Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 312

Harvey and Hugo instantly stood at attention, lowering their heads respectfully.

"Godfather."

Lawrence Lancaster nodded slowly. His piercing gaze swept over their bruised faces, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"Are the injuries severe?"

Both twins shook their heads simultaneously.

Lawrence turned and took a seat on the leather sofa, casually pulling a cigarette from his pocket.

Hugo stepped forward instantly, producing a lighter to spark the flame.

Lawrence took a long drag, exhaling a slow plume of smoke that drifted lazily into the dim light.

Silas stood off to the side, his expression shifting nervously before he finally caved to the suffocating silence.

"Uncle Lawrence, I know Harvey and Hugo messed up this time, but I promise, next time I will definitely—"

Smack!

Before he could finish his sentence, a brutal backhand cracked across his face.

The sheer force of the blow snapped Silas's head to the side, sending him stumbling backward until he crashed heavily into the sofa.

Lawrence slowly retracted his hand, calmly producing a silk handkerchief to meticulously wipe his knuckles.

"A crowded shopping mall, in the dead center of the plaza, right out in the open—and you try to execute a kidnapping? Have you completely lost your goddamn mind?"

"Uncle Lawrence, I... I didn't mean for it to escalate, I just wanted..."

"You wanted what?" Lawrence lifted his gaze. It wasn't particularly angry—in fact, it was terrifyingly calm—but the sheer weight of it strangled the excuses right out of Silas's throat.

"I watched Arthur and Olive grow up. I know exactly what they're capable of. Harvey and Hugo are no match for them, and there is no shame in that."

Lawrence stood up, walked slowly over to Silas, and stared down at him with crushing superiority.

A heavy silence hung over the living room for a long time.

"The Grand Matriarch's Gala is next week. Everyone who's anyone in the Lancaster family will be there, including Hudson and Nora. With a crowd that size, even Arthur won't be able to cover every blind spot. As for the Legacy Data Drive, I've already ensured it was delivered to Nora..."

Lawrence raised his eyes, a dangerous smirk playing on his lips. "Do not disappoint me again."

Silas nodded frantically. "Don't worry, Uncle Lawrence. I will execute it perfectly. Flawlessly."

Lawrence didn't bother looking at him again. He stood up, and Hugo immediately stepped forward to help him into his suit jacket.

"I'm leaving."

"Safe travels, Uncle Lawrence," Silas said, shadowing him obediently to the door.

The sleek black luxury sedan pulled out of the estate, vanishing into the pitch-black night.

Silas stood by the grand entrance, watching the taillights fade into two blurry red dots. Slowly, the pathetic fear on his face melted away, replaced by a vicious, unhinged sneer...