Chapter 224

Upon learning of Kellan's miraculous recovery, Hoyt was speechless. His shock quickly turned to furious rage, his expression hardening into pure coldness. He lashed out, sending his assistant sprawling with a savage kick. "He was faking it this whole time?!" Hoyt's frustration boiled over. He seized a vase and smashed it against the assistant's head. "What good are you all? You couldn't even see through such a blatant deception! Letting him pull the wool over our eyes for so long is unforgivable!" His bloodshot eyes blazed with fury, his entire demeanor radiating violence.

"I've been throwing time and money into a bottomless pit! The yacht disaster was bad enough, but to think you've failed every time after all this effort… it's a bitter pill to swallow. Now, get someone to take him out. I don't care how, just make sure he's six feet under!" The more Hoyt brooded, the angrier he became. A disabled Kellan had been irksome, but now, as a healthy, legitimate heir, Hoyt felt eclipsed, unable to stand in his own right.

Just as Hoyt was about to explode, a calm, gentle voice cut through the tension, accompanied by a polite knock. "Hoyt, aren't you a little old for throwing tantrums?" His mother, Nova Lloyd, entered the room. Seeing the assistant on the floor, she bent down and helped him up with surprising tenderness. "Now, now, don't hold it against Hoyt. He's young and prone to fits. You've worked hard this month; I'll make sure you get a bonus."

The assistant nodded nervously, not daring to look up. "Thank you, Mrs. Lloyd!" In reality, dealing with Nova was far more intimidating than Hoyt's unpredictable temper. She was like a coiled viper, ready to strike at any moment. After all, Brook Lloyd had his fair share of affairs, and Nova had skillfully outmaneuvered countless illegitimate children and their mothers. Her cunning and prowess were not to be underestimated.

"What's the point of a bonus? He's as useless as a chocolate teapot!" Hoyt's irritation flared, but the moment his eyes met Nova's sharp gaze, he fell silent, swallowing his words. He obediently lowered his head. "Yes, Mom. I understand."

"Good," she replied, her voice smooth and cold. "Don't forget your status. No need to lose your cool." Nova then turned to the assistant. "You can leave now. I've already called the family doctor to tend to your injuries."

The assistant practically bolted, and Nova watched him leave with a cold glimmer in her eyes. She sipped her coffee slowly. "If your subordinates are useless, just cut them loose. There's no need to make enemies. If you think he's not worth the trouble, find a way to let him go. But remember, your emotions are an open book to others; never let them know your true thoughts." She set the cup down with deliberate care. "Have you forgotten everything I taught you?" Nova's eyes glinted with cold calculation. "Brook always had a soft spot for obedient children." Nova believed that, although they couldn't fully assert themselves in the Lloyd family yet, their day would come.

"Of course, I haven't forgotten. But Kellan crossed the line. He pretended to be disabled and fooled us for so long. I can't let this slide. He's been laughing at us behind our backs! I need to hire a hitman to make him disappear!" Hoyt fumed. "Even if he was just acting, I'll make sure he's genuinely disabled this time!"

Nova's sharp slap echoed through the room. Hoyt's head snapped to the side, his cheek swelling immediately. "The last hitman you hired? If he hadn't fled in a hurry and kept his mouth shut, we would've been in serious trouble. How can you still think about using such a failed approach again? Have I taught you nothing?" Even as she struck him, Nova maintained a calm, almost amused smile. Despite being middle-aged, she had aged like fine wine, her composure unwavering. "Think carefully, dear."

"Then I'll drug him and ruin his reputation!" Hoyt blurted out.

Smack! Another slap landed, leaving him with symmetrical swelling. Hoyt stood there, speechless, his mouth agape.