Chapter 45
Lloyd’s focus zeroed in on Silas when the chat veered toward his grandson.
Dressed in a sleek black silk shirt, Silas lounged on the couch with one leg slung over the other, exuding an air of authority and mystery, his demeanor as untouchable as it was inscrutable.
ཌ་འཁོ་རྟེན་ཕར
Wayne’s eyes, glinting with a teasing glimmer, met Lloyd’s, leaving Lloyd baffled by his unexpected query. After a beat of consideration, Lloyd let out a gruff chuckle and nodded. “Yeah.”
+13
Given the stature of Wayne and Silas, and their unannounced visit to the Duncan residence that late, mentioning his grandson, Lloyd was sure they weren’t there for a friendly chat over coffee.
His eyes, a bit misty with age, shifted as he pulled himself up straight. In a voice that carried weight, he said, “Fellas, you didn’t pop by this late for small talk. Let’s get down to brass tacks.”
Silas remained silent, as still as a statue. Wayne’s lips tugged into a half–smile, his charming yet cold eyes boring into Lloyd. “Lloyd, are you in the dark about your grandson’s reckless stunts behind the wheel, putting lives at risk?”
Lloyd was “off guard. “Mr. Garcia, your insinuation is lost on me.”
Silas rose and slid his hands into his pockets. His tall frame exuded a chilling aura as his voice lowered, saying, “No one likes a pretender. Mr. Duncan, I’m here to tell you. Lenore is under my wing.” With that, he pivoted and strode out.
The revelation left Chuck dumbfounded, and even Wayne’s eyes flickered with surprise. Wayne pondered if Silas, the aristocratic prince, had genuine feelings for Lenore.
On the verge of following, Wayne seemed to recall something and shot Lloyd a mischievous grin. “Word to the wise. Keep a tighter leash on your grandson, or he might just take down the whole family without you ever seeing it coming.”
Lenore? Which Lenore?‘ Lloyd wondered, but before he could voice his confusion, they had already exited the living room.
The oppressive air cleared, and Lloyd snapped into action, barking orders at his butler, “Find out what Carlos has been up to these days.”
Janet, an art school student, returned home after a dance practice session. Spotting a few individuals leaving the Duncan residence and climbing into a Volkswagen by the curb, she noticed one man in particular, stunningly handsome, outshining the world around him.
Janet paused, recognizing him from Culinary Ascent a few nights back, where he seemed acquainted with Lenore.
With a spark in her eyes, Janet entered the yard and the living room, oblivious to Lloyd’s somber expression, and she casually inquired, “Grandpa, who were those men?”
She had questioned Esther about them, but Esther was clueless. Wayne was a stranger to her, and Carlos had never mentioned him.
Janet, known for her gentle and understanding nature, caught Lloyd’s attention, softening his features slightly. He replied gently, “Silas, the heir to the Faulkner family from Denisville, and Wayne, a scion of the Garcia family, one of the four great families.”
Janet’s eyes widened in shock. “The Silas from the Faulkner family in Denisville?”
A common saying online about the Faulkner family went, “There might be many Faulkners worldwide, but only one in Denisville.”
Among them, the most enigmatic was Silas, the heir. His reputation was notorious, yet no one had witnessed him in action, and his name was seldom spoken aloud.
‘Incredibly, this man is indeed the heir to Denisville’s Faulkner family! As rumored, he’s breathtakingly handsome, otherworldly! But what’s his connection to someone like Lenore?‘ Janet thought, her eyes gleaming with covetous fascination.
At that moment, the butler stepped in and murmured something to Lloyd.
Lloyd’s face darkened as he heard the butler’s words. He clutched his cane, his eyes flashing with anger. “Drag that good–for–nothing back here!”
The following morning, as Lenore entered school, all eyes were on her, filled with strange and unsettling looks.
“After hitting Carlos, she’s got the nerve to show up at school. Does she have a death wish?”
“She’s truly from a small town. Her ignorance can be deadly!”
