Chapter 234
Chapter 234
Chapter 234 Manners
“Yes. I’m terribly sorry. This is my first time relaying a message. Please forgive me, Mr. Jenson, Ms. Harris.” Taking advantage of his identity as Yael’s subordinate, Charlie didn’t bother showing Cedrick and Gwendolyn any respect.
To Charlie’s surprise, however, Gwendolyn reprimanded him before Cedrick could speak. Startled by the woman’s aggressiveness, he immediately showed subservience.
Cedrick felt his heart leap with joy when he heard Gwendolyn defending him. Putting on an amicable expression, he said, “I’ll be done with my IV drip in two hours’ time. I’ll return by then.”
“Noted.” Before Charlie left, he added, “Since Ms. Harris is your fiancée, perhaps she should come with you to the ancestral hall.”
“Sure,” Cedrick replied flatly. He wanted to lean against Gwendolyn’s chest again after the door closed, but she pinched his cheek instead.
“Ouch! Gwenny…” Cedrick grimaced in pain but didn’t dodge her.
Amused and annoyed at the same time, Gwendolyn loosened her grip and said, “Well played, Cedrick. That was quite crafty of you. You made me the bad guy, didn’t you?”
“No. I’m just happy you defended me.”
Only then did Gwendolyn let go of him and rubbed his reddened cheek gently with her thumb.
Cedrick beamed, enjoying the affection he was receiving.
The next second, however, his expression turned serious instantly when he thought of the matter concerning Xander. “Gwenny, I’ll send you back to the Harris residence later. You don’t have to go to the Jenson family’s ancestral hall.”
“Why not?” Gwendolyn questioned, her tone placid. “Everyone on the internet knows I’m your fiancée. Besides, what happened last night was indeed my doing. I should be there, no? Though the Jensons won’t be able to do anything to me, I don’t want to miss a good show.”
Cedrick tapped her nose dotingly upon hearing that. “All right, then. If that’s what you want, we shall go there together.”
After the IV treatment was done, Gwendolyn helped Cedrick put on a shirt and a suit.
The love bites he had on his body were impossible to ignore, and the ones on his neck, in particular, were so obvious that they could not be concealed. He looked as if he had been taken advantage of.
Gwendolyn regretted her actions when she saw that. I should’ve been more gentle and exercised restraint!
With that in mind, she grabbed a scarf and wrapped it around Cedrick’s neck.
Cedrick was baffled. “Gwenny, summer is approaching. Why are you putting a scarf on me?”
“Why not? You should be recuperating right after going through surgery, but since you have no choice but to return because of Xander, I have to make sure you’re warm, no? I don’t want you to catch a cold.”
“Okay.” Cedrick relented, allowing her to wrap the scarf around his neck and help him put on his gloves. In the end, almost his entire body was wrapped up tight.
The two then held hands as they made their way over to the Jenson residence together.
At that moment, everyone was sitting in their respective seats in the ancestral hall. Yael, Valentino’s second son, and David, Valentino’s fifth son, were also present. Moreover, Triss, David’s daughter, was there, too. Almost all of the Jenson family members were there except for Xander and Cedrick’s aunt, Tania Jenson.
Nobody said a word in the ancestral hall as they waited for Cedrick.
Meanwhile, the wind blew, and the candles on the Jenson family’s altar flickered. The atmosphere in the ancestral hall was undoubtedly tense and eerie.
Valentino, who was sitting at the head of the table, was drinking his coffee silently and solemnly.
Soon, Cedrick and Gwendolyn entered the ancestral hall hand in hand calmly and composedly.
The moment Cedrick entered the ancestral hall, everyone except Valentino stood up and greeted respectfully, “Mr. Cedrick.”
Cedrick nodded, and everyone sat back down.
“Hi, Grandpa.”
“Hi, Old Mr. Jenson.”
The couple walked up to Valentino and greeted him.
Valentino’s heart melted when he heard Gwendolyn’s sweet voice. He also couldn’t help sparing Cedrick a glance when he saw the couple enter while holding hands. Nice one, Cedrick! She was demanding to call off the engagement just two days ago, and he’s already gotten her placated. As expected of my favorite grandson!
“Good girl. Have a seat. Don’t stand around,” Valentino replied.
The two took their seats, and Cedrick asked in a deep voice, “Uncle Yael, why were you in such a rush to see me?”
Yael rose to his feet, bowed at Valentino, and said, “A few people avoided the surveillance cameras and climbed into Xander’s villa late last night. The intruders knocked the bodyguards out and assaulted Xander brutally. Fortunately for Xander, one of the bodyguards regained consciousness in time to save Xander, who was bleeding heavily. If not for that bodyguard, Xander would’ve been dead by now!”
With that, he shot a vicious glare at Gwendolyn, who remained impassive as if it had nothing to do with her.
Cedrick remained expressionless upon hearing that. “Where’s Xander now?”
“He’s hurt badly and is in a coma. However, he was still conscious when the bodyguard saved him last night. Xander said the people who attacked him were Cedrick’s fiancée, Ms. Harris, and Cedrick’s subordinate, Nico.” Appearing heartbroken, Yael squeezed out a few tears and turned toward Valentino. “Dad, I came here today to seek justice. I know Cedrick is now the head of the Jenson family, but does that mean he can do whatever he wishes and harm his own family?”
Arrogance and disdain were written all over Cedrick’s face.
Right when he was about to stand up and talk, his face suddenly turned pale. He then frowned in pain and instinctively held his injured chest.
Gwendolyn held him and asked, “What’s wrong?”
His face pale, he looked at her and spoke with difficulty. “M-My wound… It hurts.”
He was okay when we had rough sex last night, and now he’s in pain? Gwendolyn knew what was on Cedrick’s mind, so she looked at him tenderly and said, “Your body is still weak after the surgery. Let
me speak on your behalf instead.”
Yael was displeased. “Ms. Harris, you’re not a part of the Jenson family. I don’t mind letting you listen to our discussion. However, I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to speak during our family meeting.”
Gwendolyn ignored him, stood up, and turned toward Valentino. With her soft voice, she asked, “Old Mr. Jenson, I’m Ceddy’s fiancée, so I think I should consider myself a member of the Jenson family. Ceddy is heavily injured, so he can’t talk much. Since I was involved in what happened last night, may I speak on his behalf?”
Valentino was thrilled when he heard Gwendolyn say that she considered herself a member of the Jenson family. “Of course, you can! Just say whatever you want to say. Cedrick and I are here. No one would dare to bully you.”
“Thank you, Old Mr. Jenson.” Gwendolyn flashed a sweet smile.
She then turned to look at Yael. “I admit that I was involved in what happened last night, but—”
Before Gwendolyn could finish her sentence, Yael interrupted, “I’m impressed, Ms. Harris. I wasn’t expecting you to admit to your involvement right away. However, as Cedrick’s fiancée, how could you sneak into Xander’s bedroom so late at night? The consequences would be dire if word gets out!”
Right after he said that, the expressions of everyone present changed dramatically. Triss wanted to stand up and defend Gwendolyn, but David stopped her.
Sensing the peculiar gazes directed at her, Gwendolyn suddenly chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” Yael was puzzled.
“Even my dog back at the Harris residence knows to sit and listen intently whenever I’m speaking. You’re already in your forties, Mr. Yael. Don’t you know it’s rude to interrupt someone’s speech?” Gwendolyn mocked.
With that, she turned toward Cedrick and winked mischievously at him. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
Cedrick’s heart almost melted when he saw that.
“Y-You!” Yael saw red. How dare she compare me with her dog?
Gwendolyn, on the other hand, continued wearing an innocent and pure smile. Yael would appear petty if he were to argue with someone younger than him.
Amidst the tense atmosphere, Triss suddenly let out an untimely chortle.
Everyone at the scene turned toward her at once. Seeing that, she cleared her throat and lowered her head awkwardly. “I’m sorry.”
At that moment, Valentino stomped his cane on the ground and drew everyone’s attention back. “Carry on, Gwendolyn.”
“I was involved in what happened last night, but I merely sent Nico there to teach Xander a lesson. I was taking care of Ceddy at the hospital when the incident took place. May I know who told you I went into Xander’s bedroom, Mr. Yael? You need proof to back up that accusation of yours,” Gwendolyn stated.
“Even if you refuse to admit to going into Xander’s room, it’s a fact that you’ve sent someone to harm Xander. You admitted to that yourself,” Yael argued.
“Yes, that’s true. However, why don’t you ask yourself why I wanted to teach him a lesson? When Ceddy was out on a mission yesterday, Xander sent someone to spread rumors about how I wanted to
call off the engagement. Ceddy almost died because of that and had to receive emergency treatment. Don’t you think Xander deserves to be taught a lesson?” Gwendolyn sounded so righteous even after doing something wrong, so much so that the rest of the Jensons thought her statement made sense.
However, Yael sneered, “You said Xander sent someone to spread rumors and ended up causing Cedrick to get hurt, but where’s your proof?”
Upon hearing that, Cedrick looked at Nico, who was standing outside the ancestral hall. In a feeble but hostile voice, Cedrick said, “You want proof, Uncle Yael? I’ll give it to you.”