The James would hold a family gathering every half a year and it was to gather all the James together to go through a set of procedures in nature.
Ancestor worship was its main theme as well as an indispensable part.
The youngers didnât like these unnecessary and overelaborate formalities, but the seniors were still adhering to the traditions passed down from their ancestors and treated every detail seriously and carefully.
Therefore, the family gathering of the James family had never been a form of entertainment and no outsider was allowed to attend it.
After Clarenceâs leaving, Archer wiped away the sweats on his forehead and hurriedly dialled Darnell.
He reported, âClarence came to me.â
Darnell replied in a flat tone, âWhat did he ask you?â
Archer coughed, âHe... He asked about the childâs condition and some insignificant matters.â
âWhat else?â
âHe required me to take him into the Jamesâ Mansion next Sunday.â
Darnell at the other end of the phone remained silent. Archer could only hear his even breath.
Archer said tentatively, âShould I go out to evade him? He will not be able to do anything as long as Iâm not in Riverside.â
Darnell replied, âNo need. He can find a way to enter the Jamesâ Mansion even without your help.â
âThat makes sense. Who will deal with this troublesome thing if I leave?â
âI will arrange it and you can directly take him into the Jamesâ Mansion later.â
Archer asked after a short while of silence, âDo you plan to tell him about the truth?â
Darnell replied, âIâm just doing it according to the rules. As for other matters, they have nothing to do with me.â
Archer was rendered speechless.
How awesome! Heâs really good at shifting blames.
Even Bancroft James, the former patriarch, would praise it if he was still alive.
There came Darnellâs voice soon, âSomeone has got the news that youâd once left Riverside. Donât create any troubles in these few days, stay in the laboratory and donât go out. Wait until the day to worship the ancestors.â
âI see. I will come back now.â
After ending the call, Darnell took a quick shower and then came back to the laboratory.
...
In the hotel...
Stella gave Channing a call and told him that Little Noah was sick and she and Clarence took him to see a doctor.
But she didnât tell him about the details and told him she wasnât sure when she would be back.
Knowing that Stella didnât want to talk too much about this, Channing didnât probe into it.
Stella put down her phone, looked out of the window and heaved a sigh.
The doorbell rang at this moment.
Stella thought it was the staff of the hotel that came to send her the dinner.
She stood up and opened the door, yet only to see several strange men standing at the door.
The leader said, âPlease go with us.â
Stella stepped backwards, holding the door handle, âWho are you?â
The man replied, âYou donât need to know this.â
When they prepared to walk over, Stella took out her phone, âI will call the police if you step forwards.â
âCalling the police will not do any good to you.â
âSeems like itâs not a pleasant thing for you either.â
When they prepared to resort to force, the manager of the hotel, who received the news, hurriedly walked over, âExcuse me, whatâs the problem? You can tell us if you have any problems.â
The man replied, âOur master wants to invite this lady to visit his home.â
Stella replied expressionlessly, âI donât know you. Nor do I know your master. Why do I have to come?â
The manager recognized the man and hurriedly said, trying to alleviate the embarrassment, âMisunderstand. Itâs a misunderstanding...â
The man interrupted him and looked at Stella, âMr. Conrad took away our lady several days ago, causing her not to come back the whole night. Was this a misunderstanding?â
Stella was stunned when she heard the question. Several days ago? When?
The man continued, âDonât worry. Our master just wants to ask you several questions and we will send you back right after that.â
Stella pulled herself together, âI will repeat it. I donât know your master, so I wonât go. Moreover, it was Clarence who took away your lady and you shall come to Clarence. Why do you come to me? Do you think Iâm the one who can be trifled with so that you want to shift the blame on me?â
The man didnât expect these words from Stella and frowned.
The manager chimed in, âYep... Or you can wait until Mr. Conrad comes back. Maybe thereâs really a misunderstanding, right?â
The man glanced over him and the manager immediately shut up.
Franklin James was also a prestigious person in the James family. Different from Darnell, he always showed up in the media reports, and this was the reason why Elaine invited many media practitioners to her birthday party.
Therefore, every businessman in Riverside had seen Franklinâs trusted subordinates.
When the two parties were in a deadlock, Clarence came back.
He walked to Stella and asked in a cold voice, âWhat happened?â
The manager hurriedly explained, âMaybe itâs related to Ms. James.â
Clarence looked towards the leader of those men, âTell your master that I will visit him in person several days later. No matter itâs because he wants to know about the reason why I came to Riverside or itâs because he wants to cross me, I wonât evade it.â
The man hesitated and didnât move.
Clarence asked, âYou donât want to leave? Are you waiting for me to send you off?â
Those men quickly left when they heard the words.
Seeing this, the manager heaved a sigh of relief. He slightly nodded at them and then left.
Stella withdrew her hand from the door handle and came back to the living room.
Clarence took off his suit jacket, tossed it onto the sofa, unbuttoned his shirt with one hand while asked in a low voice, âHave you had dinner?â
âYes.â
âWhat did you eat?â
âSome anger.â
Clarence was rendered speechless.
He sat down on the sofa and put his long legs on the tea table casually, looking at the woman in front of him, âDonât take the James to your heart.â
Stella replied blandly, âI ignored them.â
Clarence raised his brows, âThen why do you look so unhappy?â
Stella took a deep breath after a long while of silence, âI have been bewildered by a question.â
âWhatâs that?â
âWhy itâs me to suffer every time after you attract the other woman outside? Is it reasonable?â
Clarence was confused.
Stella didnât want to talk with him. She took out her phone and prepared to order some take-out food, like barbecue.
Clarence snatched her phone and explained, âI have no relationship with Ms. James they mentioned. It was just that I bumped into her when I came to find Darnell last time and she insisted on following me. Plus that you were with Darnell at that time, so I allowed her to follow me.â
Mr. Conrad Proposes to His Ex-wife Again ï¤Chapter 611: I Would Rather You to Kill Me An Eight-year-old Princess ï¤Chapter 1410 Go And Return Quickly Critic ï¤Chapter 105: Missing Drake Stella groaned a simple answer and said, âOh, she insisted on following you? Mr. Conrad, sounds like youâre still charming and girls would still be captivated by you no matter where you go.â
Clarence chuckled and asked, âYou only realize this now?â
Stella was rendered speechless.
Fuck off, you wretched man.
She snatched her phone back and continued to select skewers.
Seeing this, Clarence asked, âDonât you want to order other food?â
Stella ignored him.
Clarence continued, âYou like spicy and sour noodles, right? Order one and donât add vinegar.â
He added after a pause, âItâs because youâre having it.â
Critic