30 Days Till I Divorce My Husband novel Chapter 576

Jesse had barely finished his sentence when Angel swapped her juice for a glass of white wine and sprang up from her chair. Her quick reaction made everyone burst into laughter.

"Angel, that's quite a dramatic move. Really impressive!"

"Angel, I just asked you to toast your uncle, not to chug the wine."

"It's alright, she's of age now, and exams are over. A little drink won’t hurt. Let's see how well you handle your liquor so you don't get too drunk when you're out."

Amid the teasing, Angel held the wine seriously, looking up at Grayson. "Uncle, this one's for you."

She had wanted to say something meaningful to Grayson, but as she held the wine glass, she realized that the years of care he had shown her and her gratitude towards him couldn't be summed up in a few words. It wasn't something a simple 'thank you' could cover.

So, she said nothing more and just earnestly declared her toast.

The serious expression on her face left Grayson torn between laughter and tears. Taking his time, he stood up, reached for Angel's glass, and said, "Everyone's just teasing you, and yet you took it seriously with the wine glass."

But he couldn't pry the glass from her hand with just a gentle tug. Looking down at her, he saw her earnest face. "Uncle, I'm fine. A little bit won't hurt me," she insisted.

Then, without waiting for Grayson to respond, Angel tilted her head back and downed the half glass of white wine in one gulp.

Angel's boldness left everyone stunned, and Grayson especially was flabbergasted. What was she doing?

Nearby, Estrella, with her pregnant belly leading the way, quickly handed her a glass of water. "Silly girl, you've never drunk before, and you drink so fiercely. Are you trying to wreck your stomach? Drink some water first."

Holding her chest, Angel felt a burning sensation engulf her, almost suffocating her. Drinking was so uncomfortable. Why did they all like it? She couldn't understand.

Taking the water from Estrella, Grayson finally snapped back to reality, took the water, and supported Angel. "Are you silly? Who told you to drink?"

"Angel, everyone was just teasing. Don't take it so seriously next time."

Holding her chest, Angel could hear everyone talking, but the discomfort in her chest left her unable to speak for a while. It wasn't until she had some hot soup that Grayson handed her that she gradually felt better.

However, when she looked up at Grayson, her vision was blurry. She saw not one but several versions of her uncle, and Aunt Estrella and Uncle Jason too were all multiplied.

Holding onto the back of the chair with one hand and waving at Grayson with the other, Angel stuttered, "I'm okay, Uncle, I'm fine."

Despite saying she was fine, she stumbled and ended up sitting back down in the chair.

"Angel."

"Angel."

Then, she heard everyone calling her name in a daze. After that, she couldn't hear anything else.

Seeing Angel slumped over the table, Grayson was instantly terrified. Without a second thought, he lifted her from the chair and took her to the hospital.

This time, Grayson heard Angel's murmur very clearly. For a moment, Grayson's expression changed, and the hand on her forehead withdrew silently. Looking at Angel, his expression became serious, his complexion noticeably paling.

Initially, Grayson was reluctant to consider the emotional aspect, thinking the girl's 'liking' couldn’t be romantic. But reflecting on their interactions, especially her gaze that evening, Grayson started to feel uneasy.

At dinner, he sensed her looking at him more than usual, her gaze bolder than before. Now, Grayson could hardly believe the girl could have developed such feelings for him.

His withdrawing hand gradually clenched into a fist, his emotions complicated. He had never imagined such things, never thought about Angel in that way. Watching Angel, Grayson spent the entire night awake, his mind racing with thoughts.

Angel was still too young, her life barely touched by anyone, her world unexplored, confined only by her own limitations. Once she went to college, met more people, encountered impressive young men, she wouldn't think this way anymore. Her feelings for him would fade.

He was 14 years her senior. Even if he didn't see her as a daughter, he always regarded her as a sister. When she arrived at the Ledford family, she was only six years old.

Thinking about Angel heading off to college, meeting new people, starting a new life, Grayson felt a sense of relief. His task now was to ensure Angel had a fulfilling summer, to keep her mind occupied, to prevent her from expressing those thoughts to him again when she was lucid.

He didn't want to make their situation awkward, uncomfortable.

"Uncle."

"Uncle."

But there, in her hospital bed, Angel still murmured Grayson's name, still calling him "uncle." In her world, beyond her studies, beyond her grandparents, Grayson was her everything, her entire world.