I Faked My Death—Now I Have to Tame the Crazy Men I Left Behind

Chapter 300 - 298: Her True Face

Her footsteps halted. Mia Grant stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at her father before her.

Yuri Sinclair sensed she had stopped and turned around with a smile. "I was just thinking out loud. It wasn’t meant as advice or a warning. Don’t be nervous."

"I won’t interfere or pry into your personal affairs. Of course, as your... father, I do hope you’ll share things with me. I’d be happy to be a listener. But if you don’t want to, you don’t have to force it. It’s a small thing, so don’t worry about it."

Mia Grant blinked.

"Some things are perhaps better suited for a mother to discuss, but your mother passed away early... If you’re uncomfortable, or if there’s anything you’re confused about, you can also talk to Carla Sinclair."

After all, a father is a man; it was normal for a young girl of Mia’s age to have some reservations.

Mia Grant shook her head gently. "I’m not confused about anything. I’m just worried that *you’ll* be confused."

Yuri Sinclair looked at her, stunned. But then it dawned on him what she meant, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

"I won’t be."

"I’m not some old fossil from the last century. Besides, you’re my daughter. Whatever you do, I will—and must—stand by your side."

"In life, being happy is all that matters."

He gently patted her head. "Don’t overthink it. Family means always trusting and supporting each other unconditionally, no matter what."

"It seems we’ve never really talked about the Grant Family all this time."

"In my opinion, that style of upbringing isn’t about raising a child. It’s about forging a tool."

"It’s the complete opposite of my own philosophy on raising children. I don’t approve of their methods."

"They are the ones who are wrong, and they aren’t your real family. So, you can give me a chance."

Mia Grant mostly understood. He had a hands-off approach with Carla and Julian.

"But even though you didn’t interfere in Carla and Julian’s upbringing, they still turned out amazing."

"And are you not exceptional?"

"I am exceptional." Mia Grant lifted her head without any hesitation. "I’m great."

Yuri Sinclair smiled. "Yes, I think so too."

Mia Grant froze, then quickly averted her gaze, refuting him quietly in embarrassment. "The problem is, I’m fundamentally different from them."

’We’re related by blood in name only. But we grew up in completely different environments. No matter how exceptional I am, how could my temperament, character, and perspective... possibly be the same?’

’Over time, he’ll see the differences and grow to despise me.’

"I’m not as well-behaved as I might seem. I have a bad side, too. I’m not obedient at all."

"Obedient?" Yuri Sinclair sighed. "Whose words are the right ones to obey?"

"Mine?"

Mia Grant said nothing, just stared silently at the large, half-human-height planter in the corner of the hallway.

"You only need to listen to your own heart. If there’s something you want to do, do it. If there’s something you want, go after it. Other than that, other people’s rules and opinions have nothing to do with you."

"We are a family. Everything that you think is unacceptable is, to me, just a trivial matter not even worth mentioning."

"Is that so?" Mia Grant suddenly turned to look at him. "Then what if I want the Sinclair Family? No room for negotiation. I’m listening to my heart, and I must have it. Would you give it to me?"

Without a second’s thought, Yuri Sinclair said, "I would give you a fair chance to compete with Carla."

After a long moment of staring at each other, Mia Grant suddenly smiled. "Alright, the test is over. I believe you now."

Yuri Sinclair looked at her, confused.

"If you had immediately agreed and given up on Carla, then that whole speech you gave earlier would have just been a pile of empty words that couldn’t stand the test of time, in my opinion."

"Anyone can say nice things. I’ve heard plenty."

"If you could cast aside Carla, you could cast me aside in the future, too. Thankfully, you aren’t biased."

Mia Grant smiled slyly, revealing her true self to him for the first time.

"Alright, I don’t want the Sinclair Family. I have no interest in it at all."

"However, there is something I want very much."

"What is it?"

"The Grant Corporation."

Yuri Sinclair’s brow twitched.

Mia Grant didn’t shrink back at his silence. She watched him with a calm and confident gaze, like a stubborn little animal, a newborn calf that doesn’t fear the tiger.

After a long moment, Yuri Sinclair smiled and nodded.

His eyes held a look of both relief and emotion.

"Not bad."

"Just the Grant Corporation. What do you need me to do?"

"I don’t know either." Mia Grant shrugged. "I just have the idea. But I don’t know the first thing about any of this."

"But you can help me, right?"

She wasn’t being coy, and her request wasn’t the least bit subtle.

Yuri Sinclair nodded repeatedly, looking to be in a very good mood.

"Of course."

The New Year holiday ended.

Mia Grant had thought Kian Keller would stay in the country until after the Lantern Festival, but he ended up leaving early.

He hadn’t told her when he left. It was only when she asked Zero that he said, "Sir left three days ago."

"..."

’Doing the math, he left on the seventh day of the New Year.’

Mia Grant scrolled through her phone. On the seventh, they had even been chatting on WeChat, yet he hadn’t mentioned a thing about it.

Zero, worried she might misunderstand Kian Keller, thoughtfully explained, "Sir was afraid you’d come to see him off. If you had come, he wouldn’t have been able to bear leaving."

"No way."

Mia Grant scrolled through WeChat.

Zero sighed. "It’s true. When Sir was leaving, he was still thinking of you and gave us a lot of instructions."

"I know he couldn’t bear to leave me," Mia said. "I’m saying, with his personality, it’s not that he couldn’t bear to go, it’s that he would’ve taken me with him."

"..." Zero was at a loss for words. A second later, he rubbed his nose sheepishly. "You’ve got a point."

Mia Grant put down her phone. "Where did Julian Vaughn go today?"

Zero pulled out his phone, checked the synced messages, and began his report: "Morning workout at seven. Chatted with two servants for a couple of sentences, which took four minutes. In the morning, he went to a mall near Central to pick up two sets of custom jewelry. Didn’t meet anyone special."

"From noon until the afternoon—that is, up to ten minutes ago—he’s been at his studio and hasn’t left."

Mia Grant rubbed her chin, lost in thought.

Once the New Year was over, Julian and Carla had returned to Portia.

Yuri Sinclair had gone out of town on business.

He had wanted to ask her to go stay in Portia for a few days, but she refused without a second thought.

As soon as they left, she had Zero start keeping an eye on Julian.

"Should I ask our people over there what he talked about with the people he met today?" Seeing her silent in thought, Zero began to guess at her intentions.

Hearing this, Mia Grant’s mouth twitched, and she gave him a helpless look. "That won’t be necessary."

"As long as he doesn’t contact... anyone I know, the rest doesn’t matter."

Mia Grant sat up straight. "What about Serena Grant?"

"What happened to her after you let her go?"

"Her..." Zero’s eyes darted away.

"Don’t tell me you didn’t let her go?!"