The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 168

Alistair's gaze drifted, suddenly snagging on Miles's wrist. A Blessed Guardian Rosary?

He squinted, recognizing the distinct craftsmanship. It was undeniably from the Blue Ridge Monastery!

For decades, his mother's tragic death had been a suffocating knot in Miles's heart. Now that he was willingly wearing this rosary, did it mean the trauma was finally beginning to heal?

The old man's voice quavered. "That rosary... you..."

Miles looked down, his thumb gently tracing the beads. "Claire got it for me from the Blue Ridge Monastery."

He paused for a fraction of a second. "From now on, I will come back to the main house for my birthdays."

At those words, the eighty-year-old patriarch's eyes welled with tears. His lips trembled, and he stared at Claire as if she were a literal savior sent from heaven, entirely incapable of speaking.

With trembling hands, Alistair pulled a velvet box from his pocket. "Your birthday present. A little late."

Miles took it and popped the lid. A dazzling, blinding light instantly spilled from the box.

It was The Graff Hallucination.

Claire stared at it, absolutely paralyzed. Legend had it that the watch was worth tens of millions of dollars and was practically a museum artifact.

The Zimmerman family's wealth was beyond comprehension. Clearly, those billionaire romance novels she read were drastically downplaying reality.

Noticing Claire's awe-struck expression, Miles snapped the box shut and pressed it directly into her hands. "I accept. Thank you."

"Huh?" Claire yelped, suddenly holding a fortune in her hands.

"It's yours."

Claire was reeling from shock.

"Wonderful, wonderful," Alistair beamed. He didn't care who kept the watch; the only thing that mattered was that Miles had finally accepted a birthday gift from him.

His tone turned earnest and fatherly. "Miles, you're not getting any younger. It's time you settled down."

"Once you're married, I can officially hand over the family business to you. Given the current state of the Zimmerman empire..."

Toby blinked his tear-soaked eyes. "Really?"

She nodded emphatically, and a watery smile broke through his tears.

Alistair grabbed his cane and hauled himself up. "I'll leave him in your capable hands, then. The driver will pick him up for preschool in the morning."

The door shut. Miles stared at the boy, pinching the bridge of his nose in sheer, unadulterated frustration.

Toby was squatting by the coffee table with his back turned, happily using a toothpick to devour the fruit.

Seeing Miles's thunderous expression, Claire nudged him playfully with her elbow.

Miles didn't budge, shooting her a look of profound, silent betrayal that practically screamed, *Why did you let him stay?*

Claire pressed her lips together to hide a smile, then leaned in close to his ear.

"Dr. Zimmerman, let's put tonight on our tab."