“Hah, haha.” Fredric faked a laugh while he wondered if someone like William was considered the lower limit of a human’s low intelligence.Despite that, he had to go along with him. “Yeah, Zephyr will definitely do that. You’ll pocket another large amount by then!”William was triumphant and took another sip of tea.“But… Mr. Jenner, the Jenner Group really shouldn’t be closing down when you’re so good at planning!”William was immediately appalled. “That was a careless mistake!”“But you should have a good sum of money with you!”“You… How did you know?” William put his guard up right away.Fredric had always been a brilliant hunter in collecting evidence. He could make his prey fall into his trap step by step.“Mr. Jenner, with the relationship I share with Mr. Yale, he told me about you long ago. Back when the Irwin heiress, Xyla Irwin, left Southeast Aciatic and went to Jangasas, you purposely took her home, right?”William went stiff upon hearing this and stared at Fredri
“This… This is…” William turned pale and could not even finish a full sentence.He stared at Cordelia and Zephyr like he had seen a ghost, who came out of the room, and nearly slumped down as if life was sucked out of him.He looked at Fredric in horror and asked shakily, “Mr. Constable, w-what’s going on!?”Fredric smiled and pulled the recording pen out of his pocket to pass it to Zephyr. He then turned to William and replied in the tone of a lawyer on duty, “You have the right to remain silent right now. Everything you say will be presented as evidence in court!”William’s eyes nearly fell off.“Well done! You… You worked together to trick me!”“Trick you? Or because you’re too dumb!?” Cordelia stepped up and stared at him coldly.She had nearly failed to hold herself up in the small room when she listened to the filthy and abominable things William had confessed to just now. Zephyr was fortunate to be by her side, and his embrace became her haven. As she hid there, she could
William was on the floor, supporting himself on his hands as he retreated on the cement floor.It took everything within Rowan to hold back his urge to kill him.“W-What do you want?” William’s voice was shaky. “Rowan Irwin… lynching is illegal!”“Lynching?” Rowan snickered. “You’re not worth my effort! Hah, even if I do that, I’m breaking Centrolis’ law, but I’m from Southeast Aciatic!”“You…”“Don’t worry, Mr. Jenner!” Rowan gritted each word through his teeth. “This is not some lynching. On the contrary, I’ve heard that you’ve not been feeling well after going bankrupt and often feel dizzy and have high blood pressure… I’m here specifically to treat you!”As soon as he said that, thin and long silver needles glinted in his hand. Rowan’s eyes were surging with resentment. There was never a moment like now where he hoped to use everything he had learned to kill someone.His hands had cured the injured and saved the dead. They had given countless people hope. At this moment, tho
Letting a person live lucidly in pain for the rest of their life was the biggest punishment.Rowan wiped his hand with a smirk. He took one last look at William and left quietly.…The early morning sun spilled through the memorial hall’s traditional window and shone on the portraits of the Hamerton ancestors.Many servants were crowding the door as they looked inside in worry. With the dull thud and an abrupt fall of a figure, they gasped and rushed in.“Mr. Matthew fainted! Mr. Matthew fainted!”“Go get Mr. Clark!Clark came over with some other men to take care of the incident and relayed it to Liam with a solemn face.Matthew had stayed on his knees in the memorial hall for one whole day without food or water and finally succumbed in the morning.Liam’s brows were furrowed as he tapped his dragon-headed cane on the floor, a cold gleam flashing across his eyes.After some time, he got up and strode briskly to Matthew’s place.Matthew was having chicken soup when he heard
Liam paused and looked at Matthew coldly.“Why? Do you think I’ll watch Yale drag the whole Hamertons down and do nothing?”Matthew was baffled.“Compared to stealing, justice over family is far nobler!”With that, Liam shook Matthew off and left. Before Matthew could react, his mind blanked as he watched his father leave quickly.…After a plunge in temperature, Centrolis got to welcome a rare, nice winter day.The mist cleared, and the sky recovered its blue. An unanticipated light drizzle of snow covered the city in a dust of beautiful silver. The air smelled fresh and crisp.Cordelia swept the snow in the yard and made cute snowmen from it.When she was done, Zephyr hugged her from the back and wrapped her icy, red hands in his to warm them up.“What do you think? Pretty, aren’t they?” Cordelia was triumphant.“Of course.” Zephyr smiled gently.It felt great now. The storm was over, the sky was azure blue, the winter sun was warm, and he and Cordelia were making snowm
“Mm.” Cordelia nodded. “I heard it from mom. Think there are a lot of people invited.”“Yeah, other than everyone in the family, there are also those who are closer to us from the three major families. Fredric and Seth will be attending too. They’re both very important guests.”Zephyr lowered his head to rub their noses together. “Of course, the main purpose of this dinner is to celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Irwin!”…Hamerton Manor was merrily filled with guests come weekend.Liam was a traditionalist, but he had hosted a sophisticated event this time, an exception, to cater to the younger generation.Fredric was a huge contributor to the matter and was the Hamertons’ VIP. In addition to being a famous lawyer in Centrolis and an eligible bachelor, he became the center of attention.Zephyr’s female cousins, who made a long trip here, surrounded Fredric, so the latter did not even have the chance to take a bite.Seth kept Zennie company, but the little princess wore a constant pout. Th
Zephyr had already scolded Rowan over a thousand times in his mind. Despite what was brewing in him, he dared not express his rage verbally and could only ask Cordelia softly, “Really?”Cordelia nodded. “My mom’s lived in Southeast Aciatic all her life. There’s no fault in it that she wants to return to her hometown and settle there, right?”“Well… yes.” Zephyr could only go along with what she said.“Southeast Aciatic’s traditional and reserved. Carter and I are both Irwins, so we have to reunite and restore our identities, right?”Zephyr licked his lips and continued to nod. “Mm… that’s true.”Cordelia could not help giggling and patted his suit. “So, I’ll go back with my parents. You be good here—”“What!?”Before she finished, Zephyr’s raised voice interrupted her.Cordelia looked innocent. “You don’t want to let me leave?”“Of course!”“Then… come along with me?”Zephyr froze and met Cordelia’s playful eyes.She said with a chuckle, “Darling, didn’t you say that it’s y
Hamerton men were great—except that they caved as soon as it was their wife.It was said that the Hamerton ancestors were high-ranking generals, noblemen, and scholars who were ruthless and iron-willed outside, but they were at their wives’ beck and call once they got home, indulging the women to no end.Nicholas had once said that paranoia was passed down in the Hamertons. Actually, it was loving their wives that was etched in their genes.Cordelia said softly, “Darling, see? Mom agrees too!”Zephyr raised a brow. “Mom agrees but grandpa? Grandpa—”“Zephyr.” Liam’s expression was relatively solemn as he walked over from the crowd.Cordelia was a little embarrassed as she tugged Zephyr’s sleeve and shook her head at him. Her intention was to joke with him, but she would be shooting herself in the foot if she upset the old man.“Grandpa, don’t misunderstand!” Cordelia smiled. “I’m just mentioning this in passing to Zephyr…”“How could something so big be mentioned in passing!?”