Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 67: We’re in a Relationship! (Bonus - )
Old Mr. Donovan clenched the heavy vine stick in his hand, his mouth twitching slightly—Do punishment?
What a joke!
Not to mention that Shane Donovan is now the actual helm of The Donovan Family, and Innovatech Bio is his commercial empire. His reputation and capability are unparalleled, and it’s only a matter of time before he takes over the entire Donovan Family.
Moreover, this family law is more of a symbol than a punishment. How could it be casually applied to the heir?
Just for this kind of unfounded relationship rumor?
Old Mr. Donovan was perfectly clear in his heart. Those financial tabloids are notorious for exaggeration and rumor-mongering.
What stock price fluctuations, market value evaporating by a billion?
To someone like him, who’s experienced real storms, it’s just a small ripple on the water.
The market value can drop today and rise again tomorrow. He doesn’t care at all!
He’s putting on this thunderous anger purely out of... relief!
His eldest grandson is almost thirty, and there’s not even a stable female companion, not even a mosquito around!
There have been rumors, which even made this old man suspect there might be an issue with his grandson’s sexual orientation, guarding Evan Hughes and those handsome boys every day like thieves!
Now it’s better!
Finally, there’s a scandal!
And it’s been caught on camera!
What does this indicate?
It indicates his grandson’s orientation is normal!
He’s a normal man!
Evaporating a billion is nothing. Even if a hundred billion were lost, Old Mr. Donovan felt it would be worth it if it meant gaining a granddaughter-in-law!
So, his previous ’rage’ was seventy percent show, thirty percent probing, trying to see what this boy’s attitude really was.
But Shane Donovan’s reaction... was really too strange!
Old Mr. Donovan raised the vine stick, his arm stiff in the air, neither swing nor drop.
Within a minute, his wrist trembled, his arm lifted and lowered, lowered and lifted again, made fake moves over eight hundred times, and that vine stick didn’t touch Shane Donovan at all.
During this awkward standoff, a hurried but deliberately lightened footsteps came from outside the study. Butler Alfie returned with a slightly detectable strange expression on his face, whispered in Old Mr. Donovan’s ear: "Sir, the Sterling lady has arrived, right downstairs in the living room, saying... saying there’s an urgent matter to see you and the young master."
Although the voice was light, it was clear enough in the silent study for Shane kneeling there to hear every word.
Old Mr. Donovan was first stunned, then suddenly turned his head to look at Shane Donovan, who was still kneeling upright with the corners of his lips slightly turned up in an almost imperceptible arc!
In a flash, Old Mr. Donovan realized!
What a clever boy!
This is a plea for sympathy!
That’s why!
How could this rascal willingly accept family punishment!
It turns out he was waiting here all along!
Counting on that girl’s soft heart, acting ’self-punishment and repentance’ for sympathy!
Thinking of giving this sturdy, thick-skinned grandson a good beating and gaining a sweet, tender granddaughter-in-law, Old Mr. Donovan suddenly found the vine stick in his hand quite pleasing!
Just now it felt heavy as a thousand pounds, now it simply feels light!
This deal, worth it!
"Good! Good job you rascal! Dare to act, dare to accept! Today I will make you remember this lesson!" Old Mr. Donovan instantly embraced the role, eyebrows raised, beard and hair on end, as if truly furious, raising the vine stick high!
This time, the arm was no longer shaking, the dark vine stick descended with an air-splitting sound, firmly striking Shane Donovan’s back!
"Smack—!"
A sharp loud sound exploded in the study, accompanied by the faint tearing sound of fabric.
Shane Donovan grunted, his body swayed imperceptibly, cold sweat immediately oozed out from his forehead, but he still clenched his teeth, knelt upright, didn’t even furrow his brow.
"Sir! You mustn’t!" Butler Alfie listened with his heart in his mouth, seeing the faint bloodstains appearing on Shane’s back, his face turned pale.
"Get out! Without my order, no one is allowed in!" Old Mr. Donovan was in his ’element’, performing intensely, pushed Butler Alfie away, and raised the vine stick again, "I must make this depraved child remember well today!"
...
Meanwhile, in the living room, Stella Sterling was sitting, restless.
When she was brought inside by the servant, she vaguely heard the commotion from the direction of the study.
Her heart instantly jumped to her throat.
Evan Hughes’s anxious voice still echoed in her ears on the phone—The Donovan family punishment... dozens of pounds of steel whip soaked in brine... three lashes nearly took his life!
Could it be... they’re really carrying out family punishment?
No longer able to sit still, she suddenly stood up, ignoring any etiquette, and rushed towards the direction of the study, following the sounds.
As she ran breathlessly to the study door, she happened to see Old Mr. Donovan raising the vine stick high...
And the upright back kneeling on the ground, with his suit jacket long thrown aside, only wearing a thin shirt, a striking red mark on his back was clearly visible, even faintly seeping blood!
"Stop!!"
Without thinking, Stella burst forward, and just as the vine stick was about to fall again, she abruptly spread her arms and rushed to Shane’s back, using her body to firmly protect him! 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
Old Mr. Donovan’s hand holding the vine stick stiffened in midair, seeing Stella suddenly burst forth to hug Shane, quick success flashed through his eyes, but his face remained thunderously angry, "You... you’re the Sterling girl? Step aside! It’s a family matter of The Donovan Family! This rascal brought disgrace, today I have to carry out family law!"
"No, Grandpa Donovan, it’s not his fault!" Stella tightly hugged Shane, clearly feeling the tense muscles on his back, the scorching heat through the shirt, and the faint smell of blood...
She immediately got anxious, "The person in the newspaper is me... We’re in a relationship! Aiming for marriage!"
In desperation, she shouted everything Evan taught her, just hoping to quell Grandpa Donovan’s anger and save Shane.
Being tightly hugged, Shane Donovan’s body stiffened minutely.
He could feel the soft touch from behind, and a faint arc flashed quickly on his lips, disappearing before anyone could perceive.
Old Mr. Donovan’s heart settled—Good!
That’s exactly the response I wanted!
Yet his face remained unchanged, merely let out a heavy hum, his hand no longer raising the vine stick, his tone seemed slightly moderated, "Seriously? On the premise of marriage?"
"Yes!" Stella nodded firmly, her gaze unwavering, although her cheeks were flushed, she showed no sign of evasion.
Old Mr. Donovan’s sharp eyes scanned her face for a moment, then turned to Shane, questioning, "Is what she said true? Are you genuinely serious? Not fooling around?"
Shane Donovan slowly raised his head, his gaze first landing on Stella’s side face, pausing for a brief moment, then turning to Old Mr. Donovan, his voice low yet clear, "It’s serious."
"For a lifetime..." He paused, his voice low and tender, "No one else but her."
