Chapter 192 He was Desperate to See Her
"You!" Ryan's finger jabbed accusingly at Francis, his anger palpable.
Despite his seething rage, he realized he had no alternatives. Francis was crucial to realizing his ambitious schemes.
Swallowing his frustration, Ryan toned down his approach. "I need you to marry her for our plan to work. If you're not into her, we can arrange a divorce later. You've been down that road before, and besides..."
Ryan paused briefly, a smirk playing on his lips. "The men in our family could go through ten divorces, and those socialites would still be clawing at each other to get to us."
To Ryan, women were mere pawns in his game. If there was profit to be made, he'd marry and divorce without a second thought. Even with Abigail, his marriage was a strategic move for the Hearst family's social standing.
Francis felt a wave of revulsion at his father's callous attitude and despised being entangled in it. "I won't marry Lily, not a chance. Please go; I need some time to myself."
Ryan bristled with fury at his son's refusal, on the verge of exploding. However, seeing the fatigue evident in Francis's face, he restrained himself.
"Fine, rest up. But remember, the last time you tied the knot without my knowledge, with Dylan supporting you, I let it go. This time won't be so easy."
Ryan's tone turned icy. "As a Getty, you're bound by certain expectations. Even if it's not the Sullivans, there are plenty of affluent families out there. Don't test my patience again, and don't expect me to show mercy."
His final words dripped with menace. After all, despite everything, Francis was his flesh and blood; Ryan couldn't afford to be too severe. The only leverage he possessed lay in those closest to Francis.
In an instant, Francis's eyes chilled, and he taunted, "If you're so gung-ho about forging alliances through marriage, why don't you lead by example? With your array of mistresses, a few more marriages wouldn't make a difference, right? Expand your empire abroad while you're at it."
Francis exposed Ryan's grand plan, leaving no room for illusions.
Ryan's visage contorted into a mask of disdain. After a fleeting moment of remorse, he bellowed in a fit of rage, "You ungrateful brat, how dare you throw that back in my face!"
Mockingly, Francis retorted, "I'm merely suggesting you focus more on your new venture overseas. It hasn't been smooth sailing bringing it to where it stands today, has it?"
Ryan seethed with fury. Francis was issuing a direct threat. An outright ultimatum. To think Francis would dare threaten him over a woman of little consequence. He must have lost his mind!
Ryan clenched his jaw, poised to respond when the door was violently thrust open. Abigail burst in, her eyes immediately homing in on the blood seeping through Francis's bandage. Her heart twisted with anguish as if being wrenched apart.
Her gaze turned steely, and without a word, she grasped Ryan's arm, ushering him out and shutting the door firmly behind them.
Ryan protested, "What's the meaning of this? He disrespected me and even dared to threaten me. I need to set him straight!"
Abigail, consumed by fury, sneered, "Francis threatened you?"
"He did!" Ryan avoided delving into specifics. "Look at the son you raised; he's as ruthless as you!"
"I think Francis did a great job!" Abigail exclaimed.
Ryan was caught off guard. "Huh?"
Unable to hold back any longer, Abigail wielded the croissant she held in her hand. She began smacking Ryan on the head with the pastry.
"I'll wallop you, you old coot! Our son's in the hospital, and here you are, stirring up trouble! Can't you see he's bleeding?"
Abigail's assault was swift and unexpected. Ryan, taken by surprise, ended up with a bloody forehead, his eyes obscured by the blood.
Raising his hand to strike back at Abigail, Ryan's vision blurred, causing him to miss and stumble, eventually falling and hitting his head on the ground, adding another welt to his already bruised forehead.
It made him utterly pathetic now.
Abigail spat on the ground. "Serves you right!"
Ryan had always been adored by women and treated with utmost gentleness.
When had he ever been so humiliated?
And to be beaten bloody by a woman, it was too embarrassing!
He got up and lunged at her, snarling, "You crazy bitch, I'll kill you!"
But his vision was obstructed, and Abigail dodged him.
With a thud, Ryan fell to the ground again, his forehead now sporting two symmetrical bumps.
Seeing his ridiculous state, Abigail felt a sense of satisfaction.
In the past, she had held back for Francis's sake to avoid making a scene, often tolerating Ryan.
Today, she felt a sense of relief!
But she knew Ryan wasn't one to take a loss easily, so she took out her phone and snapped a few photos of him.
Ryan, alarmed, asked, "What are you doing?"
Abigail smirked, "I'm going to show these to your mistresses. The refined Mr. Getty looks ridiculous now!"
"I dare you!"
Ryan, who valued his reputation, was most afraid of humiliation!
Abigail, not wanting to worry Francis, didn't argue further. "Scared? Then get out!"
Ryan, lips trembling with anger, said, "I won't argue with you today, but next time, I won't let you off!"
With that, he hurriedly covered his head and went downstairs to find a doctor, afraid of being seen by someone.
Abigail quickly returned to the room, seeing Francis still lying on the bed, his lips pale, and the bandage on his chest soaked with blood.
Her heart ached, her voice trembling. "Does it hurt? Why didn't you call the nurse?"
She pressed the call button to summon the nurse.
After the bandage was changed, Francis looked even paler than before.
Abigail's heart ached as she watched.
"Francis, does it still hurt?"
Francis lifted his eyelids, speaking lightly, "Don't worry. I'm fine."
Abigail's eyes reddened.
How could he be fine?
He had almost pierced his heart.
If the wound had been just an inch off, he would have died.
Abigail felt a deep sorrow, but Francis himself didn't seem to care much.
Even if it happened again, he would still act without hesitation.
He coughed lightly, feeling a bit uneasy. "Mom, have you seen Harper?"
Abigail's eyes flickered. "I saw her when I came to the hospital, but not since."
Abigail had rushed to Francis's side after waking up and hadn't paid attention to where Harper went.
The thought that Harper was the reason why Francis got stabbed made her fondness for Harper wane.
She tried to change the subject, but Francis made a request.
"Mom, could you ask her to visit me?"
Francis's hands, hidden from Abigail's view, clenched into fists.
Abigail had visited, and she was gone gone, which showed how much she didn't want to be involved with him.
But even with her clear reluctance, he still wanted to see her.
He was desperate to see her.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
