After separating from Stella, Elaine returned home with a listless face.
Franklin, who was reading a book, glanced at her and said slowly, “You have almost emptied the mall, so why are
you so unhappy?”
She sat down next to him on the arm of the sofa, showing a depressed look.
He said, “Well, didn't I let you out today? Someone bullied you?”
After a while, she mumbled in a dull voice, “No.”
She behaved quite well in the last half month at home. Obviously, she knew she had done wrong before. Thinking
that she suffered enough, he closed the book and said, “From tomorrow, you no longer need to stay at home. You
can go wherever you want.”
He thought she would jump up happily, but she simply nodded and said nothing more.
He could not help but ask, “What is wrong with you? Did you really get bullied?”
She shook her head and barely sat up, saying, “Dad, do you think Uncle Caesar is really dead?”
Hearing her words, he slightly changed his face and said after a few seconds of silence, “He is no longer a member
of the James family and he is not your uncle. So whether he is dead or alive does not have anything to do with us.”
She pouted and stopped talking.
Seeing her like this, he sighed silently. “Elaine, about your uncle... About this matter, I never said anything to you.
But you also saw what he did that day. He intended to kill the whole James family, and he even blew up your great-
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtgrandpa’s ashes. In fact, he is no longer the same loving uncle to you when you were a child.”
“But...” She felt it might not be quite appropriate to say so, but she still wanted to correct him, “That’s not my
great-grandpa’s ashes...”
He got stunned and then instantly snapped. “You silly girl!”
She hurriedly moved away from him. “I know what you mean, but what I said is also true.”
He was silent for a moment before adding, “Have you forgotten what he did to you in City N?”
“No. He did ask someone to take me away, but he didn't hurt me.” She then spoke in a quiet voice, “I know what
you want to say and I know he's not a good man. But... There was something wrong with your words. He is still the
same loving uncle to me when I was a little kid.”
He froze and was at a loss for words suddenly.
No matter how many unforgivable things Caesar had done, he truly never hurt Elaine.
They also knew this at the beginning and that was why they planned all those things at the funeral.
He sighed and did not say anything for a while.
She then added, “Sis told me that only I know how Uncle Caesar treats me. He is a bad guy in other people’s eyes
but he is always and only my uncle in front of me.”
Her words did make sense.
He then asked, “Which sister?”
“Stella, Clarence’s girlfriend,” she said.
He froze for two seconds and then scolded her, “She is not your sister! You should call her aunt!”
She spat her tongue, got up and ran upstairs. “I don’t care. She is only a few years older than me!”
At this time, Hilbert walked out from the side with his cane. “Is Elaine back?”
Franklin replied, “Yes. But...she was a bit unhappy about Caesar’s incident.”
Hilbert sat in the sofa and sighed slowly. “No matter what, Caesar is good to her.”
Franklin was silent for a while before saying, “Grandpa, there is something I want to discuss with you.”
“Are you referring to Elaine and Darnell’s marriage?” Hilbert asked.
“Yes. All those things are pretty much settled now. Darnell is probably drawing support from our power. Elaine...ran
away secretly to City N because she did not want to marry Darnell in the first place. I've been thinking a lot about it
lately. This marriage is truly hard for her to accept. I also asked Darnell and he told me that in his heart Elaine is
only a little girl. He does not want to marry her either.”
Hilbert touched his cane and said after a while, “Franklin, this marriage was decided between me and Darnell’s
grandfather when he was still alive. I have two good reasons for this. First, this marriage can help consolidate
Darnell's position as the Master of Riverside. Second, I do it for the sake of the James family’s development. I have
to make such a decision. Do you understand why?”
Franklin was confused. “Why?”
Hilbert said, “Darnell is a young and ambitious man. What he wants is never just Riverside City. This is also why he is
committed to abolishing those rules of the James family. Bancroft also came to me because he could see what
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmDarnell was thinking.”
Franklin said, “So Bancroft meant those unwritten rules have to be abolished but at the same time, he wanted us to
restrain Darnell and not let him go too far.”
Hilbert nodded and said, “After all, the James family is still a big family with hundreds of years of history, which can’t
be lost like this. Franklin, there is another reason for this marriage. Maybe Bancroft knew quite well that we could
not stop Darnell. But if Elaine marries him, at least, Darnell would not exterminate us. Do you understand?”
Franklin frowned without saying anything.
It seemed that they could not control the marriage at all. Instead, this marriage lies in the hands of Darnell and it
was related to their family and even the future of the entire James family.
After a while, Franklin said, “So Bancroft wanted us to restrain each other to balance the different forces of the
James family.”
Hilbert said, “But you are right. Elaine should not be burdened with this. She is just a little girl. So let’s break the
engagement. We will talk about future matters in the future. I believe even if Darnell wants to eliminate the James
family, he will not go too far.”
Franklin said, “I will go settle this matter in two days.”
Hilbert got up, “Elaine must be sad about what happened to Caesar. You should comfort her more.”
Franklin suddenly asked, “Do you think this is Caesar’s doing?”
“It doesn't matter now. Caesar is a sinner of the James family. If he hadn't made it that far, I would've been able to
save his life. But now... Maybe this is God’s will,” Hilbert said.
When finishing his words, he left slowly with his cane.