Chapter 360
Michael nodded and sat down, bracing himself for a harsh scolding or, at worst, a physical beating from Aiden.
He was ready for the worst.
But instead, a steaming cup of coffee was placed in front of him.
Aiden spoke slowly, "Give it a try. A friend sent me this new blend."
Michael stared at the cup, momentarily stunned.
Aiden had made it sound so serious earlier, only to have him come over for a cup of coffee?
Aiden's emotions were always hard to read, his face a constant mask. Michael decided it was best not to bring up any sensitive topics.
Under Aiden's expectant gaze, Michael picked up the cup and took a small sip.
He wasn't much of a coffee drinker and knew little about it. Naturally, he couldn't offer any insightful comments on the coffee.
If he had to say something, he could only comment on the taste.
The strong coffee slid down his tongue, and the bitterness instantly made Michael, who was already hungover from the night before, furrow his brows.
Aiden's coffee was usually rich and aromatic, but today's coffee was absurdly bitter.
Before he could put the cup down, Aiden's voice rang out, "How does it taste?"
Michael looked up to see Aiden's serious expression. Not wanting to upset his grandfather, he forced himself to swallow.
"It's... unique."
"Glad you appreciate it. Have another cup. I wouldn't share this with just anyone."
Aiden raised an eyebrow and poured Michael another cup, watching him drink it all.
Michael's temple throbbed. If he couldn't see Aiden's intention by now, he didn't deserve to be the heir of the Brown Group.
But Aiden had spoken, so he had no choice but to drink.
Facing Aiden's "deliberate difficulty," Michael downed the cup of coffee in one gulp, the bitterness spreading from his tongue to his stomach.
His hangover was completely gone.
"Not bad. This coffee can only be appreciated by those who understand its flavor. I didn't expect someone your age to appreciate it."
Aiden said, placing another cup of coffee in front of Michael.
It was clear Aiden was making things difficult for Michael.
He was waiting to see when Michael would give in.
Looking at the increasingly bitter coffee in front of him, Michael had no choice but to surrender.
"Grandpa, I know you have issues with me. Just say what you need to say and stop torturing me."
Aiden had always treated him as his favorite child, speaking his mind directly.
Even when Aiden was angry, he would vent his anger with a good scolding.
Aiden's sudden change to a silent approach made Michael feel extremely tormented.
But Aiden didn't get angry. Instead, he calmly stared at Michael for a moment before suddenly smiling.
"Do you even know what good coffee is? I called you over to try a new coffee, and you say I'm torturing you?"
As he spoke, Aiden picked up the coffee pot and poured Michael another cup.
He raised his hand, "Drink up. Didn't you say you liked it?"
Michael finally understood.
If he didn't finish this pot of coffee, Aiden wouldn't speak the truth.
So he picked up the cup and downed the rest in one go, the bitterness numbing his lips.
Seeing Aiden about to brew another pot, Michael quickly stopped him, "Grandpa, please, give me a break. How much more do you want me to drink?"
He didn't want to touch another drop.
Hearing this, Aiden finally let him off, sneering, "So you do know what bitterness is? I thought you were so spoiled you didn't know what suffering was."
Michael was at a loss for words.
How was he supposed to know Aiden was waiting for him here?
But his situation with Isabella was exactly like this. He was suffering in silence.
"If you won't speak, then I will."
Aiden's demeanor changed instantly, his face cold, "Michael, tell me, what did you do to Isabella? Why would she return the gemstone pendant you gave her so heartbroken? Don't tell me you don't know why."
Michael felt a tightness in his chest at these words.
Before Aiden spoke, he only felt panic. But now that Aiden was asking these questions, he felt like a huge stone was pressing on his heart.
He could hardly breathe.
"Grandpa, I don't know what to say."
He hadn't told Isabella the significance of the gemstone pendant, only wanting her to wear it to fulfill a small wish of his.
But she had returned it in front of Aiden, saying she wouldn't reconcile with Michael.
She had made her stance clear, so any explanation now was pointless.
"You don't know what to say?"
Aiden frowned in anger, "I think you're too guilty to speak. I know Isabella's character well. If you hadn't wronged her, why would she be so heartbroken to return the pendant at her grandfather's funeral?"
"Do you still want to hide the truth from me? Tell me, what did you do to her?"
"Grandpa, believe me, I did nothing!"
Michael looked up at Aiden with unwavering determination.
Whether it was three years ago or now, he had misunderstood Isabella, but he had never betrayed their marriage.
He had never wronged her.
He had always liked her, and despite the misunderstandings and obstacles, he wasn't the kind of person to betray his feelings.
"Say that again?"
Aiden had always believed that the heir he had raised, despite some minor mistakes, would never cross the line of basic morality and integrity.
But now, he had to reconsider.
"How can you say that? How did that woman, Violet, come into our family? And that night at the lakeside cottage, do I need to spell out what you did?"
That night, not only he but also Isabella and the Wilson family had witnessed everything.
Even now, Michael wanted to deny it?
"Michael, I'm old, but that doesn't mean I can't find out the truth. When Isabella was pregnant, you claimed to have cut ties with Violet, but you secretly kept her and even brought her into the office. You've disgraced the Brown family!"
When the company's shareholders brought the news to Aiden, he was so furious he nearly had a stroke, needing half a bottle of blood pressure medication to calm down.
Michael had promised Aiden he would treat Isabella and the child well.
And what did he do?
He turned around and got involved with those women.