Chapter 15 Shocking Everyone

• After all the guests had paid their respects, it was time for the Lavette Family to perform their own rituals.
• The Lavette family had to conduct the kneeling and bowing ceremony according to tradition, which involved three bows and nine bows, based on seniority.
• First to kneel was Robert, followed by Hector, Hubert, Henry, and so on, down to the younger generations.
• Timothy was the last in line.
• As he slowly approached Kevin's shrine, murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.
• "Is that young man really Timothy? I thought he was in prison. How has he come back here?" one person murmured, disbelief evident in their voice.
• "Yes. The incident back then caused quite a stir. It's surprising to see him return so openly," another replied, nodding knowingly.
• "It's well known that among the Lavette Family, Kevin favored Timothy the most," someone else added. "Now that he has passed away, I can't imagine how tough life will be for him."
• The murmurs grew louder, turning to hushed whispers about recent events. "Have you heard about the Dempsey Family incident? Some say it was orchestrated by the Primordial Palace. Could Timothy be from the Primordial Palace? He did have that infamous falling out with the Dempsey family back then. It wouldn't be surprising if he's back for revenge."
• Some people couldn't help but connect the dots between Timothy's return and the recent events involving the Dempsey Family. After all, the timing was suspiciously coincidental.
• "Careful with such talk. The Primordial Palace isn't something you discuss lightly. Even if Timothy has returned, linking him to the Primordial Palace seems far-fetched. Does he really have the resources to take on the Dempsey Family?"
• "True, but it's quite the coincidence, isn't it?"
• These murmurs of gossip, though spoken in whispers, were carried on the air and overheard by others. A ripple of curiosity spread through the crowd, and a collective gaze fell on those who dared to speculate aloud. Faced with the scrutiny of forty pairs of eyes, the speakers fell silent, their courage dissipating under the weight of attention.
• In the blink of an eye, Timothy stood before Kevin's shrine. He was waiting for the moment when Simon would give the signal for him to begin the ceremony.
• Just as Timothy stood silently still, about forty people inexplicably fell into formation behind him and stood at a respectful distance. Their sudden appearance puzzled onlookers, adding an air of mystery to the gathering.
• "Bow once!" commanded Simon, fixing his gaze on Timothy.
• Timothy brought his palms together and bowed deeply. Following his lead, the forty people behind him mirrored his movements with precise synchronization. Hence, deepening the intrigue among the spectators.
• "Now kneel!" Simon ordered.
• Without hesitation, Timothy knelt heavily.
• What happened next left everyone at the scene wide-eyed and speechless.
• In unison, with a resounding "thud," the group of forty people behind him also dropped heavily to their knees. The sound reverberated through the courtyard as if even the house trembled at their collective action.
• The unexpected scene took everyone by surprise. Guests and members of the Lavette Family alike were frozen in shock, unable to comprehend what they were witnessing. Even Simon, who was officiating the event, seemed stunned by the scene unfolding before him.
• Traditionally, this gesture of respect was reserved for the descendants of the Lavette Family’s patriarch. Yet, these people were clearly not related to the family. Traditional customs dictated that guests merely bow as a sign of farewell, but this group had taken it to an extraordinary level, leaving everyone in a state of bewilderment and awe.
• Among the forty-odd people present, some unfamiliar faces stood out, yet many were prominent figures with influence and status. It was astonishing to see them bow in submission and follow Timothy to kneel.
• Simon, observing the unfolding spectacle, felt a sharp glint of understanding in his eyes. The scene brought back Kevin's dying words. 'Timothy can bring the Lavette Family a century of glory.'
• The significance of this moment wasn't lost on him, but he quickly masked his realization with a composed demeanor. Feigning indifference to the extraordinary sight, he nodded at Timothy and commanded with quiet authority, "Three kneels!"
• Timothy knelt and respectfully knocked his forehead against the ground three times.
• The sight was grand and overwhelming. A dense crowd of people simultaneously kneeling and bowing their heads!
• After the initial three kneels, the ritual continued with standing, bowing twice, and then six more kneels.
• Without exception, the forty-plus individuals followed Timothy's lead through every gesture, kneeling and knocking their heads on the ground, then rising to press their palms together and bow to complete the ceremony.
• Even after the ceremony ended, the attendees were still in a daze. The entire sequence of events was utterly bewildering. When they turned their eyes toward Robert, they found him just as bewildered.
• He was already surprised when these elite figures arrived, but seeing them kneel and perform the full ritual of three bows and nine kneels left him utterly dumbfounded. It was unimaginable, yet no one connected them to Timothy.
• When the ritual was completed, the room gradually returned to a hum of conversation.
• Members of the Lavette Family, eager to capitalize on the influential guests' presence, speculated that these figures must have shared a special bond with the deceased patriarch. Sensing an opportunity, they approached to introduce themselves and foster connections.
• At the suggestion of Hector, Connor took the initiative to greet the elite guests and wealthy businessmen. Serving as a department head in Stonea, he knew that forming connections with these influential figures and wealthy businessmen could greatly benefit his career.
• His father was adamant about seizing the chance to make these connections as he understood the potential advantages for Connor's future. Despite the formal nature of the occasion, the importance of this opportunity could not be missed.
• Unsurprisingly, the conversations went smoothly. When the influential figures learned that he was the eldest son of the Lavette Family, they responded warmly and without any air of superiority. This gave him a sense of pride, thinking that Kevin's reputation was indeed powerful.
• He mused silently that Kevin had left at just the right time, allowing him to bask in the reflected glory and paving the way for his political future.
• Little did he know, these people were unaware of the conflicts between Timothy and the rest of the Lavette family. They simply believed that the person before them was the elder brother of their leader, which was why they extended such courtesy.
• Pop, pop.
• Just then, a series of sharp sounds from the microphone caught everyone’s attention, and all eyes turned to the small podium.
• "Once again, I want to thank everyone for coming to pay their respects to my father on his final journey," Robert began, his voice carrying a mixture of gratitude and solemnity as he bowed to the guests. His gaze lingered briefly on Timothy, a fleeting glance that held a world of unspoken words.
• "My father's departure is a great loss to the entire Lavette Family, but he entrusted me to announce some certain words to an ungrateful son of mine. So, I want to take this opportunity to announce the will left by my father!" he continued.
• At the mention of the will, Hector felt his heart skip a beat. He knew all too well that Kevin's will named Timothy as the next head of the family. Is Dad truly going to reveal this before everyone?
• The implications of such an announcement were profound. It would signify the end of his son’s ambitions, dashing the hopes he had painstakingly nurtured. Earlier, he had observed the presence of numerous social elites and underground figures, so he sent Connor to forge connections and pave the way for his future. But if Robert announced the will, those efforts would be rendered useless.
• Meanwhile, Simon stood silently at a respectful distance, his eyes instinctively drawn to the altar where Kevin's portrait rested.
• He, too, was aware of the will, and a poignant sense of loss filled him. Tears shimmered in his eyes as he murmured, "Kevin, rest in peace. Timothy is no ordinary child, and under your plan, the Lavette Family will surely prosper. You can leave without worry."
• Everyone held their collective breath, and every eye focused intently on Robert as each person was eager to hear the announcement of the will.
• Robert exhaled a deep sigh, his expression one of resignation and determination as he finally spoke, "Connor will be the next head of the Lavette Family."
• The words landed like a bolt of lightning, but for everyone, the announcement was expected, except for Simon. He could not believe that Robert dared to defy Kevin's wishes, paying mere lip service while acting against his true intentions.
• Within moments, envy and admiration for Connor swept through the younger members of the Lavette Family. Meanwhile, Hector exhaled deeply, a visible sense of relief flooding through him as he felt the weight of uncertainty lift from his shoulders.
• He glanced contemptuously at Timothy, whose face was a mask of stoic indifference as he stood among the crowd.
• At that moment, Robert's voice rang out with a steely authority. "Timothy, descendant of the Lavette Family, has brought disaster upon us with his arrogance and defiance. He has shown disrespect to his elders and violated the family rules. From this day forward, he is expelled from the Lavette Family and shall never set foot in our residence again. No member of the Lavette Family is to offer him any assistance, and anyone who does so will be punished as he is."
• The words struck everyone like a clap of thunder, and all eyes turned to Timothy. Yet, he seemed unmoved, his gaze fixed solemnly on the memorial hall, lost in his own thoughts.
• "It seems the Lavette Family still holds a grudge over past events," someone murmured. "Timo is truly unfortunate, being cast out at a time like this."
• "Perhaps, but he brought this on himself. He crossed a powerful family. Even though he has returned, he can't prevent rival families from targeting him and the Lavette Family. What else could be done?" another replied, sighing deeply.
• Connor and several other senior members of the family watched the scene with barely concealed satisfaction, their eyes glinting with malicious delight. They exchanged knowing glances while silently mocking, 'Didn't Kevin favor you, Timothy? Weren't you supposed to be the great hope of the family? And now look at you, expelled like a criminal. A disgrace remains a disgrace. You'll never amount to anything!'
• Meanwhile, Henry and his family stood frozen in disbelief, unable to comprehend the turn of events.
• Simon took one final, lingering look at Kevin's memorial hall. With a heavy heart, he turned to leave while saying inwardly, 'The Lavette Family... is doomed…'
• He longed to reveal Robert's deceit to everyone present, but without the proper status or backing, he was powerless. All he could do was stand by helplessly as he foresaw the slow unraveling of Kevin's legacy in the days to come.
• The hall buzzed with murmurs and sighs of disbelief and pity.
• Boom!
• As soon as Robert finished speaking, a table set with tea on the edge of the crowd suddenly exploded!
• "Tell me, who gave you the courage...?" a deep, furious voice demanded.