To Sydney, Alan was both a mentor and a father.Back then, if Alan had not taken her in as his student, Julian would never have dared send her back to Eloise. She would have been cornered at every turn, and in the end, neither of them might have come through it well.Eliana understood that his respect for them came from how deeply Sydney mattered to him. That only made her happier for Sydney. With a broad smile, she said, "Alright, alright. Don't just stand there. Come inside.""Okay."Sydney looked at Alan and leaned forward, about to help him up. "Alan...""Enough." Alan cut her off at once. Bracing himself on the armrest of the rocking chair, he rose neatly on his own. "I'm still young. I'm not at the stage where I need you two helping me."He was old, yes, but he refused to admit it.Eliana could not resist replying, "Of course, of course. You're much younger than the two of them."Sydney and Julian exchanged a smile. The two elders had been married for decades, yet their r
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