Yes, Miss!” Nolan, finally energized, somehow found a sturdy wooden staff from somewhere nearby.
With Alivia gone, he was once again the strongest fighter in the courtyard.
He didn’t plan to show them any mercy.
He struck viciously–so hard that Carole shrieked, Lavern howled, and Maxton Yates along with his wife, Elliana, fled in a panic, stumbling over each other.
Even their two children weren’t spared; Nolan smacked them both, one after another, sending them screaming across the yard.
Carole was furious, tears streaming down her face. “You filthy dog. Look at who you’re hitting. Stop, damn you!”
Lavern shouted, “Stop this instant! I am the future heir of General Algernon. How dare you lay a hand on me-
Nolan sneered and cracked his staff down even harder. “The world knows General Algernon’s only heir died a hero on the battlefield. You’re nothing but a lying little rat pretending to be family. I ought to beat you to death for it!”
He had completely thrown caution to the wind, swinging his staff mercilessly and scattering them like terrified chickens.
Grover Yates could only watch, his face purple with rage, nearly passing out from sheer fury.
In the end, the entire Grover clan had to grab Grover’s wheelchair and flee in disgrace, scrambling and tripping over themselves like a beaten pack of dogs.
Monica laughed so hard she had to clutch her stomach. “Let’s see if those cowards dare come back again! A pack of greedy, shameless scum!”
Jessica, however, only smiled faintly, “They’ll be back. Next time… who knows what they’ll bring with them?”
She calmly tucked the command token away.
Monica sighed in helpless frustration. She thought, ‘How did we end up saddled with such disgraceful relatives? How revolting.’
“Ms. Yates,” Monica asked cautiously, “why do you have Mr. Yates‘ command token?”
The Yates Army’s command token was no ordinary thing. Alivia had once served proudly under that banner; even now, though retired, her loyalty remained unshaken. Seeing the token, she would never dare disobey.
Jessica smiled lightly. “I borrowed it from Garbisch last night,” she said. “I’m going to see Grandfather. You stay here and guard the courtyard–just in case those rats try anything else.”
Though most likely, Grover’s family had already taken Consort Adele’s bribes and were merely sent here to stir up trouble. Still, their true ambition was far greater: they wanted direct access to Algernon.
After all, their plan to have Lavern adopted as Algernon’s heir had never truly been abandoned.
If they succeeded, they wouldn’t just be collecting Adele’s petty rewards. They’d be inheriting the entire Yates legacy.
Jessica made her way into Delight Hall.
Algernon’s health had indeed declined sharply/On a good day, he could remain awake for barely five or six hours.
Most of the time, he lay unconscious.
Jessica personally checked his pulse. The old steward, Wiley, hovered nearby, his face drawn with worry. “General Algernon barely eats these days,” Wiley said softly. “Even simple oatmeal,.. he often can’t swallow it down. I fear…” His voice broke. “I fear he won’t last much longer.”
1/2
Chapter 141
Jessica carefully laid Algernon’s hand back under the covers, tucking him in gently, then turned and gave Wiley along, stran loo
Wiley understood immediately and quietly escorted her out of the room.
Standing outside, the winter wind tugging at her cloak, Jessica hid the sorrow in her eyes as she looked back at Wiley and said in a low voice -The afraid… he may not survive this winter.”
Wiley’s heart shattered. He almost burst
into tears on the spot.
Yet it was Jessica, not him, who remained calm, reaching out to comfort him. “Wiley,” she said softly, “Grandfather has fought illness for so long. To have endured until now is already a mercy from heaven. We mustn’t let grief consume us. Everyone must walk this road someday.”
Wiley stared at her, his heart aching fiercely. “You’re the one hurting, yet you’re the one comforting me… Compare to you, I’m utterly worthless
Jessica was just a seventeen–year–old girl.
Back then, when General Caesar, her parents, and her two uncles had all fallen in battle, it was Jessica–barely eleven or twelve years old–who stood alone, handling everything with meticulous care.
Only Wiley knew that after arranging every last funeral detail, after holding everything together for everyone else, Jessica had hidden herself away. She cried through the night, her grief so wrenching it nearly
More her apart, leaving her gravely ill for weeks.
And back then, she was just a twelve–year–old girl.
AD
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