Tiana Williams didn't know why, but sometimes she also felt a sense of fear in his presence, perhaps it was a psychological shadow from her younger years.
However, even though Tiana Williams had tried to make amends now, she wasn't able to lift his spirits.
As he continued to maintain silent, looking down to enjoy his breakfast, his expression turned even more sullen and icy, his gaze bearing down on her, Tiana Williams felt an immense pressure.
"I have classes in the afternoon, and I'll need to make a trip to the hospital afterward,"
Tiana Williams said indifferently.
Landon Brooke's profound eyes were still fixed on her, and the next moment, he withdrew his hand and leaned back in his chair in silence.
"Did someone from the Tower Clan stir up trouble?"
He watched her quietly as she finished the last few Shumai on her plate before suddenly asking that question.
His question surprised Tiana Williams, causing her to halt her actions and look up at him.
Catching the fleeting surprise in her eyes, Landon Brooke felt an inexplicable displeasure, and his eyes grew colder.
Tiana Williams didn't understand why he was having another inexplicable outburst and, disregarding the chill, she spoke, "Luther is my brother, I couldn't possibly ignore him. There's no need to mention it to Old Master. If I don't take care of him, nobody will..."
As Tiana Williams said this, the shimmer in her star-like eyes suddenly became stagnant, and the faint sense of melancholy in her features deepened as Landon Brooke's sharp gaze captured the brief shadow and sadness flashing through her eyes.
He knew, she might have been thinking of her past self.
He didn't interrupt, his long, pale fingers gently gripping the teacup in front of him, with the faint scent of tea filling the air, inexplicably conveying a sense of tranquility.
"I... can't neglect him, for fear he'll go astray. I hope he can live a better life than I have,"
her low voice carried over.
Listening to her, Landon Brooke's quiet eyes suddenly flashed with realization, and from the depths of his gaze, a slow glimmer of stars seemed to emerge like the surface of the sea, he asked softly, "Do you feel that all these years have not been good for you?"
A twinge of bitterness surfaced in Tiana's heart, and she said with a self-deprecating tone, "Maybe they were okay, but I just feel like I haven't really owned anything. Looking back, I don't see anyone standing behind me... Luther... he's probably feeling the same way now. You might not understand that feeling."
Not understand?
Landon Brooke snorted with a laugh, the light in his eyes dark and indecipherable.
...
After Tiana Williams flexed her influence back at the Tower Clan's, Jasmine Hayes indeed pulled herself back and dared not disobey.
The cocktail party couldn't go on because Xaverius Holmes came over with some of the Tower Clan elders!
Already in an awkward position climbing the social ladder, Jasmine Hayes was particularly sensitive about this matter and, having no choice, was forced to cancel the cocktail party on short notice, utterly losing face!
Xaverius Holmes and the others didn't care about Vincent Holmes and Jasmine Hayes's fate. To them, these old members of the Tower Clan had never considered Vincent Holmes part of the family, so the worse things were for Vincent and Jasmine, the happier they were!
Even though Berlina Holmes strongly opposed it, wanting to persist and finish the wine reception, she still couldn't have her way in the end!
As a result, they had offended quite a few people, needing to visit each one to apologize and offer gifts, to make things clear!
Vincent Holmes, on a business trip, received a phone call from Jasmine Hayes and rushed back after handing over his work. It was already the afternoon of the third day!
Having learned about the situation, Vincent Holmes was nearly furious like a thunderstorm!
From Jasmine Hayes's account, Vincent Holmes knew it was because of Luther Holmes that Tiana Williams had stormed in, which made him even angrier!
That very afternoon, he went straight to the hospital; ignoring Luther Holmes's unhealed body, he gave him a relentless scolding, and not even the special care nurses could stop him. Seeing that the situation was not right, he hurriedly called Tiana Williams, asking her to rush over immediately.
Tiana Williams, upon receiving the call from the hospital, also hurried over quickly.
At this moment, inside Luther Holmes's hospital room.
Tiana had barely reached the door when she could already hear Vincent Holmes's angry reprimands coming from inside!
"When have your mother and I not cared for you, not worried about you? Regarding food, clothes, or anything else, in what way have we wronged you? You, on your own, fail to learn properly and end up sending others to the hospital with broken bones. It was your mother who had to bring gifts and personally apologize to them, almost kneeling down! For your sake, she even personally sought connections, shamelessly begging them to show mercy and not to expel you. In contrast, look at your brother, Hugh Holmes. On the material side, what does he have that compares to you? He got into the International School on his own merits. You want to get in, so show me good grades for once, and I might be able to pull some strings and get you in too!"
The cold harshness in Vincent Holmes's voice was very clear to Tiana Williams.
"Low achievement, high expectations! Apart from knowing how to use your mother to drain me, what else can you do? Useless as mud that won't stick to the wall! Haven't I invested enough heart and soul in you? Instead of reflecting on yourself, you constantly look for shortcuts and even sought out a stranger to bully your own family! I think there is something wrong with your brain! If it weren't for your mother and the others, could you live as carefreely as you do now? You've been close to landing in jail several times! Not knowing how to be grateful is one thing, but repaying kindness with ingratitude, how could I have fathered such a son!"
Vincent Holmes's scolding was painfully piercing. How could a vulnerable adolescent child bear such words?
"I didn't ask you to care, she's not my mom! My mom died a long time ago! You are all family, not me!"
Luther Holmes's sullen voice was filled with stubbornness, and Tiana Williams could hear a hint of sadness amidst the contained anger.
"Alright, alright... Vincent, don't blame the child like that, he's still young, what would he understand! Don't speak of him like that! Luther, don't listen to your dad, he's just blunt, he doesn't really mean that. What can't be discussed properly between father and son, no need to quarrel..."
Jasmine Hayes's voice, always playing the peacemaker, came through.
"Hypocrites, I don't need your care! Wouldn't you be happy if I were dead? You've wanted to drive me out of the Tower Clan for a long time now, just like with my sister before! You're all thieves! I hate you!"
"Shut your mouth! You impudent child! How dare you accuse your own father like that, I see that the books you've read over the years have gone to the dogs! Lacking any manners, no wonder you do such foolish things! Spreading wild rumors; are you trying to cause trouble for me? You disgraceful creature, today I'm going to discipline you properly—slap!"
As the roar of rage subsided, the loud sound of a slap also followed.
Tiana Williams rushed in and saw Vincent Holmes retracting his hand and Luther Holmes's cheek slightly swollen...
Jasmine Hayes frantically tried to restrain Vincent Holmes, looking concerned.
Luther Holmes's face was deathly pale, with one hand pressing on his stomach and blood seeping from the hand where the needle was inserted.
PS: A new week, to strive! To fight! Climbing the charts is difficult; we aim for the top five; let's keep trying!