In the hearts of the Henley family members, Leo was like a patch of mud, ready to be trampled upon at any moment.
“Sophia, aren’t you going inside to eat?” Leo asked.
Sophia shook her head. “Not hungry. Let’s wait for my parents to come out, and then we’ll go home. Is your face… hurting?”
“Yeah, it’s hurting. If you could give me a massage, it wouldn’t hurt anymore,” Leo grinned foolishly.
Sophia’s face carried a hint of a smile. “Nice try.”
“Wife, you look really beautiful when you smile. I promise I won’t let you get hurt or sad anymore.”
Hearing Leo’s compliment, for some reason, Sophia’s cheeks turned red. She quickly turned away.
“How did you get here?” Sophia inquired.
“I drove the company’s Porsche, as usual,” Leo replied.
“If you’re hungry, you should go inside and eat. Afterward, you can drive back. My car was returned by the dealership. I’ll take your parents home.”
“I don’t have an appetite either. I’ll stay here and chat with you.”
…
After the birthday banquet and the departure of the relatives, Teresa called Bruno and his father, Sean, into a room.
“Grandma, I believe that if the Henley family wants to ascend to a top-tier clan, we shouldn’t allow useless people like Leo to stay in our family. How about you have Uncle Martin kick Leo out?” Bruno spoke out before Teresa could.
At the banquet, Leo tried to ruin his image in front of everyone, leaving Bruno resentful.
Teresa’s expression darkened. “Bruno, do you really think I’m losing my wits?”
“Grandma…” Bruno became nervous.
“What Leo presented was indeed wild ginseng of over a hundred years, whereas yours was just cultivated ginseng. Do you know why I didn’t expose you in front of everyone?”
Bruno knelt before Teresa. “Grandma, it’s my foolishness. I was deceived by those who sold the ginseng. But my respect for you are genuine.”
Teresa remained silent.
Sean, standing beside them, grew anxious. “Mom, Bruno genuinely respects you. The ginseng incident was his mistake. I’ll discipline him properly when we get back.”
“Get up.” After all, Bruno was her own grandson. Teresa waved her hand. “You can leave. I’m tired.”
“Mom, get some rest,” Sean said, signaling to Bruno with his eyes.
“Grandma, I’ll come to see you tomorrow,” Bruno wiped the sweat from his forehead and cautiously spoke.
Teresa didn’t respond. She slowly left the room, her back hunched.
Once Teresa was gone, Sean glared at Bruno. “You brat, your grandmother is sharp. You better not play tricks in front of her.”
“Dad, it’s all the fault of of Sophia’s useless husband. He’s like a jinx!” Bruno shifted all his dissatisfaction onto Leo.
Sean’s gaze held a trace of contemplation. “Bruno, something seemed off about that useless guy today. He’s different from before.”
“Dad, you’re overthinking. He merely recited the method to identify wild ginseng. Can you believe that a good-for-nothing like him could make a comeback?” Bruno was dismissive.
Sean wasn’t sure how to respond, but he felt that Leo was acting strangely today.
“Dad, you heard Grandma just now. Even if my ginseng was fake, she wouldn’t expose me. I’m the only grandson of the Henley family, the future inheritor to lead the Henley family into the top-tier clans.” Bruno’s confidence surged at the thought.
Sean acknowledged this fact, yet he still cautioned, “You better keep a low profile. If you anger your grandmother, there’s no telling what she might do.”
“Dad, I understand. About the sudden betrothal gifts today, any idea who they might be for?” Bruno was curious.
Sean pondered for a moment. “I think it’s most likely for Fanny. Among us in the Henley family, aside from Sophia, Fanny is the most beautiful.”
Bruno nodded in agreement. “I was thinking the same. If it’s indeed for Fanny, then the Henley family will soon join the ranks of the top-tier Langstel clans.”
Both of them began to envision a bright future for the family.
Back at the Henley family villa…
After returning home, Sophia and Leo each went to their rooms.
Jessica sat on the couch, growing angrier the more she thought about it. Leo had embarrassed her at the grandmother’s birthday banquet.
“Martin, I thought Leo might change a bit after getting to know Harry Toby, but it seems I was hoping for too much. I can’t stand that useless son-in-law!” Jessica fumed.
Martin, reading the newspaper, responded without looking up, “Leo has been with us for about four years.”
“What do you mean?”
“Four years is not a short time. As our son-in-law, I believe he’s fine,” Martin replied.
“Martin, other people’s sons-in-law have money and power. Don’t you see that?”
Martin calmly stated, “Our son-in-law is the one you chose.”
“I don’t want him now!”
“A few days ago, you took out the agreement and prohibited Leo from divorcing. Remember?”
“I’ve changed my mind now. I just can’t stand it anymore!” Jessica shouted, then yelled even louder, “Leo, get down here!”
Leo and Sophia’s bedroom doors opened simultaneously.
Sophia glared at him. “Get back inside and don’t come out.”
Leo understood that his mother-in-law was having one of her intermittent fits of rage. It was best to listen to Sophia. He acted as if he hadn’t heard anything and closed the bedroom door.
Sophia walked down and approached Jessica.
“Mom, please stop shouting. I won’t divorce Leo.”
Sophia’s voice was calm, but resolute.
“Are you out of your mind? You want to spend your life with that useless bum?” In Jessica’s eyes, with a single command from her, her daughter would surely agree to divorce Leo. But now, it seemed not.
Sophia met Jessica’s gaze firmly. “Mom, when we got married, I was seriously ill. I listened to you and married Leo. Now, I make my own decisions. After Leo married into our family, he may not have achieved much, but in these four years, he’s been diligent and considerate. He’s never once lost his temper at anyone in our family, and he’s never done anything to hurt me.”
“Mom, Leo has been innocent from the start to the end. Four years is not a short time. Even if you raise a dog, you develop a bond. Leo is a living person.”
Jessica looked at her daughter in disbelief. She could never have expected Sophia to say such things.