The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 268

Jocelyn laughed softly.

"Well, with a guarantee like that, I guess I can safely listen."

The man's voice was clean, crisp, elegantly deep, and incredibly magnetic.

"The Vance Clan is based out of Austin. We're known as one of the Four Great Families, built from the ground up by my great-grandfather. Back home, I'm known as the Third Master."

"From the second I was born, it was already decided that I'd carry the weight of the entire family on my shoulders. That included taking over the empires my grandfather and father built, and making sure the Vance legacy continued to thrive."

"So, from a very young age, I was subjected to endless schooling, crushing workloads, and the strictest family rules. I literally have no idea what it means to be a kid and just have fun."

Jocelyn let out a quiet sigh, feeling a sudden surge of empathy. She knew exactly what it felt like to have a miserable childhood.

Her own hadn't been much better.

"The family has their hands in a lot of different industries, which means there's non-stop infighting and drama. A lot has happened over the years."

"So much that..."

Julian's sigh was heartbreakingly clear in the quiet room.

"So much that I don't even know what 'family' is supposed to mean anymore."

His uncles, his cousins... a whole legion of relatives, all constantly at each other's throats, clawing for a bigger piece of the pie.

Jocelyn offered a comforting smile.

"The bigger the family, the bigger the drama. It's unavoidable. As for family loyalty..."

"I'm not sure how to comfort you there. I haven't experienced much of it myself, either."

They locked eyes.

Both offered a self-deprecating smile.

"I actually proved myself pretty well," Julian continued. "My grandfather and my dad were happy enough with my performance that they gave me the green light to leave Austin. That's how I was able to turn my own interests into Vanguard Tech."

Hearing this, Jocelyn couldn't stop herself from asking.

"Does that mean you have to go back to Austin eventually?"

Julian pressed his lips together and looked at her for a long moment.

"Maybe."

For some reason, an odd, uncomfortable feeling settled in Jocelyn's chest.

Feeling like she shouldn't have asked, she quickly pivoted.

"Is Austin beautiful? I've never been."

Julian offered a faint smile.

"Yeah. It's beautiful."

"Hmm."

"I'll take you to see it sometime."

Suddenly, the thought of his fiancée flashed through Jocelyn's mind.

"When you and your fiancée hold your wedding there, I'll definitely have to go. I'll get a good look at the city then."

Julian's expression went rigid for a few seconds.

Catching the shift in his mood, Jocelyn scrambled to change the subject again.

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