Chapter 176 Are You Happy?
"Mr. Patrick Montgomery, if my mother were here to witness all of this, she would want me to marry someone who loves me wholeheartedly, at the very least, not someone who cheats on me regularly."
"And I'm doing well now. I'm an adult and don't need anyone to take care of me. Legally speaking, a marriage arranged when I was a child holds no weight," said Grace.
Patrick was about to say something when another voice interrupted, "It seems quite lively in your household."
Everyone turned to look and saw the imposing Xavier walking in from outside.
Especially Grace, her heart tightened. Why did Xavier come to join the fun at this moment?
When Patrick saw Xavier, his expression soured even further. Xavier's unexpected arrival at this moment made Patrick wonder if Xavier was here to taunt him.
"Xavier, why are you here? No one even announced your arrival. This is quite inappropriate," Patrick sarcastically remarked about Xavier's casual entrance.
And what were those servants doing?
Xavier walked in, his powerful aura clashing with the surroundings.
"What kind of talk is this? The Montgomery family, if you count it, should still hold a place for me. Do I need to announce my arrival when I come to my own home?" He countered.
Xavier's eyes narrowed, and Patrick felt an immense pressure bearing down on him.
Patrick had been in the business world for many years and had seen all kinds of people, but only Xavier had such a strong presence that even he couldn't withstand it.
And what did Xavier mean by his words? Was he here to fight for the Montgomery family?
"Of course, that's not what I meant. It's just that I have some family issues here and I'm afraid I won't be able to entertain you properly," said Patrick.
"It doesn't matter." Xavier sat on a chair over there directly, his long legs crossed, exuding an air of nobility and aloofness.
His trousers clung to his legs, and his high-end custom-made shoes remained spotless, exuding an air of both aloofness and sophistication.
On the ground, Ryan was still kneeling, while everyone else was standing. Only Xavier sat there, as if he were the master of the house.
Xavier's gaze lifted slightly, as if he were looking down on everyone.
"Don't mind me, and you keep going," said Xavier.
With Xavier's presence, Patrick found himself at a loss for words.
He tried his best to ignore Xavier and looked at Grace. "Grace, I know all that you've said. Ryan is still immature and just needs someone to guide him. But there aren't many men in this world who can control themselves. Can you give Ryan another chance?"
"The wedding venue for you and Ryan has already been arranged, and the invitations have been sent out. There's no turning back now. The Montgomery family's reputation is at stake as well. Grace, you've always been a dutiful child. Can you also consider our feelings in this matter?"
As soon as Patrick finished speaking, a mocking laugh came from the other side.
Patrick looked at Xavier, whose eyes were filled with ridicule.
"Xavier, what do you mean by this?"
"Typical of you, speaking so artfully. You don't mention Ryan's mistakes at all but instead use moral coercion on others. No wonder Ryan is so unruly; it's because he wasn't raised properly. I've really seen it all now," Xavier uttered.
In the depths of Xavier's unfathomable eyes, a coldness began to emerge.
Patrick's expression faltered, "I'm not excusing Ryan's behavior. He was in the wrong towards Grace. I've already reprimanded him according to our amily discipline, and he acknowledges his mistake. He will issue a public apology to Grace."
"Family discipline? You say you've disciplined him, so it's done?" Xavier's eyes turned to Grace. "Did you see it?"
Grace shook her head.
Beside her, Amy said, "Xavier, what do you mean? Ryan's already been beaten like this, and the stick was even broken."
Xavier tilted his head slightly, and Mason, who was behind him, walked over and picked up the stick from the ground.
The stick was thin, and Mason easily snapped it in half with his hands.
Xavier's voice remained calm as ever. "It appears this stick is of poor quality. Fortunately, I have brought a gift for you."
As he spoke, someone behind him brought over a whip.
"Scottish cowhide, guaranteed not to break this time," Xavier said with a light tone, but his eyes betrayed a cold intensity.
Patrick held the whip, understanding Xavier's meaning.
Patrick had always disliked Xavier, who was twenty years younger than him. He felt that Xavier had come to the Montgomery family as a child just to claim a share of the inheritance.
Xavier's sharp eyes, like those of a wild wolf cub that didn't know how to restrain itself, were fierce and ruthless, making Patrick fearful since childhood.
When Xavier first returned to the Montgomery family, Patrick had been determined to drive him out. Consequently, regardless of Ryan's actions, Patrick always seemed to excuse him.
During that tumultuous period, Patrick frequently set up Xavier. On one occasion, he enticed Xavier into the study, an area forbidden even to Patrick himself.
Once inside, Patrick intentionally disclosed sensitive company information, falsely implicating Xavier. Subsequently, their father administered a severe punishment to Xavier, utilizing what appeared to be a whip as part of the family's disciplinary measures.
Xavier insisted he didn't do it, but Patrick said that only Xavier had entered the study. Their father thought Xavier was being stubborn and almost beat him to death.
Now, if Ryan didn't get another beating, this matter wouldn't be resolved.
"Xavier, what exactly have I done to offend you?" Ryan asked.
Ryan's face was pale. He knew that Patrick hadn't hit him that hard earlier, and he could still bear it.
But a whip was different from a stick; the thinner it was, the more it hurt. A stick would only cause bruises, but a whip could break the skin.
Ryan started to curse, "I didn't touch your stuff or steal your woman, did I? Why the hell are you doing this, you sicko?"
Those words, "Steal your woman", made Grace's heart skip a beat, and she instinctively looked at Xavier.
However, he didn't meet her gaze, and she silently let out a sigh of relief.
"Shut up!"
Patrick, holding the whip, lashed it hard across Ryan's body.
Ryan screamed, tears almost coming out from the pain.
Xavier's eyes were indifferent, as if the screams and everything happening before him had nothing to do with him.
Grace listened to the sounds and looked over at Xavier.
At that moment, Xavier also lifted his gaze, and their eyes met.
Their silent exchange went unnoticed by the others, who were all focused on Ryan.
Xavier's lips moved slightly, his Adam's apple rolling a bit.
He made no sound, but Grace immediately understood what he was saying.
He was asking, "Are you happy?"
Grace felt as if something had touched her heart, like a fine hook tugging at the softest part of her soul.
Her previously heavy heart suddenly felt lighter, and her deep eyes sparkled brighter than the stars in the sky.
Seeing Ryan being beaten, Grace did feel quite happy.
At least this time, he wouldn't be able to get out of bed for half a month.
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