"Uncle Douglas, it's been so long. I missed you so much." She reached out, trying to link her arm through his.
But just as her fingers were about to brush against his sleeve.
The man stepped aside without even looking at her. "Don't touch me."
He offered no explanation, completely ignoring Isabella as he strode straight toward his parents' VIP hospital suite.
Isabella's hand froze awkwardly in mid-air.
She bit her lower lip, so humiliated that tears threatened to spill.
Clenching her fists tightly, she stared at his aloof, retreating back. Forcing down her suffocating frustration, she hurried after him. "Uncle Douglas, I... I'm just a little worried about my sister. I was wondering if you could help look for her, so Grandpa and Grandma don't have to stress..."
Douglas's footsteps finally halted.
He turned his head, fixing her with a cold stare.
Isabella quickly added, "It's getting late, and she still isn't here. I'm worried she might be lost..."
"You two supposedly took the same flight," Douglas said, narrowing his eyes, his dark gaze turning increasingly piercing. "Why are you here while she isn't?"
Isabella's long eyelashes fluttered as she played the role of a deeply concerned sister. "Serena... well, she just returned to the family, so she's still adjusting. Right after we landed, Edmund came to pick us up, but she... she completely ignored us. She insisted on leaving by herself. Edmund and I couldn't stop her."
She stole a cautious glance at Douglas's expression. "Uncle, she grew up in the countryside, so it's only natural she's a bit withdrawn and sensitive. If you find her later and she says something offensive, please don't be angry. I... I want to apologize on her behalf right now."
Every word was laced with the supposed sincerity of an older sister, all while deliberately painting Serena in the worst possible light.
However, this pathetic little trick was glaringly obvious to Rex, who had fought his way up through the criminal underworld and had seen through countless master manipulators.
The impatience in Douglas's eyes was practically overflowing.
He looked up and cut her off with a flat, indifferent tone. "Get to the point. I don't have time for your acting."

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