The air in the room became tense with emotion after Ron's disturbing phone call. Lilly felt deeply wronged by Hugo's stern words on the other hand, Hugo was busy contemplating what security measures he needed to take to ensure his grandchildren's safety, at the same time, Lory felt a little awkward being caught up in family matters, she actually wanted to leave but she didn't find the right time.
[Can you find me a language teacher?] Zhao Li Xin's sudden question broke the tense silence in the room.
Hugo's attention immediately shifted [Oh, you want to learn Harlandish?]
[Yes, it is the most common language people use so I want to learn it as quickly as possible] Zhao Li Xin said calmly and casually without bothering to read the atmosphere of the room at all, but because of him the tension in the room subsided significantly and everything back to normal as if nothing had happened. Lory wanted to give Zhao Li Xin two thumbs up.
[I will tell Allen to find a suitable teacher for you, Mr. Zhao. Do you need anything else?] Hugo was rarely polite to anyone considering his status but because it was Zhao Li Xin he not only admired his talent but also his calm and firm attitude, moreover despite Zhao Li Xin's cold outlook, he could see how much Zhao Li Xin loved his wife and thus alone greatly increased Hugo's favorable impression about him by a lot.
Zhao Li Xin pondered for a while, he didn't try to be polite and then said:[I want a male teacher, I don't want him to be too old because they are usually arrogant and stubborn, I want someone who can speak Astern as well so communication becomes easier, he also has a deep understanding of the social and cultural happenings nowadays, and he must have good perseverance because I want a long intensive teaching for a week]
[Sure, I will send a teacher for you by tomorrow] Hugo didn't understand the reason behind the criteria for the teacher that Zhao Li Xin wanted but it wasn't a difficult request Hugo agreed readily.
After they finished discussing, Hugo turned off the soundproofing machine in the room before Lilly, Lory, and Zhao Li Xin excused themselves.
After everyone left, Hugo activated the sound isolation barrier once again this time he summoned Edmund his Son. After two rings, Edmund answered his cell phone.
"Father" Edmund answered the phone.
"Do you know what happened to Lilly?" Hugo asked with clear anger in his voice.
Edmund took a deep breath, "Yes, Lilly told me and I also got a full report from Allen."
"The Augburn family dares to cheat on our little girl now, thankfully their relationship ended early and no harm came to Lilly, if anything happened to her…" Hugo's voice darkened.
"I know..." Edmund slumped in his chair while massaging his temples.
"Now you know!" Hugo snorted. "You want to keep a peaceful relationship but the other party doesn't feel the same, we're lucky Ethan is okay now and Lilly isn't hurt but what happens next?"
Edmund could only be quiet when his father scolded him. After all, it was his fault for not listening to his father's warning about the Augburn family's ambitions. He thought that by maintaining good relations between them, the Auburn family would not go overboard with their action but who would have thought the youngest son of the Auburn family dare to have an unscrupulous design for his young daughter?
"But what happened to Edmund and Lilly is two different matters so we cannot lump the enemy together," Edmund said.
"You believe that?" Hugo sneered. Edmund is very smart even though he is not a 'Creator' like himself and Edmund, but Edmund is very smart in business, in fact, he is the one responsible for developing the Ellecant group to what it is today in a very short time, but Edmund doesn't like problems and tends to avoid confrontation which made him reluctant to confront the Augburn family's questionable attitude.
Luckily, there was still Hugo to watch over the family and now Hugo was annoyed with Edmund's attitude. Hugo rebuked him harshly "Ethan almost died, Lilly was bewitched by that damn child and this happened after we rejected the invitation of the S.A.I.N.T organization."
Edmund's knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists tightly. "Do you think these two things are related?"
"I don't have concrete evidence about that, yet, But you have to admit that everything that happened recently is too coincidental," Hugo expressed his suspicions.
"I know what you mean," agreed Edmund. "Because of that, I agreed to collaborate with the Poko-Poko brand to enter the food retail market"
"Oh, you want to face Anchora directly? not bad." there was a jolt of pleasure in Hugo's voice.
"Yeah, we left them going wild for a long time, it's time to let them know the Hamilton's is not pushover" Edmund's voice deepened with determination.
"I don't think it will be long until one of those pesky families contacts us and I'm sure they would rather contact you than me because you are easier to persuade" Hugo laughed with a sneer.
Edmund was speechless, he wondered why everyone's opinion of him was so low, it seemed like it was time to show them what he could do. "I won't let them go easily this time, not after they touched Lilly"
"That's right, it's time to show your fangs, Son, you've been hiding it too long and too well," said Hugo meaningfully.
"I know..." said Edmund quietly.
_________________________________
Elsewhere there are other families experiencing chaos.
'SLAP'
Ron was slapped so hard that he fell to the floor, his lip torn from his father's blow.
Robert Augburn is the head of the Augburn family, a man in his late fifties with dark gray hair and dark blue eyes. He had quite a handsome and charismatic face but now his eyes were filled with unstoppable anger.
"Robert stop!" Isana rushed over to her beloved son and hugged him protectively.
Isana's actions only worsened his mood, soon his whole body was shaking with suppressed anger, "Look what your stupid son has done, now he has ruined everything I had carefully planned, you know how much damage he had created for us?!"
"But that's not the reason you beating your own Son!" Isana screams defiantly.
"I only slap him, if he's not my Son I 'll already kill him right now!" Robert infuriated.
"I just did what you asked, why do you blame me..." Ron disgruntled.
Ron's voice wasn't loud but Robert could hear Ron clearly, "I told you to court her, not bewitch her! Could you use your brain for once!" he huffed and puffed
"But she won't look at me if I don't do that..." Ron's whines like a spoiled brat.
Isana joins in to defend her youngest Son "Ron is right, that girl is too arrogant and proudful just because she came from Hamilton she thought she better than anyone else she wouldn't look at Ron even though he's from the Augburn family!"
"Perhaps that's because your Son sleeps with half a woman in the city..." Jacob cynically said.
"Jacob!" Isana scream.
Jacob rolled his eyes without giving any other reaction. The man sat comfortably in a chair while sipping wine without a care. This wasn't the first time Robert slapped Ron and Isana defended him like a 'mama bear' protecting her cub. Their mother was the reason why Ron could go all out causing trouble wherever he went without a problem.
Robert sat tiredly on the sofa while Jacob calmly poured his father some wine. Immediately the wine scent wafted into his nose, and Robert's mood became a little better. He took a deep breath and then took his glass, he swirled the wine glass for a few seconds before he took a sip.
"We must apologize sincerely to the Hamilton family, although I don't think it's enough for them to withdraw their lawsuit." Robert looked at Ron with utter contempt.
"Dad I don't wanna go to jail!" Ron cried.
"Robert you cannot let Ron go to jail!" Isana pleads in tears.
"Shut up both of you!" Robert shushed the stupid Son and Mother.
"Then you should talk with Edmund," Jacob calmly said.
Robert let out a heavy sigh "It wouldn't be easy, he loved that girl a lot that's why I want to match her with Ron, I guessed it's a mistake, I should've asked you instead"
"Well, she's not my type" Jacob smirked.
"Well, that never stopped you before" Robert knew what kind of man his Son was and compared to him, his first son was more cunning and wicked, that's why he would be the perfect heir for him.
The cover of Jacob's lips curled into a sinister smile then quietly sipped his wine gracefully, after a moment he looked at his father, "They haven't called yet?"
__________________________________
While everyone having a heated discussion, Lory and Zhao Li Xin returned to the art studio that Hugo had personally built for Zhao Li Xin.
Lory took a comfortable position in the carriage while observing Zhao Li Xin's painting.
The golden afternoon sunlight penetrated the window pane and shone on the figure of Zhao Li Xin who was wearing long black clothes embroidered with silver leaves.
His long ink-black hair flowed loosely down his back, he looked ethereal and noble like an immortal deity descending from the heavens. Lory never tired of looking at him.
[What are you painting?] Lory suddenly asked.
Zhao Li Xin glanced at Lory briefly before he focused on his painting again, and in a low voice he said: [You...]
His blunt answer made Lory's face turn red, [Really...?]
Zhao Li Xin chuckled [I painted the scene of our time together] Zhao Li not to mention that someone might buy the painting, how could I let someone else take my wife's painting that I drew myself... I wouldn't be that stupid] his gaze pierced into her eyes making her heart stir like a whirlwind.
Lory had to look away from him to calm her emotions after being disturbed by Zhao Li Xin even though the man himself knew nothing about what she had done.
Lory pouted seeing his calm reaction but she could only blame herself [By the way, because your schedule will be busy this whole week, so I'm thinking about buying a car by myself, what do you think?] Lory anxiously asked knowing the great Lord was actually eager to see what types of cars were available in this world.
There was a hint of disappointment on his face, but Lory was right. There were still many things he needed to learn so he could assimilate into this world's culture, if he wanted to help Lory he had to understand how the systems in this world worked so he didn't have time to waste.
[It seems I can't accompany you this time]
Zhao Li Xin sounded quite dejected, and Lory felt bad for him Lory then jumped from the couch and rushed toward him, she wrapped her arms around Zhao Li Xin's waist then cutely said: [There is still another time, we can choose a car again when we bored with this one, there also cruise ship, airplane and such we can try together, we still have a lot of time!]
Zhao Li Xin put down his brush on the table, his eyes darted at the pair of beautiful sparkling eyes that stared at him with excitement, his mood lifted and he hugged the sweet charming woman in his arms and kissed softly on her forehead [You right there still a lot of time...]
[Yup-yup!] Lory giggles.
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