Chapter 4 Shoresea News

• "When you take a wife, you have to treat her with respect!"
• Cecilia gazed at Larry with wide eyes, utterly unprepared for his eloquence—each endearment he spoke sounded so natural, so warmly intimate.
• Especially when Larry grinned foolishly, her affection for him swelled.
• Is this man a romantic rogue?
• If so ...
• Why was he defending her with such fervour, even at the risk of antagonising the powerful Faraday scion?
• Beside her, Harold remained speechless, his astonishment palpable.
• "You're asking for trouble, you bloody idiot!" Quinton clutched his face, grumbling as he clawed his way back up from the ground. A new son-in-law had the nerve to publicly strike him on his first day. This humiliation was unbearable. With a hefty fist poised, he aimed it squarely at Larry.
• "Larry, watch yourself!" Cecilia fretted, her eyes squeezing shut in apprehension.
• Boom!
• In the next instant, a thunderous explosion reverberated through the air.
• As the sound dissipated, Cecilia cautiously reopened her eyes, only to find Quinton airborne, not Larry.
• "Dear gods ... " Cecilia swallowed nervously.
• But Larry wasn't finished. With purposeful strides, he closed in on Quinton, seizing his collar and hoisting him effortlessly with his right hand. "It appears my warning earlier didn't quite register. Today, you'll learn a lesson. Remember it well," Larry asserted firmly.
• Crack!
• A sharp sound echoed as Quinton's arm snapped, eliciting a cry of anguish.
• "I'll let your previous mistreatment of my wife slide. But now that I'm here, if you ever lay a finger on her again, or my in-laws, a dislocated arm will be the least of your worries!" Larry's voice carried a stern warning.
• In the blink of an eye, Larry flung Quinton's body, crashing through a nearby bench before landing heavily on the ground.
• "My love, let's depart," Larry urged, hastening to Cecilia's side and lifting the unconscious Gwendolyn gently into his arms. They swiftly departed the scene, leaving behind only a seething Quinton.
• "You're a worthless son-in-law! I'll kill you for this!" Quinton seethed, clutching his injured arm, his face contorted with rage.
• Cecilia, your fate is sealed.
• Your entire family is doomed.
• Quinton stormed out of the hall, his dislocated arm a grim reminder of the altercation, intent on leveraging this injury as evidence against Cecilia.
• Meanwhile, Philip remained ensconced in the hotel, engrossed in negotiations over a lucrative business deal in the plush surroundings of the suite, with Richard and William in attendance.
• "Grandpa, Grandpa, I've been crippled! Oh my, my hand's in agony ... " Quinton barged into the room unannounced, capturing everyone's immediate attention.
• "Given the family matters at hand, let's resolve those first. Business can wait," several guests murmured, filing out discreetly.
• "What's the commotion about?" Philip rose abruptly. "You've disrupted my dealings. Do you understand?"
• "Grandpa, I had no choice. Someone twisted my arm!" Quinton's distress was palpable.
• "What? Who dared?" Richard's concern was evident—he cherished his only son dearly.
• "Dad, it's that good-for-nothing son-in-law who just turned up. He called you an old fool, and I couldn't let it pass. We argued, and this is the result!" Quinton exaggerated, hoping to stoke anger.
• "Absolutely disgraceful!" Philip erupted with fury.
• Quinton savoured a moment of satisfaction. "Indeed, Grandpa. You gave away your niece to him, and he not only failed to show gratitude but also dared to insult you. It appears he has designs on the Faradays' fortune!"
• "Dad, Larry, and Cecilia shouldn't escape lightly," Richard prodded from the sidelines.
• "Quite right. They must grasp who holds sway in the Faraday domain!" William concurred.
• This was an opportunity to oust Harold and his kin—too valuable to let slip through their fingers.
• ...
• Amidst the turmoil, Larry returned to Cecilia's homestead, bearing his mother-in-law on his back.
• In Cecilia's gaze, Larry's gallant deeds had elevated him to greater heights, outshining even his own father in manliness.
• Still, Larry's retribution on her behalf offered a measure of solace.
• "Dad, this isn't his fault!" Cecilia interjected. "Quinton's conduct is simply deplorable. No true man would allow that to pass!"
• Cecilia swiftly recognised her blunder and clarified, "Dad, I didn't mean you. Please don't take it personally!"
• "Oh, Cece, I am ineffectual. I've allowed you to endure such suffering. Were it not for my inadequacy, you wouldn't have married a man plagued by epilepsy. Moving forward ... " Harold faltered, lamenting his own shortcomings.
• "Not so!" From the inner sanctum, Gwendolyn, roused from slumber, abruptly sat upright. "Cece, I cannot abide your happiness being compromised thus. I refuse to acknowledge this son-in-law. Provide him with funds and bid him farewell!"
• Gwendolyn's sentiments did not stem from aversion towards Larry, but rather from the potential genetic implications of epilepsy.
• "Mum, he defended me against Quinton. Quinton is capable of anything. Should we cast out Larry, Quinton may exact dire retribution!" Cecilia's resolve burned in her eyes.
• Larry felt a warmth in his heart. A decade had not altered his wife's kindness.
• Simultaneously, he pondered whether to divulge their shared history from a decade ago, yet ultimately, he remained silent.
• "Very well, I am aged and powerless to sway matters. You two must decide your course!" Gwendolyn retorted coolly, retreating into the inner chamber with a decisive huff.
• Suddenly, a shrill ring sliced through the air, wrenching Cecilia from her thoughts. She paled at the sight of the caller ID.
• "Cecilia, pay heed. Grandpa summons you for a family conclave tomorrow. Prepare for an expulsion from the fold!" Quinton's voice cut through the phone, sharp as a winter frost.
• Fear trembled through Cecilia's frame.
• "My love, I confronted Quinton. Trust me to handle this," Larry interposed gently, his brow furrowed with concern. He longed to enfold Cecilia in safety, shielding her from harm's reach.
• Quinton is a fool through and through.
• "And what, may I ask, will you do? Barge into the Faradays' lair with a blade to dispatch Quinton?" Gwendolyn emerged from the inner sanctum, her gaze cold upon Larry, devoid of warmth.
• "Darling, come witness. News has it—the renowned young marshal has landed in Shoresea!" Harold proclaimed from the television, his voice brimming with excitement, casting the recent tumult into oblivion.