QT: Against My Will-Chapter 593 - 10.05 - Edward Pays Visit To His Parents Again - Rebirth Of The Heart
In the opulent family mansion, Edward’s mother paced back and forth in her husband’s study, frustration etched across both their faces. The source of their vexation was none other than their son, Edward.
"I can’t understand what has gotten into Edward. He stopped working. He avoids our social engagements, and instead, dedicates himself to those commoners at the hospital."
"He has abandoned all sense of responsibility as an Ashtor," Edward’s father added, "Does he really don’t care about the future of our family?"
Edward was clearly head over heels for Seraphine, and he made no attempt to hide it. His adoration was so obvious that people couldn’t help but wonder, ’What’s Seraphine’s secret?’
They took it upon themselves to dig into Seraphine’s past, expecting to find something extraordinary. Yet, all they uncovered was an unremarkable history.
No dazzling accomplishments, no mysterious allure; just an ordinary life led by what seemed to be an ordinary woman.
And still, Edward seemed utterly captivated, as if she were the most magical being he’d ever encountered.
Edward’s mother finally broached the topic that had been weighing on her mind. "What happened to those men we hired to take care of that woman?"
Edward’s father’s gaze fixed on a distant point in the room. "Everyone declined the job, and I couldn’t sway the hospital to kick them out with bribes either.."
His mother’s concern grew deeper, "How dare they refuse us? And why couldn’t they be bribed?!"
"You really want to know?" asked Edward, who opened the door to their office. He was holding a suitcase in one hand and a clear bag in another. With a mischievous grin, he tossed the severed head inside the clear bag in his mother’s direction as if it were a casual toss of a ball.
The gruesome sight of the severed head soaring through the air sent shockwaves through the room. His mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, while his father’s face turned ashen as the head landed with a thud inside the fireplace.
Edward locked the door and leaned against it, "You see," he continued in a chillingly calm tone, "This guy seemed to cherish money and influence more than his own life, so I just thought of giving him what he asked for."
Edward walked toward the fireplace, a suitcase filled with money in his grip. And then, with deliberate precision, he opened it — the suitcase’s contents spilled out. The exorbitant amount of bills rained down upon the severed head, forming a grotesque mound of money around it.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small lighter. He ignited the lighter’s flame before tossing it inside the fireplace. The bills began to smolder and catch fire.
Edward watched as the money burned, the flames dancing around the severed head, "May his love for money and influence accompany him in the afterlife, and may it find purpose there."
It was a chilling and surreal scene as if Edward was sending a bizarre and disturbing tribute to the deceased in the afterlife.
His parents watched in uneasy silence, their son’s actions leaving them with a sense of dread. Did he walk around the estate with a severed head inside a see through bag?!
With the eerie scene of money and fire behind him, Edward approached his father, "I can’t overlook the rumors and unsettling events that have been surrounding my wife."
He continued, "You should clear the misunderstandings and welcome Seraphine with open arms. The alternative..." He paused, letting the threat hang in the air like a dark cloud. "...the alternative is something you don’t want to face, Father."
Taken aback by the sheer malevolence in his son’s tone, his father felt a cold sweat bead on his forehead. He stammered, "Edward, you’ve changed! This isn’t you!"
Edward’s lips curled into a predatory smile as he leaned in closer, his voice warm, "Oh, Father, there is still room for me to become much less of the Edward you know. Just do what I asked you to do... please."
He continued, "I have no desire to harm you, neither do I want to bleed your fortune dry," he said, listening to the painful groan that escaped his father’s lips, "Rather than wasting my time on grandiose schemes to make you accept Seraphine, It’s far easier for me to just simply zip you up inside a body bag, just like the guy over there. But for Seraphine’s sake, I’m willing to play this familial charade with all of you."
Without waiting for a response, Edward released his grip on the man, causing him to fall to the ground, gasping for breath, "From now on, Seraphine is your most cherished daughter-in-law, a treasured member of this family," he reminded his parents again then turned and left the office, leaving behind a sense of dread that seemed to linger in the air long after he had departed.
Xuan Mu found himself dwelling on Bing Shi’s comment about his parents never accepting her. Even though she didn’t mind it, he couldn’t shake the feeling of responsibility and decided to address the issue.
His mother, who had been watching in growing horror, found herself unable to speak. Her shock and fear rendering her momentarily speechless.
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After dressing and sharing a cup of coffee in his cramped kitchen, Daniel and Isabelle found themselves sitting awkwardly at the table.
That’s when Isabelle finally broke the silence, "Do you think there’s a way we can make them realize what they lost? Edward’s relationship with his family must be a mess. Why not add fuel to the fire?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
After that awkward morning, Daniel didn’t expect to find an ally in Isabelle, but life had a way of surprising him.
Armed with Isabelle’s knowledge of the future, Daniel’s career took off at a speed of life. For instance, Isabelle warned him about an upcoming market crash, advising him to invest in certain commodities.
Daniel looked surprised by Isabelle’s predictions, and whether he believed her or not, he made choices that matched her advice. Thinking how cute she was for trying to help him.
Isabelle’s subtle advice and Daniel’s quiet confidence made it seem like he was just good at making decisions, rather than knowing secrets about the future like she did.
Isabelle never caught on, thinking she was the only one with the special knowledge of the future.
She thought her action of catching Edward and Seraphine red-handed had triggered a butterfly effect, and that was the reason why their course of action was different.
╔═══ Author’s note ════╗
Daniel’s initial scheme was to damage Edward’s Ashtor family by sabotaging their opportunity to marry a heiress Isabella from the Montgomery clan. The final step of his revenge was supposed to be the destruction of Isabella’s family, but his growing affection for her dramatically altered his intentions.
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