279: Chapter 279

Chapter 279

"What will our branch family members say if they know that the heir of the Grant family married a divorced country bumpkin with a suspicious family background?" Marlon gritted his teeth.  0

Just like many old families, The Grant family had a lot of branch families that were still tightly connected even though they didn't like each other. 

"Do you care that much about what others say? The Grant family is filthy rich! We don't need their fucking approval to do anything!" Henry insisted. 

"THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY!" Marlon finally snapped. His chest rose up and down, and he quickly clenched his chest as his heart started to hurt. 

Henry did nothing. He stared down at his father with merciless eyes, and Marlon didn't expect help from his second son because he also didn't have a strong connection nor pride for Henry. 

It was James who was supposed to lead this family and all of the businesses. But he had been bewitched, and he would ruin the family image because of that bitch named Kate. 

"Don't you see what Dorothea's family looks like now?" 

"Don't bring Aunt Dorothea into this," Henry said as she remembered the problem with his aunt's family. He knew Marlon would keep bringing up the Gray family to justify his action. 

"Why not? Dorothea allowed Vincent to marry a dirty peasant raised by a single mother, and look what happened? They got a divorce, and now that dirty peasant woman is fucking Vernon! This is what happens when you're marrying a lowlife. Your family will be ruined!"

"That's because Vincent is an abusive asshole!" Henry yelled back. "Why would she stay with a bastard who beat his wife? Just so you know, Dad. I talked with my cousin a few days ago, and Vernon said he already proposed and would marry Chloe in a month!"

"Heh, your cousins are just as screwed up. I shouldn't have allowed James to mingle with Vincent and Vernon when they were young," Marlon sneered. "They had influenced your brother until his taste for women changed."

"Dorothea has also screwed up. How come she decides to turn her back against the heir of her family and side with Vernon and that bitch named Chloe instead?" Marlon commented. "My little sister has always been a stupid, emotional woman. She doesn't deserve to be married off to the Gray family."

"In fact, she doesn't deserve to live if the only thing she brought was shame."

"So you think she should've just turned a blind eye to my cousin beating his wife numerous times?" Henry asked.

"If that's what it takes to keep your family image, then so be it," Marlon replied. "What's the importance of one peasant woman when the family's image is on the line?"

The more he listened to Marlon's complaints, the more Henry couldn't control his anger. 

His father only cared about the family's image and reputation. It was also what killed James.

Marlon felt that James would bring shame to his family by marrying a divorced country bumpkin, and he couldn't bear the same, especially after he mocked her sister, Aunt Dorothea, for allowing her son, Vincent, to marry Chloe, a regular woman who was raised by a single mother. 

Unlike Vincent, who was an abusive asshole that tried to hide Chloe's identity, James was a very loving man. He often proclaimed that he wasn't ashamed of falling in love with Kate.

And yes, that night during the family dinner, he told everyone at the table that he would marry Kate no matter what and gave her everything she wanted, even if she wanted a noble title of her own. 

It sealed his demise, so Henry had to be careful, or Marlon might also do the same to him. 

"Then what's the importance of your own heir when family reputation and image are on the line? Nothing, right? That's why you killed my Big brother and put Dahlia in the mental facility just to save your face."

"YOU BASTARD!" Marlon couldn't handle the disrespect, especially not when he had no way to defend himself. 

He lashed out by throwing the thick book in his hand to Henry's face, and Henry caught it with one hand. 

"See? I did nothing, and you're already attacking me," Henry mocked. "I wonder what you would do if you killed me too. Since you'll run out of heir at your disposal."

Marlon gritted his teeth. They glared at each other full of hostility until the screechy voice of Penny interrupted the fight.

"Jeez, you shouldn't taunt your father like that, Henry," Penny said while bringing a tray full of freshly baked cookies. She served it in front of Henry, forcing him to take one.

Henry took one cookie but asked sarcastically, "Did you put something in this cookie just like what you did to my brother's drink, too?"

"Oh, I'm not that cruel to you, darling," Penny winked at Henry. "Your father loves you. That's why he didn't do anything to you. But you shouldn't be trying out your luck like that."

Penny served the cookie to Marlon and said, "You shouldn't get worked up over him. You know Henry is a rebel. You need to be more gentle towards him, just like I did!"

Marlon took one cookie and snorted, "Hmph, why don't you teach your son how to behave in front of his own father? He would be nothing without our family money. He's not even as good as his dead brother in university."

Henry wasn't offended by the last sentence. 

Indeed, he wasn't as good academically as James, and he had no resentment.

But he was angry at Marlon when he said Henry couldn't do anything without his help.

It was a direct blow to his pride.

But he said nothing.

He knew the more he fought him, the harder it was for him to get the approval needed for that inheritance. 

'Calm down, Henry. This is all for Kate and James. You shouldn't be rash when fighting against this old bastard.'

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