Shirley reached out and rubbed the girl's head. Then, she smiled and said, “Going out with an international child star is so tiring. First, I had to ensure your safety, and now I have to protect you from the reporters.”
The little girl pouted and scoffed, “It's all Susan's fault. What's wrong with holding the Oscars in Anglandur? She just had to use Luther Group's influence to move the Oscars to Hallsbay, huh? Hmph! So what if she has the head of Luther Group as her uncle? Uncivilized and a showoff. She's just a gold digger at best.”
Shirley looked at her niece in amusement and advised, “Arethea, don't belittle yourself. The daughter of the Gourd family is just as great as the daughter of the Luther family. Besides, you'll soon have the head of the Shurmer family as an uncle. Come on. Be confident. You're as great as any princess in the world.”
Arethea Gourd's heart fluttered with joy. “That's true. This year's Best Child Actor Award belongs to me. I will not allow Susan to have it.”
Shirley put her finger at her lips and gestured for her to be quiet. “There's a large group of reporters coming. If you don't want to expose your whereabouts, stop talking.”
The two passed through the hall, and two men in black approached them when they reached the stairs outside.
“Excuse me, are you Ms. Gourd?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Mr. Shurmer sent us to pick you up. He's at the open-air parking lot opposite this place. He thought that you needed to lie low, so he didn't come to greet you in person. Ms. Gourd, this way.”
“Okay.”
The two followed the bodyguards to the parking lot and saw Zeke leaning against the car window from a distance.
He was wearing a white suit, and he looked gentle in it.
Shirley was stuck in a daze staring at him.
Arethea was amused and giggled. “You're swooning again.”
Then, she quickly ran toward Zeke, shouting, “Uncle Zeke!”
Zeke furrowed his brows a little and instinctively leaned over to hug her. Then, he smiled and said, “Arethea, you've become even more beautiful, as expected from a famous international child star. But can we change the way you address me? From now on, call me Mr. Shurmer. It sounds cooler.”
“No,” Arethea refused. “You're my uncle since you'll be marrying my aunt. I won't change the way I call you.”
Shirley walked over from afar with a smile. “Arethea is right. She will address you as her uncle sooner or later. You should get used to it earlier.”
An inexplicable look flashed in Zeke's eyes. He nodded and said, “Great job for making it this far. Let's go back to the Shurmer residence.”
“Okay.”
After getting in the car, Arethea refused to come out of Zeke's arms.
“Uncle Zeke, I'm here to compete for the Best Child Actor Award at the Oscars.”
Zeke smiled and replied gently, “You're so amazing. You'll definitely win the award.”
Shirley heard and interjected, “Zeke, I'm counting on you for Arethea's award.”
As a clever man, Zeke understood what she meant.
She wanted him to pull some strings for Arethea.
“Leave it to me. I'll send the people at the Oscars my regards.”
Two days later, at the coffee shop on the second floor of Century Square.
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