Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 719

719 /722

Joseph understood what Albus was implying. The Kingstons needed a new heir. Anything less would likely leave Albus dissatisfied, no matter what else was offered.

For years, the Kingstons had moved through Brimcrest without trouble, thanks in no small part to their close ties with the Huttons.

That relationship could not be allowed to fracture. If necessary, the heir could be replaced.

Joseph glanced at his younger son, who stood casually beside Diana, and let out a quiet breath.

If the timing had been different, he might have considered putting Hugo forward for an arranged marriage.

But an eight-year age gap was too much. Hugo wasn't the kind of man anyone could push into something against his will. And the Jillsons, with only one grandson to continue the bloodline, would never agree to him marrying a divorced woman, even if she was the Huttons' eldest daughter.

All of it passed through Joseph's mind in an instant. When he finally spoke, his tone remained smooth and steady. "Of course. You don't even need to say it. My father feels the same way."

Any sign of reluctance would have been worse than silence. Even the slightest hint of unwillingness would leave a lasting mark on the relationship between the two families.

Leon had done well enough over the years, but not well enough for the Kingstons to risk their ties with the Huttons for his sake.

Albus' expression eased slightly as his gaze settled on Hugo. "The moment you didn't come with your father, I knew you'd gone to find Diana."

"Mr. Albus, how does nothing ever get past you?" Hugo admitted it without the slightest embarrassment before turning to greet Elizabeth and Florence in turn.

Given that he answered to no one except Diana, and given the age gap between them, no one in the room read anything more into it.

Joseph, however, shot his son a sideways glance.

At home, his son was cold as stone and barely willing to string two words together. The moment he stepped into the Hutton household, suddenly he remembered his manners.