“How dare you talk about my mother like that?” Tedmond demanded, pinning Max against the table.
No matter how much they had talked about him, he hadn’t retaliated, but today they had gone too far. No one could talk about his mother now. That might have been possible in the past, but not anymore.
“What are you doing?” Maxine questioned. “How dare you hit your elder brother?”
Glaring back at her, Tedmond snarled, “You think of him as my elder brother now, don’t you? Why didn’t you say something when I was being insulted?” He released Max and stepped closer to Maxine.
Maxine trembled but stood her ground. ‘How can that bastard get so strong in just a day?’ she wondered. However, she quickly regained her composure.
“Why are you doing this to him when he just asked if you could afford to eat at the restaurant?!” Maxine yelled, switching the topic as fast as she could to make herself look less bad. “We all know you’ve been kicked out of the family without a penny! How can you afford to eat here?”
A smirk crossed her face as she spoke. “Isn’t that right? He was just offering to lend you some money so you could afford to eat here, and you insulted him!”
Tedmond paused, his glare unwavering. He wasn’t surprised she would say that. If the four boys couldn’t afford the restaurant, they wouldn’t have invited him.
‘So he can’t pay for the food here?’ someone from the crowd murmured. ‘I just heard him say his mother was a maid in their house.’
‘He’s not even grateful that they cared about him, even though he’s just the son of a maid who served them.’
Max rose to his feet, rubbing his face, which had been injured from being slammed against the table. Blood dripped from his face, staining his white shirt. Lisa hurriedly brushed past Tedmond and held Max.
“Are you alright?” Lisa asked Max before turning to glare at Tedmond. “How dare you hit Max? Who do you think you are? Are you jealous that I chose him instead of you? So jealous that you followed us here! You must’ve known he’d ask if you could afford to eat here!”
The murmurs filled the place.
‘That’s two people who have said the same thing. Why is he here if he can’t pay?’
‘We should kick him out.’
‘Where’s the security?’
Maxine grinned widely as she stepped closer to Tedmond. “You’ll be thrown out of this place like the trash you are.”
“Where’s the owner? I’d like to meet him!” Tedmond yelled.
Max, Maxine, and Lisa stared at him, eyes wide in shock and disbelief. But the moment of surprise was short-lived as laughter erupted around them. All three burst into laughter.
“You?!” Maxine mocked. “How can you ask to meet the owner of this restaurant?”
“Is that a joke or something?” Lisa asked. “You and I both know you couldn’t afford to buy me a meal here, even after saving up for three months. Who are you trying to fool?”
“Do you think doing this makes you look cool?” Max questioned, stepping closer to Tedmond. “Why would the owner of the restaurant come here in person?”
“You must be daydreaming.”
“What do you want to meet the owner for?” Maxine demanded, her lips curling in a mocking smile.
Tedmond returned her grin. “What else would I want to meet him for, except to ban the Griffin family from this restaurant?”
Hearing his words, Maxine’s grin widened. “Ban us from the restaurant?” She laughed. “How can someone like you convince the CEO to do that? Who do you think you are?”
Lisa was amused by his audacity to tell such a lie. Max, on the other hand, grinned from ear to ear.
“I’ll wait to see if the owner shows up for you!” he yelled. “You’re delusional! Has kicking you out of the house affected your mental health? Doesn’t living on the streets do that?”
Tedmond shook his head before pulling out his phone. He dialed the housekeeper’s number. Curious eyes lingered on him as he spoke.
“Tell the owner of Hans Restaurant to meet me here,” Tedmond ordered. “Give him ten minutes, or he won’t want to know what happens.”
“Okay,” Thomas replied.
The murmurs around the place increased as Tedmond ended the call.
“Did you just make a fake call?” Maxine taunted. “I didn’t know you’d stoop so low to get our attention.”
Just then, the manager hurried into the restaurant, his gaze trailing from Tedmond to Max.
“What’s happening here?” the manager questioned. “I was informed by an employee that someone here wants to meet the owner. If we’ve done anything to offend you, I’ll offer compensation.”
Max gritted his teeth. “Don’t you recognize me?” he growled at the manager.
Hearing Max’s voice, the manager was stunned. “Ah, Mr. Griffin! What happened to your face? Who did this to you?”
Max smiled, pointing his finger at Tedmond. “He did it. He punched me when I tried to pay for his meal. He can’t afford to eat here but tries to act all boastful.”
The manager’s head snapped in Tedmond’s direction. “Who are you? How dare you hit Mr. Griffin, and why are you here if you can’t afford to pay for our food?!”
Tedmond frowned. “Hey! Do you want to lose your job?” he threatened. “Why don’t you find out what happened before you judge?”
The manager flinched under Tedmond’s gaze and scanned him from head to toe. Seeing that Tedmond had no luxury on him, he concluded Tedmond was a nobody compared to Max.
“How dare you? I don’t need to know what transpired between you two! You’re a lowlife; you’re probably at fault!” the manager yelled. “Are you threatening me? Do you know who Mr. Griffin is?!”
Tedmond shrugged. “He’s just my former half-brother. Now, I don’t have someone as stupid as him as my brother.”
“Half-brother?” The manager paused, his eyes darting between Tedmond and Max. ‘They don’t look alike.’
Max glared at the manager. “Are you not doing your job? That boy is only a bastard! Kick him out, or you’ll be fired!”
The manager didn’t hesitate to call security, and when they arrived, he ordered, “Throw him out of the restaurant, and he is hereby banned!”
The security headed for Tedmond, but he began counting. “I told the owner of this restaurant to arrive in ten minutes.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “He’ll be here in three, two, one…"
As soon as Tedmond finished counting, the others hadn't had time to react when the door of the restaurant swung open. A man in a tailored creamy suit hurried in, followed by three others, with sweat dripping down his forehead.
Everyone’s gaze turned to the man who had just walked in, and the security guards froze in their tracks.
“What is going on?” Max demanded, glaring at the manager. “Throw him out!”
Blood drained from the manager’s face as he stared at the man. “He really came!” he yelled. “The owner of the restaurant is really here! How is that possible? I messed up!”
Latest Chapter
CHAPTER 718
Back in the main room, a heavy vibration shook the floorboards.It wasn't an explosion, but the rhythmic, low-frequency thrum of powerful engines."That's them," Tedmond said, his posture snapping into military straightness. He tapped his comms. "Thomas, Albert. Tell me you're on the roof.""Landing gear is down, Boss!" Thomas’s voice crackled through, nearly drowned out by the roar of rotors. "But we’re picking up heat signatures on the treeline.”“The Syndicate is sending a clean-up crew! They don't know who’s in here, but they’ve been ordered to level the structure. You have five minutes before this place becomes a crater!"Tedmond’s eyes widened. He spun toward the back suites. "Mother! Ivy! We’re out of time!"**Down the quiet hallway, away from the roaring vibration of the rooftop engines, the air was thick with the scent of old paper and ozone.Ivy moved with mechanical precision, her hands steady on the handles of the motorized chair, but her eyes remained fixed on the wom
CHAPTER 717
"Just get here, Albert," Tedmond said, a playful glint returning to his tired eyes. "I think you’ve had enough bad news for one night. It’s time you had something worth seeing.""Understood, young master," Thomas chimed in, sounding breathless. "We were already on our way, actually. When the response pings stopped, and we saw no movement from the Syndicate's heavy units, we figured you were either dead or winning. We chose to bet on winning. We're crossing the treeline now."Tedmond nodded to the empty air, a genuine smile breaking through his fatigue. "I should have guessed you’d be on your way without orders. It’s fine. In fact, for once, your lack of patience is exactly what I need."He cut the comms and looked up at the group. "You heard the butler. They’re already in the air. Let's not keep them waiting."Millicent shifted slightly in her chair, her regal gaze sweeping over the room. Despite her stillness, her authority remained unshakable. She looked up at Tedmond, a small, k
CHAPTER 716
Tedmond realized that even if he had been there, the building would have still collapsed. The outcome wouldn't have changed; he likely would have died beside Clara, leaving the others with no one to lead them home. She had given her life so the rest could stand here now."She did her job, Lottie," Tedmond said, his voice dropping to a whisper that felt like a steadying hand. "She made sure you got to me. And I will make sure the world remembers why."Lottie froze as Millicent reached for her. She had expected the woman to stand, to tower over her with the same intimidating grace as Tedmond, but Millicent didn't move. Instead, she gestured for Lottie to lean in closer.It was only then that Lottie noticed the sleek, silent motorized chair Millicent was settled into, partially hidden by the long, flowing silk of her robes. The ‘Missing Miss’ of the Washington line wasn't standing because she couldn't; her legs remained still, a silent testament to the ‘Purge’ that had supposedly cla
CHAPTER 715
Tedmond rubbed his face with his hands, his shoulders dropping as he recognized Lottie, Hugo, and the others. He let out a long, weary breath that seemed to carry the weight of an entire decade."I sleep so little these days, Mother," Tedmond rasped, his voice thick with fatigue. "The world doesn't stop turning just because I’m tired. And tonight... tonight the world finally moved in the direction I wanted."He looked up at Lottie, his gaze softening as he took in the mud and blood staining her clothes. "You're back. You're actually back.""Hello to you, too," Lottie said softly, her voice echoing in the sterile quiet.Tedmond’s gaze swept over the battered group. Despite the dark circles under his eyes, a flicker of genuine warmth passed over his features. "I’m glad you’re all okay. I wasn't sure the extraction would hold."Lottie took a breath, trying to summon her old spark of defiance. She straightened her spine, pulling away from Hugo’s support just an inch. "I told you, Ted
CHAPTER 714
Hearing that, a slight frown creased Lottie’s face.She wiped a stray drop of mud from her forehead, her mind spinning.“Where is Tedmond?” she demanded, her voice rising. “Is he okay? Is he even inside the perimeter?”Marek’s grin softened into something more conspiratorial. He hopped onto the decaying log Caleb had used for cover, balancing perfectly on the slick bark. “Oh, Tedmond is perfectly fine. Better than fine, actually. He’s exactly where he needs to be to ensure the Syndicate burns from the inside out.”“Then where is he?” Hugo barked, stepping up beside Lottie and placing a defensive hand on her shoulder. “If he’s not here, where the hell is he?”Marek leaned forward, whispering as if sharing a state secret. “He’s at the manor. He’s currently having tea… with his mother.”The silence that followed was absolute.Lottie’s heart skipped. Her breath hitched, and she felt the blood drain from her face for the hundredth time that night. Beside her, Hugo froze, his grip tigh
CHAPTER 713
Lottie’s boot struck Caleb’s chest one final time, a breathless exhale of a decade’s worth of fear.Caleb lay broken, a pathetic heap of white hair and ruined pride, wheezing in the dirt. He looked up at Lottie, eyes pleading for a mercy she no longer possessed.Ivy stepped forward, the silver wire humming between her hands like a funeral dirge.She didn’t look at Caleb. She looked at Lottie.“You’ve reclaimed your soul, Little Hawk. Now let me finish the housekeeping.”With a flick of her wrist, the monofilament wire lashed out.It didn’t miss.It didn’t hesitate.It wrapped around Caleb’s throat with the finality of a closing door.Ivy pulled once, a sharp, surgical jerk, and the Gatekeeper of the Syndicate went still, his eyes forever fixed on the forest canopy he had failed to conquer.She retracted the wire, the silver strand sliding back into her sleeves. For a moment, she stood over the body, blood drying on her cheek into a dark, jagged mask.Lottie trembled, chest heaving a
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