A Farewell After Being Reborn

Besides, Sage thought it would be awkward if she refused to meet Leo when he showed up at her home. She sighed, not expecting to meet her father-in-law before the divorce.

"If you're tired, it's fine. I'll just let him know you're taking a nap,” lan offered calmly.

She secretly lamented and reluctantly said, "I'll change my clothes and join you shortly.”

lan did not object. He went downstairs alone to the living room, where Leo was waiting. Leo looked like he was in his fifties. Clad in casual wear, he seemed more muscular and bulky than his son. The serious look on his face underlined his authority and hinted at an unfriendly demeanor.

Upon spotting Sage, lan approached her. "You're here."

Leo fixed his eyes on Sage as well. She flashed a polite smile and extended a hand to Leo. "Hi, Dad.”

Leo merely grunted before taking a sip of his tea, leaving Sage feeling embarrassed. Getting along with Donald and Linda was a breeze, but the serious Leo was a tough nut to crack.

lan took hold of her and led her to take a seat on the couch. He whispered, "Calm down. It's fine."

Sage couldn't possibly shove lan away in front of Leo, so she settled on the couch with him.

Leo asked impassively, "Have you been traveling recently?"

She nodded. "I traveled with my grandpa to meet an old friend of his." “Did you not hear about my return to Haldon City?" Leo questioned sternly.

"Dad, your return isn't a huge event. It doesn't concern Sage,” lan voiced out before she had a chance to respond.

Leo glared at his son. "Was I addressing you? Where are your manners?" lan did not look ruffled after Leo chided him, but he did not retort either.

Sage was perplexed by the situation. While this was her first encounter with Leo, he had previously shown little interest in their marriage. Why had he suddenly showcased his disapproval?

Nevertheless, it was true that the Joyners were not on par with the Holcombs. Given lan's standing, he could easily find someone better. Sage did not dwell on the matter, thinking that it was normal for Leo to dislike her.

Wanda announced that dinner was ready. lan, with his hand around Sage's waist, headed toward the dining hall. Since she didn't want to offend Leo, she said to him, "After you, Dad."

Leo shuffled toward the dining hall without a word. Dinner proceeded in silence. Fortunately, Sage had eaten some snacks before dinnertime, so she relaxed in her chair and picked at her food.

Seeing that, Leo snapped, "Did nobody teach you table manners?" When she realized that Leo was addressing her, Sage froze. While she was well-versed in dining etiquette, she didn't see the need to practice it in the comfort of her home.

"Dad, please stop disciplining us. This is a family dinner. There's no need for any strict etiquette” lan defended Sage.

"This is ridiculous!" Leo slammed his utensils onto the table. "lan, do you think you can cross the line now that you're living independently?" Sage had heard from Linda about Leo's hard-handed parenting methods. Judging from the exchange today, Leo seemed to be a man of rules.

lan remained unbothered. "Are you here to have dinner with your son and daughter-in-law, or are you here to enforce rules? If it's the latter, I'm sorry, but we don't need all these rules at our home."

“I'm sorry," Sage apologized. She straightened her back to avoid causing a fight between father and son. Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

"Dad, we're done with dinner. Please take your time." With that, lan grabbed her hand and led her upstairs.