Chapter 662: Disciplining His Son
Seeing the gift box with the words ‘Heavenly Pavilion’ on it, Edmund revealed a trace of surprise.
He didn’t expect Lucas’s gift to be from the Heavenly Pavilion. Moreover, the box was labeled as a top-grade good, meaning that it was worth at least a few million dollars.
When he opened the gift box and saw the bodhi bead bracelet exuding a faint herbal fragrance, his eyes immediately lit up.
The Coles ran an antique business as well, so Edmund definitely had sharp judgment. When he smelled it, he immediately concluded it was definitely an extremely rare bodhi bead bracelet!
“This… bracelet seems different!” Edmund excitedly held the bracelet in his hand and began scrutinizing it.
“This material and naturally-formed pattern, as well as the soothing medicinal fragrance… It’s indeed a top-grade product! I didn’t expect there to be such a treasure in the Heavenly Pavilion that my people hadn’t discovered before!”
The more Edmund looked at it, the more he liked it, and he began rubbing it back and forth in excitement.
Lucas smiled lightly. “This bodhi bead bracelet does have some amazing properties. Not only can it help the wearer calm their mind, but the medicinal properties infused in it over the years will also provide great benefits for the wearer. I bought this bracelet because I think it especially suits you.”
“Hahaha, good, you indeed have excellent judgment, Lucas! Since you bought this good item for me, I won’t stand on ceremony. Thank you!”
Edmund was not a wishy-washy person, so he accepted the bodhi bead bracelet from Lucas and immediately put it on his wrist.
The bracelet was from the Heavenly Pavilion, so it had to be extremely expensive. But since Lucas could give it away, Edmund didn’t bother about whether it was too expensive for Lucas.
Lucas was not the kind who would puff himself up, and the friends.h.i.+p between the Coles and Lucas was more than that. There was no need for Edmund to dwell on such a trivial matter.
Edmund and Lucas were sitting on the plain tree stump chairs and ate the sweet fruits while chatting and enjoying the night view harmoniously.
Bang. Bang. Suddenly, there was knocking on the wooden door outside the idyllic residence.
“Come in!” Edmund said casually.
The wooden door was opened with a creak, and Clement entered from outside.
Edmund subconsciously frowned upon seeing his son. “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be helping Alexis with the party?”
Clement didn’t say anything. Right from the beginning, he was staring at Lucas, who was sitting beside Edmund.
When Clement saw that a significant portion of the fruit platter in front of Lucas had been eaten, his face became even more sullen.
Although Edmund planted some vegetables and fruits in this garden, the output was small after all. He cherished them like treasures and would usually only share them with Alexis. Even Clement, his own son, didn’t get to eat the fruit and vegetables grown by his father.
But this outsider Lucas was actually able to gain Edmund’s favor and eat so many of his fruits.
Why?!
“Dad, how could you let this punk come to your residence? You even… shared the fruits you grew with him!” Clement exclaimed furiously.
Edmund was bewildered, but he could tell that Clement was very prejudiced against Lucas.
His face darkened. “This place belongs to me. I can let anyone I want in and feed my fruits to anyone I want. How dare you interfere in my business?”
“Dad, it’s not that I want to interfere with your matters, but this punk can’t be trusted at all. Do you know that he’s just an illegitimate son kicked out by the Huttons in DC? He has nothing to his name, and he relied on joining a second-tier family as a live-in husband to make connections everywhere in order to get to where he is now!
“He’s not someone you should befriend at all. He’s now trying to please you because he wants to rely on the Coles’ power and status to expand his connections!
“Yes, I know that he saved your life before, but so what? The Coles have long repaid him for his kindness, so why is he still clinging to you? I clearly already warned him not to get close to you and Alexis anymore, but he didn’t take it seriously at all. He even came here right after to pretend to be nice to you!
“Dad, you’d better sever ties with such a scheming person who’s good at nothing except plotting against others. Otherwise, the Coles will really become his springboard!”
Due to his anger and resentment toward Lucas, Clement was venting his anger and revealing all the information he had found out, as well as his a.s.sumptions.
“Shut up!” Edmund was so furious that his face turned pale. He glowered at Clement with his eyes wide open. “What kind of nonsense are you saying about Lucas? I’ve lived so long, and I’ve seen more people than you. Yet you’re now accusing me of being muddled and not knowing how to judge people. Do you think you’re the only one who can read the hearts of others?
“Hah, why don’t you look at what you’re worth yourself?! Do you need me to remind you of the stupid things you did in the past? If I had another son, I would have long kicked you out of the Coles!
“Although Lucas is a generation younger than you, he’s much better than you in all aspects, and he carries himself so much better than you! Trust you to have the cheek to badmouth him here!
“Also, who gave you the permission to investigate Lucas’s ident.i.ty and background? Didn’t I tell you that he’s my life savior, so you must all respect him and never investigate him in private? How dare you disobey me behind my back?!
“Besides, you just said you warned Lucas not to interact with me and Alexis anymore. When did you do it? Who gave you permission? He saved my life, and I approve of him! Are you treating me like I’m dead now, so you can turn a deaf ear to all my instructions?”
In the face of Edmund’s wrath, Clement was berated so severely that his face paled.
Although Edmund would chide him for his wrongdoings in the past, he had never lashed out at him to the point of him being unable to raise his head like today.
His father actually reprimanded him so mercilessly because of Lucas, an outsider. Clement, who was almost fifty years old, was so embarra.s.sed that he almost couldn’t face anyone.
At the same time, Clement’s anger toward Lucas intensified.
If not for Lucas, why would his own father treat him like this?
His face red, Edmund pointed at the door and barked at Clement, “I don’t want to see you now. Get lost immediately. You’d better think carefully and reflect on your mistakes!”
Clement raised his head and fixed his eyes on Lucas. “Punk, don’t get too smug! You may have bewitched my father with your schemes and tricks, but I won’t let you continue being complacent! One day, I will definitely expose you and leave you with nowhere to escape!”
With that, he swung his hand and kicked open the wooden door to leave without turning around..