novelraw Chapter 443 - 444: The Clan Leader Has Arrived
Chapter 443 - 444: The Clan Leader Has Arrived
「Leland Residence」
Master Leland finished his breakfast and prepared to meet Deputy Mayor Lincoln. He planned to use Lincoln’s connections to rescue Sabrina Johnson.
Master Leland had been completely preoccupied lately, singularly focused on getting Sabrina out. At his advanced age, he had never expected to have another child, and it might even be a son. Master Leland couldn’t possibly ignore Sabrina’s plight.
"Dad, where are you going so early?" Cynthia Leland asked her father. She wore beige silk pajamas and, having just woken up, had a languid expression.
Master Leland frowned with concern at his daughter. "What time do you think it is? You’re only just getting out of bed?"
"It’s only nine o’clock," she said with a yawn, still looking sleepy.
Seeing her improper posture, Master Leland couldn’t help but scold her further, "Cynthia, you’re not a child anymore. It’s time you found a good man and settled down. How can you keep changing partners like this?"
His late wife had left him with only this daughter. He had been too busy building his career to focus on her upbringing. By the time he realized his neglect, she had grown up and no longer listened to him.
"I’ve set my sights on Adrian Desmond! If he’ll marry me, I’ll marry him! As for other men... HAHA... I wouldn’t give them a second look."
"That Adrian Desmond already has a wife and children. Do you intend to be his mistress?"
Master Leland doted on his daughter. Since she liked Adrian Desmond, Master Leland had tried everything to satisfy her wish. He had even spoken to Adrian Desmond about it, but unfortunately, Adrian showed no interest in his daughter. Master Leland had lost a considerable amount of face because of this.
"For a man like Adrian Desmond, I’d be willing to be his mistress!"
"You..." Master Leland’s face flushed red with anger. He slammed his cane on the ground, but Cynthia remained completely unfazed.
"Dad, don’t tell me you’re planning to pull strings again to try and rescue that Sabrina Johnson?"
"She’s carrying your little brother. He represents the continuation of our Leland family line. Of course, I have to save her!" Master Leland looked at his daughter and said earnestly, "Cynthia, I’m warning you, don’t cause any trouble. That child is your brother."
"HAHA..." Cynthia’s red lips parted as she laughed heartily. "Dad, you’re overthinking things. He’s not even born yet, is he? Even if he is born, he’d practically be old enough to be my son. Why would I fight him for the family inheritance? By the time he grows up, I’ll be an old woman. Anyway, I have no plans to have children. When he’s older, the Leland family business can all be his."
Master Leland finally smiled. "Cynthia, I’m very pleased that you’re so understanding."
A flicker of coldness crossed Cynthia’s eyes as she looked at her elderly father. He was so old, yet still running himself ragged for a young woman. She truly felt sorry for him.
"Dad, you’re getting on in years. Please take care of your health."
Master Leland looked into his daughter’s eyes and felt a sense of relief. "Cynthia, I know. I’m an old man now. I don’t have many wishes left, just for you to find a good husband and, in my old age, to leave a descendant for the Leland family."
"Stop going on about ’son, son.’ Who even knows if she’s carrying a boy?" Cynthia said dismissively.
Parker Leland rushed in, looking frantic. Seeing Master Leland, he blurted out, "Master Leland, terrible news! The Leland Ancestral Tomb has been desecrated..."
"What?" Master Leland exclaimed, shocked. Even Cynthia, who usually paid no mind to such matters, was visibly startled. She straightened up and, seeing her father swaying unsteadily, hurried downstairs.
"Dad..." she began, her voice laced with concern.
"...Master Leland, Milo... he’s... being treated at the hospital," Parker Leland stammered, rushing his words. "The doctor said..."
Cynthia strode forward and slapped Parker Leland across the face. "Shut up!" she berated him. "Can’t you see my father isn’t well? Emilia, quickly, fetch my father’s medicine!"
"I’ll go right now," Emilia said, dropping the vacuum cleaner and hurrying to Master Leland’s room to find his medication.
Master Leland was, after all, an old man. He had suffered numerous injuries in his youth, and the recent stress of running around for Sabrina Johnson’s affairs had already taken a toll on his frail body.
"What exactly happened? Tell me clearly..." Master Leland demanded anxiously.
"Someone passing by the Leland family cemetery this morning discovered that our ancestral graves have been vandalized... The skeletal remains had been dug up and were scattered all over the ground," Parker Leland reported, steeling himself.
"Who did it?"
"We don’t know yet!"
"Well, what are you standing around for? Go and investigate!"
"Yes, sir!"
"I need to know who did this! I will not let them off lightly!"
A servant entered, interrupting them. "Master Leland, the Leland family’s clan elder has arrived..."
How could the clan elder of the Leland family be here?
Master Leland wondered. That clan elder is very aloof and disdains associating with people of my background. Even when I wanted to donate money to the village, the elder refused, claiming my money was unclean and citing various excuses. "Master Leland, many more people have arrived. They all claim to be your relatives," the servant continued when Master Leland remained silent.
"Quick, quick, invite them in!"
With the clan elder present, Master Leland dared not show any neglect. He immediately ordered the main gate opened to welcome them and instructed the servants to bring out his finest tea and water for the guests.
Turning to his daughter, who was still in her pajamas, Master Leland couldn’t help his anger flaring. "What are you still doing standing there? Go back to your room and change! What will our relatives think if they see you like this?"
"Yes, Father," Cynthia replied. Noticing figures approaching, she knew her appearance was inappropriate and quickly went back to her room to change.
Shortly after Cynthia went upstairs, a large crowd of people filed in.
A centenarian with a long beard walked at the head, followed by men, women, young, and old. Master Leland glanced around and recognized that almost all the relatives from the main branch of the Leland family had come.
"Ninth Great-Uncle, what brings an esteemed elder like you here? Please, come in!" Master Leland greeted them.
Ninth Great-Uncle didn’t respond.
"What are you waiting for? Serve Ninth Great-Uncle some tea!" Master Leland snapped at a nearby servant.
"Yes, Master Leland!" the servant scurried to obey.
The white-bearded old man leading the group was indeed the clan elder of the Leland family, respectfully addressed as Ninth Great-Uncle. No matter how imposing Master Leland was in the outside world, in the presence of Ninth Great-Uncle, he instinctively adopted a more deferential posture.
Ninth Great-Uncle glared at him and cursed, "Unworthy descendant!"
"Ninth Great-Uncle, what do you mean by that?" Master Leland asked, feeling apprehensive and unsure what this large gathering of Lelands intended.
An old woman, clutching a chubby little grandson, burst into tears. "Dog, who on earth did you offend to make someone retaliate by destroying our family tombs? My poor, miserable son! He wasn’t even left with a complete body after death..."
As the old woman wept, others began to sob as well. In an instant, the large hall filled with wails, making the early morning feel incredibly inauspicious.
"Ninth Great-Uncle, what is all this?"
Ninth Great-Uncle looked at Master Leland, his voice filled with deep sorrow and regret. "Dog, I never should have allowed you to return to Leland Village all those years ago!"