Reborn to Marry My Best Friend's Uncle novel Chapter 178

Gary stood frozen in his tracks, momentarily unsure of how to react.

A flicker of surprise passed through Irene's cloudy eyes. However, she composed herself almost instantly, as if she had been expecting this moment all along.

Annie stood there quietly, her gaze fixed on Irene's aged, kind-looking face. A whirlwind of emotions churned within her.

She had always believed she hid everything so well.

She'd been terrified that Irene would worry over her broken engagement with Sean and feared that she wouldn't accept the new husband she'd found in such haste. More than anything, she didn't want Irene to be disappointed when she learned of Christian's humble background.

She had carefully spun a web of lies, thinking that she was protecting Irene's peace of mind. But in reality, the latter knew about everything.

A heavy wave of self-blame and guilt washed over Annie, making her nose sting with the threat of tears. It seemed that she had failed to give Irene enough credit and had underestimated her strength.

Annie walked over slowly and crouched in front of the wheelchair.

"Grandma..."

Irene reached out with a trembling, wrinkled hand and gently patted the top of her head. She sighed, her voice overflowing with affection. "You silly girl. Did you hear everything?"

Annie nodded. She buried her face in Irene's lap and gave a muffled murmur of assent. She explained, "I was just afraid that you'd be upset. I didn't want you to worry about me."

Irene's hand paused for a second before she patted Annie's back even more gently. She said proudly, "My eyes might be failing me, but my mind is as sharp as ever.

"I can tell whether that man from the Frost family was sincere or not, and I can see how Christian treats you. As long as you're living well and happy, nothing matters more."

Those simple words were all it took to shatter Annie's composure completely. She had forgotten that, in both her past life and this one, Irene was the one who loved her most.

The only thing Irene had ever cared about was whether Annie was okay.

Annie couldn't hold back anymore. Her tears spilled over, soaking the thin blanket on the old woman's lap.

"Grandma..." Annie choked on her sobs, unable to say anything other than that one word.

Irene didn't say anything else. She simply let Annie lean on her.

She stroked Annie's hair rhythmically, soothing her just as she had done countless times when she was a child.

Seeing this, Gary silently retreated to the side, giving them some space.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows. It was a warm, quiet moment.

During lunchtime, the dining room atmosphere was harmonious.

The table was filled with exquisite dishes, most of which were Annie's favorites.

Irene sat at the head of the table, watching as Christian naturally piled food onto Annie's plate, picking out only the things she liked best.

A satisfied smile spread across Irene's face. She said, "Seeing how close you two are, I can finally rest easy."

Annie had just picked up a rib. When she heard this, her hand paused in mid-air.

Christian, on the other hand, responded with a faint smile. "We're doing great, Irene. Don't worry."

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