Chapter 464 Justice Above Family
As expected.
Willard's condition shouldn't have deteriorated to this extent. It was only because he'd been shouldering the burden of the Larson family that things had gotten this bad.
Now the Larson family had a new leader—and a woman at that. Uma was capable, but others didn't see it that way. Add to that her past involvement with Ryan, and everyone said she was too lovesick to handle such a massive responsibility.
Francis chuckled dismissively. "Don't worry about it. People always pay the price for their arrogance."
After breakfast, Francis sat by the hospital bed and deliberately sighed. "I admit I was wrong, but don't punish me like this. I can't take it." His deep voice was full of grievance. "Please talk to me, okay? Honey?"
Elissa ignored him. When her phone rang, she answered. "Hope."
"What happened? I heard you had bleeding?"
Hearing Hope's worried voice, Elissa glanced at Francis, who protested innocently, "I didn't tell her."
Hope's voice came through the phone, solving the mystery. "Uma told me."
That surprised Elissa. Hope explained about Uma becoming the new head of the Larson family. "I think she's trying to build good relations with us. When you got hurt yesterday, she reached out to me first. You and I are practically the same person anyway—doesn't matter who she tells."
Elissa hummed in agreement. "I'm fine, don't worry. Just need a couple days' rest."
"How's Anne?"
"She's okay too. We'll head back to Maple Valley in a few days."
"Let me know when—I'll pick you up."
"Okay."
After hanging up, Elissa looked at Francis. He took her hand and moved closer. "Want to ask about Uma?"
Elissa pulled her hand away. "No."
Francis laughed and took her hand again. "I know I messed up, but my worry wasn't unfounded. Look what happened this time..."
Elissa shot him a cold look, and Francis fell silent.
"This was Willard's fault. Though I'm to blame too—the people I assigned to protect Anne weren't good enough."
"Sounds like you're in cahoots with Willard," Elissa said coldly.
Francis felt wronged but didn't dare defend himself. "Willard's gone abroad for treatment. His condition never got proper care. Now that he's handed the Larson family to Uma, he can focus on recovery without worries. He'll come back when he's fully healed."
Elissa didn't care about Willard. "Is Uma under a lot of pressure?"
Francis nodded. "More than Willard faced."
"Then help her."
"Okay."
Elissa paused, surprised. "You agreed pretty quickly this time." Usually he'd demand something in return.
"As long as you don't ignore me, I'll do whatever you say."
Elissa felt this was a good time to talk. "Do you know what you did wrong?"
"Yes."
"Tell me."
Francis grew serious. "First, I shouldn't have made you feel suffocated. Even though I meant well—worried about your pregnancy and potential complications—I should have put your feelings first.
"Second, I mishandled the Willard situation and let Anne get hurt. I take responsibility.
"Finally, I'll remember my mistakes and ensure there's no next time."
Elissa felt her heart ache. Ever since Francis had started experiencing her morning sickness, she hadn't been as happy as she appeared. But for the baby's health, she needed to stay positive and cheerful.
She'd said she'd punish Francis by not talking to him for three days, but she wasn't having an easy time either.
"I owe you an apology too. You've been devoted since I got pregnant, and I shouldn't have been so demanding after everything you've done. I just think we need some space between us."
Seeing her tears, Francis panicked. He pulled her close and gently wiped them away. "How is it that the person apologizing ends up crying first?" he said with helpless affection. "Are you like Anne now—tears just flowing freely? I never noticed this before."
Elissa wasn't prone to crying and didn't usually tear up easily. She wondered if it was hormonal changes making her more emotional.
"Francis, go back to work normally. You don't need to watch over me constantly. I'm really fine."
If Francis could relax, he would have gone to work already. "When I can't see you, I worry. I can't concentrate at work. Besides, everything at the company runs smoothly—it doesn't need me there constantly."
"Do it for me, please?" Elissa asked.
How could Francis say no? He agreed.
"Bring Felix back too. He's good."
"Whatever you want."
Anne finished handling the studio affairs and told Thora to go pack. "Did you tell your parents? Maple Valley isn't too far, but it's still out of town. Are they okay with you working away from home?"
Thora shook her head. "I can make my own decisions. It's fine."
Anne sensed something off in Thora's expression—she probably didn't want to discuss family matters, so Anne didn't press.
After leaving the studio, she went to her grandfather's old house first. She'd arranged for neighbors to check on it and would return periodically to clean. After collecting her grandfather's ashes, she returned to the hospital.
Francis was just coming out of the room. "She's sleeping. Keep it down."
Anne nodded. "I won't go in then."
Francis said nothing, instructing someone to buy food for her while he personally went to get Elissa's favorite desserts.
Outside the hospital, he received a message from Simon saying he'd landed. Francis told him to monitor the situation there and return with Willard once everything was confirmed safe.
Simon acknowledged.
In Seaside City, May brought spring warmth and blooming flowers. The breeze carried faint fragrances, and colorful blossoms competed for attention everywhere.
But for the Larson family, it was winter. The family head held absolute authority and could designate their successor. However, the Larson family had one rule: only men could lead.
No one expected Willard to step down at thirty-five, especially naming Uma as his successor. Setting aside the numerous excellent candidates of her generation, Willard was too young to retire. His external position wasn't something just anyone could achieve in their thirties.
Such excellent genes should be passed to the next generation. When Willard could no longer serve, his son would naturally inherit—a smooth transition.
So the Larson family members openly disapproved of Willard's decision. Looking at Uma in the main seat, their dissatisfaction was written across their faces.
Uma knew this but couldn't show panic. Any sign of weakness would unite them against her—including her own parents.
"I just took office and you're already saying I'm incompetent. Isn't that premature?"
This succession ceremony had been hastily arranged. The severity of Willard's condition had caught even her off guard—he'd reached the point of abandoning the family burden entirely.
Only Willard's parents hadn't attended the ceremony. They'd long stopped interfering in family affairs, focusing mainly on Willard and Anne's relationship. But they implicitly supported all of Willard's decisions, meaning they backed her appointment.
Yet her own parents opposed her before anyone else.
"Uma, don't we know your capabilities as your parents?" her father began, with her mother chiming in, "If you were truly capable, why would everyone object?"
Uma looked at her parents like strangers. If they could have had more children, she wouldn't be their only daughter. She'd investigated and found that her father had an illegitimate son who was trying to infiltrate the Larson family.
The family had explicit rules against illegitimate children returning home. But she hadn't expected her mother to accept the father's illegitimate son and help him gain entry.
Their story would be that after treatment, her mother could conceive again and had a child, but since the child was sickly and kept outside for treatment with uncertain survival prospects, they hadn't mentioned it.
Of course, this story wouldn't fool the family members. Even if it did, it wouldn't get past Willard. But now things were different.
With Willard stepping down and her becoming an unpopular leader, it was the perfect opportunity to legitimize the illegitimate son.
But none of them knew her true capabilities. Otherwise, someone as calculating as Willard wouldn't entrust the family to a useless person, even if brain-dead.
"As my parents, you should know my abilities, yet you have the audacity to question them."
Since their relationship was already broken, Uma saw no point in maintaining surface harmony. She had to shatter these people's prejudices and show them exactly how capable she was of leading the Larson family.
"Since you spoke first, let's start with you. The Larson family explicitly forbids external affairs, especially illegitimate children. Father, you can't even keep your pants on—what right do you have to question my capabilities?"
All eyes turned to Uma's parents. They hadn't expected her to publicly tear away the last shred of dignity.
Atticus glared at Uma furiously. "What nonsense are you spouting? I'm your father—how dare you speak to me like this? I raised you for nothing."
Uma ignored him. She knew Atticus well—all impotent rage. Even if he had a son, given his level, raising him well would be difficult. After all, being a father didn't guarantee he would be a good one.
"You've already broken the rules. Out of filial consideration, I won't expel you from Larson Villa, but I'm revoking your voting rights. You won't need to attend future family meetings or events—I'll have someone notify you separately."
Atticus angrily protested, "Uma, I'm your father! This is outrageous!"
Uma wanted to ask if those who bear children but abandon them deserve damnation. She'd grown up with Willard. Disappointed she was a girl who couldn't gain them enough benefits, they'd ignored her.
She'd always lived in Willard's household. Later, when she grew up and they saw she could fetch a good price, they started making arrangements to marry her off. She refused to comply with their wishes.
She did genuinely love Ryan, but her resentment didn't stem from him loving someone else—it came from her parents. They wanted to erase her embarrassing romantic period. She deliberately used her media company connections to make it public knowledge.
Ryan didn't pursue it because he understood her situation, so he let her publicize the matter.
"I'm now the family head with the authority to make any decisions. Here, there's no family sentiment—only the Larson family's interests matter. You've contributed nothing, just parasites. I'm already being lenient."
"If you continue causing trouble, you won't even qualify to be parasites in the Larson family."
As Atticus tried to speak again, Uma raised her hand. Larson family members appeared, escorting both Atticus and his wife away. Uma saw her mother trying to say something but didn't want to hear it. One look was enough—her subordinates covered her mother's mouth, silencing her completely.
When the hall quieted, Uma spoke slowly, "Anyone else have objections?"
She sacrificed family ties for the greater good. Who else would dare object?
But someone still spoke up, "Several families in Seaside City are now united against us because the Larson family head is a woman. Are you sure you can handle it?"
Uma smiled. "Outsiders don't understand and act with prejudice, thinking 'just a woman' and causing trouble. But as Larson family members, don't you know anything about me?"
She added, "Do I need to remind you that I was raised in Willard's household, learning and training alongside him?"
Indeed, Willard's brilliance was unmatched. He was exceptionally talented—intelligent, ruthless, and cunning. Next to him, everyone else seemed insignificant.
But Uma had never felt inferior about this. Instead, she worked harder to keep up with Willard's pace. She'd never even grown her hair long because maintaining it would waste time—time that could create distance.
Moreover, Willard was already far ahead of his peers. Unfortunately, the more excellent someone was, the more they suffered. He'd developed severe psychological illness, forcing him to hide from the world and undergo painful treatment at such a young age.
"Regarding the families uniting against the Larson family, I have countermeasures. I hope the Larson family can unite against external enemies instead of fighting internally. Those who can't will be expelled from the family. I'd rather have fewer people than keep deadweight. Is that clear?"
For a moment, everyone felt they were seeing Willard himself. They hadn't expected Uma to possess such presence. Instinctively, they all nodded.
Actually, Uma's palms were sweating. After the ceremony, she messaged Willard. Joking was one thing, but when it came to serious matters, she still needed his guidance.
But Willard didn't reply.
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