I Faked My Death—Now I Have to Tame the Crazy Men I Left Behind-Chapter 106 - 104: Carve a Bloody Path for Her

"You’re back. Have a seat."

In the study, the old man raised his eyes. His gaze lingered on him for a moment before he looked away with a faint smile.

Hayes Hughes offered a greeting and walked to the side to sit down.

As a doctor, Hayes was particularly sensitive to the smell of blood. The metallic scent still hung in the air, and his eyes were drawn almost immediately to the stains on the square table.

’That must be from Silas.’

’Judging by the amount of blood, the injury is serious.’

’A puncture wound couldn’t be ruled out.’

’If so...’ Hayes felt for the fountain pen in his pocket.

As a doctor, he was in the habit of always carrying a pen.

He mentally compared its length to the likely puncture wound. ’A portion of the weapon, maybe as long as the pen’s barrel, must have plunged into his flesh.’

The hand in his pocket, rubbing against the barrel of the pen, tightened.

’Grandfather could be so ruthless even to his favorite grandson. What would he do to Mia Grant...’

’And he had only let Silas off this easy because it was a holiday.’

’If Grandfather got truly serious, he had endless ways to torture someone.’

’Silas would have been left half-dead.’

’Because to Grandfather, as long as a person wasn’t dead and their brain still functioned, a broken arm or a broken leg was of no consequence.’

"What’s wrong?"

Seeing him hesitate to sit, the old man looked over at him again.

Hayes snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head lightly. "It’s nothing."

He sat down, took a handkerchief from his pocket, and casually wiped the blood from the table.

Finally, he folded the handkerchief with slow, deliberate movements and tucked it back into his pocket.

The old man watched his every move, the amusement in his eyes growing.

"Haven’t you gone up to see your brother?"

"Not yet."

The old man nodded. "Go see him then. I’m going to rest for a while. We’ll eat together later."

Hayes Hughes remained seated, not moving.

At this, the old man couldn’t help but ask, "Is there something else?"

"It’s been a while since we’ve had a proper chat."

The old man’s interest was piqued. "What do you want to talk about?"

Hayes looked at him, his gaze calm and tinged with a faint smile. "About... Mia Grant."

Hayes, of course, was also taking a gamble.

It was improper for Silas to plead for mercy, but Hayes was different.

His grandfather didn’t think much of him.

Hearing this, the old man leaned back in his chair. His tone was casual, showing no sign of anger. "Go on."

"I know that because of past events, you might have some misunderstandings about Mia, Grandfather. She’s actually..."

"No." The old man raised a hand, cutting him off. "Don’t presume to know what I mean. On the contrary, I admire the girl."

"She’s more clever than I imagined. Even though we only met briefly that one time, I know she’s destined for great things."

Hayes was baffled. "If that’s the case, why can’t you give her a chance?"

"She’s a good girl, but unfortunately, being too brilliant is its own kind of flaw."

"She wears her brilliance on her sleeve. At the end of the day, she’s still young. She doesn’t know how to hide her strengths."

Hearing this, Hayes knew his grandfather wouldn’t change his mind.

’Grandfather would not spare Mia Grant.’

"Then what if I take her away?"

The old man looked at him.

"I’ll take her somewhere else. I guarantee my brother will never find her again."

"She’d be willing to go with you?" The old man smiled and shook his head. "Are you that confident?"

"I still want to try," Hayes said, his gaze falling.

The old man was exasperated.

For a moment, he didn’t know what to make of it.

’Even now, the boy was still unwilling to lie.’

"Do you know what your brother did to the Grant Corporation for her sake?"

Hayes didn’t know. He didn’t follow the world of business.

"For her, he stripped Carter Grant of all his power."

"Right now, Silas is the nominal head of the Grant Corporation, but Mia Grant is the one actually in control."

"He told your aunt and uncle to their faces that he was going to marry Mia Grant, and demanded the entire Grant Corporation from them as a wedding gift."

"He holds his own parents in contempt. Do you really think you can take her away from him?"

"I can. As long as you are willing to spare her, I’ll try anything."

The moment he finished speaking, the butler standing nearby gasped.

But surprisingly, the old man didn’t get angry. "That’s not so difficult."

Hayes did not let his guard down.

"If I recall correctly, that girl was engaged before, wasn’t she?"

The butler chimed in, "Yes, to the eldest grandson of the Donovan family."

A terrible premonition seized Hayes. His eyes shot up, long lashes trembling, as he stared intently at the figure behind the long desk.

"Good. That boy from the Donovan family is a decent sort."

"In that case, let’s just finalize the marriage. Then you and your brother can finally settle down."

"..."

"It’s not that I’m denying you a chance. I’m giving you a clear way out. The choice is yours."

Hayes’s throat worked, and he swallowed with difficulty. "Yates Donovan and Serena’s engagement isn’t likely to change."

"That’s a trivial matter," the old man said dismissively. "It was only a verbal agreement, not a written contract. Besides, I heard from your aunt that Serena has taken a liking to that boy from the Keller family."

"So this is perfect. It satisfies everyone."

Silence fell over the room.

Hayes gripped the armrests of his chair.

Seeing Hayes’s barely restrained composure, the old man sneered, his gaze turning instantly sharp and severe.

"Still so green. All these years and you haven’t matured at all. You’ve laid all your weaknesses bare. What leverage do you possibly have to negotiate?"

His tone was no longer conversational.

"Don’t think you can stand apart from this. Don’t think you have any other choice.

You are part of the Hughes family too.

Making a scene about eloping for some woman... The nerve of you to even suggest it."

"You worthless boy."

"If you dare say something like that again, perhaps I’ll give you another choice."

"If you love her so much, then you can die with her."

"Get out."

The butler frantically tried to catch Hayes’s eye, signaling for him to leave at once.

’The fact that the old man hadn’t resorted to physical violence was the best possible outcome.’

In his chair, Hayes’s eyelashes fluttered. He looked up, and when his gaze met the old man’s, it was still unwavering.

After a long moment, he smiled and said, "Alright."

The old man froze for a second, then watched him with an unhurried, expectant air.

Hayes had already risen to his feet.

"In the past, I never wanted to displease you, so I kept my mouth shut when I had something to say that you wouldn’t want to hear."

"Looking back, I suppose it made me seem rather spineless."

"You won’t like hearing it, but I’m going to say it today anyway."

"She’s a wonderful girl."

"She was meant for a much bigger world."

"She shouldn’t be held back by any of us."

"This all started because of us. If the ending must be a tragic one, if someone must pay with their life—"

"I don’t know if my brother has the right to choose. Fortunately, I’m very clear about my own position.

And of course, I won’t die with her."

He smiled, and it was like the warm sunlight outside, piercing through clouds and treetops to quietly illuminate the darkest corners.

"I will walk ahead of her, without a moment’s hesitation."

"This world has so much to offer, but if it’s all destined to be for nothing... then that is a road I will walk for her first."

"Even if I have to do it on my knees, I will carve a path for her in blood."