Chapter 8

Frank took a taxi to Laneville in the evening and was surprised to find Gina waiting for a while at the door.

Seeing him arrive, she promptly strode up to him and warned, "I take it you know what to say and what not to when you see the old man later."

Frank chuckled. "You really should chase me away instead if you're that worried."

"What?!" Gina glared at him, shocked that he would speak in that tone with her.

Nonetheless, Frank ignored her and strode inside.

After all, he had no reason to play nice with the rest of the Lane family now that he and Helen were divorced!

As soon as he entered, he found Henry standing there with an apron, having cooked up a storm.

"What's the occasion, sir? That's a lot of food," he said.

Henry was smiling when he saw Frank and walked up to grasp his hand. "Oh, you're here, Frankie—you'll find out soon enough."

As the pair sat down and made pleasant small talk, Gina stared fixedly at Frank, fearful that he would say what he should not.

Helen arrived soon enough and saw Frank as she had expected.

Henry was the one who arranged her marriage with Frank, so he naturally valued it greatly.

It was precisely why Helen did not tell him about her divorce.

Walking right up to Frank, she asked, "Where have you been this afternoon?"

Frank shrugged. "I have no reason to tell you, do I?"

Helen snorted, greatly upset by his attitude. "Fine, keep your secrets. I'm not bothered."

Turning toward Henry, he asked, "What's so important, Grandpa?"

Seeing that everyone was there, Henry chuckled heartily. "I just met an old comrade, and he told me that his granddaughter is working at Flora Hall. I thought it's the perfect timing to arrange for a job for Frank, and she agreed to it!"

"No," Gina snapped as soon as Henry was finished.

Frank was no longer family—why should they get him a job?

That good-for-nothing could die for all she cared!

"What?" Henry was left perplexed. "But Frank's jobless. He can't just stick to cooking and doing the laundry for Helen, can he?"

"Actually, Grandpa," Helen said just then, "I can just arrange a job for Frank at the company. You don't have to worry."

Still, Gina frowned as she pointed out, "Peter doesn't have a job either. You should worry about him more."

"Hah! I would if he doesn't goof off every other day." Henry snorted. "All he does is embarrass me… And where is he now? Why isn't he back yet?"

"Oh, he'll be here soon," Gina shrugged noncommittally. "What's the hurry?"

Bang!

The front door slammed open loudly, and they all saw Peter storming in furiously.

Seeing that Frank was there as well, he bellowed, "You b*st*rd! How dare you show your face here?! I'll kill you!"

Peter picked up a chair, ready to swing it at Frank's head!

Helen was left utterly bewildered—what had gotten into him?!

"Stop!" Henry bellowed at Peter as he promptly sprang to his feet, "You wretch! How dare you try to hit your brother-in-law?! Show some respect!"

"Brother-in-law?! Him?!" Peter snapped in disdain. "I saw him at Verdant Hotel, about to check in with some whore. I tried to stop him and he kicked me! My stomach still hurts even now!"

"What?!"

Everyone was stunned, with Gina promptly leaping up to snap at Frank, "Amazing! And here I thought you had it together, but you actually had a woman on the side!"

"I-Is that even possible?" Henry was left staring at Frank in disbelief—he knew Frank well enough to know that he was not the type who messed around!

"Why not? I saw that myself," Peter bellowed, his veins bulging over his neck.

Helen frowned and turned to level a cool glare at Frank. "Is that true?"

Frank simply smiled. "So you'd rather believe him than find out for yourself?"

He was certainly disappointed—she could deny his loyalty to her over the last three years just because of what Peter said.

He would not have felt that hurt if she had gone to the hotel to ask who that woman was or at least doubted Peter!

"I'm asking you a question," Helen coolly replied.

"Fine," Frank replied calmly. "I kicked your brother, and I was with a woman at the time."

Helen inhaled sharply—she never thought that Frank would be with another woman!

Even if they were divorced, she did not expect him to get on the rebound so soon.

He must have had an affair for a while now.

"Frank, you really disappoint me."

"Really? I do?" Frank smiled bitterly. "Then what about you and Sean Wesley? At least I'm innocent compared to you two."

When he was her husband, she kept going out with Sean frequently—had she ever considered his feelings?

"I never did anything with Sean!" Helen screamed on top of her lungs. "You're the one who went to a hotel with another woman!"

"Enough!" Henry suddenly bellowed, and everyone quieted down.

He certainly understood that there was now a rift between Helen and Frank, and he had to do something or their marriage would be ruined.

Looking between them, he said, "If you still consider me your grandfather, both of you must stop getting involved with such affairs and move in here with me."

Helen simply shrugged. "That's unnecessary, Grandfather. We're already divorced."

"What?!"

Henry froze as if thunderstruck before turning toward Frank. "Is that true?"

Frank nodded quietly—he did not want Henry to find out, but it was clearly pointless hiding it now.

"Oh…" Henry groaned and shook his head in clear disappointment.

"Please take care of yourself, Gramps. I'll visit when I can," Frank said and turned to leave—there was no point in pretending now that the truth was out.

"Did I say you can leave?!" Peter yelled—he had yet to settle the grudge of being kicked!

Smack!

Henry suddenly slapped Peter across the face and snapped, "Just leave already."

"Why did you hit me, Grandpa?!" Peter cried unhappily.

However, Henry completely ignored him and ran up to Frank, holding his arm and pleading, "Please, Frank. Give Helen another chance—give my family another chance!"

"What are you doing, Grandpa?" Helen was certainly puzzled.

Beside her, Gina folded his arms and snorted. "Gotten senile already?"

Without Frank, their family would only rise to new heights!