Chapter 87: More Experienced

Layne skillfully held the venomous snake in one hand while searching for a small knife with the other. Iker exchanged a glance with someone, who then handed him a knife. Layne took the knife without hesitation and swiftly slashed the snake's belly.

The red snake, coiled tightly around his arm, strained with all its might, wrinkling his skin. However, Layne's action was swift and precise. He skillfully opened the snake's belly, its blood splattering onto his hand and the ground like blooming flowers.

The old man inserted two fingers into the snake's belly and extracted an oval-shaped, deep-red gall bladder about the size of a thumb. Blood smeared his hand, creating a gruesome sight.

The snake's true value lay in its venomous fangs and gall bladder; the rest of its body was relatively unimportant. Even after the gall bladder was removed, the lifeless snake's body trembled faintly. Its triangular head hung limply, a far cry from its former imposing demeanor.

Davon's large hand clenched into a fist beneath his suit sleeve as he watched, his heart filled with pain and regret.

Layne uncoiled the snake and tossed it back into the glass box, laughing as he turned to Kai. "Snake gall is a good thing," he said.

The dead snake lay in the box, its blood mixing with its body color, making them indistinguishable without closer inspection.

Master Lewis, barely a year old, cried at the sight of the terrifying creature. He reached for his father's leg, seeking comfort. "Daddy, Daddy there's a snake! It's so scary! Boohoo"

Kai, deeply loving his son, immediately picked him up. "It's okay now; don't cry anymore. You're Master Lewis of the Todd family; how can you be so timid?"

Thalia watched the father-son interaction, feeling a pang of imbalance in her heart. When she gave birth to Davon, Kai was on a mission abroad for over two years. By the time he returned, their child was older, and he already had a son, Iker; therefore, he hadn't shown much joy at Davon's birth. Now, with sons and daughters, he was still so protective of this youngest child—because Erica had given birth to him.

"Tanner, take this outside and bury it."

"Yes."

Tanner, upon hearing Master Iker's order, quickly took the glass box. He carried it through the garden, intending to bury it in the back mountain. Along the way, he saw female servants who recoiled in fear at the sight of the dead snake.

Unexpectedly, he met Erica in the backyard. She wore a moon-white dress with apricot-colored high heels, playing with her daughter. Her smile widened upon seeing Tanner, and she gracefully approached him. When her gaze fell on the glass box, a flicker of darkness crossed her eyes.

Tanner respectfully bowed his head. "Madam Erica."

Her smile faltered momentarily. She spoke softly, a sorrowful tone in her voice, "Tanner, you should still call me Erica."

"I dare not," Tanner replied humbly.

Erica's eyes flickered, a shadow of sadness crossing her face. "Back when I lived at Iker's Estate, you were the first person who truly cared for me."

Tanner fell silent, remembering the past. If not for that incident, he might have always treated her like a younger sister. But she had used Master Iker to get into Master Kai's bed, even causing Master Iker to break both legs saving her. Tanner's affection vanished overnight.

"If Madam Erica has no further instructions, I will leave," Tanner said calmly, turning to go.

"Wait."

Erica stopped him, her gaze on the box. "Isn't this the pet Master Davon raised?"

"Yes."

She showed no fear of the snake, carefully examining it and noticing the opened belly. Her eyes widened. "How did it die?"

"Master Davon killed it to apologize to old Mr. Edwards."

Was it Davon? she thought. Impossible! He loved it most, even traveling to Southeast Asia to buy the two snakes as eggs. He personally incubated, trained, and even provided other snakes as food for them. To appease the Edwards family, he killed them?

She had underestimated the grandfather and granddaughter, and hadn't expected Kai's trust in them.

"Okay, I understand. You can go."

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