Yours, Until Needed
Chapter 128: Dog

Chapter 128: Dog

The stance of the guards further electrified the tension.

They were indeed not subservient to the Thornhills and could not care less about their status.

Lucian said he would ensure we had sufficient guards, but I don’t think he would have this many.

What exactly was he expecting? A turf war?

But that didn’t matter. What mattered was when he came down with his men, he brought with him fresh air that I had been needing since earlier.

It was stifling being with these people. But Lucian seemingly purified the air just by walking towards me.

"What happened to waiting outside?" I asked teasingly but clung to his cuff like a lost child.

"You took too long." Lucian looked down to see my face, and all I could do was shake my head.

"What right do you have to bring in outsiders?!" Screamed Aunt Ingrid, who still cradled her mismatched face.

"Right? Outsiders? Then I’d like to ask why we have a work colleague here with us. Unless he got himself married to Alexa?" I looked over pointedly at Nicholas, who was standing under the tree.

He didn’t really react, but the women before us looked at him with a look that screamed, "They have all the right in the world!"

"He’s a guest of the Patriarch!" Alexa roared, thinking that using the Chairman’s position would threaten everyone else.

"And? Was that supposed to change the rules of engagement? Grandma’s will had a specified list of people. And we even let it slide that you’ve invited your maternal relatives."

Seriously, was this a Thornhill gathering or her family’s reunion?

"Meanwhile, this is my husband right here. And if I’m not mistaken, it’s now you who’s trespassing? I nearly forgot that this now belonged to me." I shrugged openly, even offering them a bright smile.

Actually, they’re already damaging the well-maintained grass, and that’s making me a bit unhappy. But I’m not one to call in more damage.

If I called that out, I’d probably see the house razed the next day. For these people, if they can’t have something, then no one else can.

No wonder Grandma had that mindset.

"Ingrid, Alexa. Let’s just go." It came from behind them. It was the voice of a person that hadn’t spoken until now.

"But Father! How could we let this bitch disrespect us like this?!" Aunt Ingrid cried out, now forgetting to use proper words.

And Lucian’s eyes darkened.

"Bitch? Are you talking about yourself?" said my husband, who’s been simmering beside me.

"A dog whose only achievement in life is to birth a few creatures?"

"Hey!" I pat his arm right before the people around us could fully grasp what just came out of Lucian’s mouth.

"Don’t say that! Chester is a dog, too; that’s an insult to all dogs!"

Because it’s true, Aunt Ingrid couldn’t be a dog. That’s just too disrespectful to the innocent babies.

"Sorry, you can’t be a bitch. We’ll have to think of something more appropriate." I apologized with all the sincerity I could muster.

"Let’s just go." It was a relatively muted voice compared to everyone who murmured around us. Unexpectedly, it came from Uncle Alexander.

It was apparent they wanted to scream. But there was no way they would do that to Lucian, not when these people’s businesses were already on the brink of collapse.

"You’re just going to let them treat me like that?! I’m your wife! At least grow a backbone!"

"This is me growing a backbone."

Oh.

That was unusual coming from Uncle Alexander.

He sighed, and it was evident that he was done with all this.

"Stay there if you want. I’m leaving. Hopefully, by the time you’re done rooting yourself there, you’ll come to realize your own shortcomings."

Aldrin was smart enough to follow his father. He was the only one that managed to survive Grandma’s culling. The kid was honestly relatively innocent.

From a young age, Aunt Ingrid shipped him off to different boarding schools, claiming to want the best for him but probably only doing so because he refused to take care of a young child.

And the poor boy carried so much of these vile women’s expectations that I could see him buckling from the invisible weight.

Just like how the Chairman pinned everything on me.

"We don’t have time to watch them. Our schedules are packed. We should get going, too." I looked over to confirm with my parents, who had drastically different expressions.

How come Dad looked like he lost out on a bet while my mom was surrounded by flowers and rainbows?

I honestly didn’t like turning my back on people as vindictive as them, but for the first time, I managed to do it with this many people looking out for me.

Many of the spectators wanted to say something, their faces marred by obvious constipation. But they could not do much in front of someone like Lucian.

I really wanted to go so that I could read Grandma’s letter. I didn’t want to ruin my experience by reading it with all those animals.

"Why do you think Dad looked like that when we left?" I assumed Lucian would have an idea as he probably observed for longer.

"I’m guessing it’s because only your mother got a hit. Anyone in his position would look like that when revenge was so close yet so far."

"And Mom got a clean hit. So, if I were your Dad, I’d have the same reaction. It was unfair." Lucian elaborated on his guess.

"Damn, you’re right! I was waiting for her to grab me so I could finally send her down there, but Mom got to her first."

I’d love to throw her down, but I have martial arts trophies under my belt, and that would constitute an attack on a ’civilian.’

So, all I could do was wait.

"No. Let her hit someone else."

"That’s not nice."

"Why do I have to be nice?" Lucian looked at me pointedly, and I realized I had forgotten how his brain customarily operated.

"Yeah, fine. By the way, can a few people watch over Grandma’s properties while we settle this?"

There’s no doubt about their thoughts on Grandma’s properties, and if the lawyer had not been thorough, there would have been a considerable probability that a counterclaim would arise.

"It’s already being discussed. For one, we placed a few sensors and added surveillance to that villa."

"You did? Did you have an idea about what would happen?"

"Why, don’t tell me you didn’t? It’s not like your Grandma hasn’t been vocal about her issues with everyone else."

Always the honest character. The one who taught me about self-respect and was there to aid my confused self.

"You’re right. That would seem like a perfect move from someone like her." I smiled, remembering Grandma’s cute nagging.

"Mr. Jim, pass by the supermarket before going home."

"Hm?" I tilted my head to the side, wanting to ask about that.

"You should buy snacks and ice cream before we get home. The way you’ve been clutching that letter tells me you plan to read it at home."

Okay, fine.

He’s really cute today.