Chapter 874 Clare looked at the two of them with ink-like eyes, raindrops falling lightly on his hair and clothes... He just quietly watched them for a while before walking towards them. "I will repay your kindness, Sylvia," he said. Clare was about to bow deeply to Sylvia when she stopped him. "No need to be so polite,” she said.
"Come inside quickly," Queena said as she looked at the prison clothes on her son's body, reaching out her hand to him. "Step over this brazier quickly; once you step over it, all bad luck will be gone.” The butler had already brought a brazier and some willow branches over.
When Clare arrived next to Queena, the butler put down the brazier and said, "Mr. Hipps, please step over it quickly." Clare knew that this was everyone's kind gesture and did not refuse; he took a long stride and stepped over the brazier.
The butler then hurriedly brushed some willow branches against his body saying. "Bad luck is dispelled.” Clare was moved by everyone's obvious goodwill.
He was about to speak with Sylvia when Old Mr. Hipps spoke up again. "Go upstairs quickly and change your clothes; take a hot bath." Wearing prison clothes all day long really brought bad luck! Clare glanced down at his own clothing before nodding in agreement. "I'll go right away." By the time Clare finished bathing and came downstairs half an hour later, many people had gathered in the living room of Hipps Manor. Since their incident occurred, they had been under lockdown with all their servants being dismissed.
This time because of what happened with Clare, everyone gathered together again - not only that - there were also many relatives present as well.
Queena arranged for those who wanted to continue working at Hipps Manor could return back to work or if they didn't want, then it would be okay too since there were so many houses within Hipps Manor where relatives used to live separately from each other.
These relatives agreed after hearing what Queena proposed, since there are several villas alone within the Hipps manor along with large gardens and courtyards which makes anyone to want move in immediately! So those servants who went out shopping started preparing dinner in kitchen while others began preparations throughout the mansion, making everything lively once again like old times...
But only the Hipps family knew that everything had changed from before. As soon as Clare came downstairs, the President's compensation gift arrived. It was the property rights of an entire street in Aettosa City's downtown area, plus a row of townhouses. But they were just material things, and Clare thanked the President's assistant and accepted them without hesitation.
He brought all these gifts to Sylvia and Franklin without saying a word.
"These are what you deserve. Without you, my Hipps family would still be struggling,” he said.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtFranklin wore all black and had a typically indifferent expression on his face. "Mr. Hipps is too kind," he said with a faint smile.
"Money is what we need the least." Sylvia didn't take any either. "You went through so much trouble in prison; please accept them." When they decided to help the Hipps family at first, they didn't expect anything in return.
"I decide how to divide these things up between you three," Queena said with kindness in her eyes and. "Don't refuse it anymore! Sylvia and Mr. Maskelyne helped us so much; we should thank you properly!" Sylvia stared blankly as Queena divided up properties. "One for Sylvia, one for Clare, one for Mr. Maskelyne... one for Sylvia..." Finally, both Franklin and she were given five deeds each...
Their hospitality was hard to refuse.
Franklin smiled as he handed over his deeds. "What's mine is yours." At dinner time many relatives of the Hipps family rushed over when they heard that Clare had returned safely after their troubles were resolved.
During daytime hours there were only thirty or so servants present but now there were suddenly sixty or seventy people at dinner time! Luckily there was plenty of food prepared by kitchen staff; otherwise it would have been difficult to accommodate such an unexpected increase in guests.
Old Mr. Hipps' younger brother's family also returned.
His younger brother passed away years ago due to illness leaving behind only his sister-in-law who raised their son alone along with two granddaughters.
The sister-in-law was named Rylie Davenport while their son Cael Hipps was already more than forty years old now with two daughters both in their early twenties who looked beautiful.
The elder daughter was named Chaya Hipps while the younger daughter Niamh Hipps spoke up first.
"Mr. Hipps, this time nothing happened to Clare, it really is great news." Old Mr. Hipps simply smiled faintly."Yes, Clare has good luck." "Mr. Hipps, | heard that my sister-in-law said she wants all the family members to come back and live together?" Rylie's face showed a hint of flattery, "lI wonder if our family of three can also come back to live? After all, Cael is your nephew! And the two children should call you granduncle." When Old Mr. Hipps inherited his title, their whole family had to move out of the Hipps manor and live elsewhere.
They didn't know how many people looked down on them outside. They only knew that the Hipps family's main line was highly regarded while they were nothing but mud in others’ eyes.
Clare was considered a prideful figure while her son could only be seen as an ordinary person.
She had long been unwilling to accept this reality.
If they could move back into the manor, her two granddaughters would become ladies of the Hipps manor and could marry into wealthy aristocratic families in the future. It would be much better than living in an ordinary apartment.
Now that there was finally a chance for them to move back, she didn't want to miss it at all.
Queena glanced at Rylie and thought about her deceased brother-in-law. She felt some sympathy for her situation.
"Your brother and | do want everyone to move back together. It's better for us as a family if we live together and can take care of each other," Queena said calmly.
"So... we'll move back these next few days?" Rylie asked excitedly upon hearing this news.
"Yes, Niamh and Chaya have graduated from college already right?" Queena chatted with her casually. "Clare hasn't regained her position yet but once she does, they can follow him into Air Force Base for further studies. Clare taught a female student before who is now already promoted as captain.” Upon hearing Queena's words, Rylie became even more excited inside. "They both really want to learn from Clare..." "We just went through such great difficulties as the Hipps family, so let's see what arrangements are made by our President,” Queena sighed deeply after speaking those words aloud.
Niamh and Chaya came over obediently with greetings. "Hello granduncle; hello grandaunt.” "They're really well-behaved." Queena smiled warmly at them before giving each girl some pocket money.
Compared with others present there, she still preferred Sylvia more.
As such thoughts ran through her mind unconsciously, she couldn't help but turn towards Sylvia again.
Although it was just an ordinary family banquet, Sylvia dressed very appropriately in a crescent white dress that accentuated her curvy figure. She had applied light makeup on her pretty face, exuding elegance and grace without being impolite.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAs if sensing her gaze, Rylie followed Sylvia's line of sight and saw the dazzling beauty among the crowd like a fairy in the moonlight.
He was surprised. Who was this beautiful girl? She made all the women present pale in comparison.
Niamh had always been proud of herself, thinking she had noble blood from her countess family background and good looks.
Therefore, she rarely paid attention to anyone else.
But suddenly there appeared such an outstandingly beautiful woman right before her eyes, making Niamh feel somewhat uncomfortable inside.
"Who is that girl? And who is the man next to her?" "Niamh, why do you want to know so much? Maybe she's Grandma's relative. But that man is really handsome," Chaya said dreamily as she glanced at Franklin. He was tall with long legs and a handsome appearance - he was undoubtedly the most eye- catching man in the room.
Clare was also very beautiful and handsome but he was their uncle; there was no comparison between him and Franklin at all.
The two sisters looked at Franklin with different thoughts running through their minds while many unmarried women couldn't help but look his way frequently too.
Sylvia leaned against Franklin and couldn't help but curl up her lips. "You're really attractive! These women are practically trying to swallow me whole with their eyes." "| see these men wanting to tear me apart instead," Franklin smiled indulgently as he looked at Sylvia lovingly.
As they spoke, a man walked towards them holding up his glass. "Beautiful lady! May | have the honor of adding you on Facebook?" "I'm sorry; you don't have that privilege," Franklin said domineeringly as he pulled Sylvia into his arms by wrapping around her slender waist while giving him an icy stare.
The man froze for a moment before wisely touching his nose then leaving them alone. Many unmarried male members of the Hipps family branch were present too; seeing how things turned out for this guy they didn't dare approach or disturb Franklin or Sylvia again.
Instead, it was Niamh who eagerly walked towards Franklin. She wore a light purple dress and high heels, greeting him with an elegant smile. "Hello, I'm Niamh. My grandfather is Old Mr. Hipps' younger brother.” She immediately revealed her connection to the Hipps family. Most people would be impressed by this relationship, she thought.
Anyone with a brain wouldn't miss the chance to get to know her.
This man surely wouldn't be an exception.
However... the next second, she heard his magnetic and cold voice say. "Then you should call me uncle since Mr. Hipps and | have a close relationship."