CHAPTER 565: IS THAT HOW YOU SEE ME?

Samantha shook her head, "Gabriel!"

"Sowwwyyyyy! But you said it was better... I just..." He lowered his head in defeat, knowing that he had said something bad, again, though he was unsure of what that was.

She pulled Gabriel to her side, just as someone said,

"Gabriel, this kind of ’better’ meal can only be eaten by adults."

"Oh, really? Then I have to grow up fast!"

"Of course you do! Hahahahaahahahaaa!"

"Congrats, Aunt Ava and Uncle Rocky!" Samantha said, understanding what the adults were talking about and not willing to stay a minute longer. She then disappeared into the hall with him and Ingrid trailing behind, after she also whispered her congratulations in a small voice.

The crowd were still amused after the children left, and they all started to head into the place specified.

Just then, Erik, who had been hovering around, approached Ian, but was stopped by Currey,

"Is anything wrong?"

"Sorry, I handled a few people of master Brad’s orders and have just been told that they are making a ruckus at the main gate."

"His Highness should not be disturbed over something as trivial as this."

Erik was unfazed and took the slight reprimand, but he was not surprised at the way Currey addressed Ian, because he had heard it numerous times.

"Let’s go see what is going on.... "

Just as Currey and Erik pulled up at their main gate, they heard,

"Bring him out here!" an older man bellowed, his face flushed with fury, veins standing out on his forehead. "How can he bankrupt our family overnight... because of a little prank?!"

Not far off, two other families, fathers and their adult sons, stood with heads lowered, sweat running down their faces. Their eyes darted nervously between the shouting man and the gate attendant, whom they could not see.

Though the two other families shared the same sentiments, their voices remained silent; the older man’s rage was theirs in spirit, but none dared give it voice. These were the families of Brad’s friends, Mark, Luis, and Jay. They had spent a miserable night after their plans for Brad had fallen through.

To add to that, though they had invitations to the wedding, they did not have permission to enter. Their invitations had been revoked overnight, along with all privileges.

Even as they clenched their fists and ground their teeth, they could do nothing but watch, powerless, as the events unfolded without them. Brad’s audacity had struck deep—and there was no disputing it, no matter how much they seethed. He was a Thornston and could do anything he wanted.

Jay’s father was the angriest at this,

"Bring Brad out here! How can he bankrupt our family overnight... because of a little prank?!"

Before anyone could act, a sleek black car rolled to a stop. Currey and Erik stepped out. Erik looked calm, and Currey was in his usual unreadable state, impeccably dressed. His gaze swept over the older man and his entourage with the kind of indifferent precision that made their anger feel childish.

Of course, they knew Currey, and the thought that he had made an appearance made them falter in their resolve.

The older man gulped, though he tried to mask it with a forced, trembling laugh.

"Assistant Currey, you didn’t need to come here yourself for such trivialities. The young ones always fool around among themselves but th-"

"If you think it was a prank," Currey said slowly, voice low but cutting, "we can make your grown-assed children face the exact consequences. Besides, if I had handled this myself, you would not be standing here... sporting such nonsense."

He took a step closer, eyes locked on the older man, and added, "No. I give you ten seconds to send him an apology text to master Brad and get out of here. Or else..." His tone hardened, leaving no room for doubt. "You would not only have a bankruptcy to deal with. And believe me.... You do not want to be on my receiving end."

The older man’s bravado didn’t just falter this time; it was squished out like a flame, his fists clenching at his sides. He forced a nod, lips pressed into a tight line. Then slapped his son in the presence of all!

"Useless brat! You were supposed to go make friends with him, but you destroyed our family instead!"

Around him, the other fathers and sons, heads lowered and sweat dripping down their temples, dared not breathe too loudly. Silence had descended, and in that pause, the assistant’s calm authority felt more dangerous than any raised voice could have been.

Erik gave a silent thumbs-up.

’So, this is how such matters are handled? I need to learn more!’

Without a pause, Currey turned around and got back into the car, as Erik hurried to the driver’s seat.

"You are master Brad’s extension, so you should not shy away from handling things swiftly! In fact, you should ensure that you are reporting what has been done and not seeking permission to do it! That is how you succeed at your task. Also know that the Thornston family is very different from others out there, and you should tread cautiously."

As they drove off, Erik watched the people drive off in his review mirror.

Currey’s expression was still like ice. Then, ding. His phone lit up.

And just like that, the frost shattered. A slow, genuine smile tugged at his lips, his eyes softening as he read whatever message had appeared. Erik, seated beside him, blinked in disbelief. What the hell...? The sudden warmth was so at odds with the lethal tone from moments before that it was almost unnerving, as if Currey had switched into a different person entirely.

Later that evening, and after all the guests had finally left, but before their dinner, Geneva encouraged the Burnett family as well as Rocky’s friends to stay overnight.

Shelby had yet to have some time alone with her friend and brother, but at this time, they were in her cold room with Currey and Murray, as well as Suzie.

Murray knelt on the cold, polished marble floor, back straight but shoulders trembling. His palms pressed flat to the ground as though the cold stone could swallow his perceived shame.

On the chaise above him, Shelby regarded him with cool detachment, one brow arched ever so slightly.

"What did you do wrong?" Her voice was calm. Ian also looked on quietly, allowing her to handle this as Murray was her person. Though Shelby had suspected, she was quite surprised at Murray’s actions the night before.

"I... should have come to report to you," he said, forcing each word out with care. "But I prioritized my personal matters over my official assignment."

Ian, lounging in a chair nearby with a glass of wine in hand, let out a quiet scoff. "Looks like the punishment wasn’t enough."

Suzie, standing not far from Murray with her hands clasped, dipped her head lower. From the corner of his eye, Murray caught Suzie’s still figure and clenched his teeth. Yes, the night was unplanned, but he did not regret it and would gladly take any punishment for her.

Shelby, now able to read Murray’s mind actively, nodded at the new information, but she gave nothing away.

She turned her head toward Suzie, the movement slow, deliberate. "And you?" she asked, her tone unreadable.

Suzie clasped her hands together tighter, a flicker of tension in her shoulders.

"Do you all think that I am some monster somewhere? Why are your thoughts so skewed?! You want to love yourselves, that’s good news for me! I can have your attention here, since the object of your affection is here... and I always want the best for you... But why are you thinking that I might disapprove, or that you even need my approval to do this?"

"I-I’m sorry, Your Highness!"

"I’m sorry, Miss..."

Shelby looked disappointed, then, to Murray, she said,

"Let me know what your future plans are, and don’t keep me in the dark going forward."

In their laws, people like Murray, who were guardians sometimes never settled for families of their own, so they never had relationships at all....

But when they did, it usually needed an explicit permission from their masters, so he had really gone against the rule book, and if any of the elders had been around, they would have killed him off. That made him appreciate Shelby’s reaction. Murray knew that the conversation would be taken up at another time, so he went along with the new ask,

"Brief us on what happened..."

Suzie bit her lip and lowered her head again, but Murray stayed kneeling. Just as he was about to say something, Ian interrupted,

"Don’t you have something to say, Currey?"

Currey stepped forward swiftly,

"Your majesty is wise...."

Then he bowed as low as his body would allow him,

"Like my brother, I wish to settle down and I have found the right partner...."

"... and who might this be?"

Currey blushed, taking Shelby aback.

"Miss Angela of the mistress’s former household." Shelby’s mouth dropped, and Ian chuckled.

"Looks like Mum is going to be really happy at all of this.... hahaha!"

This time, even Suzie and Murray looked at Currey in surprise, but just before any other person commented, they got an unexpected visitor. An unlikely visitor made its presence known.

*********

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