Chapter 4 Family Feud
She extended her hand and passed the box to Stephanie, saying, “Here you go.” As Stephanie took the box, a faint smirk appeared at the corner of her mouth, barely noticeable but caught by Milly, who was standing nearby. Failure to hold back emotions was taboo in acting. “Oh no! Why is the box empty? Milly, where is Mom’s hairpin? Did you misplace it?” Her voice was overly dramatic and shrill, causing the lively hall to fall silent as all eyes turned towards the unfolding drama. Stephanie continued, her tone anxious, “Milly, did you take Mom’s hairpin?
It’s a family heirloom passed down from Grandma to Mom. How could you take it without asking? Please return it to Mom immediately!” The accusation seemed to point directly at Milly, drawing disapproving glances from the onlookers: “Someone from a humble background like her can’t be trusted.”
“Blood ties mean nothing. An adopted daughter would have shown more respect.”
“The Burnetts never fail to entertain.” The commotion went on. Milly remained composed amidst the gossip and accusations, meeting Olivia’s gaze steadily as she explained, “Mom, I didn’t take the hairpin. It was Stephanie who asked me to fetch the box. I did as she instructed, and the servants can attest to that.” Her voice was calm yet resolute, cutting through the tension in the hall. “But what if you got the idea to steal it on the way back? No one would know,” Stephanie persisted. The mention of that struck a nerve, causing Olivia to furrow her brow. Despite being new to the Burnetts, Milly was still her daughter. It must have been painful for a mother to hear such accusations. Olivia shot Stephanie a reproachful look, but the younger woman was too focused on her impending victory to notice. Just then, a low, elderly voice broke the silence. “Ms. Burnett, are you suggesting that I stole from your family?
” The crowd parted, revealing a dignified old man in a wheelchair, pushed forward by a sergeant in military uniform. It was Andrew Tate, the Grand General. He came from a prestigious aristocratic family above the Burnetts. Accusing him of theft was a serious allegation. Stephanie was taken aback by Andrew’s defence of Milly, her face flushing with embarrassment as she tried to placate him. “Andrew, we meant no disrespect …”
“No disrespect?” Andrew’s cold snort echoed through the hall, his cane tapping the floor in anger. “I personally returned the box, and that girl didn’t even touch it. How dare you accuse me of theft?” Realising the gravity of the situation, Stephanie paled, knowing they couldn’t afford to offend the Tates. In a quiet corner, Milly lowered her head, her lips pressed tightly together. After reprimanding Stephanie, Andrew turned to Milly, his heart going out to her as she stood there looking wronged. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed the glaring red mark on her arm, and his voice immediately rose,
“Who pinched your arm? Is this how the Burnetts treat you?” Milly blinked and looked at the red mark on her arm, and only then did she remember that it was Stephanie who had pinched her. Andrew, accustomed to his high status and military background, was always straightforward and had no intention of leaving any dignity for the Burnetts to save. Milly found him quite cute and reassured him, “It’s nothing, just a little bump, it will be fine in a while.” Although she was annoyed by Stephanie, she didn’t want to cause trouble for her mother. But Andrew didn’t listen, and he angrily tapped his cane on the floor. “Larry, call that brat and tell him to come over immediately!” Larry, who was dressed in military uniform, was stunned for a moment, “Huh? But he said today’s meeting would be very important …”
“Meeting, my foot! His fiancée is being bullied, and he still wants to have a meeting! Tell him to come over right away! Hurry up!” Andrew’s momentum was overwhelming. What? Master George has a fiancee? Milly wondered, Why is he playing matchmaker? Captain Pine dared not disobey the old general’s orders, so he turned around and dialled the phone. Before long, the phone was answered, and a deep voice sounded, “Mr. Larry, what’s up?”
“Uh …” Captain Pine glanced at the old general, whose face was turning red with anger, “Master George, please come to the Burnetts’ place’ the old general … uh … wants you to come over, he’s not feeling well.” George rubbed his forehead. “Wasn’t he fine at noon?”
“He suddenly feels unwell now.” George said, “Okay, I got it, I’ll come over right away.”
After hanging up the phone, Captain Pine let out a sigh of relief. He didn’t dare to mention asking George to support the fiancee Andrew set up for him, afraid that George would come over and beat him up as soon as he heard it. “General, Master George will be here soon.” Andrew’s expression softened slightly. “Hmph, that brat knows what’s good for him.” Then he put away his stern expression, smiled at Milly, and said, “Girl, don’t be afraid. If the Burnetts don’t treat you well, just come to our family. My brat just happens to need a wife.”
“Although that brat has a bad temper, is as cold as an ice cube, and has many faults, he can take a beating. In the future, you don’t have to swallow your anger. If you want to hit him, just hit him; as long as you don’t kill him, it’s fine.” Captain Pine twitched his mouth. Master George is an outstanding person, but why does the general make him sound like a punk? Everyone was silent. The Tates only had one young master, and that was George. He is the head of the Tates and the president of the Tate Group. Just a word from him can cripple the economy of the Halturia. Even the president of Maldonia has to smile and dare not offend him when they see him! Stephanie widened her eyes when she heard the words of Andrew, almost gasping for breath. Why? Is the Tates blind? Do they fancy this country bumpkin? The calmest person in the room was probably Milly.
