Whether a person was disabled or crippled made a world of difference. As soon as Patrick said it, everyone frowned deeply and held their tongue. No one came forward to speak out for Archer.
“Patrick, you, you are obnoxious!” Archer’s face was covered with blood and ground his teeth as he said, “This is the Hughes family and the family of everyone here. The Hughes family doesn’t make up of you alone!”
“I’m the head of the family and control the Hughes family. Since you are talking rubbish, why can’t I sort you out?”
Patrick sat as he exuded his presence and authority over everyone and commanded, “How dare you disrespect my authority and address me by my name? Brent, slap Archer ten times!”
“Understood!” Brent grinned and walked towards Archer.
“You, how dare you, you mongrel, I…” Archer panicked as he saw Brent storming towards him.
He had already been on the receiving end of Brent’s wrath and had just barely recovered from the beating. Little did he expect to have to face this ‘walking doom’ so soon.
“I already said that I’m the servant of Master Hughes and not you!” Brent looked at Archer ferociously and grabbed his neck. Archer was frail and was no match for Brent. He could not struggle free as soon as Brent grabbed him.
Slap! Brent slapped him heavily across the face and Archer squealed like a pig. Then Brent continued to deliver the rest of the slaps as commanded by Patrick. The slaps rang out across the hall. Everyone looked on in shock as their faces turned pale and maintained their silence.
The beating of Archer was to deter anyone else from trying to revolt. Jack looked on happily as Brent continued to slap Archer.
This punishment seemed too harsh just for addressing the head of the family by his name. It was clear that Patrick was doing this to warn the others that only Patrick had the authority to decide on this matter.
Archer’s painful cries reverberated through the hall and pricked everyone’s hearts. Everyone looked horrified at Patrick.
As soon as the last slap landed from Brent, Archer collapsed onto the floor and coughed out three teeth. Archer was totally devastated and did not even dare to look at Patrick.
“You people want to abolish his status as a potential heir to the family just because he is disabled? Have you all ever sought my opinion?” Patrick looked at everyone and oppressed everyone present.
Madam Hughes’ looked on with her eyes wide open and her frail hands were tightly clenched. This… was Patrick protecting Jack to the death? They were so close to getting rid of Jack, so close!
Carter’s expression darkened, just as Killian, George, and Ivy all were upset with the turn of events. Everyone else was unsettled but no one said a word.
“Hmph!” Patrick scoffed and then looked at Jack, “Jack, your status as a potential heir was given by me and only I can abolish it. Do you understand?”
“Yes!” Jack nodded with bloodshot eyes and then he said, “Dad, I said it but they disregarded me. They wanted to take it away from me just because my legs are disabled. I won’t accept this injustice!”
“Shut up, Jack!” Madam glared angrily at Jack. Her eyes were fiery as if it could shoot out flames to engulf Jack.
“Madam, I’m speaking to my son, don’t you have to respect me as the head of the family?” Patrick rebuked as he stared coldly at Madam Hughes.
Madam Hughes persisted and appeared to be just as she said, “Patrick, what Jack said is true. What Archer said is also true. But we are considering it from a larger standpoint. None of the heirs of the Hughes family was disabled. If news of Jack’s disabilities leaks out, then the Hughes family will become a great joke!”
“On this point, we told Jack that even with your presence, you would also abolish his status as the potential heir! Patrick, as the head of the family, won’t you consider for the greater good of the family? Don’t tell me you are willing to let the family become a joke to everyone?”
Every word that Madam Hughes said was forceful and sounded reasonable. She made it sound that everything was for the good of the family forcing Patrick to be measured in his response.
Everyone present heard her reasoning and felt a boost.
Jack’s expression darkened and remained silent. He knew clearly that this encounter was out of his abilities. In fact, no one else present could interfere anymore. This was a battle between Madam Hughes and Patrick.
Then, Patrick looked at Madam Hughes, narrowed his eyes, and grinned, “Madam, did you address me as Patrick?”
Madam Hughes was stunned. She hesitated as she begrudgingly said, “Sir, Sir…”
Patrick smiled and nodded as he looked at everyone with disdain. He then said coldly, “What a great way to put it, saying that it was all in consideration for the family! Then what if I were to say that I will not revoke my son’s status as the potential heir of the family?”
Kaboom! Everyone’s expression changed and was shocked. What did he mean? How could the head of the family not consider the greater good of the family? Was he willing to protect his son at the expense of the family being ridiculed?
“Sir! Have you lost your mind?” Madam Hughes said angrily as her voice cracked when she continued, “Jack’s legs are disabled and it was only natural that he loses his status as a potential heir. Never had an heir of the family been disabled!”
“It never had but when it came to my time, it will!” Patrick stood up to extend his authority over everyone present, “My son met with an accident and was disabled. All of you took advantage of my absence to forcibly strip him of his status. Are you all scared of being laughed at or are you afraid that my son becomes the head of the family?”
What Patrick said struck everyone’s hearts and their expressions changed drastically.
Patrick continued to say, “From the time the Hughes family was established, it always groomed the head of the family. It always rewarded the most talented and never had there been any damned rules preventing a disabled from becoming the head of the family. Now you are trying to use our face value to reason against me?”
“Then tell me, is the face value of the family important or our wealth and power more important?” Patrick roared angrily and rocked the entire hall.
Carter raised his voice and said, “Please calm down Sir. The Hughes family controls immense wealth and we have to also consider our reputation!”
As Carter said, it opened the doors for others to express their views.
“Don’t be angry Sir, I’ll have to consider the greater good of the family. If we don’t revoke Jack’s status, then we would become the butt of the jokes.”
“Sir, this is everyone’s decision. Before you came back, we had already voiced out decision. We had already decided to revoke Jack’s status. Even with your return, you cannot go against the wishes of everyone!”
…
The voices started to come in waves.
Jack sat on the wheelchair and looked bitterly at everyone. Even if there were a few who stood by his father, their voices were now insignificant.
Now the rest of them had already decided to go all out to force the head of the family…