Meadow was shocked and sprung up from her seat upon seeing Michael’s bruised face alongside a red and swollen lip. “Michael, how could you… did Richard really lay a finger on you? How could he do this to you? I will get ahold of him and sort things out right now!”
Michael ignored her and marched ahead to sit beside Wayne. “Grandpa, I am here!”
“Alright then, do come clean to me. What is going on?” Wayne asked.
Michael had decided to let his secret out and said, “Abbie and I are in love. However, Richard does not approve of our decision of being a couple. That is basically the entire story.”
“I share the same opinion with Richard of disallowing you to date Abbie. She is an utterly arrogant and impolite lady. One would be very unlucky to take her hand in marriage!”
Wayne glanced at Meadow coldly as soon as she finished speaking. He questioned, “Did I give you a green light in interrupting my conversation with Michael?”
“But… I am sorry!”
Meadow was feeling embarrassed and apologized. Wayne scoffed and turned to look at Michael once again. “Why would Richard oppose the idea of you being together with Abbie?”
“It is a long story and I do not intend to fill you in about the details.”
“What are you going to do about this then?” Wayne queried further.
“Grandpa, I am hoping for you to lend me a helping hand. Please assist me in putting a few good words to the Clark family!”
“Are you crazy?” Meadow furiously queried as she could not help but interrupt their conversation once again. However, she did not continue further as Wayne had furiously stared at her. She then reached out and pinched Stanty’s arm to signal him for voicing his opinion out.
Stanty let out a dry cough and said, “Michael, well… you and Richard are very close with each other. I think you should give up since he has opposed the idea of you being a couple with Abbie. It is unwise of you to get into a fight with Richard, right?”
“I do not want to call it quits with Abbie! Grandpa, can you please help me out?” Michael ignored his father’s words but had instead begged for the assistance of his grandfather.
Wayne brushed his chin and said, “Michael, you are my favorite grandson. You should also be well aware of how I have been treating you, right? I do not intend to turn a blind eye to settling the matter between you and Abbie. However, I do not have the capability to help you out.”
“Why can’t you? Mr. and Mrs. Clark will definitely agree on this relationship as long as you talk things through with the Clark family!”
“Michael, you have overestimated me! I can confidently get ahold of the Clark family in requesting them to allow you in taking Abbie’s hand in marriage if you have no business with Azalea. How can I be so thick-skinned in meeting with the Clark family when you have some history with Azalea?”
Wayne sighed and continued speaking, “Azalea is nevertheless the adopted daughter of the Clark family and she has been residing there for so many years. Everyone is well aware of your relationship with Azalea and the Clark family supports the idea of you two being together as well. The Clark family did not make a fuss when you then broke up with Azalea. Do you think that the Clark family would agree if you currently want to be a couple with Abbie all of a sudden? How am I able to make such a ridiculous request to them? Isn’t this an indication for them to give me a huge slap on the face? Do you have the heart to see me being in an awkward position when I am already at old age?”
“I am so sorry! I have fallen head over heel towards Abbie and I love her very much. I will never be a happy man without her presence in my life. Grandpa, are you still not willing to help me out when things have turned out this way?”
Wayne shook his head and said, “Love is not a necessity in one’s life and you are now just in an impasse. Michael, you are still young and have a bright future. You shall deem today’s incident as an ordinary experience during your growth process. You will see how ridiculous you currently are when you turn back to look at yourself in the near future.”
Wayne had made himself very clear in not doing anything to resolve this matter. Michael did not beg further and got up from his seat before heading upstairs. Wayne did not stop him while Meadow was worried about him. She then reached out to poke Stanty and said, “Honey, let’s check up on Michael!”
Stanty took a peek at Wayne and did not dare to move an inch. Meadow was also intimidated by Wayne but she mustered up her courage upon thinking about Michael’s injured face. She said, “I am going to get some ointment for Michael.”
Wayne did not object upon hearing about it. Meadow then took some medication and quickly went upstairs to knock on Michael’s door.
There was no sound coming from inside of the room. She knocked on the door twice before pushing it open. “Michael!”
He was sitting on the sofa and he shouted without looking at Meadow, “Get out!”
“You little brat, why are you being so furious? I am not the one who has gotten onto your nerves.” Meadow closed the door and walked towards Michael with the medication in her hand. “Come on, let me apply some ointment on your wound. Richard, that son of a bitch. How dare he be so rough towards you!”
“Didn’t you hear me telling you to get lost?” Michael swiftly grabbed the ointment from her hand and threw it out.
Meadow was feeling upset and snapped back, “Why would you throw a tantrum towards me? Was I the one who had opposed the idea of you being a couple with Abbie? The Clark family does not agree on this relationship as well, right? Feel free to convince the Clark family in changing their minds if you are confident to do so. I have no objection should they come to terms with it!”
“Don’t you feel bad for saying such a thing?” Michael looked at her coldly and continued speaking, “Aren’t you the one who tried to strain my relationship with Abbie from the very beginning? We would have been married a long time ago if it wasn’t for you. How could there be a chance for Azalea to be in the picture?”
“I am your mother! How is it possible for me in causing harm to you? I am doing everything for your own good. I will not blame you for not understanding my point of view. However, you shall sit back and see what the future holds. You will eventually know the rationale of my efforts,” Meadow persuaded him patiently.
However, Michael did not listen to her advice at all. “That is enough. You can save your efforts in pretending to be a good mother to me as I will never believe your words. I refuse to appreciate your efforts as well! However, I shall give you a heads up since you have raised me up. You need to stay away from Abbie and do not get onto her nerves from now onwards. Richard will not let you off the hook if you decide to ignore my advice!”
“What can he possibly do to me? This is a lawful society. How could the Davis family turn a blind eye if Richard decides to lay a finger on me?” Meadow was acting tough despite feeling intimidated by it.
“Are you sure that the Davis family will back you up? You are joking around, aren’t you? Grandpa has not been very fond of you for a long time. I reckon that he would be feeling on top of the world should Richard get rid of you once and for all. On the other hand, how much do you think that Stanty really loves you? He is pretending to be lovey-dovey with you not because he could not live without you! Stanty did that just for me to be in his team and wholeheartedly support him. I can bet that he will immediately marry another woman if you are no longer in the picture.”
“You bastard, why is it so hard for you to see me live a peaceful life? I am your biological mother, right? How could you be so vicious towards me?” Meadow cursed and left angrily.
She panicked after exiting the room as Michael had a solid point. The Davis family did not treat her well at all. Wayne had accepted her just because she had given birth to Michael. On the other hand, Stanty agreed to marry her as she was able to leave him alone regarding his messy private life.
Meadow had always turned a blind eye to Stanty’s affairs of having mistresses. Hence, it was very clear that she had no capability to get onto Richard’s nerves. She had been feeling trapped all this while.
Life was difficult when she used to be a mistress. However, nothing seem to have improved even when she became the official wife of Stanty as no one had been treating her with respect.
The only way for her to be proud was to let Michael take Azalea’s hand in marriage. She would not have to feel intimidated towards anyone else when Michael successfully inherit the wealth and fortune of the Floyd family.
Meadow then thought of Azalea. She suddenly recalled what had Azalea told her during the day about Angel being fond of Richard. He was a bully who not only hit Michael but had also threatened Meadow. She was not daring enough to officially declare war with him. However, she had a few tricks under her sleeves to strike in secret. Meadow then racked her brain and thought for a while. Her eyes soon lit up as she had finally come up with an idea in her mind.