Chapter 415 On the Brink of Death
The living room had plenty of spots to sit, but Molly made sure Dennis and the others sat in the most awkward place, clearly trying to humiliate them.
Dennis was fuming despite his usual good temper.
He snorted and was ready to leave. If he had come alone, he might have sucked it up, but he had his whole family with him. Being humiliated like this, if he didn't stand up for himself, he'd look like a total wimp.
"Molly, if you're not gonna welcome us, there's no point in us staying!" Dennis said, turning to leave.
Just then, someone got up from the sofa and called out to Dennis, "Dennis, you've already come all this way, why rush off? Molly was just messing with you. You're part of the Johnson Family; we wouldn't make you sit in a servant's spot. Come sit over here."
A tall, thin middle-aged guy waved at Dennis with a smile.
Dennis hesitated. Deep down, he still wanted to stay. Now that someone was showing him some respect, his anger cooled off a bit.
He walked over and greeted the tall, thin man, "Atlas."
This guy was Molly's husband, Atlas Wilder, though it was his second marriage.
Atlas nodded and smiled, "Dennis, it's been over ten years since you last came back, right? What brings you here today?"
Dennis replied, "Molly asked me to come back. She said the family is updating the member list and wants me to bring Kaitlyn and Jennifer back for a reunion."
"Is that so?" Atlas raised an eyebrow, looking surprised.
A guy nearby chimed in sarcastically, "Molly would never call you back. Looks to me like you came back on your own. The Johnson Family is doing well, and you're here to get a piece of the pie, aren't you?"
The guy talking was playing with two smooth walnuts in his hand. He was chubby, with fair skin, clearly someone who had never had a tough day in his life.
He lounged on the sofa, looking at Dennis with disdain. His eyes then moved to Jennifer, James, and Kaitlyn. When he saw how beautiful Jennifer was, a creepy look flashed in his eyes.
Jennifer felt his gaze and was disgusted like she had swallowed a fly. He was an elder, yet he stared at her like that, worse than a beast.
Dennis immediately frowned and said, "I have never thought about taking a penny from the Johnson Family. I came back just to reconnect with the family. Besides, it's Molly who called me back. If you don't believe me, ask her."
"Reconnect with the family?" Everyone in the living room was stunned. They looked at each other, their expressions turning weird.
"Dennis, have you forgotten your place? You still want to reconnect with the family?" The fair-skinned middle-aged man stood up and mocked.
This scene reminded Dennis of being bullied as a kid. He clenched his fists, feeling a wave of humiliation.
He wanted to blow up, but with so many Johnson Family members around, he couldn't let his anger out. Childhood memories came rushing back, and he felt that old fear, slipping back into his childhood cowardice and submissiveness.
Jennifer, on the other hand, wouldn't abide humiliation as Dennis did. She already had a low opinion of the Johnson Family, and seeing Dennis get mocked like that, she couldn't take it. She was about to snap back when two coughs came from upstairs, followed by the sound of footsteps.
"What's all the noise?" It was an old man's voice, cold and commanding, making everyone straighten up and get serious.
Hearing that voice, Dennis trembled and quickly turned to look at the stairs. He saw a hunched figure slowly coming down with the help of two people, his face full of complex emotions.
Jennifer saw the old man too and held back her words. Her eyes showed a mix of fear, tension, disgust, and mostly anger and hatred.
Everyone in the living room greeted the pale old man with respect, not daring to say a word. It was clear this elder had a lot of authority over them.
He slowly walked down, nodding slightly. Soon, his eyes landed on Dennis standing in the living room, a flash of recognition in his old eyes.
"How dare you still come back?" The old man, supported by Molly and another middle-aged man, walked up to Dennis and spoke coldly.
Dennis's emotions were all over the place. He stood there, his lips trembling, unable to speak.
"Don't you recognize me?" The old man's expression was icy.
Dennis's face was a mix of emotions as he slowly said, "Dad."
This old man was Dennis's biological father, the head of the Johnson Family, Valor.
James squinted slightly and smiled meaningfully. This was getting interesting.
Others only saw Valor's pale face and frail body, but James noticed a faint aura of malevolence around him, suggesting he had been tormented by his guilt and sins.
Judging by his condition, James concluded that Valor's demise was imminent within the next two or three days.
Jennifer noticed James's meaningful smile and curiously asked, "James, why are you smiling? Have you met him before?"
Jennifer was clearly referring to Valor. Because of her deep resentment towards him, she didn't even want to call him "Grandpa".
James whispered, "No, I haven't. But you might not believe it; your grandpa is on the brink of death."
Jennifer's eyes widened instantly, "Really?"
In her excitement, Jennifer didn't lower her voice, and everyone looked at her with displeasure.
All the elders were there. Molly immediately scolded her, "Young lady, have you no decency? Dennis, is this how you raised your daughter? It's so rude."
Jennifer immediately felt annoyed and instinctively opened her mouth to snap back, but Dennis quickly stopped her with a look.
Valor noticed Jennifer at this moment. She had grown up, and he said in surprise, "Is this your daughter? What's her name?"
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