Chapter 295 Far From Being Useless
“Shush!” Tristan raised a finger to his lips, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he shot Madelyn a knowing glance.
Madelyn immediately understood, her face breaking into an indulgent smile that spoke volumes.
Meanwhile, Jillian looked at the two of them, utterly perplexed, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, still unsure of what had just transpired.
Later in the afternoon, the expansive shopping mall buzzed with activity as four young individuals aimlessly meandered through its bustling corridors.
Their striking appearances naturally made them the center of attention amidst the crowd.
Leading the group was Madelyn, who was wearing a short yellow dress, her laughter radiating youthful charm like a sunflower basking in the sunlight, spreading an invigorating energy that was a sight for sore eyes.
“Jillian, do you think I look good in this outfit?” Madelyn asked, holding up a blue t-shirt against herself with a contented smile.
“You’re attractive, with fair skin and a great figure. Anything you wear looks good on you,” Jillian chuckled, her compliment sincere.
“You’re such a sweet-talker, Jilly!” Madelyn playfully pinched Jillian’s cheek, her eyes sparkling with affection. She then handed the clothes to the shop assistant. “All right, this will be all. Let’s pay for these.”
The shop assistant now had a mountain of clothes piled up in her hands. Madelyn wasn’t just shopping for herself; she generously took it upon herself to purchase outfits for Jillian, Josiah, and Tristan as well.
Josiah and Tristan naturally assumed the roles of porters, trailing behind the two women with bags in tow.
After finishing their spree in the clothing section, the group promptly shifted their “battlefield,” venturing into other areas of the mall in search of new experiences.
As they passed by an antique shop, Madelyn suddenly remembered that Josiah had mentioned his grandfather’s birthday was approaching.
Given that Felix had stepped in to lend a hand during the last crisis, Madelyn felt it was only right to buy him a gift this time around.
With these thoughts in mind, they all entered the antique shop.
The interior was adorned in rich mahogany, with objects of all sizes meticulously arranged within their respective compartments, exuding an air of sophistication and high value.
Madelyn was intrigued, ready to make a thoughtful selection.
At that moment, a young man, appearing to be in his early twenties, sauntered over with a few bodyguards trailing behind him. “Well, isn’t this my good-for-nothing cousin?” he said with a tone of reckless arrogance.
Josiah’s face suddenly turned somber.
The visitor was none other than Hayden Blume, the son of Josiah’s second uncle.
At merely twenty-eight years old, he already held the rank of lieutenant in the military, earning him considerable respect within the family. Some even speculated that Hayden might be the potential successor of the Blume family, essentially the next patriarch.
For this very reason, he was filled with a sense of superiority and unparalleled pride. He looked down on anyone who held a lower status than himself.
Josiah had been the object of Hayden’s ridicule since childhood, so it was inevitable that the latter would throw a couple of sarcastic remarks at this moment.
“Josiah, what brings you to this antique shop? It doesn’t seem like your style. Shouldn’t you be in some less reputable places?” Hayden said with a laugh, not thinking he was out of line at all.
Josiah didn’t bother to hide his annoyance. “None of your business!”
“Ah…” Hayden sighed in feigned helplessness, “Indeed, the old saying holds true: a leopard can’t change its spots. Recently, I heard from Grandpa that you’ve turned over a new leaf. I thought it was true, but it seems you’re still the same…”
Hearing this, the two junior bodyguards behind Hayden chuckled quietly, causing Josiah’s face to darken further.
Following that, Hayden turned his gaze toward Madelyn and Jillian. Madelyn sensed trouble brewing, her eyes filled with hostility.
Hayden looked at her, then suddenly laughed. “Miss, you are incredibly beautiful, easily rivaling any actress. But could you stop looking at me like that? It’s making me blush.”
“Heh.” Madelyn scoffed coldly, refusing to engage with this person.
“Josiah, you’re quite the charmer, aren’t you? Spending every day bumming around, yet you still have all these lovely ladies willing to keep you company. As your older cousin, I’m genuinely worried that you might not be able to handle it all,” Hayden remarked sarcastically.
Josiah rolled his eyes, too weary to engage in pointless banter. “Let’s go explore somewhere else,” he said, pulling Madelyn aside.
“No, wait!” Hayden quickly shouted, “It’s been a while since us cousins have seen each other. Let’s catch up!”
With a scoff, Josiah coldly stated, “I have nothing to say to you. Also, please stop pretending like we’re close; it’s utterly repulsive.”
“Wow, I didn’t expect you to still hold such a grudge against me,” Hayden said smugly. “Josiah, I’m aware that the family values me, causing you some discomfort. But that’s just the way things are, isn’t it?”
He continued, “Mason injured his leg. To put it bluntly, he’s practically crippled for life. And you, with no skills or ambitions, just idling about, are useless. If the family were to rely on you, what would become of us? So, the responsibility of this household will inevitably fall on my shoulders in the future.”
Though Hayden’s words held some truth, his tone was unmistakably filled with pride. Originally, Josiah had been exercising considerable patience. However, upon hearing these words, his frustration instantly boiled over.
Suddenly, he stepped forward, his hands tightly clutching Hayden’s collar. Josiah’s gaze turned icy. “Hayden, do you have a death wish?”
The bodyguard behind Hayden was no pushover. He immediately stepped forward, intending to separate the two.
Josiah, however, refused to let go. He barked at the bodyguard in sheer fury, “Scram!”
This outcry drew the attention of quite a few people in the vicinity.
“Josiah, calm down, we’re in public.” Madelyn and Tristan quickly intervened, managing to pull Josiah back.
Despite this, Madelyn found Hayden quite displeasing in her eyes.
He’s got a loose tongue. He’s well aware of Josiah’s fiery temper, yet he still deliberately provokes him.
At this thought, Madelyn let out a cold laugh. “Mr. Blume, it seems you already believe you’ve secured the position of patriarch? I’m going to be honest with you; I think it’s best if you stop daydreaming.”
She continued, “Even though the Blume family holds you in high regard, there are many elders ahead of you. Whether or not you’ll succeed as the patriarch is still uncertain. If you continue to be so arrogant now, be careful; you might end up embarrassing yourself in the future.”
At her words, Hayden’s expression darkened. He was taken aback; someone had dared to challenge his position.
Anger surged within him as he bellowed, “You don’t have the right to speak to me this way, woman! If I don’t become the patriarch of the Blume family, do you think I would let that useless Josiah have it?”
“I don’t have the right?” Madelyn sneered, her words dripping with sarcasm. “Do you really see yourself as some big shot? Do you think you’re worthy of the term ‘right’?”
With a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, she taunted, “Also, Josiah is far from being useless. People like you, who are so full of themselves and think they’re superior, are the real trash!”