Chapter 204: Bully the Weak
“I agree, but how do you plan on imposing strict punishment as a warning?” Vera asked.
“Mom, I knew you were an enlightened person,” Alaric nodded thoughtfully. “All right, then. Let’s settle it this way. Let Ray-Ray kneel and apologize to Wavy. Besides, Ray-Ray has to endure ten whips. That will put this matter to rest.”
Vera didn’t respond. She shifted her gaze back to Raylee, her expression softening.
“Ray-Ray, do you have something on your mind? What do you think about this punishment?”
A soft smile graced Raylee’s lips as she gently said, “Grandma, I accept this punishment.”
At that moment, Alaric already held the whip. Yet, Raylee suddenly changed her tone. “I don’t mind accepting the punishment, but shouldn’t you all also face the consequences for the mistakes you made four years ago? Here’s the deal. Every single one of you from the Goodridge family must kneel before me and apologize. Not only that, but each of you must also take ten whips. Once you’re all punished, then you can punish me. Grandma, do my words make sense?”
“They make a lot of sense!” Vera agreed. “Did you all hear that clearly?”
“What a load of nonsense!” Alaric looked at Raylee and roared. “Do you actually expect each of us to kneel before you and apologize? Do you want to whip us? Have you lost your mind? Your mother and I are both your elders. Don’t you have any respect or decency left?”
Without showing any fear, Raylee retorted, “So, is it that when I make a mistake, I must be punished, but when you commit the same error, you are exempt from punishment? Besides, it was you who suggested the method of punishment. I’ve accepted it all, yet you can’t? Is this an example of one law for the rich and another for the poor? Mr. Goodridge, you’re the head of the Goodridge family and the chairman of Goodridge Group. Does your nobility exempt you from punishment when you make a mistake?”
Alaric’s expression darkened. His gaze held an undeniable aura of authority as he said, “No matter what you say, your mother and I are your elders. It’s impossible for us to kneel and apologize to you!”
“You’re right! It’s indeed not a good implication for an elder to kneel before me. How about this? Let Samuel and Waverly take the punishment on your behalf. They are my equals, so there’s no issue of etiquette involved,” Raylee said.
“No way, Raylee! Don’t even think about it! There’s no way I’m going to kneel and apologize to you!” Samuel objected immediately.
Harriet also chimed in, “Punishing Waverly is out of the question. She’s still nursing a head injury. What if it gets worse?”
“It seems you all are the epitome of bullying the weak and acting arbitrarily!” A hint of mockery flashed across Raylee’s lips.
“Bullshit! So you guys can get away with your mistakes, but Ray-Ray has to be punished for hers?” Vera slammed her cane hard on the ground in anger.
The smooth marble echoed with a persistent, grating thud, as if it could shatter at any moment. The living room was eerily silent afterward. A chilling aura seemed to rise from the ground, sweeping over everyone and leaving them shivering.
With a forceful thump of her cane against the floor, Vera again expressed her anger, shouting, “I’ve lived for so long, and I’ve heard my fair share of nonsense. However, I never thought it would reach my own family! You all are so full of yourselves! Did you think just because I’m an old woman, I won’t be able to handle you? If I don’t get an explanation today, I swear I’ll hang myself right at this doorstep!”
“Mom, please, don’t get worked up!” Alaric hurriedly tried to soothe her. “How about this? Let’s call it even. Ray-Ray won’t be punished, and neither will we. Everyone’s square. That’s that, so let’s put this matter behind us and not bring it up again.”
“It’s hardly fair to offset it like this, is it? There are four of you, and Ray-Ray is just one person!” Vera vehemently declared.
The Goodridge family members had never anticipated it. They originally intended for Raylee to be punished, but in the end, they inadvertently shot themselves in the foot. Yet, they couldn’t even refute it. In the Goodridge family, Vera was the ultimate authority. Raylee’s backer was indeed a force to be reckoned with, and it was like a single entity holding the weight of four.
Raylee was aware that her grandmother held absolute authority at home. However, given her grandmother’s advanced age, she dared not involve her casually. After all, in this world, all she had left was Vera, her grandmother, the only kin who truly cared for her.
“Mom, what should we do, then?” Alaric asked, feeling helpless. He was in a predicament, unable to voice his thoughts, incapable of resistance. When faced with his elderly mother, he could only unconditionally comply.
“Find another way to make it up to Ray-Ray!” Vera proposed. “Give her five percent of the shares under your name, and only then can it truly be considered as compensation!”