Chapter 100
Cheryl, who had always lived a luxurious life, regretted wearing her sky -high stilettos today. Her legs were screaming in pain after just a
while standing, and the relentless sun above was no help. She kept bending over to rub her aching knees and calves in frustration.
Reginald was having an even tougher time, the heat nearly knocking him down. He had to be helped by a servant to a nearby flower bed where he could sit and catch his breath.
That was when Liam showed up, smiling, with little Jovie and Celena in hand. The trio seemingly without a care in the world.
“Celena! Liam! You are finally back. How could you let us wait like this? Look at Grandpa. He’s practically cooked! Did you do this on purpose, Celena? I get it if you’re mad at us, but Grandpa? You’re distant, ignoring Grandpa like that!” Cheryl’s face was a mess as she spotted Celena and started yelling at her and Liam.
The rest of the Stone family chimed in with their own barrage of complaints.
“This is unacceptable! The patriarch is here, and you’re not at the door to greet him and off shopping instead?”
“And what if something happened to him at his age? Don’t you feel guilty?”
“Pfft, guilt? She’d probably be secretly celebrating! It’s just cruel. The Stone family raised her all these years, and this is how she repays us. Heartless, that’s what she is!”
Celena stood unfazed amidst the crowd’s harsh whispers, her detachment possibly born from too many similar encounters. Her attention, however, was drawn to Reginald, who sat on the flower
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bed’s edge. He clutched his cane, panting heavily, looking a lot older then.
Upon seeing Reginald’s distress, Celena released Liam’s hand and dashed to his side, pulling a tissue from her purse to dab at his forehead.
“Grandpa, I’m so sorry! I had no idea you’d actually come, or I wouldn’t have brought Jovie along…”
Slap!
Cheryl slapped Celena’s cheek, cutting her off mid-apology and causing the tissue to flutter to the ground. With a frosty glare, Cheryl spat out, “Enough with the act! Would Grandpa be suffering like this if it weren’t for you? You shameless thing, pretending like you didn’t know? I bet you did this for spite!”
Cheryl went up for another slap, but Celena, still reeling from the first, could only brace for the blow.
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However, the expected sting never came. Liam intercepted Cheryl’s mid-swing.
“Are you trying to dig your own grave?” Liam’s calm and steady voice sent a shiver down Cheryl’s spine.
Cheryl was struggling, and she could feel her anger boiling over. She snapped at Liam, “Back off, Liam! This is none of your business, so just beat it! I’m dealing with the Stone family here, and you’ve got no business butting in!”
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