Chapter 49
Lloyd’s voice was shaky with a mix of respect and nerves. If one listened closely, one could hear the fear lurking beneath his words.
+13
He was a man from the high–and–mighty Duncan family of Jinslenburg, a big shot in 319 Biomedical Engineering, and a name that rang bells in the global bio–community–kind of a scientist.
No one had ever seen him this low, begging for forgiveness. The room went dead silent, and even Silas and Wayne looked stunned.
Carlos, cradling his sore hand, pushed himself off the floor, his face a canvas of shock. “Grandpa, this jerk hit me. Why are you saying sorry to her? You…” But he didn’t get to finish.
Lloyd lashed out, kicking him square and baring his teeth. “You wanna bring down the Duncan family? Then keep your trap shut and play nice!”
“Grandpa…” Carlos had taken hits from Lloyd before, but never with this kind of heat. He wanted to fight back, but one look at Lloyd’s laser–sharp stare and he just covered up and clammed up.
Lloyd turned to Lenore, his words coated in caution. “Ms. Smedley, my grandson’s been spoiled rotten. I’m sorry on his account. Maybe…”
Lenore, with a tilt of her head and a sparkle in her eyes, cut him off. “I could forgive him, but…”
Lloyd paused, catching her drift, and he ventured, “What he pulled was messed up, but it’s not a death sentence. Would it help if you… Laid into him again?”
Lenore gave a slow shake of her head, a devilish smirk playing on her mouth. “He actually expected me to kneel and say sorry to him…”
She let the words hang, but Lloyd got the message. Without hesitation, he spun, grabbed Carlos by the collar, and hauled him in. “Apologize to Ms. Smedley,” he ordered, his voice deep and firm.
“Grandpa?” Carlos said, sure he’d heard wrong.
“Apologize when I say so!” Lloyd snapped, not explaining a thing. He kicked the back of Carlos’s knees, dropping him to his knees in front of Lenore, and then he pushed his head down.
Only after Carlos bowed did Lloyd let go. “Ms. Smedley, what do you think…” he started to say, but Lenore raised an eyebrow, cutting him off. “Seems like something’s missing, doesn’t it?”
Lloyd’s expression turned to stone, but Lenore had this aura about her that filled the room, leaving no space for fury and kicked Carlos again, his voice sharp as a whip. “Speak up,” he snapped.
gument. He choked down his
Never witnessing Lloyd like this, and with Silas and Wayne of the Faulkner family backing Lenore, Carlos gritted his teeth and told Lenore, “I was wrong.”
It was a grudging admission, his eyes searing with a hatred that could’ve incinerated Lenore, and his voice was strained like he was forcing it through a lockjaw.
Lenore just laughed it off. “You should’ve been this honest from the start,” she said. Then, without even a glance at Troy, she pivoted and left.
Silas and Wayne shared a look, tamping down their curiosity, and trailed after Lenore.
It wasn’t until the coast was clear that Troy snapped out of it. The whole thing felt like a trip, and he fumbled for his voice. “Mr. Duncan, you…”
“Mr. Smedley,” Lloyd interrupted, his politeness almost obsequious. “This was on us. Ms. Smedley straightening out my grandson was fair game. Can’t entertain you today.” He called for the butler. “Show the guest out.”
Troy felt like he was floating as he was steered out of the Duncan residence, his mind a blur of confusion. He’d come with Lenore to make amends with the Duncan family, only to see them making amends with Lenore,
Lloyd actually bowed and apologized to Lenore? No way, right? What’s really going on?‘ he thought.
With everyone gone and the door shut, Carlos finally spoke up, indignation lacing his words. “Grandpa, you made me bow down to some nobody, just because of the Faulkner family’s heir. You’re spitting on the Duncan family’s pride. You…”
“What are you on about?” Lloyd hit him with his cane again, his expression turning stormy. “Am I scared of the Faulkner family’s heir?”
Carlos dodged and stood his ground, retorting stubbornly, “So you’re afraid of that nobody?”
1/2
Extra Check–in
Vouchers
Ad–Free Reading
Exclusive Profile
Dodge
12:03 PM
Chapter 49
“You…” Lloyd looked at his disappointing grandson, leaning on his cane for support and taking a deep breath, his sunken eyes full of gravity. “Lenore’s got connections that even the Faulkner family of Denisville can’t afford to mess with!”
2/2
AD
