Chapter 375: Meeting the Grandfathers
+8 Pearls
Worried that Raylee might be angry again, he quickly corrected himself, saying, “Technically speaking, she’s my future girlfriend. I haven’t won her over yet. Grandpa, please don’t embarrass me.”
Hugh gave Raylee a once-over, a hint of admiration surfacing on his face. “She is indeed beautiful and looks like a girl from a respectable family.”
“Miss, I must tell you, this Greenhead is no good. He has been stubborn and unruly since he was young. When he was in the military, he couldn’t handle the hardships and would sneak out. If he weren’t my grandson, I would have certainly punished him as I would a deserter. In any case, he’s no good. You’re young and inexperienced, so you need to keep your eyes open. Don’t be fooled by this disobedient brat.”
Halston was flabbergasted. “Grandpa, I’m your grandson! How could you put me down like that? Do you still want a granddaughter-in-law? Do you still want to hold your great-grandson?”
Hugh dismissed the idea with disdain. “Hmph, for someone like you, I couldn’t care less if you have no descendants. I have plenty of principled grandsons who can marry and bear me great-grandchildren. I don’t need you for that. I’m more worried about you deceiving innocent girls!”
After speaking, he took Alfred’s arm and said, “Let’s go practice our martial arts routine. If I have to look at that Greenhead one more time, I’ll probably get a heart attack.”
Alfred nodded, took a few steps, then returned to give Raylee a tug. “Young lady, come and join us for our martial arts routine. Don’t let this Greenhead deceive you.”
“Huh? I don’t know any martial arts routines…”
Just as Raylee was about to refuse, she was whisked away by Alfred. “Young lady, you have an unusual physique, perfect for mastering martial arts. Just follow my lead, mimic my movements, and you’ll learn quickly.”
Alfred found himself taken with Raylee, which explained his exceptionally warm demeanor toward her. The moment Raylee thought that he might be Jeremiah’s grandfather, a wave of sadness washed over her. Thus, she didn’t have the heart to refuse. She stood behind Alfred, mimicking his movements as she watched him go through his routine.
Halston quickly caught up with her, whispering in her ear. “Let’s go. Old Mr. Lorimer isn’t quite right in the head. We shouldn’t fool around with him.”
Raylee glared at him fiercely. “What did he ever do to you? Why do you have to discriminate against him that way? Let me ask you, is this Old Mr. Lorimer the patriarch of the Lorimer family? In other words, Jeremiah’s grandfather?”
“You knew Jeremiah?” Halston asked, utterly taken aback. He had left the military just a few months earlier, only aware of Jeremiah’s death and some details regarding the cause. He knew nothing of the latter’s engagement to Kaylee. The Lorimer family never spoke of Jeremiah’s affairs, as if his death were a taboo topic within the family. As a result, Halston had limited access to the information. Now, having encountered Jeremiah again, who was pretending to be Leonardo, Halston could surmise that chaos must have ensued within the Lorimer family.
Chapter 375: Meeting the Grandfathers
+8 Pearls
Halston remarked with a sigh, “Allred is indeed Jeremiah’s grandfather and was once a figure who commanded great respect and influence. Now, he has become an elderly man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. One can only wonder what happened. That b*stard, Jeremiah, left so early, leaving his own grandfather behind.”
“Did Alfred have a good relationship with his grandson?” Raylee asked, sounding puzzled.
“Isn’t it obvious? Why do you think he sees everyone as his grandson’s murderer?” Halston nodded. “Among all the descendants of the Lorimer family, Alfred loved Jeremiah the most. He often said that this grandson resembled him the most. Not only did they resemble each other in appearance, but their personalities were strikingly similar as well. Both were strong, courageous, and shrewd when it came to military strategy.”
Raylee fell into deep thought. If what Halston said is true, and Alfred indeed held his illegitimate grandson, Jeremiah, in high regard, why did Jeremiah have to suffer so much in the Lorimer family? She only knew that Victor shared a complex relationship with the illegitimate Jeremiah. There was paternal love, but it wasn’t abundant. It seemed there was also resentment, but the extent of this resentment remained unknown. As for Alfred, it was her first time meeting him. Thus, it was impossible to discern whether Halston’s words were…