35 A Distant Cousin?
Viktor saw a pale olive-skinned girl around eighteen years old, with square-shaped spectacles and braces on her teeth, walking towards Tiana.
But what caught his eyes were her waist-length exotic-looking wavy red hair and her pale green eyes that seemed to form a perfect contrast to give off a sublime charm.
However, because of her large spectacles and braces, coupled with her gentle expression, Viktor felt that she gave off a pure and cute charm that seemed to be a bit similar to Umi, which was the kind that could make one feel that they seem more beautiful the closer you get to them.
Still, despite her spectacles and braces, Viktor felt that she looked quite pretty with a reserved personality based on her modest demeanor, especially her clothing, which was a fluffy sweatshirt and pajamas.
He already guessed that she must be Sayana, Umi's daughter, especially seeing her pale green eyes. But he wondered how she got such exotic colored hair since he had never seen one naturally having such color, nor does it seem like she colored it.
He then looked at Tiana, realizing that she was Taya's daughter, and felt quite complicated seeing her, knowing that this was Taya's child.
Meanwhile, Tiana was still looking at Dorian with squinted eyes but didn't call for the guards anymore after hearing Sayana's warning.
Fortunately, Umi was downstairs to stop the guards or other servants from reacting to Tiana's shouts.
She knew that Tiana must have bumped into Dorian and called out an 'intruder' warning. Everyone knew Umi was basically a part of the Snow Family rather than just a 'maid'. So she had enough status to order and give instructions to other maids and guards.
"Hey, you! Are you the one whom mom mentioned she would be introducing to the whole family later on?" Tiana asked with her arms crossed as she scanned Viktor from top to bottom.
"Uh..yes...Aunt Taya was kind enough to take me in. You are her daughter, Tiana, right?" Viktor asked, his posture still a bit hunched.
Tiana wondered where this nerdy guy came from and said, "I am, but I don't remember having a cousin like you or anything. In fact, the only cousin I have is a grown-up man in his thirties but nobody anywhere near my age. How old are you again?"
Sayana was staying silent while observing Viktor quietly, having the same question as Tiana in her mind.
"I am...eighteen."
Tiana raised her brows, "Eighteen, huh? The same as us both," She said as she glanced at Sayana.
"Actually...as I said, I am a distant cousin...so the family tree could be a bit complicated, and that is why we had never met before," Viktor said as he blinked rapidly.
He then looked at Sayana and asked with a nervous smile, "And you are..."
Sayana said with a slight smile, "I am Sayana. Pleased to meet you. I never knew Tia had a cousin as young as you."
Viktor dryly smiled as he lightly brushed his side hair and said with a subtle peek, "Pleased to meet you as well."
Tiana was about to ask more questions when an aged voice sounded from behind, "Hmm, Dorian, is it?"
Viktor turned around and saw Brad wearing a grey cardigan over a shirt with beige pants walking towards him with a stick in his hand.
Viktor raised his eyebrows seeing that he had aged quite well, considering that he should be 80 years old now.
Brad found it hard to suppress his excitement and nervousness in seeing Viktor again and felt it quite weird to see him dressed and behaving like a college boy.
Still, he kept up appearances for both their sakes and talked to him just like how a senior talks to a junior.
However, seeing that he was back made Brad feel as if his family was shielded by an impenetrable fortress.
Viktor smiled as he greeted, "Good afternoon, Uncle Snow. I am honored to meet you," He said with a bow.
Brad felt quite flustered seeing Viktor bowing to him like a junior and couldn't help but quickly raise him up, "No need for all such courtesy. After all, you are family now. Isn't that right, Dorian Grey?"
Viktor nodded with an overwhelmed smile, "Yes...thank you, Uncle."
Viktor had decided to let his cover name be Dorian Grey, with the difference being in his surname only. Even though only Taya and a very few knew his true name, Viktor Dorian, he decided to go with this name since nobody else knew his surname 'Dorian'.
Tiana still had a confused expression, feeling that things were happening too fast, and when did her mother even know about this guy when she herself didn't know?
Sayana continued to observe Dorian silently, feeling that the more she observed, the more something about him seemed mystifying though she couldn't understand why.
Tiana was also surprised that her grandfather, who usually was serious or cold to strangers or unfamiliar people, was surprisingly warm and nice to Dorian, just like how he treats her.
It seemed as if a grandpa was talking to his long-lost grandson.
"Guys, it's time for lunch. Come down fast," Umi called out from the ground floor.
"Okay, children. Let's go eat and talk further," Brad said as he went downstairs with the other three.
In the dining hall, which was just near the open kitchen as well, Umi and some other maids were preparing some dishes while some maids were busy arranging the cutleries and plates on the dinner table.
Viktor loved how elegant and classy the dining hall looked with both classic and modern components built into an open kitchen and dining room space.
Clean-cut furniture in subtle hues was complimented by the stainless steel appliances of the custom kitchen.
With a breakfast bar and functional kitchen, Viktor felt that even a party or some social gathering could be conducted here.
As soon as everyone saw Brad and the other family members coming, the maids quickly arranged everything and stood back with their backs as they bowed.
Viktor felt like he was back in the medieval times, experiencing palace life seeing the line of maids standing around, with the only difference being everything else looked modern.
Taya and Eva came towards the dining hall and saw that everyone else was there, while Viktor was surprised to see Eva joining them.
But what caught his eyes were her waist-length exotic-looking wavy red hair and her pale green eyes that seemed to form a perfect contrast to give off a sublime charm.
However, because of her large spectacles and braces, coupled with her gentle expression, Viktor felt that she gave off a pure and cute charm that seemed to be a bit similar to Umi, which was the kind that could make one feel that they seem more beautiful the closer you get to them.
Still, despite her spectacles and braces, Viktor felt that she looked quite pretty with a reserved personality based on her modest demeanor, especially her clothing, which was a fluffy sweatshirt and pajamas.
He already guessed that she must be Sayana, Umi's daughter, especially seeing her pale green eyes. But he wondered how she got such exotic colored hair since he had never seen one naturally having such color, nor does it seem like she colored it.
He then looked at Tiana, realizing that she was Taya's daughter, and felt quite complicated seeing her, knowing that this was Taya's child.
Meanwhile, Tiana was still looking at Dorian with squinted eyes but didn't call for the guards anymore after hearing Sayana's warning.
Fortunately, Umi was downstairs to stop the guards or other servants from reacting to Tiana's shouts.
She knew that Tiana must have bumped into Dorian and called out an 'intruder' warning. Everyone knew Umi was basically a part of the Snow Family rather than just a 'maid'. So she had enough status to order and give instructions to other maids and guards.
"Hey, you! Are you the one whom mom mentioned she would be introducing to the whole family later on?" Tiana asked with her arms crossed as she scanned Viktor from top to bottom.
"Uh..yes...Aunt Taya was kind enough to take me in. You are her daughter, Tiana, right?" Viktor asked, his posture still a bit hunched.
Tiana wondered where this nerdy guy came from and said, "I am, but I don't remember having a cousin like you or anything. In fact, the only cousin I have is a grown-up man in his thirties but nobody anywhere near my age. How old are you again?"
Sayana was staying silent while observing Viktor quietly, having the same question as Tiana in her mind.
"I am...eighteen."
Tiana raised her brows, "Eighteen, huh? The same as us both," She said as she glanced at Sayana.
"Actually...as I said, I am a distant cousin...so the family tree could be a bit complicated, and that is why we had never met before," Viktor said as he blinked rapidly.
He then looked at Sayana and asked with a nervous smile, "And you are..."
Sayana said with a slight smile, "I am Sayana. Pleased to meet you. I never knew Tia had a cousin as young as you."
Viktor dryly smiled as he lightly brushed his side hair and said with a subtle peek, "Pleased to meet you as well."
Tiana was about to ask more questions when an aged voice sounded from behind, "Hmm, Dorian, is it?"
Viktor turned around and saw Brad wearing a grey cardigan over a shirt with beige pants walking towards him with a stick in his hand.
Viktor raised his eyebrows seeing that he had aged quite well, considering that he should be 80 years old now.
Brad found it hard to suppress his excitement and nervousness in seeing Viktor again and felt it quite weird to see him dressed and behaving like a college boy.
Still, he kept up appearances for both their sakes and talked to him just like how a senior talks to a junior.
However, seeing that he was back made Brad feel as if his family was shielded by an impenetrable fortress.
Viktor smiled as he greeted, "Good afternoon, Uncle Snow. I am honored to meet you," He said with a bow.
Brad felt quite flustered seeing Viktor bowing to him like a junior and couldn't help but quickly raise him up, "No need for all such courtesy. After all, you are family now. Isn't that right, Dorian Grey?"
Viktor nodded with an overwhelmed smile, "Yes...thank you, Uncle."
Viktor had decided to let his cover name be Dorian Grey, with the difference being in his surname only. Even though only Taya and a very few knew his true name, Viktor Dorian, he decided to go with this name since nobody else knew his surname 'Dorian'.
Tiana still had a confused expression, feeling that things were happening too fast, and when did her mother even know about this guy when she herself didn't know?
Sayana continued to observe Dorian silently, feeling that the more she observed, the more something about him seemed mystifying though she couldn't understand why.
Tiana was also surprised that her grandfather, who usually was serious or cold to strangers or unfamiliar people, was surprisingly warm and nice to Dorian, just like how he treats her.
It seemed as if a grandpa was talking to his long-lost grandson.
"Guys, it's time for lunch. Come down fast," Umi called out from the ground floor.
"Okay, children. Let's go eat and talk further," Brad said as he went downstairs with the other three.
In the dining hall, which was just near the open kitchen as well, Umi and some other maids were preparing some dishes while some maids were busy arranging the cutleries and plates on the dinner table.
Viktor loved how elegant and classy the dining hall looked with both classic and modern components built into an open kitchen and dining room space.
Clean-cut furniture in subtle hues was complimented by the stainless steel appliances of the custom kitchen.
With a breakfast bar and functional kitchen, Viktor felt that even a party or some social gathering could be conducted here.
As soon as everyone saw Brad and the other family members coming, the maids quickly arranged everything and stood back with their backs as they bowed.
Viktor felt like he was back in the medieval times, experiencing palace life seeing the line of maids standing around, with the only difference being everything else looked modern.
Taya and Eva came towards the dining hall and saw that everyone else was there, while Viktor was surprised to see Eva joining them.