Secret Scion

Solomon frowned as he could feel the feeling of helplessness creeping up on him. Normally, his old friend was quite temperate and was not someone that would force a matter. However, what had happened tonight was not a small matter. The two households were related by marriage; Layla was his granddaughter. After what had happened, even Solomon himself felt upset. After a moment of consideration, Solomon then asked, "Layla, who do you think is the one that did this?"

Layla looked at Asher before shifting her gaze and saying, "I don't know, but I hope that he'll admit to it. Maybe we can solve this amicably."

After a few seconds of hesitation, Huxley then approached Asher and whispered, "Asher, did you do this? If you did, just admit it."

Asher was so furious. If it was someone else that had framed him, he could say that it was his own fault. However, the person that framed him was his own cousin. Asher had believed in Huxley so much in the past too, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Asher punched Huxley right on the face and yelled at him, "I'm so disappointed in you!" Huxley was thrown onto the ground after being attacked, a sliver of blood trickling down from the edge of his mouth.

"Asher! How dare you hit someone else when you're the one that committed a crime?! Do you really still treat us as your family?" Huxley's mother quickly went over and helped him up. Asher then said in a growl, "I'm not the one that drugged it. I'm being framed by Huxley!"

At this time, even Liam could not stand this anymore. He did not believe that Asher would spike the drink, but he would never believe that his son was the one that did it. He said furiously, "Ridiculous! Huxley would never do that!"

Meanwhile, Huxley then said, "Dad, calm down. Maybe we did put the blame wrongly on him. I don't believe that he's someone that's capable of that too."

"Huxley, you're just too kind. You're still taking his side after what happened," Huxley's mother said.

At this time, Layla suddenly said, "Asher, tell me then. If it's not you, then who else? I thought you would admit to it. Then, we can all move on with this. However, I never thought that you would frame Huxley instead. I can't do this anymore. When we were drinking, none of us left. That means that there was no chance for him to drug the drinks. In other words, the wine had already been drugged before we started drinking. You brought out the wine, which means that you're the only person that could have spiked the drink!"

When Huxley heard what Layla said, he instantly felt the pressure being lifted off his shoulders. Taking that punch was worth it.

Huxley's mother immediately said, "Even Layla is saying that you're the one that drugged her! What else is there for you to say? Asher, I never thought that you're capable of this! What happened to your virtues and integrity? The Crawfords' good name is all ruined because of you! Someone like you isn't worthy of becoming the heir of this household!"

Liam then said, "Let's put aside the matter about being the heir. Layla is my niece too. If this matter isn't dealt with properly, I won't let it slide as well!"

Luke then said with a grimace, "Dad, Asher's my son, and I know him better than anyone else. I don't believe that he would do something like this. There must be some plot behind this." "That's right, Dad. Asher likes to joke around, but he does have a bottom line," Marguerite said with a frown.

Layla then said irritably, "Asher's my cousin too, so I would never frame him! But he's the only one that had the chance to drug the drinks."

"Silence!" Solomon slammed the table and then looked at Asher and asked, "Asher, will you admit your wrongdoing? This is your final chance!"

"Grandpa, I'll never admit to something I never did. Even if you ask me a thousand times, my answer remains the same," Asher said.

"But they are all saying that you're the one that spiked the drink. How can I believe a word you say?!" Even Solomon was becoming indignant at this time. The Knights came to their household to ask for justice at this hour. If he could not appease them, the two households' relationship would be strained. As the patriarch, Solomon had to look at the bigger picture. Asher suddenly let out a cold smile as his eyes darted from Huxley to Layla. There were no other emotions other than disappointment in his eyes as he let out a sigh. He then said, "Since you want me to be the one that drugged her, fine. I'm the one that spiked the wine. There! Are you happy now?"

As soon as he had finished saying that, Luke's slap immediately landed on Asher's face.

He knew that Asher would never do something like that. He was angry about something else. With Asher admitting to it, his status as the heir would be removed and be given to someone else instead.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I've disappointed you," Asher said apologetically after being slapped.

Luke was so angry that he simply turned and left.

Huxley's mother simply said with a cold smile, "The truth is finally out."

Meanwhile, Solomon looked like he had instantly aged a decade. He sat back down on the chair and said, "Allen, it's in your hands now."

What Allen was worried about the most had finally happened. Layla had been spending too much time with Asher lately. While they were cousins, they were spending too much time together. That was why he had Sophia stop Layla in the first place.

However, he could not stop what was to come. If word were to spread, even the Knights would be humiliated.

"Asher's your grandson, but Layla's your granddaughter too. You should be the one deciding," Allen said with a sigh.

Solomon also found this to be quite difficult.

When Asher saw this, he immediately said, "Grandpa, I'm the one that's at fault. I'm willing to take my punishment. I won't make this difficult. I give up on being the heir."

What Asher said made Solomon look at him with trembling eyes. While Solomon was the patriarch and had absolute power, he too was a slave to circumstances at times. Huxley's mother smiled coldly and said, "I suppose this is what it means to be the heir of the household. You can still play the victim card despite having committed such a crime. Asher, who are you trying to impress? The households' good reputation that we have upheld for so many years has all been ruined because of you, and you still think you can continue to be the heir? Do you really think that the Crawfords would fall without you? Asher, you're really overestimating yourself."

"Enough. Just be quiet for now." Liam used his elbow to nudge his wife.

"I'm just telling the truth. Is there anything wrong with that?" She continued to be forceful with her approach.

Asher then said, "What do you want?"

"What do you mean by that? You make it sound like I've planned everything," she said. "Asher, we can see from tonight that you're a very bad apple. The Crawfords have a reputation to consider. If we still let you stay with the Crawfords, we would not be able to maintain our honor. What say you, Dad?"

What she said was obviously painting red on Solomon's back. Asher had always been Solomon's favorite. What happened tonight was a shame to him as well.

Solomon sighed with a frown and said, "I want to hear everybody's opinion on this. Liam, what do you think we should do?"

"Dad, I can't make this decision," Liam said with a frown. Asher was also his nephew, so he did not dare to be upfront.

"Dad, I suggest that we kick Asher out of the household. If he performs well after this, we can take him back later," Liam's wife said.

"What do you think, old friend?" Solomon asked for Allen's opinion.

Allen merely snorted and said, "This is your familial matter. I don't want to be part of this. However, if this is not properly dealt with, I won't accept the outcome."

After a long moment of deliberation, Solomon then said, "Asher, we'll do as your aunt has suggested. We'll see how you do after this."

"Grandpa, are you saying that you want to exile me?" Asher could feel the pain in his heart amplifying, as if it was punctured by a blade.

"Dad, please don't do this! Even if Asher has done something wrong, just removing his status as heir is more than enough a punishment! There's no need to exile him, right?" Marguerite looked at Solomon pleadingly.

In all honesty, Solomon did not want to do that as well. Asher was the grandson that he was the happiest with. Exiling Asher was like asking him to give up what he valued the most. Of course, even he felt hurt by the decision that he was making.

However, Allen was not making any concessions this time. What angered Solomon even more was that Huxley's mother was suggesting firmly to exile Asher. If he refused to do that, it would make him seem protective of Asher. Allen would never let that slide.

At this time, Sophia then said, "Dad, don't you think it's a bit too harsh? We can simply remove

his status as the heir and give him another chance to prove himself."

"Enough. I've made up my mind. From now on, Asher is no longer part of the Crawfords," Solomon said.

"Asher..." Huxley could not stop himself from cackling madly deep down, but he still said, "You should apologize to Layla."

"Don't speak to me. You're already dead to me!" Asher stared at Huxley with red eyes. If it was someone else, Asher would have already attacked him. He looked at everyone with great disappointment and then said, "I've caused a lot of trouble for so many years. Thank you for everything you've done for me. Since I'm no longer welcome here, I'll leave. Mr. Allen, I'm the one that's at fault. I won't ask for your forgiveness, I simply hope that the Crawfords and the Knights won't become estranged because of this."

With that, Asher turned around and left. He did not even want to stay. Layla suddenly saw Asher seemingly brush something off his eyes with his hand. She felt something strike her heart. It was an indescribable feeling.