The Mistress Is Reborn As The Fiancée
Chapter 36: An Entitled Monster

Chapter 36: An Entitled Monster

The grand dining hall, once a scene of strained civility, emptied with a palpable sigh of relief with everyone going to their different sections of the house. Grandma Jia’s pronouncement, delivered with the serene authority that only years of wielding power could bestow, had shattered the fragile veneer of composure. The air, thick with unspoken resentment and thinly veiled curiosity, dispersed as the family members retreated to their respective corners of the sprawling mansion.

They were not pleased with the announcement but they were wise to keep their lips sealed until they got to the privacy of their rooms where they could moan and complain.

Vernon, however, did not follow the others. He trailed his mother, his footsteps echoing softly on the polished marble floors, until they reached the sanctuary of her private wing. The ornate doors, heavy and imposing, closed behind them, sealing them away from the prying eyes of the household.

He watched as his mother settled into her chair and was handed a cup of tea by her maid. He waited impatiently for her to leave and when she made no signs of moving away, he glared at her.

"Get out!" He demanded rudely to Rose.

"You have no authority to order Rose around, you forget where you are." Grandma Jia snapped.

"I have to go and check on the gardeners before they fix the roses in the wrong places." Rose interrupted quickly, sending that if she did not intervene it would turn to a shouting match between mother and son.

She wished that she could stay and protect her mistress from her foul and mean son, but staying would cause more problems. When she backed out of the room, Vernon narrowed his gaze at his mother.

"Why do you always have to treat me that way in front of that servant?" He demanded. "She is going to think it’s okay to not respect me."

"That servant as you call her practically raised you." Jia said firmly. "Moreover, nothing points out a person’s character more than how they treat their help."

She looked with disappointment at her son and wondered for the umpteenth time where she had gone wrong.

’Yes, I was too busy working to rebuild the family’s legacy to pay enough attention to my children. It is all my fault that my so has turned has out out to be an entitled monster."

Vernon glared at her and wanted to remind her that they paid the servants, they were there to serve them. Who cared if their feelings were hurt by some scolding? He reminded himself to stay on the topic that had led him to his mother’s wing.

"Mother," he began, his voice a low rumble of barely contained frustration, "what exactly are you thinking? It is bad enough that you have given that stranger shares so quickly, but to appoint him in the company too?"

Grandma Jia, seated in her favorite armchair, a delicate porcelain teacup resting in her lap, regarded him with a serene smile. "Thinking? Why, Vernon, I was merely stating the obvious. Flynn is now part of our family, and as such, he deserves a place within our company."

"A place?" Vernon scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "You gave him a position of considerable influence. We know nothing about him, Mother. He could be anyone. He could be after our money."

Grandma Jia chuckled, a soft, melodic sound that belied the steel beneath her gentle demeanor. "Ah, Vernon, this is the son I know. I was beginning to wonder if you had lost your fire. I was quite surprised you did not throw a tantrum at the dinner table."

Vernon’s face flushed, a mixture of embarrassment and indignation. "Mother, this is not a matter for jest. We are talking about the future of our company, our family. We cannot just entrust such a position to a complete stranger."

"A stranger?" Grandma Jia raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp. "He is your niece’s husband. Your father and I built this company from the ground up after its collapse. I know how to judge character. I believe Flynn is honest. And in the end, my opinion is all that matters. After all, I am the majority shareholder."

"But Mother—" Vernon began, his voice rising in protest, but Grandma Jia cut him off with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Enough, Vernon. I have made my decision. You may leave now."

"Father would never have accepted this!" Vernon exclaimed in frustration, "He wanted me to lead the company, me! His son and firstborn!"

Jia carefully dropped her teacup and squarely faced her son. "That is not true, Vernon." She said, her voice soft but clear. "Your father would never have trusted you with the company. Your sister would have been his likely choice, not you."

Vernon, his face flushed with anger and frustration, clenched his jaw. He hesitated for a moment, stunned at his mother’s comment then he abruptly turned to leave. He knew better than to argue with his mother when she had made up her mind. Her word was law, her authority absolute. He stormed out of the room, the heavy doors slamming shut behind him, leaving Grandma Jia in the quiet solitude of her private chambers.

Once Vernon was gone, Rose, Grandma Jia’s loyal and long-serving maid, emerged from the shadows, her face etched with concern. "Mistress," she said, her voice soft and hesitant, "are you certain that this is wise? The family is already... tense. This announcement will only exacerbate the situation."

Grandma Jia sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the beautiful view of the garden outside her window. The light shone on her face, highlighting the delicate lines etched by time and experience.

"Rose," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "I have lived a long life. I have seen the best and the worst of humanity. I have learned to trust my instincts, to see beyond the surface. I believe that Flynn is a good man, a man of integrity."

"But Mistress, we know nothing of his past," Rose persisted, her voice filled with worry. "He could be hiding something. He could be dangerous to the family and Vernon is definitely not going to be happy about this"

"We all have secrets, Rose," Grandma Jia said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "Some secrets are meant to protect, others to deceive. I believe Flynn’s secrets, whatever they may be, are not meant to harm us."

She paused, her gaze drifting to the window, where the moon hung suspended in the inky sky. "I have watched my family drift apart, consumed by greed and ambition. I have seen the bonds of kinship weaken, replaced by suspicion and resentment. I will not allow my legacy to be tarnished by such pettiness. I will not allow my granddaughter to be trapped in a loveless marriage, a pawn in their power games and i will not let Vernon have the power over the family."

Rose nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. She had served Grandma Jia for decades, witnessing her strength, her wisdom, her unwavering devotion to her family. She knew that her mistress’s decisions were never made lightly, that they were always guided by a deep sense of purpose.

"Mistress," Rose said, her voice filled with admiration, "you have always been a beacon of strength for this family. I have no doubt that you will guide us through these troubled times."

Grandma Jia smiled, a faint flicker of warmth in her eyes. "Thank you, Rose. Your loyalty is a comfort to me."

She sighed, her gaze returning to the fire. "I know that my decision will cause many ripples, perhaps even storms. But I believe that in the end, it will bring us closer, it will strengthen the bonds that have been weakened by time and circumstance. I believe that Flynn is the key to our salvation. My Areum needs someone exactly like him and I will arm him to protect her."

She fell silent, her thoughts drifting to the young man who had so unexpectedly entered their lives. She had seen something in him, something that others had missed. A quiet strength, a deep sense of loyalty, a hidden vulnerability that resonated with her own experiences.

She had seen the way he looked at her granddaughter, with a tenderness and devotion that spoke of a love that transcended mere attraction. She had seen the way he treated her, with respect and admiration, as an equal, not as a possession.

She knew that her family was skeptical, even hostile. They saw him as an outsider, a threat to their established order. But she believed that he was exactly what they needed, a catalyst for change, a force for good.

She closed her eyes, a sense of peace settling over her. She had made her decision, and she would stand by it, regardless of the consequences. She trusted her instincts, her judgment, her unwavering belief in the power of love and redemption.