658.Chapter 658
you start
“Of course, I mean it.” Gabriel’s tone was calm but carried an edge. “But if acting like your brother, ignoring my orders and doing things that displease me, don’t expect anything from me.”
“What did Benedict do?” Matthew asked, his face full of confusion. He glanced around before adding, “Didn’t you and Benedict come back together? Why is it just you here now? Where did he go?”
“Your brother is my concern. Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t,” Gabriel said coldly, his gaze sharp and unyielding.
Matthew immediately shut his mouth, knowing better than to push further.
At this point, he had no idea that his brother was already locked away in the water dungeon by their father.
He simply assumed Benedict had been sent off on another task and decided not to ask any more questions.
“Now, I have two other tasks for you to handle,” Gabriel said, shifting the topic.
“Please tell me, Father,” Matthew replied, his tone respectful but tinged with unease.
“First, take some men and bring me a thief. He’s your brother’s servant, Manson Vorros.”
Of course, Matthew knew who Manson was. He was Benedict’s personal attendant,
trusted to handle most of his affairs.
“Why Manson?” Matthew couldn’t help but ask, his curiosity getting the better of him.
“Enough! Do as I say,” Gabriel snapped, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
Swallowing his doubts, Matthew nodded and replied, “Understood, Father. I will take care of it immediately.”
“No. Before
you go after him, there’s something else you need to handle first,” Gabriel interjected, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Matthew listened quietly, but the next moment, he heard his father say, “Take the butler with you later and head to the Padilla estate. Bring back your other brother.”
“W… what?”
Matthew’s eyes widened in shock, almost thinking he had misheard. “What brother are you talking about?”
‘And whose brother is this? A cousin from a side branch? Or maybe a maternal cousin? Or could it be some distant relative?
Successfully unlocked!
His father should really explain this properly. Otherwise, it’s way too easy to
misunderstand.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Gabriel said, raising a hand to rub his forehead, clearly
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658 Chapter 658
avoiding the question.
For a moment, Matthew thought he saw something unusual, a rare hint of
embarrassment on his father’s face.
Matthew’s heart skipped a beat.
A terrible suspicion began to form in his mind.
With this uneasy feeling, Matthew and the butler arrived at the Padilla estate. The first words out of the so–called “brother’s” mouth confirmed his worst fears.
“Judging by that face, you must be my half–brother, Matthew, right?”
Matthew’s expression darkened instantly.
The Stonor family butler cast him an awkward glance, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, and addressed Rafe who had just stepped out of the Padilla family estate. “Young Master, Lord Mowbay instructed me and Mr. Matthew to escort you back to the Duke’s estate.”
“This morning, when I saw how quickly my ‘dear father‘ left, I almost thought he’d forgotten about his illegitimate son.” Rafe descended the steps, his smile sharp and mocking.
He cast a sidelong glance at the understated carriage, its design so inconspicuous that it seemed they were so embarrassed to be seen retrieving an illegitimate child for the Duke’s estate.
“Young Master, you must be joking. The Duke wouldn’t forget you. He simply had urgent matters to attend to. As soon as they were resolved, he sent me and the Mr. Matthew to fetch you.”
The butler’s words sounded hollow even to himself.
It wasn’t Rafe who made him uneasy. It was Matthew standing beside him. The butler couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Lord Mowbay.
He thought, ‘Honestly, couldn’t the Duke just bring his women home openly? Why go through the trouble of fathering children in secret?‘
Last year, he brought home an illegitimate daughter, and this year, an illegitimate son. Previously, he tried to cover it up, bringing her back under the guise of adopting a daughter, at least keeping it a secret at first.
But this year, everyone knew about the illegitimate son.
In just half a day, the news had spread all over Hasen City.
Now everyone in Hasen City knew. The Duke of Mowbay, once praised for his devotion
to Lady Padilla, had a pair of secret children.
What could have been handled with dignity had turned into a complete scandal, tarnishing both reputation and honor.
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658 Chapter 658
What a mess.
The butler sighed, glancing cautiously at Matthew’s expression throughout the journey. It was clear that peace in the estate would be hard to come by in the days ahead.
As a servant, he dared not offer advice. Instead, he steeled himself and turned to Rafe. “Young Master, would you like me to have someone pack your belongings?”
“No need. Let’s just leave.”
Rafe leapt forward, bypassing Matthew entirely, and climbed into the carriage with practiced ease. “An illegitimate son like me doesn’t have much to pack. Once I’m at the Duke’s estate, you can prepare a few sets of clothes for me. What, my ‘dear father‘ can‘ t even spare a few coins for his own son? That’d be a real shame, wouldn’t it?”
“Of course, he…”
The butler instinctively began to reply, intending to assure him that Lord Mowbay would spare no expense.
But before he could finish, Matthew’s simmering anger erupted. “What makes you think you’re so important? Don’t act like you belong here!”
Rafe froze mid–step, then turned with a smirk, standing tall on the carriage. Arms crossed, he looked down at Matthew like a king surveying a peasant.
He let out a disdainful laugh, which only fueled Matthew’s rage.
“What’s so funny? Am I wrong? You’re just an illegitimate son, yet you act like you’re the master here. Do you think being brought back to the estate makes you part of the Duke’s family? Dream on!” Matthew’s voice was sharp and venomous.
“The Duke’s estate has no place for you. If you have any sense, you’ll leave while you still can!” He pointed at Rafe, his gaze fierce.
“The Stonor family only recognizes legitimate heirs. There’s no place for filthy bastards like you!”
Rafe burst out laughing, clutching his stomach as if Matthew had just told the funniest joke in the world. “Pfft, hahaha!”
He turned to the butler, who looked utterly helpless, and wiped away tears of laughter. Tell me, did you hear what Matthew just said? He wasn’t sent by my father to fetch me, was he? He looks more like he was sent to entertain me! Hahaha!”
As Rafe continued laughing, Matthew grew even angrier. “Shut up! What’s so funny about an illegitimate child standing before a legitimate heir?”
“Why wouldn’t it be funny?” Rafe shot back, his expression one of mockery, as if he were addressing a fool. When you all treated my sister–the illegitimate daughter–like a treasure, did you forget that the Stonor family has legitimate daughters too?”
“So, a filthy bastard like me isn’t welcome, but a filthy bastard like her gets to walk all over the legitimate daughters? How’s that fair?”
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