When the worship ceremony was over, many members of the family, who didn’t want to be involved in
the trouble, left one by one.
Those who stayed here were people who wanted to watch the show.
As most of the James had left, Clarence and Stella, the two strangers to the family, became
conspicuous.
If Dolores didn’t show up, probably none of them would think of the possibility.
But the reality was that Dolores was present, and there was a man who looked similar to Darnell and at
the same time around his age.
Therefore, they began to guess it and discussed it in whispers.
Hilbert also heard their voices. With the help of his presbyopia glasses, he took a glance at Clarence,
but people didn’t know whether he had seen Clarence clearly or not.
Holding his crutch, he coughed several times and then said, “The worship ceremony has come to an
end. Except for me, several doyens, Franklin, Darnell and his mother, other people shall come to the
front hall.”
Hearing Hilbert’s words, those people didn’t dare to watch the show and left one by one as Hilbert was
quite prestigious in the family.
Seeing this scene, Elaine also prepared to leave secretly.
But Hilbert stopped her, “Elaine, stay here.”
Elaine, who just lifted one of her feet, put it down and obediently walked to her father.
When all of those irrelevant people had left, Hilbert picked up the cup of tea on the near table, blew the
tea leaf floating on the tea and said slowly, “We’re not in a hurry. Let’s solve it one by one.”
He then looked towards Elaine, “Let’s start from you.”
Elaine tried to muddle through it by playing cute, “Grand-grandpa…”
Hilbert took a sip of the tea and appeared to be not moved. He looked up again, “Don’t stand there.
Please come in.”
Clarence slightly pressed his thin lips together and took Stella into the ancestral hall.
Seeing this scene, Archer looked around awkwardly.
He didn’t know whether he should follow them into the hall, or leave.
Archer scratched his head and thought to himself: Never mind. I will go in too. There have been many
people after all.
Elaine immediately thought of a countermeasure whens seeing Clarence walking into the hall. She
reached out to hug his arm, but Clarence dodged her touch effortlessly.
Elaine was somehow scared when spotting the coldness in his eyes.
However, she had no choice because she didn’t want to marry Darnell.
Franklin let out a heavy cough, reminding Elaine to behave herself and not to go too far.
Elaine withdrew her hands, not feeling embarrassed at all, and then said in a righteous voice, “Grand-
grandpa, I’ve been fascinated by the other man and I don’t want to marry uncle Darnell.”
Franklin knitted his brows. He was the first to condemn Elaine, “What nonsense are you talking about?
How can he be your uncle? Mind your words.”
Elaine retorted, “Am I wrong? You asked me to call him uncle when I was young. And he will always be
my uncle.”
Hilbert said in a deep voice, “Hilbert, I and Darnell’s grandfather are cousins and you two are distant
relatives at most. We asked you to call him uncle to close your relationship. It’s just an address and it
doesn’t matter.”
When Elaine prepared to retort, the other doyens who sat beside Hilbert began to cough.
Franklin also warned her with his gaze, gesturing not to refute anymore.
Right at this moment, Darnell’s bland voice sounded. “I don’t agree wither.”
Darnell’s mother wanted to say something, but she simply moved her lips and didn’t say anything in the
end.
Darnell continued, “I don’t plan to marry any woman and form a family for now. Elaine is still young and
we’re not suitable.”
One of the doyens said, “You can engage with her first, and we will arrange for other matters when
Elaine grew older.”
Elaine couldn’t help but retort when she heard the words, “I told you that I’ve been captivated by the
other man. Dear doyens, do you know what era we are in now? We’re in a new era! And arranged
marriage has been a past! I won’t accept this! I want to pursue my happiness. You’re so bigoted. I…”
Slap!
Before Elaine could finish the words, she felt the burning pain in her cheek.
Elaine stiffened and looked at her father.
Franklin said in a stern voice, “Kneel.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she choked with sobs. Elaine wanted to justify herself, but she thought
she would cry if she opened her mouth. Therefore, she bit her lower lip tightly and knelt behind
Dolores, making a loud sound.
Seeing this scene, Archer subconsciously took a step backwards, feeling his knees aching even though
it wasn’t he to kneel.
Darnell furrowed his brows and looked towards Elaine, but he didn’t say anything.
Franklin withdrew his hand and took a deep breath, “Elaine is still young. I will educate her more after
coming back.”
When hearing his words, the gloominess on those doyens’ faces was alleviated.
As Elaine was his grand-granddaughter, Hilbert didn’t want to see her continue to be embarrassed and
decided to put aside this matter temporarily and move to the next matter.
He said, “The second thing, I heard some rumours recently that some members of the James family
went to City N and some other negative rumours. Darnell, have you heard of them?”
Darnell replied blandly, “They’re rumours and I will deal with them.”
“If someone left Riverside and went to City N, it should be a big deal.”
They could easily perceive that Hilbert was still dissatisfied with Dolores’ return to the James family and
he was taking this opportunity to express his discontent and to pave the way for the next matter.
Darnell replied, “I also learned about this matter before and it was me who asked Archer to go to City
N.”
Archer was astonished.
Hilbert and the other doyens simultaneously raised their eyes and looked towards Archer who thought
these matters had nothing to do with him before and watched the show casually.
Archer immediately became nervous. Recalling the slap on Elaine’s face just now, he suddenly felt his
right cheek hurting although he was not slapped. Archer knelt down without hesitation, “I…”
Darnell said, “There were some accidents in City N and someone is targeting at the James family. If I
just wait for their attack, we will lose the initiative and can just wait for their frame.”
Hilbert just held his crutch and remained silent.
He sat in the chair with his eyes closed. And Stella couldn’t distinguish whether he was sleeping or
meditating.
She turned her head to look at the man who seemed to be pondering something and slightly pressed
her lips together.
Right at this moment, a doyen broke the silence, “Even though what you said is true, you should have
negotiated with us and decided on it together. You can’t make such a decision yourself. No matter
what, we can’t forget the rules stipulated by our ancestors.”
Darnell said without any expressional change, “My grandpa told me when I became the patriarch of the
James family that I have the right to decide on everything.”
That doyen became so angry, “You…”
Darnell continued, “If you think I didn’t handle this matter appropriately, I can give the position to the
other person at any time.”
They immediately became silent when they heard the words.
Although these doyens all had their plans, none of them could take the position justifiably even if
Darnell gave way to one of them.
“Enough.”
Hilbert broke the silence, “What Darnell said makes sense. He’s the patriarch of the James family and
he can decide on any matters himself. He doesn’t have to inform any other people. All right, this matter
is over. But no matter what, since you’ve gone to City N, we can’t let go of you easily. Just kneel there.”
Archer was shocked again.
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