Chapter 68: The Heavens Have Changed for the Lancaster Family

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The Heavens Have Changed for the Lancaster Family

I also looked around warily and pulled Madeline Quinn to my side.

"Someone’s there?" Madeline Quinn whispered, also looking into the alley.

I shook my head, staring at the dark figure not far down the alley.

Noticing us watching, the figure quickly ducked away.

I glanced up at Asher. The viciousness in his eyes hadn’t faded yet. Standing there in the gloomy alley, he looked like Satan crawling out of Hell.

"Asher?" I called out tentatively.

He turned back to me, and I could practically see the viciousness in his eyes vanish, replaced by a clear, pure innocence. "Cece, I’m so dizzy."

And then his entire body—all six-foot-three of it—collapsed onto me.

I had no time to refuse; I could only let him slump against me.

"He looks so tall and lanky, but he’s surprisingly heavy," Madeline Quinn said, helping me support Asher and drag him toward the street.

He seemed to have fainted, his full weight pressing down on me.

I muttered under my breath, "Why is he so heavy..."

Madeline Quinn helped me call a car, and together we shoved Asher inside.

"Let’s go back to the Lancaster estate first," I said softly, asking Madeline Quinn to come with me.

Madeline Quinn was also curious about this ’Asher’ person, so she nodded and agreed.

The whole way there, Asher leaned against me. His forehead was burning hot; he really seemed to be sick.

I raised a hand to his forehead and sighed.

’If he’s really not the murderer, and not an accomplice to that psychopathic killer, then what is his relationship to the culprit...’

"Are you and this luna—I mean, Asher, really husband and wife?" Madeline Quinn asked in a low voice. "Is he really your husband? He can get married? Isn’t he..."

Madeline Quinn whispered, pointing to her own head.

I knew she was implying there was something wrong with Asher’s mind.

"He’s gorgeous, but if you’re married, can he... you know... perform normally?" Madeline Quinn muttered.

I nearly choked on her question. ’Yup, that’s the Madeline Quinn I know. Still as cheeky as ever...’

"He is my husband. It’s... a long story." I rubbed my forehead. ’How am I supposed to explain this? That I woke up one day and was forced into a flash marriage? And even have a little bun in the oven?’

As for whether he could ’perform’... "He’s perfectly normal. He just has episodes sometimes."

Madeline Quinn leaned in, her face full of curiosity. "For real? I just thought he was good-looking. I was even thinking God is fair, giving him an otherworldly face but making him a little slow in the head."

"He’s brilliant. A genius," I explained instinctively on Asher’s behalf. "He was fast-tracked into a university program for geniuses when he was just a teenager. He’s a once-in-a-generation talent."

Madeline Quinn pointed at Asher, her face a mask of shock. "Him?"

I nodded and glanced at Asher.

He seemed a bit restless and snuggled against me. I quickly patted him. "We’re almost home. Go to sleep, go to sleep."

But I didn’t see the corners of his mouth curve into a smirk.

Madeline Quinn swallowed in shock. "You really can’t tell by looking at him..."

The car stopped in front of the Lancaster family’s villa. I got out and, with Madeline Quinn’s help, dragged him out of the car.

It took every ounce of our strength.

The courtyard of the Lancaster estate seemed bustling; a lot of people were there.

I was supporting Asher and had just stepped into the courtyard when I saw the butler hurrying over.

"Help the young master to his room to rest," I said quietly.

The butler nodded. "Master Lancaster has also had an incident. After Young Master Dylan Lancaster’s accident, Master Lancaster went to the Republic of M. We heard he got worked up over something and had a stroke. Even if he wakes up, he’ll probably..."

The butler sighed. This was a monumental shake-up for the Lancaster family.

I froze for a moment, watching Assistant Foster walk over from a distance.

Such a sudden, massive upheaval in the Lancaster family meant... the collateral branches of the family were about to make their move.

It seemed the people who came today were all here for the Lancaster family’s assets and shares in the Lancaster Group.

"Young Madam, there’s been a mishap in the Lancaster family. As you can see, the family is without a leader now. Master Lancaster had his incident, and Young Master Dylan Lancaster had his accident... The only heirs to the Lancaster family now are Young Master Sebastian and the child in your belly."

Assistant Foster said, his voice laced with meaning.

I instinctively looked down at my stomach. ’Sure enough... heavy is the head that wears the crown.’

The Lancaster family’s affairs ran deep, and now I was getting drenched.

Madeline Quinn stood at the entrance, watching the aggressive crowd. "Need help?"

I shook my head. "This is Lancaster family business; you can’t get involved. I’ll have the driver take you home."

Madeline Quinn nodded.

It was true; she shouldn’t get involved.

After seeing Madeline Quinn off, I followed Assistant Foster into the living room.

The living room was already full of people. At the head was Master Lancaster, the patriarch’s paternal cousin.

Although Lancaster Group was a family enterprise, it was a foundation built from the ground up by Master Lancaster himself. He had brought all the Lancasters into the company back then to rally the family and help everyone out. He never expected to be nurturing a tiger that would come back to bite him. Now that he was in trouble, they were all emerging, eager to devour his fortune.

"This is Master Lancaster," Assistant Foster said, introducing me.

I nodded respectfully. "Master Lancaster."

Master Lancaster snorted coldly.

I knew he didn’t take me seriously.

"Master Lancaster, this is the eldest grandson’s wife, whom Master Lancaster introduced at the banquet. The young lady of the Lynn Family, Silvia Lynch," Assistant Foster explained.

Master Lancaster didn’t say a word, but a thuggish-looking man next to him spoke up. "Hah... The patriarch’s eldest son and grandson died in a car crash. Where did this ’eldest grandson’s wife’ come from?"

"Young Master Marcus Lancaster registered his marriage in the Republic of M when he was twenty. His wife, Elise, was of mixed Chinese and M-nationality descent and a citizen of M. Therefore, Young Master Sebastian Lancaster is rightfully the eldest grandson," Assistant Foster explained in a low voice.

"Hah... A demented lunatic hidden away by the old man is the Lancaster family’s greatest shame. Does a marriage registration from the Republic of M even count? Bryce Lancaster has no more heirs! Now that the patriarch and Dylan are out of the picture, the Lancaster family’s assets cannot fall into outside hands! You’re just a lowly assistant. Did you think you could bring in an outsider to snatch away everything that belongs to us Lancasters?"

The man slammed his hand on the table, glaring at me fiercely.

’Before my rebirth, I probably would have been afraid of him.’

’Too bad for him. I’ve seen things he can’t even imagine.’

"Whether or not Sebastian Lancaster is the legal heir of the Lancaster family is for the law to decide. He is the patriarch’s eldest grandson, the eldest son of Marcus Lancaster, the legal husband of me, Silvia Lynch, and the father of the bloodline I carry in my womb!"

I stared at him with cold eyes.

"If you all came today out of concern for the patriarch’s health, I respect you. But if you came for the inheritance, then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed! Butler! Show them out!"

I pointed to the door, my voice low and firm.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! Master Lancaster chuckled like an old fox, clapping his hands. "The old man really did think of everything."

His gaze fell on my stomach, and he smiled. "You’ve only just conceived this child, haven’t you? You’d better protect it well and make sure it’s born safely."

He was threatening me.

"As for that demented lunatic..." Master Lancaster’s eyes darkened. "Our Lancaster family does not..."

"Master Lancaster, you are a family elder. Aside from the patriarch, you are the most respected. Sebastian Lancaster is of Lancaster blood. For you to call him a ’demented lunatic’ with every breath, does that show the magnanimity of an elder? If word of this gets out, people will look down on our Lancaster family," I cut Master Lancaster off.

I spoke again. "Butler, show them out!"

’I was putting on a brave face, but I knew I couldn’t keep it up for long.’

’Master Lancaster will definitely make a move against my child and Sebastian Lancaster later.’

’The fact that the patriarch and Dylan Lancaster both had accidents in the Republic of M around the same time couldn’t be a simple coincidence.’

’The Lancaster family was in for a storm.’