in his tone that said he was genuine.

"Selina told me about your situation. About how much Lily means to you. I respect that. Deeply. And I admire it."

Gray didn’t respond. He stared down at his bowl for a long moment. The steam from the soup rose steadily, curling into the air like smoke.

"I just think she deserves more," Selina added beside him, her voice gentle and cautious, as though afraid she’d said too much. "And I know you’d give it to her if you could."

Gray’s jaw tightened.

He knew they meant good, but he didn’t like this.

He didn’t like owing people.

Especially when Lily’s education was his responsibility.

Gray remained silent for a moment, when suddenly, Conrad leaned slightly forward.

"If it helps put your heart at ease," the old man said, voice quieter now, "think of this as... repayment."

Gray’s brows knit together.

"For saving me," Conrad said simply. "Back then. When everyone else just stood by, you ran toward me and saved me, right?"

He exhaled slowly, eyes softening as he looked across the table at him. There was no arrogance in his face, just calm and sincere reflection.

"I still haven’t paid you for that."

Gray’s expression faltered.

"I wasn’t asking for anything in return," he said, his voice firm. "And I still don’t."

"I know," Conrad replied with a quiet nod. "That’s exactly why I’m offering it."

The old man’s gaze turned distant for a second, as if he was seeing something only he could. His fingers gently tapped the side of his glass before he looked back at Gray.

"I’ve spent most of my life building things. Businesses. Foundations. Networks. But the truth is... I’ve also missed a lot of moments along the way."

There was something different in his face now, a kind of wistfulness that hadn’t been there before. There was sadness, as if he were almost in tears.

"And when a person like me finally looks back, I realize the debt we carry isn’t always paid in money or power."

Conrad looked at Lily, who was distractedly stirring her soup again.

Lily was in her own world, eating mindlessly. She was curious about what the adults were saying. She knew they were talking about her, but she also realized she shouldn’t listen to them.

She looked up once, just briefly. Her eyes flicked toward Gray before returning to her spoon. She didn’t speak, but the trust in her gaze was there.

She trusted her brother.

"Call this overdue," Conrad murmured. "A long-overdue gesture of gratitude."

Gray stared at him, unsure what to say.

There was a lump forming in his throat that he didn’t expect. Not because of the offer. But because of the way Conrad said it.

It wasn’t pity.

It wasn’t pride.

It was just... he really looked sincere when he said those words.

’Is this his way of scheming again?’ Gray finally leaned back against his chair, fingers curling once around the edge of the table.

He took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in his throat.

"I really don’t need it," he said. His voice came low but steady.

Conrad blinked once. He thought he succeeded in persuading Gray.

But... he didn’t?

"I can finance Lily on my own," Gray added. "I have the money. And if I don’t, I’ll make it. That’s my job. That’s my responsibility as her brother. I hope you don’t take it badly."

Selina shifted slightly beside him.

"Gray—"

"I get what you’re saying, Selina," he cut in gently. He looked at her sincerely, knowing she didn’t mean any harm.

"And I know you mean well. Both of you. But Lily’s future is something I promised I’d take care of for our parents. She’s not just my sister—she’s my everything."

He finally looked at them.

Their faces were still calm, but there was something different now.

They weren’t trying to be persuasive anymore. Instead, they somehow looked desperate and disappointed.

It was as if Gray had just turned down a gift they’d been waiting a long time to give.

"I don’t mean to offend either of you," Gray said after a breath. He smiled, wider this time.

"Your offer’s generous. And if I were someone else, maybe I’d take it. No. I’m pretty sure I’d take it."

His hand tightened lightly around his spoon before setting it down on the table.

"But I’m not that guy. And Lily’s not a burden. She’s the reason why I’m working hard."

There was a brief silence after his words.

Selina opened her mouth, then hesitated. She looked unsure for the first time since he arrived.

Lily, meanwhile, had stopped stirring. She looked up again, this time more openly, watching Gray with a quiet curiosity. Her brows knit a little, like she was touched by what her brother said.

Gray turned to Selina, meeting her eyes. A sudden idea just popped in his mind.

"If you really want to pay me back..."

He leaned slightly forward.

"Then you can do it in another way."

That made both Selina and Conrad blink.

They looked at each other for a second, confusion flickering in their eyes.

Now it was them who seemed unsure, like they weren’t prepared for this turn.

Gray sat back again. His voice was now calm. His heart was still beating fast, but he wasn’t backing down.

He didn’t know if what he was doing was right, but he had to take a risk on it.

"I have this business," he said. "A grocery store."

Selina’s eyebrows rose slightly.

"It’s nothing fancy," Gray added as he scratched the back of his head. He was embarrassed to even explain this thing.

"But it’s something I’m trying to turn around. Something I believe in."

He glanced at Conrad.

"If you really want to give something back, then you can invest in that. Even just a small amount. I’m trying to stabilize it so I can expand in the near future."

Selina’s lips parted slightly, clearly surprised. She glanced at her grandfather again, almost like she was trying to read his expression.

Meanwhile, Conrad was quiet.

For a long few seconds, he didn’t say a word.

Then, slowly, the old man smiled warmly. As if the unexpectedness of the topic made the night more fun for him.

"Well," he said, swirling the wine in his glass once more. "That... is a much more interesting proposal than I expected."

’Oh shit, was I too confident?’ Gray sighed.

"Alright, I’ll consider it seriously," Conrad chuckled before looking at Gray closely.

"Tell me more about this business of yours, Gray."

A/N:

1 down, 2 more to write.

Anyway, special shoutout to imperial_demon.

Damn, man. You’re the best. Thank you for all the Gifts and Golden Tickets.