Chapter 51 - 50: As Long as You’re All Okay
"Uncle Grant, did Mom, Dad, and my brothers move out without telling me...?" Yvonne Lowell asked, standing in the living room with a complicated expression on her face.
"Ahem, Miss Yvonne, Sir and Madam left for a vacation yesterday with no set return date. The Eldest Young Master is on a business trip abroad, also with no set return date. The Second Young Master had to rush off for a public appearance, but he’ll probably be back tonight... I think. And the Third Young Master is at school, so it’s uncertain if he’ll be home this week." Uncle Grant said, standing behind the sofa without daring to meet Yvonne Lowell’s gaze.
’Honestly! The master goes on vacation without a word and leaves me here to clean up the mess for the two of them!’
"So... they just up and left me here all alone to deal with Harrison’s meltdowns?! And Harrison was the one calling me every single day, rushing me to get back, but he isn’t even home himself!" Yvonne Lowell cried, collapsing onto the sofa with a look of utter despair.
"Sir said they wouldn’t be participating in you young folks’ show. The two of them wanted to go on a little getaway, just the two of them. He told you kids to have fun and get along." Uncle Grant raised a hand to hide the irrepressible smile spreading across his face.
Yvonne Lowell took several deep breaths to suppress the urge to murder Harrison, then shot up from the sofa.
"Forget it. It is what it is. I brought this on myself," she sighed. "Uncle Grant, I brought back gifts for you and Nanny Warren. You can take hers for her." Yvonne Lowell pulled two gift boxes from her suitcase and handed them to him.
"Oh, you really shouldn’t have, Miss Yvonne." Uncle Grant quickly tried to refuse.
He was born and raised on the Lowell estate. He had previously served as Charles Lowell’s special assistant, accompanying him as he built his business from the ground up.
Once Caleb Lowell was able to handle things on his own, he retired along with Charles Lowell and stayed on at the Lowell residence as the butler.
His son, Ian Miller, had also made him proud, filling his shoes just as he had once filled his own father’s.
Three generations of his family had worked for the Lowells, and the Lowells had always treated them well. They were never seen as mere servants; it was a relationship built on genuine loyalty and affection.
Yvonne Lowell pushed the boxes right into his arms. "Come on, it’s nothing expensive. Just some souvenirs from my trip. Please take them. I’ll be hurt if you refuse."
"Alright, then. Thank you, Miss Yvonne. I’ll take my leave now." Uncle Grant turned his head, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye as he walked toward the kitchen.
Yvonne’s lips twitched. ’He’s not actually crying, is he? It’s really not that big of a deal!’
...
「The next morning」
Yvonne Lowell woke up an hour late but still went for her usual three-kilometer run.
"Uncle Grant, did Caleb get back last night?" Yvonne Lowell asked as she came downstairs for breakfast after freshening up.
"No. I left the door unlocked for him, but his slippers are still right where I put them."
Yvonne Lowell frowned and glanced at her phone in confusion. "He didn’t come back? Then why hasn’t he answered my texts? I thought he was just sleeping upstairs."
"Perhaps something held him up. He should be back before the production team arrives... I think." Uncle Grant’s attempt to make an excuse for him was laced with uncertainty.
"Whatever. I’m not waiting for him. I’m getting breakfast," Yvonne Lowell said, heading for the dining room.
...
「Meanwhile, in a van heading toward the Lowell family’s villa.」
The field director spoke cautiously to Harrison Lowell, who was resting beside him with his eyes closed. "Superstar Lowell, the livestream will begin the moment we enter your home."
Harrison Lowell had wrapped up his work and returned to Kingsland at one in the morning. Worried he might wake his family, he had simply gone back to his own apartment for the night.
He’d had Keith Zane give the production team a heads-up, but they had shown up at his apartment first thing in the morning anyway and woken him up.
As a result, he was currently radiating more negative energy than a ghost that had been dead for eight years.
Harrison Lowell grunted in acknowledgment.
"Then, you and Agent Donovan will go in first. We’re going to put a hidden camera on him. We can’t let your family know the stream has started, so we can capture the most authentic interactions between all of you. Is that alright with you?"
’In truth, they weren’t even supposed to tell Harrison about this part; they were just supposed to start filming the moment they walked in. But what could they do? The VIP hadn’t come home last night, so they had to find a workaround.’
’But if he refused, there was nothing they could do. After all, the head honcho had specifically told them that when it came to Superstar Lowell, he could do whatever he pleased. They were not to force him into anything he didn’t want to do.’
"Do what you want," Harrison Lowell said, his eyes still closed. "Our family dynamic has always been genuine and loving. If you’re looking for signs of discord, you might as well give up now."
"Of course not, ha ha, that’s not what I meant... It’s just part of the show’s planned format..." The director nervously wiped nonexistent sweat from his brow.
...
After passing through the main gates of the Lowell estate, the van headed toward the main residence.
The livestream started on schedule, and a large number of viewers were already camped out, waiting.
[This... This is Lowell’s house?]
[Whoa! It’s so luxurious!]
[It’s one of the most exclusive residential areas in Kingsland. You can’t buy a place here with just money; you need status.]
Just before they got out, the camera, which had been filming the exterior of the house, panned over to Keith Zane.
"Hey everyone, I’m Old Man Dawson. In a minute, I’m gonna stick you all in my pocket and sneak inside so you can see the most authentic side of Superstar Lowell and his family."
After saying this, he turned the camera back to Harrison Lowell.
Keith Zane shook him awake. "We’re here, Harrison. Wake up."
"Mmm." Harrison Lowell rubbed his eyes. He glanced at the camera, then froze for a second. "Has it started? I haven’t even wiped the sleep from my eyes yet!"
"You’re fine, they’re clean. Hurry up and say hello," Keith Zane said, rolling his eyes at him from behind the camera.
Harrison Lowell gave a listless wave to the camera. "Good morning. As long as you’re all doing well, that’s what matters. Don’t worry about whether I’m dead or alive. I was woken up after four hours of sleep, so I’m not doing well at all."
[Ahhhh, Lowell! Lowell!!]
[Don’t worry, don’t worry, there’s no sleep in your eyes! Hahaha!]
[LMAO, Aurelian Entertainment’s sharpest tongue.]
[Yep, yep, we’re doing great now that we see you! Your life or death is not important!]
[So Old Man Dawson means he’s going to be secretly filming inside?]
[I’m dying, this is hilarious. He’s going to carry us in his pocket, but if he gets caught, all we can do is kick him to the curb.]
The van pulled up in front of the main house. Harrison Lowell opened the door and was the first to hop out.
Keith Zane attached the hidden camera to his breast pocket, disguising it as a decorative pin, and followed him out. The directing crew remained in the van.
Harrison Lowell was about to punch in the code to open the door himself when it swung open from the inside.