Chapter 1378

Now, seeing the woman meant to become his granddaughter-in-law being led away by Ruben’s grandson snapped what little patience Raymond had left.

Raymond had lost to Ruben once. He would not allow history to repeat itself through the next generation. If his grandson lost this time, Raymond felt he would never find peace.

Restlessness clawed at Raymond. The more agitated he became, the hotter his temper burned, and the stronger the urge grew to beat some sense into Allan.

One strike had not been enough. Ignoring the crowd entirely, Raymond lifted his cane again and brought it down against Allan’s leg with even more force. “You useless brat!”

Without pausing, Raymond lifted his arm again, ready to bring the cane down a third time.

Pain shot through Allan’s calf, and panic finally took over. He lunged forward to block the blow, forcing out a miserable cry. “Grandpa, stop! If you hit me again, my leg will really snap! If I end up crippled, how am I supposed to win Adah back?”

The effect was immediate. Raymond halted mid-motion, his arm suspended in the air.

Sensing the opening, Allan leaned into the act, sniffing loudly and putting on his most pitiful expression.

The cane never came down again. Raymond’s face remained dark, but his anger shifted into sharp words instead. “Enough of that crying. You sound ridiculous.”

Allan stood tall in the business world, a force to be reckoned with and a legend in his own right. But under the harsh glare of his grandfather’s anger, he shrank, swallowing any hint of pride. Quietly, he tried to placate the furious old man. “Grandpa, please calm down.”

“Pah!” Raymond’s fury was so fierce that he spat right at Allan’s face, not caring who saw.

Allan wiped his cheek. First, Adah had humiliated him in this way, and now his own grandfather was following suit. Still, he had to endure it.

Raymond’s threat landed like a slap. “Mark my words, Allan. If Adah winds up marrying into the Evans family, I’ll do more than break your legs—I’ll snap your arms for good measure!”

With that, Raymond stormed away, cane tapping angrily on the floor.

? : ν﹒

Only then did Allan let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief.

The Shaw family’s influence ran deep, so while Raymond berated his grandson in public, nobody dared step in or draw too much attention. People watched from the sidelines, their curiosity barely contained. Everyone had seen Raymond’s outburst, but no one understood what had triggered it.

The moment Raymond was gone, the uneasy silence broke. Whispers and speculation spread quickly through the crowd.

Standing off to the side, Rowena Norris leaned closer to Gia, her voice low and sly. “Grandma, do you know that bitch who’s pestering Allan?”

Rowena and Gia had never seen Adah’s real beauty; therefore, with Adah free of her usual hideous makeup and disguise today, they failed to recognize her.

Rowena, the daughter of Adah’s uncle, was the apple of Gia’s eye. She was also a woman as scheming as she was venomous.

The truth was, most of the Norris family’s fortune had been built through Adah’s parents’ efforts. Yet, Gia had never hidden her dislike for Adah and her mother, always favoring Rowena’s father and steering every advantage his way.

Adah’s father, always the dutiful son, had never once stood up for himself, letting his own inheritance slip away in the name of family peace.

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