SWNOVELS Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Albert was getting older, and he was not as healthy as before. Worried about his father’s health, Hendrix followed them to the Stewarts” mansion.
The Stewarts were wealthy too and lived in a luxurious residential area in Berkton City. Although the Stewarts were not a billionaire like Jenkins, their three–story mansion still looked elegant and luxurious.
As soon as the motorcade stopped in front of the Stewarts’s mansion, Adriane helped Albert get out of the car and introduced the place she used to stay to Albert, “Welcome to my home, Uncle Albert.”
Albert did not show the slightest bit of disdain because the Stewarts‘ mansion was not as luxurious as his manor. He observed the place with interest and complimented, “That mini garden is beautiful.”
Hendrix was right behind them. He wanted to take over Albert’s arm from Adriane, but Albert refused.
Hendrix, in his late fifties, looked as if he were in his thirties. He was the opposite of George, who was now a plump middle–aged man. Hendrix had a well- preserved body like those handsome and mature men that young girls would go after. Not to mention that he had inherited the good qualities of Jenkins. The beautiful features he had resembled Alexander very much.
However, Adriane could see the disdainful look in Hendrix’s beautiful eyes when he looked at the Stewarts‘ mansion.
The door opened slowly, and Mr. and Mrs. Stewart walked out of their mansion, with Juliette by their side, welcoming the arrival of Jenkins. There were plenty of relatives behind them. The Stewarts were trying to impress Albert by greeting him with a grand welcome.
Edward was several decades younger than Albert. But because Adriane was engaged to Arthur, he was now considered of the same level as Albert.
Stunned by Albert’s domineering temperament, Edward humbly shook Albert’s hand and bowed respectfully. Then with a flattering smile on his face, Edward greeted, “Sir Albert, thank you very much for accompanying Adriane. It’s our greatest pleasure to have you at our humble home.”
Rebel followed behind her husband and had the best smile on her face. Juliette, on the other hand, wore a white dress that fitted her well. She smiled as she greeted Albert shyly, “Good day, Mr. Jenkins.”
Then the relatives greeted Albert one after another. Albert responded to every greeting with a smile on his face. Hendrix, on the other hand, looked amiable, but in fact, he was getting impatient.
After all, Adriane and Juliette were supposed to call him uncle and call Albert grandpa because of their age. However, he was now literally Adriane’s brother–in–law because his youngest brother was engaged to her.
Edward saw Hendrix was with Adriane and Albert. According to the custom, Hendrix was supposed to greet Edward and call him Uncle Edward. But, Edward knew who was in power now among Jenkins. Alexander, Hendrix’s son, might inherit Albert’s position as the breadwinner of Jenkins family one day. So, Edward did not dare to ask Hendrix to call him uncle. Instead, he politely greeted Edward, “Mr. Jenkins, it’s great to see you too.”
Even though Hendrix looked down upon the Stewarts, he did not want to show his disdain since Albert was with them. He had to show some respect since Edward had greeted him politely with a smile on his face.
So, he followed Albert and the Stewarts to the living room with a plastered smile on his face.
Albert sat on the main sofa, along with the Stewarts, who sat opposite him. Adriane wanted to sit beside Juliette, but Edward smiled as he said, “Adria,
why don’t you sit beside Sir Albert.”
Adriane was startled by Edward’s weird arrangement. As a bride who came back to her own house, should she not sit with her family? Instead, Edward asked her to sit beside her future father–in–law.
Albert saw everything. He casually called Adriane’s name and gestured to her, “Come and sit with me.”
Adriane had no other choice but to sit beside Albert.
Edward took the initiative to start small talk with Albert. Albert answered Edward’s question in simple sentences, and the conversation went on smoothly. Gradually, the other elders joined in.
Young people like Adriane and Juliette were all list
ntively, and no one interrupted. During the conversation. Adriane and Juliette’s eyes met.
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Chapter 14
Adriane smirked as she deepened her gaze on Juliette
Adriane’s perfect condition surprised Juliette. She had heard rumors about Arthur’s brutal character. He had even punished one of Jenkins‘ maids by breaking her right leg. Then he asked his men to throw her out of the manor. There were also rumors saying that Arthur had no maids in his mansion. All the people serving him were male. Juliette wondered if Arthur hated women.
Adriane was not missing any arms or legs and had no visible bruises on her either.
As they were chatting, the topic came to Adriane and Arthur. Putting on her kind foster mother’s disguise, Rebel asked Adriane lovingly, “Adria, did everything go well on your short stay with Mr. Arthur?”
Juliette sat upright and listened attentively. She was curious. All she saw was Adriane answering with a slight blush on her face, “Well, Arthur took good care of me.”
The relatives chuckled in response to her answer to make the conversation livelier. Juliette, however, did not trust a single word from Adriane. At the engagement ceremony that day, she saw Mr. Arthur from a distance and guessed that he was not a social type person. He had probably ignored Adriane throughout her stay. Juliette assumed that Adriane was only saying that because she was afraid others might make fun of her if they knew the truth.
Juliette decided to wait for the moment where she thought Adriane would cry and beg to come back home and stay with them..
Just as Juliette’s thoughts about how Adriane would humiliate herself ran wild, Albert mentioned Adriane’s short stay in Jenkins’s manor during the holidays before starting her first year in the university.
And he also promised that Arthur would abide by etiquette, respecting Adriane before the marriage.
Edward and Rebel froze when Albert requested that. It was only a few days since Arthur and Adriane got engaged, yet Albert had full–heartedly accepted Adriane as part of Jenkins? What startled them most was that Albert wanted Adriane to take care of his beloved son, Arthur.
Everyone in the living room had the same thought as Edward and Rebel. It was something they had not expected.
Edward was the first one to snap out of his shocked state. He smiled as he said, “Well, that depends on Adriane. We’ll respect every decision she makes.”
All the eyes were on Adriane. She lowered her head and blushed to make herself look like she was shy to answer. Unfortunately, that embarrassed look she faked aroused Zack Frost’s desire. He was sitting in the other corner of the living room, locking his greedy gaze at Adriane.
Rebel was his aunt. And Zack was about the same age as Arthur. He was jobless even though he was a freshly graduated university student. Instead of earning his living, Zack always went to pubs and entertainment places with his bad influential friends. He had been targeting Adriane since years ago because she was a rare beauty. Unfortunately, his aunt and uncle would not let him have a taste of her even though they were not related.
The thought of such a beautiful cousin marrying a disabled man like Arthur lit the fire of jealousy in Zack’s heart. Thoughts of getting a chance to sleep with Adriane played in his mind.
<Spat! Did he say Arthur would abide by etiquette? Is he joking or what? Arthur is now a useless man. He can’t do anything to Adriane even if he wanted
- to.
But my dear cousin, Adria, is in good health. He can still make Adria take the lead even if he can’t move.>
Zack’s eyes turned red in jealousy as he shouted from the bottom of his heart when he imagined the scene of Adriane with Arthur on a bed, “Adria, please don’t agree to that old pian’s request. I haven’t tasted your scent yet.”
It was a pity that his thoughts could only remain to himself. Adriane had not sensed her cousin’s “concerned” look from the other end of the living room. She nodded her head and said with a sweet voice, “Father, mother, I’ll go as long as I get your permission.”
Adriane’s answer was obvious. It meant that she wanted to stay in Jenkins‘ manor with Arthur.
Juliette could not guess Adriane’s thoughts and what had happened between her and Arthur after the engagement ceremony. She began to wonder, “Are the rumors just rumors? Could it be that Arthur isn’t cold and brutal like the others describe him?”
The “shy and timid” Adriane was calm as ever deep inside her. Her impression of Arthur had been refreshing since the day of the engagement ceremony. The man was indeed arrogant, cruel, unpredictable, and troublesome.
But it was way better to stay with him than with that “vampire family,” who cared only for her blood.
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Edward and Rebel were overjoyed. Why would they not be happy when their foster daughter was willing to sacrifice herself, living with her brutal and cold fiance, just for them?
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