Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Chapter 72 Protective Jonathan
Jonathan’s glare was fierce and cold. His sharp eyes were fixed on Zack as he pursed his lips so tightly that they became a straight line.
When Zack met his uncle’s eyes, his heart mysteriously thumped, and he immediately shut his mouth.
“Why did you stop?” Jonathan sounded gentle, but there was a very clear coldness in his tone.
He glared at Zack so viciously that it made him tremble in fear. “Y-You’re here, Uncle Jonathan!”
Even though Jonathan was only a few years older than Zack, Zack respected his uncle a lot, whether in terms of his uncle’s abilities or temperament.
To be more precise, he was afraid of Jonathan.
It was not just him. All family members who were younger than Jonathan feared him, despite their achievements. They would show him respect, either genuinely or out of fear. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
That fear and admiration were carved into their bones. Having an uncle like Jonathan was their pride, and he was their role model.
Zack had caused quite a lot of trouble recently, and adding to the fact that Jonathan heard how insolently he was speaking earlier, he was basically acting like a mouse in front of the cat now that he saw his uncle.
While Jonathan saw the fear in Zack’s eyes, he wasn’t going to go easy on his nephew.
“Or what?” He narrowed his eyes so sharply that his look was like a blade cutting into Zack.
His voice grew louder with each word he uttered. “What do you think this place is, huh? How dare you act so brazenly here! You’re getting bolder huh!”
“That’s not it…” Zack refuted subconsciously.
His intention was to obtain the old couple’s acknowledgment. Of course, he didn’t want to escalate the conflict.
However, since all his family members were opposing his wish to be with Lucille, it caused the balance in his mind to topple, and he temporarily lost his temper.
“So what was it then?” The casual aura around Jonathan vanished and was replaced by an oppressive one.
Even the tone he was using was much harsher compared to before. “Are you not the one who talked back against the elders? Are you not the one screaming at the top of his lungs and bullying girls? Do you think I’m so old that my hearing’s gone bad?”
“No, of course not!” As Zack was figuratively pushed back again and again by his uncle, he shut his mouth.
“I always thought you’re the most well-behaved one among the three of you since you were a child. It turns out you’re the exact opposite of what I thought of you. What kind of upbringing did Quentin and his wife give you? Tell me, Zack. Who gave you the newfound courage and confidence?”
“I was wrong, Uncle Jonathan!” Zack was scolded so badly that his cheeks were turning red, but Jonathan had no intention of stopping.
The look in Jonathan’s eyes was as cold as a block of ice on a winter’s night. The words he uttered became more merciless than the last. “Weren’t you acting all insolently earlier? Well, I’m giving you a chance today to speak your mind! Go! Say what’s on your mind!”
While Zack submitted to his uncle, he was still pretty pissed.
His anger was triggered again when he saw Michaela, who was sitting comfortably at the side. When he thought about the grievance and blame Lucille had to suffer, blood rushed into his mind, and he shouted fearlessly, “You mustn’t allow Michaela’s innocent and pure appearance fool you, Uncle Jonathan! Likewise for Grandma and Grandpa! She’s just putting on a false facade in front of you all because she didn’t like me being together with Lucille! Don’t trust what she says!”
Jonathan’s icy look was now frozen as he barked, “Continue!”
Upon receiving his permission to continue, Zack explained, “You all never spent time with Lucille before. How can you be so certain about who she is? She’s a good person, unlike a certain someone who cooks up vile schemes behind everyone’s back!”
“How did you know for sure that Mich complained to us?” Jonathan raised his eyebrow and asked faintly.
Despite his neutral expression, those who truly knew him could tell it was a sign of a raging storm brewing in his heart.
Zack didn’t know, so he thought his uncle believed him and he resumed, “The truth will come to light. She almost forced Lucille to take her own life, and she even have the nerve to hit someone! Not only that, she intentionally twists the truth to show herself in a better light and tear our family’s relationships apart! There’s nothing she isn’t willing to do! How can a vile person like her complain that I fell in love with someone—”
“B*stard!” In an instant, the coldness in Jonathan’s look plummeted further.
Without waiting for Zack to finish, he kicked his nephew to the ground.
Zack couldn’t react fast enough to dodge, and it completely flabbergasted him. Didn’t he ask for me to continue? Why did I still get hit after he listened to what I had to say?
That kick was so powerful that it made him grit his teeth in pain. Before he could take another breath, he was lifted into the air abruptly and punched hard. “Is this how you take responsibility as a man? You make a mistake and then find a bunch of bullsh*t reasons to justify your actions? Did you feed your brain to the dogs?”
As terrible as Zack was, he was still a child of the Xander family. Jonathan watched him grow up, so he knew his nephew was a good man who was coaxed by someone to say hurtful stuff like that.
Sadly, Zack didn’t pay attention to what Jonathan was trying to say at all. He just stared blankly at his uncle as he tried to find a reason for his uncle’s action.
Michaela was planning to just sit by the side and watch the show. After all, it felt good for her to watch Zack getting his comeuppance in the hands of the furious and scary Jonathan.
However, she changed her mind when Jonathan suddenly hit his nephew.
Even she felt it was too extreme for an uncle to hit his nephew. Still, she had to admit Jonathan looked really handsome as he did it.
Just as she was considering stopping him, Jonathan struck again and dragged Zack out of the dining room.
She stopped hesitating and followed them into the living room. Zack was kneeling in front of the old couple with a bruised face. He looked utterly miserable.
As for Lucille, who just promised to break up with Zack, was kneeling next to him and crying her heart out. “I’m sorry, Zack… I’m so sorry… You’re doing all these for me…”
“Send the lady out, Albert! There’s a familial affair that needs to be taken care of right now. Outsiders shouldn’t be here!”
“Roger!” Upon receiving Jonathan’s order, Albert approached the crying Lucille and dragged her out of the building.
The sound of crying no longer filled the living room, and it was replaced by silence.
Nick was so angry that his head was spinning, which was why he was currently resting on the couch. Mavis sat next to him with a worried expression.
“Is Old Mr. Xander fine, Old Mrs. Xander?” Michaela asked.
Upon hearing that, Mavis’ expression softened. She requested, “Can you help me take him back to our room to rest, Mich?”
“Okay!”
The couple was getting old, so it wasn’t easy for them to get up to the first floor, which was where their room was located. Michaela and Mavis each held one side of Nick back to the room.
That rebellious Zack just has to push everyone to their limits. We tried our best, but if it still doesn’t work, then there’s nothing much we can do. Mavis stared at her partner worriedly. I really hope this doesn’t worsen Nick’s health. I don’t care about that brat anymore. Jonathan will handle him.
After laying Nick on the bed, Michaela wanted to grab a glass of water for the old man. Just as she exited the room, she heard Jonathan’s cold voice. “Do you know what you did wrong now?”