7
601words
He began to grovel over the phone.
"Benjamin! I am so, so sorry. Please, don't be angry, it's bad for your health. I'm coming right now to discipline that worthless boy!"
Maxwell, who had never seen his proud and powerful grandfather so subservient, tried to protest, but the line was already dead.
"You old geezer! That was obviously an impostor! You're just trying to scare me!" he blustered.
"I'm not falling for it! You and this jinx will never set foot in the Thorpe house again!"
My grandfather's grip on my hand tightened, and a palpable aura of killing intent radiated from him.
I let out a soft cry of pain; the cut on my finger, having been submerged in the dirty pond water, was now red, swollen, and throbbing.
He immediately called for a helicopter to bring our family's private medical team.
The doctors arrived at the same time as Nathaniel Thorpe, who had brought the entire Thorpe clan with him.
The moment he saw the medical team, his already stooped posture seemed to collapse.
His legs went weak, and he nearly fell, his own cane unable to support his trembling body.
"Benjamin... what... what happened?"
My grandfather's face was a stony mask. He ignored Nathaniel, his attention focused on the doctors as they treated my wound and performed a full check-up.
"Grandfather, the Thorpes must have their own doctors. Why go to all the trouble of flying ours in?" I asked, finding the situation slightly absurd.
But my grandfather was completely serious.
Once he was assured I had no other injuries, his concern was replaced by cold fury.
"The Thorpes? What if they tried to harm my precious granddaughter again under the guise of treating her? I can't take that risk."
Nathaniel understood. He walked over to Maxwell, raised his cane, and brought it down with all his might.
The blow was so forceful that it snapped the cane in half and sent Maxwell sprawling to his knees before me.
"You worthless animal! Look what you've done! Apologize to Miss Crawford at once!"
Maxwell glared, then turned to his father, who was standing nearby.
"Dad! Grandfather has lost his mind! He's making me apologize to this... this tramp!"
Maxwell's father looked conflicted, wanting to help his son but terrified of his own father's wrath.
"Dad... who is this woman? Why did you call us all here? I was in the middle of a board meeting..."
The other family members began to murmur, their resentful gazes flickering between me and my grandfather.
"You fool! Look at the fine son you've raised!" Nathaniel roared.
"I finally managed to secure him an engagement to the sole heiress of the Crawford family, and what does he do? He throws her in a pond for some girl from the Whitmore family!"
"If you don't make Miss Crawford happy today, you can all get out of my house!"
My grandfather and I exchanged a look.
Nathaniel was a clever old fox, passing the buck to his family because he was too proud to apologize himself.
At the mention of the "Crawford family," Maxwell's father paused, and a look of dawning horror crossed his face.
"Dad... is this... that Crawford family?"
Nathaniel gave a grim nod. Maxwell's father immediately grabbed his family members and pulled them to their knees before me.
"Mr. Crawford, Miss Crawford, we were blind. We didn't realize who you were. Please forgive my son's transgression! The entire Thorpe family apologizes!"
With that, he shoved the unwilling Maxwell's head down, forcing him to bow.
