Madam Hughes set up this family dinner especially for Jack.
Putting aside Madam Hughes and Carter, the rest did not have a clear picture of what was going on. But even so, they knew something was up from the way Madam Hughes treated Jack.
The main characters concerned in this matter had not spoken yet.
But Archer had already gone furious by himself!
Jack stared coldly at Archer who was angered.
In his ears, he could hear his father’s voice, who was scolding Archer when he first entered the Hughes Residence.
But his father had not gone overboard and it saved Archer from being embarrassed further.
For a moment, strange gazes were directed in Archer’s direction.
Some even let out a snicker without bothering to keep it subtle.
Even the youngsters seated on the same table as Killian couldn’t help but smirk at Archer.
Bang!
However, Archer ignored everyone and slammed his palm onto the table.
He pointed at Jack at roared.
“I’m your uncle. You are arrogant to the point that you have lost your manners, haven’t you?”
His voice was stern, and his expression was twisted from rage.
Everyone present could feel how furious Archer was.
Mr. Ward and Brent looked at each other as their eyes flashed with anger.
Archer wasn’t just a good-for-nothing, but he was a lowlife as well!
Everyone was facing Archer’s wrath at the moment.
Jack was sitting in a wheelchair, but his strong demeanour was not one to be ignored.
He stared right at Archer as he smirked.
“I do respect my elders, but only those who deserve it. If the elders have no virtue, how could they be worthy of my respect?”
With a domineering look, Jack said with a cold and stern tone.
This made everyone in the hall looked at each other and sucked in a deep breath at Jack’s words which seemed to have a deeper meaning to them.
“You…”
His face flushed with anger and his eyes widened.
Jack was calling him unscrupulous, wasn’t he?
“Enough!”
Madam Hughes bellowed, and this stopped Archer from continuing with his words.
With a chilling gaze, she glanced sideways at Archer.
“Archer, I am the temporary head of the family now that Patrick has gone missing. If you still have respect for me, then shut your mouth up. Jack is Patrick’s son, and also your nephew. It’s not wrong for me to ask him to sit with us at this table, so stop complaining about it!”
Archer’s expression turned solemn.
Finally, he could feel all the gazes that were on him.
“Fine.”
Archer grunted unwillingly and gritted his teeth as he retook his seat.
But he was still looking at Jack in dissatisfaction.
If looks could kill, Jack would probably be long dead under his intimidating gaze.
“Go over there.”
Jack said to Brent.
Everyone was looking at them.
Brent pushed Jack, who was in his wheelchair, to Madam Hughes’ side.
With a glance from Madam Hughes, Archer gritted his teeth and stood up, making way for Jack.
“Everyone who can make it are here. The rest who can’t make it had informed me about it.”
Madam Hughes’ voice was soft, but it was clear enough to reach everyone’s ears in the silent hall, “Now, the family banquet shall begin.”
She finished her words.
But no one started to eat.
According to traditions, the elderly should dig in first before the rest could do so.
Surely, Madam Hughes knew about it. She picked up her chopsticks and picked up a piece of fish meat.
Then… she did something before everyone’s eyes.
She placed the meat into Jack’s bowl.
Boom!
In an instant, everyone who was present felt as if they were struck by lightning.
What did her action mean?
The elderly were supposed to eat first. How could she put the fish in Jack’s bowl?
“Jack, this is your first time attending the Hughes Family’s banquet. This dish, the braised yellow river carp is a must in all of our banquets, and according to the Chinese, it means we wish for good fortune for our family every year. The belly is the best part of the whole fish.”
Madam Hughes spoke with a kind and friendly expression, ignoring everyone’s shocked gazes as she explained about the dish patiently to Jack.
She looked just like an ordinary grandmother who was doting on her grandson.
However, Jack said nothing in reply and he was expressionless as well.
The hint of hostility in his eyes disappeared as soon as it came.
Madam Hughes seemed to have a hidden intention, which was to get rid of Jack once and for all by making him the target of everyone else.
As a matter of respect, the elderly should be taking the first bite of the food.
Even if Jack’s father was here, Madam Hughes should be the one to dig in first, what more to say when it came to Jack?
However, Madam Hughes did dig in first, but she placed the food into Jack’s bowl.
Didn’t it mean that everyone present, including Madam Hughes herself, was a level below Jack?
Rumble…
Almost instantly, the sounds of several chairs from another table screeching against the floor echoed through the hall.
Jack threw a sideways glance in the direction of the sound. Killian, George and Ivy had stood up and was glaring at Jack with hostility.
If only they could kill him right on the spot!
Other than these youngsters, Jack had also felt stern gazes that were directed to him from those on the main table.
And the one who was most furious was none other than Archer!
His expression currently was as gloomy as the dark night.
As he grasped tightly onto the chopsticks in his right hand, the veins on his arm could be clearly seen.
With a gaze that was as sharp as a knife, he looked as if he wanted Jack dead right on the spot.
Mr. Ward and Brent who was standing behind Jack had a drastic change in their expressions as well.
“Is she trying to ruin Young Master by putting him in the spotlight?”
The both of them thought to themselves.
The hall was silent.
Jack was hesitant to react.
Before he did anything, Mr. Ward stepped forward as his expression became better. He put his hands together and bowed to Madam Hughes.
“Thank you, Madam Hughes for treating our Young Master with such love. It is our Young Master’s honour and I’ll be thanking you on his behalf. However, we should follow the tradition that the elderly should take the first bite. What do you think if we just stick to it, Madam Hughes?”
He spoke with courteous while being gentle on his words at the same time.
In such a situation, Mr. Ward knew that Jack shouldn’t speak up. No matter what he said, regardless if it good or bad, it wouldn’t satisfy the others.
However, as Jack’s servant and Patrick’s right-hand man, Mr. Ward was in a place to say such words.
But things did not go as he planned.
Madam Hughes became stern and threw a sideways glance at Mr. Ward as she reprimanded, “What right does a servant like you have to speak during our family banquet?”
Mr. Ward trembled before he knelt on the ground, “Forgive me, Madam Hughes. I was just focusing on the matter at hand.”
“Mr. Ward, what is there for you to say? This is the Hughes Family’s banquet. You and Brent should be honoured to be able to enter this hall tonight. How dare you be presumptuous?”
A cold voice sounded right after.
Jack looked sideways at Archer who was sitting on the other side of Madam Hughes.
Archer’s lips were curled into a sneer as he stared at Mr. Ward who was down on the ground.
As Jack was staring at Archer, he suddenly remembered the story Mr. Ward told him about Madam Hughes.
He then pursed his lips and rubbed his nose.
His gaze started to turn a little playful.
Adopted son?
He sure seemed like a biological one.
The atmosphere in the hall was solemn.
Jack waved his hand calmly, “Mr. Ward, you can get up now. This is my grandma’s love for me, so of course I’d need to accept it, right?”
What?!
Mr. Ward froze as soon as he heard Jack’s words.
Brent’s expression changed for the worse too.
As for the other members of the Hughes family, their gazes became sharper instantly.
Archer gritted his teeth, “Jack, what do you mean by that?”
“Uncle Archer, are you so stupid that you can’t understand what I said?”
Jack smirked while everyone looked at him.
He picked up the pair of chopsticks that Madam Hughes put on his bowl slowly.
Then, as if it was no one else’s business, he picked up the fish from his bowl calmly.
And sent it into his mouth as he started to chew.
“Young Master, don’t…”
Mr. Ward’s head shot up. He wanted to stop Jack, but when he saw that Jack was already chewing on the food, his face turned red from bewilderment.
Had the Young Master gone mad?
Jack knew clearly that Madam Hughes set up a trap for him, but why did he still take the first bite of the food?!