Chapter 341: The Crystal Glass Held a Deep Red Liquid

The crystal glass held a deep red liquid, shimmering temptingly under the light.

Helen Whitmore elegantly uncorked a bottle of aged red wine she had been saving for years.

"We're celebrating today. Have a little," she said, pouring Clara Whitmore a half-glass.

Clara nodded obediently.

No one expected—

She secretly refilled her glass twice!

Daniel Whitmore was enthusiastically detailing his company's new project, while Helen focused on savoring each dish.

No one noticed Clara's little trick.

Except...

"Third glass," Elias Mercer suddenly spoke up.

Clara's hand, reaching for the bottle, froze mid-air.

"Oh my!" Helen finally noticed the empty glass in front of her daughter. "I said just a little. How did you drink so much?"

Daniel frowned too.

But he quickly shifted his attention.

"Elias, you're incredibly observant! No wonder you've achieved such remarkable success in research..."

Daniel hadn't been idle these past few days.

He had used his connections to thoroughly investigate Elias's academic background.

With every achievement he uncovered, he marveled for hours.

Helen had privately told her daughter, "Your father is obsessed."

Clara hadn't taken it seriously.

Until now—

"He can even turn this into praise?" she muttered under her breath.

She strongly suspected her father viewed Elias through rose-tinted glasses.

"Elias, you pay such close attention to Clara, noticing even these small things. As her father, I'm truly ashamed..." Daniel took a sip of wine.

Suddenly, he set down his glass.

"Why don't we become sworn brothers? Clara can call you Uncle!"

Helen nearly choked on her wine.

Clara's eyes widened: "?"

Elias stiffened completely: "!!!"

Daniel grew more animated. "This is a brilliant idea! Helen and I are in Fairhaven, while Clara is alone in Bellwether..."

"You're steady and reliable. You could look after her studies and daily life..."

"Not as a favor, of course! Just so she has an elder looking out for her while she's away..."

With every mention of "elder," Elias's eye twitched.

As Daniel prepared to initiate a sworn brotherhood ceremony on the spot, Helen finally had enough.

"Enough nonsense!" She snatched her husband's glass. "You're drunk and talking rubbish! Elias is practically Clara's age. How can he be her uncle?"

Elias sat stiffly, mentally giving Helen a standing ovation.

Clara quickly smoothed things over. "Don't mind him, Professor. My dad gets like this when he drinks..."

"It's fine," Elias forced out. "Uncle is drunk. I won't take it seriously."

"Who's drunk? I'm perfectly sober!" Daniel fixed Elias with an intense gaze. "I genuinely want to be brothers with you..."

Elias internally screamed in refusal.

"That's enough!" Helen's command finally put an end to the absurd discussion.

But Daniel's address for Elias had already shifted to—

"Little brother, try this peach blossom mandarin fish. It's my specialty."

Elias: "..."

"How is it, little brother? To your taste?"

Elias swallowed the fish with difficulty. "...Delicious."

Daniel beamed. "Have more if you like! And this crystal beef..."

For the rest of dinner, Elias could only mechanically repeat:

"Exquisite..."

"Unique..."

"First time trying it..."

Daniel's enthusiasm only grew.