Rural Belle & Three Heirs
Chapter 35 Uncle's Might

"Hey, 'Uncle,' we young folks play basketball to stay fit. Isn't it kinda weird for you to join us?" Chloe shot Grant a playful wink, clearly signaling she didn't want him tagging along. Grant just shrugged nonchalantly. "No worries. I'll just watch quietly."

Chloe pouted at his response, and Philip, along with a few classmates, exchanged knowing glances.

Grant then proposed, "How about this? If I come to watch, I'll foot the bill for everything today. Food, drinks, it's all on me."

Their eyes lit up; the prospect of a free meal and drinks was too good to pass up.

"Sure, let's bring Chloe's uncle along. He's awesome..."

"Yeah, let's take him. He's so handsome and tall, looks like he has great stamina."

"Exactly, having someone older with us makes us feel more at ease. Uncle, we want some drinks and maybe some Japanese food for lunch."

The students, thrilled by Grant's offer, immediately surrounded him, showering him with praise and eager requests. They guided him toward the basketball court near the mall, clearly planning to take full advantage of his generosity. Chloe trailed behind, feeling exasperated. The students from Quest University really were unreliable. At the sight of money, they didn't even seem to care about her feelings.

Philip walked alongside her. Knowing Chloe well, he asked, "Who is this guy anyway?"

Chloe replied, "He's Grant, the president of the Martin Group."

"Wow, he certainly has a presence," Philip remarked, unexpectedly praising Grant.

Chloe scoffed. "So what?"

Philip continued, "Not much, but he's quite a bit older than you. If you choose him, wouldn't it be awkward for everyone to call him 'uncle' when you go out together?" Chloe rolled her eyes.

"Awkward? Seems like everyone is pretty happy calling him that," she replied, somewhat resigned.

Philip teased, "If everyone knew you might choose him as your husband, would they start calling you 'aunt'?"

His words made Chloe blush. Playfully, she raised her fist and swung it at Philip. "Philip, you're too much. I'll beat you up."

"Auntie, spare me!" Philip laughed, ducking out of the way.

The two of them joked at the back of the group. Surrounded by Chloe's classmates, Grant overheard the commotion behind him and turned to see Chloe and Philip playfully teasing each other. A shadow of jealousy darkened his expression. Soon, they arrived at the basketball court. The classmates, holding basketballs, rushed onto the court, laughing and joking. Chloe, in her sneakers and casual clothes, was ready for action, but Grant, in his leather shoes and pants, was clearly not geared for sports. He resigned himself to the stands to cheer them on.

While watching from the sidelines, Grant made a call to Stanley. After a while, as the drinks arrived, Grant asked, "Did you bring what I asked for?"

Stanley handed him a bag and inquired, "Mr. Martin, are you sure you want to play a game with these students?"

Grant nodded confidently. "Yep."

Stanley had brought a set of sportswear. After a quick change, Grant strutted onto the court, catching everyone off guard. Chloe, panting from the game, jogged over, her eyes wide with surprise. "Grantie, are you really going to play with us?" Grant nodded again. "Yep, one game."

"Can you handle it? Can you keep up?" Chloe teased, remembering how he had been expelled from her room that night.

Grant's gaze shifted to Philip, who was dominating the court. "I can beat him," he declared with confidence.

Caught up in the excitement, the classmates began cheering, "Uncle, come on! Let's have a match!"

Grant quickly joined the fray, running with surprising agility. Chloe scratched her head, puzzled. What was Grant, at his age, trying to prove by competing with her classmates?

The game commenced, and Grant quickly showed his prowess. Each time he got the ball, he aimed unerringly at Philip, who was caught off guard by the intensity. The classmates thought Grant was just bad at aiming, but Stanley, observing from the stands, knew better.

A former college basketball star, Grant had once been scouted for the national team before the family business demanded his attention. The basketball seemed an extension of his own arm, his shots precise. Any misses were deliberate, a means of settling a personal score.

Stanley shook his head in confusion. It was clear Grant was jealous of Philip getting too close to Chloe. Yet, he couldn't fathom why Grant, who had always been interested in the elegant Sophia, was now fixated on Chloe.

By the end of the game, Grant's team had lost miserably, not scoring a single point. Philip's team, however, won by a landslide. Yet, Philip was left nursing several bruises, the result of Grant's well-aimed balls.

After the game, a dazed Philip approached Chloe, rubbing his sore head. "Chloe, seriously, next time we play, let's not invite him."

Chloe wiped the sweat off her face and asked, "Why? I thought he brought good energy to the court and wasn't a hassle at all."

Philip shot her a look of disbelief. "Not a hassle? I think my head disagrees," he muttered, still wincing.