Although the two matters seemed to be solved, it wasn’t the end.
It was because the last matter was much more important than the previous ones.
Moreover, in those doyen’s eyes, they had shown some respect to Darnell since they made
concessions in the previous two matters.
As for the last matter, they wouldn’t make any concessions.
Hilbert said, “As for the matter that you mentioned before, about allowing Dolores to come back to the
family, it’s an important matter and we can’t decide on it by just several sentences. We don’t have full
considerations in many aspects.”
One of the doyens immediately chimed in, “That’s true. These rules are set by our ancestors. How can
they be easily changed simply because of a person?”
Another doyen echoed, “Moreover, as for Archer’s visit to City N, it’s essentially different from Dolores’
leaving. She admitted to being erased from the family tree back then and insisted on leaving with that
man, and we tried to stop her, but failed. Isn’t it ridiculous for her to come back now?”
After their censure, Hilbert slightly raised his hand to stop them.
He took a glance at Dolores who had been kneeling on the ground with her head lowered, “Do you
remember what you said before leaving the James family?”
“I wish to be erased from the James family and I won’t step into Riverside again.”
“It’s good that you still remember it.” Hilbert then asked, “So why do you come back now?”
Dolores replied, “I didn’t fulfil my duty as a daughter when my father was alive. He passed away not
long ago and I want to pray for him for three years.”
Before the others could express their opinions, Dolores continued, “I won’t ask you to add me into the
family tree. I just wish I can pray for him in the ancestral hall.”
Darnell said, “Now that aunt has said that and this was grandpa’s last wish, I think you guys won’t have
any objections, right?”
Those doyens, who wanted to oppose it just now, all swallowed their objections and looked towards
Hilbert.
They knew deep down that since Hilbert planned to let Elaine marry Darnell, probably he wouldn’t
offend Darnell thoroughly.
Hilbert said, “Well, but you have to sleep on it. Once we agree on this, you should kneel here every day
in these three years. It’s not simply to show your filial piety, but also to reflect the mistakes you made.”
Clarence slightly frowned and took a step forward, but Stella clasped his hand tightly.
Although she didn’t know what was going on, since Ms. Anderson hadn’t taken a glance at Clarence
and Hilbert didn’t call Clarence’s name, she could tell that they didn’t want to expose Clarence’s identity
to those doyens.
Dolores replied, “I’ve made up my mind.”
Hilbert stood up, trembling, “All right. Those who have to kneel in front of our ancestors should continue
to kneel here. As for other people, you shall go on with your own business.”
Franklin stepped forward and supported him out of the hall.
Seeing this, other doyens all stepped out of the hall one by one.
Darnell turned around to take a glance at Clarence and Stella and said blandly, “Follow me.”
Archer looked up at them with a grievance.
Darnell ignored it and continued to step forward.
Looking at Dolores’ back, Stella moved her lips trying to say something, yet still swallowed the words in
the end.
There would be an answer soon.
Stella withdrew her gaze and found Clarence was also looking at Dolores.
She tugged the sleeve of his suit jacket. Clarence then withdrew his gaze and took her out of the hall,
his face icy-cold.
When the footsteps gradually disappeared, Archer finally heaved a sigh of relief, feeling that he came
to life again. He slumped down the ground and murmured, “How ungrateful.”
He then looked at Elaine and poked at her shoulder, “Why are you still kneeling? They’ve left.”
Elaine was still angry. She shrugged down his hand, giving no reply.
Archer beat his knees gently, “I have to ask why you’re so bold recently. How dare you offend those
old…”
Before he could utter the word “stuff”, he spotted that Dolores was looking over and bit the tip of his
tongue.
Dolores said blandly, “Disaster emanates from a careless talk.”
Archer immediately covered his mouth and nodded at Dolores to show his appreciation.
Dolores withdrew her gaze, looked at the ancestors’ memorial tablets in front of her and closed her
eyes.
After a short while, Archer teased Elaine again as he felt boring, “Isn’t Darnell a good choice? They
simply asked you to marry him, but you acted as if they wanted to kill you.”
Elaine was cheered up when mentioning this and said angrily, “He’s ten years older than me! Ten
years! He’s so scary. If I marry him, maybe he will kill me and even eat me if I offend him one day.”
Archer was rendered speechless.
When Elaine calmed down a bit, she added, “Oh, he doesn’t like cooked food and prefers a raw one.
But I don’t want any slice of my flesh to be eaten after dipping sauce. It’s so dirty!”
Archer was speechless again.
He said as if it was so hard for him to understand her logic, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Anyway, I won’t marry him. I’ve been captivated by the other man.”
Archer said casually, “The man you like is also ten years older than you.”
Elaine retorted, “Love is the subject regardless of age.”
“But it should concern morality. He has married.”
“I’ve investigated him. He has divorced.”
“But now they’re reconciled. Didn’t you see it?”
Elaine took a deep breath, “I can wait until they break up.”
Archer said lazily, “Don’t wait for it. It’s impossible.”
“They got married before, but then divorced. Although they’re in a relationship now, why is it impossible
for them to break up later?”
Archer said, “Your father will give you another slap if he hears these words.”
Elaine, who was angered by the slap before, craned her neck forward when she heard the words,
“Then just come. He’s better to kill me. It’s better than marrying Darnell and being eaten by him.”
Archer was amused, “Who told you that Darnell would eat people?”
“Anyway… He’s like that. You follow him every day and you’re not a good man too. Don’t talk to me!”
Archer was rendered speechless.
He was so innocent.
The ancestral hall became silent again.
Franklin pulled a long face outside. Apparently, he had heard Elaine’s words.
It seemed like it was a wise choice to let her kneel here. It would help to polish her temperament.
This girl had been more and more unruly.
Right at this moment, his subordinate walked over.
Franklin withdrew his gaze and walked away. When they were far away from the ancestral hall, he
asked, “What’s the condition?”
“Darnell took Clarence to a side hall and his men guarded outside. We couldn’t hear their
conversation.”
Franklin said, “I’ve been thinking that Clarence came here for the things that happened in City N. But I
never expected that Darnell would take Dolores home. What the heck does he want to do?”
“Master, actually, I heard that when Bancroft was alive, he had been planning to reform the James
family. It was just that he had to give up because all the doyens objected to it. I guess Darnell did those
things according to his instructions, and taking Dolores home is just the first step of his plan.”
Franklin said in a deep voice, “The James family has been developing for many years and has
accumulated many problems. It has many collateral branches. It’s just that the fathers of the younger
generations are recorded in the family tree so we could only add their names into the family tree
according to the rules. They got benefits from this and even did many evil things in the name of the
James family.”
“The most important thing is that if he wants to reform the James family, those doyens’ forces would be
eliminated in the end.”
“This is the reason why they object it.”
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda