Chapter 584 No Room For Negotiation

It was major news that Valentino had regained consciousness.

Without looking back, Cedrick left the ancestral hall with Nico at once and walked toward the master bedroom where his grandfather was.

As Yael also wanted to see Valentino, he quickly helped Xander up from the ground. However, Xander had been shot in the thigh and was unable to move at all.

Still trembling in pain, he said, “Dad, Cedrick is too ruthless. Not only did he set me up, but he even shot me so mercilessly. It hurts so much that it’s impossible for me to walk at all. Dad, take me back now. I need to get my wound treated.”

Yael let out a sigh and said astutely, “We can’t do that. Your injury is our best weapon. We have to let your grandpa see it.”

Xander immediately understood what his father meant. He gritted his teeth and headed up the stairs with Yael’s support.

Meanwhile, except for Kieran, who had been summoned by Gwendolyn to return to Mount Tranquil to accompany Inez, the entire Jenson family’s medical corps was stationed in the master bedroom.

Cedrick could hear his grandfather coughing when he was a few steps away from the door.

He immediately hastened his steps and sat at Valentino’s bedside. “Grandpa, how are you feeling? Is your head aching? Are you still feeling dizzy?”

Listlessly, Valentino replied, “I’m feeling much better. Cedrick, don’t worry. I’m old. It’s inevitable that I will fall sick and eventually die.”

“Grandpa, stop uttering nonsense. A blessed man like you will surely live a long life. You have to watch Benny and Zendy grow up.

The mention of his darling great–grandchildren made Valentino’s eyes light up. Being a part of their growing–up journey would indeed bring him great joy.

The two men continued chatting for a while until Yael and Xander appeared, disrupting the harmonious atmosphere in the room.

Noticing the bloodstains on his clothes and that he seemed to be injured, Valentino asked in concern, “Xander, what happened to you?”

Enduring the immense pain from his gunshot wound. Xander knelt down next to the old man’s bed and said in a tearful voice, “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I didn’t know that grapes and grapefruit cannot be consumed together with blood pressure medication. I really shouldn’t have asked you to eat more of those earlier today. It’s all my fault. Cedrick was so furious that he lectured me in the ancestral hall and shot me in the leg.”

Valentino’s heart ached. “Is your injury serious? Cedrick, there’s really no need for you to be so angry.

It’s my own fault that I was greedy.”

Cedrick remained silent.

Reading the situation, Xander quickly moved forward with his knees on the ground and grabbed Valentino’s hand with his entire body shaking, showing how terrified and helpless he was.

“Grandpa, please save me. I’ve realized my mistake, but Cedrick is not willing to let me off. He intends to get me a ten–year sentence in a high–security prison. Grandpa, my life would be over if that happened!”

“Dad, I’ve already tried to dissuade Cedrick from doing that, but his stance is firm. He’s currently the head of the family. He’s not going to listen to anything I say. You’re the only one who can persuade him to change his mind, Dad. Please help Xander,” Yael chimed in.

Valentino did not expect that such a minor family matter would blow up and turn into something so serious.

“Cedrick, Xander really didn’t do anything wrong this time. I was the one who ate the wrong food.

You’ve already shot him in the leg. Is there really a need to send him to prison? It’s better for us to settle our family matters in private. It won’t be nice if word gets out.”

Cedrick had always obeyed his grandfather’s wishes, except for matters related to Gwendolyn. That would be the second time he went against the old man.

“I’ve already decided, and I’m not going to change my mind regarding this matter. Besides, Grandpa, what you heard from Xander and Uncle Yael is their one–sided story. The truth is not that simple.”

Unwilling to accept his fate, Xander retorted, “It is actually that simple! Cedrick, the fact is that you just don’t like me, and that’s why you refuse to trust me!”

Cedrick did not want to continue listening to his cousin’s pointless arguments. He said firmly, “Anyway, decision is final, and there’s no room for negotiation. I will sort out the relevant evidence and hand it over to the authorities. When your wound is almost healed, you can start making preparations to serve your time in the high–security prison.”

Xander was already looking rather pale due to the loss of blood from his wound. Faced with Cedrick’s unyielding attitude, he was scared out of his wits, and all color drained from his face at once.

“Grandpa, save me! Grandpa, I don’t want to go to prison. Cedrick is trying to ruin me!”

Valentino was so flustered that he started coughing.

Cedrick immediately reached out to pat his grandfather’s back, trying to help him breathe better.

Although he was respectful and appeared to be a dutiful grandson, it would be almost impossible for him to change his mind once he had made a decision.

Eager to protect Xander, Valentino said, “Do you really have to be so ruthless toward your own family?

Since I am fine now, there’s no need to punish him so harshly. Cedrick, just listen to me this time and stop being so stubborn!”

Cedrick fell silent once again. He did not want to anger his grandfather and aggravate his cough. As the old man had just regained consciousness and was still recovering, Cedrick could not bring himself to tell him what Xander had done.

Noticing that Cedrick seemed to be relenting, Xander felt hopeful once more. Yael also heaved a sigh of relief.

Just as the atmosphere in the master bedroom began to change subtly, Gwendolyn’s sweet voice sounded.

“Grandpa, Cedrick wouldn’t have taken this step if it wasn’t necessary. He is just going by the book, giving Xander what he deserves.”

Xander turned around and glared at Gwendolyn. Having sheer resentment for her beautiful countenance at that moment, he murmured through gritted teeth. “Why are you interfering? Just mind your own business!”

The woman chose to ignore him despite hearing his words clearly. Bypassing Yael and Xander, who was still kneeling on the floor, Gwendolyn walked toward Valentino and stopped next to his bed.

“Xander intentionally fed you the grapefruit in order to chase me back to the Jenson residence.

Something happened to the Harris—”

“Gwenny,” Cedrick quickly stopped her from talking. “Grandpa has just woken up. Let’s not trouble him with such details. I will handle it.”

Disagreeing with the man, Gwendolyn replied, “You are too caught up in the matter to remain clear-

headed. I know you’re worried that Grandpa wouldn’t be able to take it after knowing the truth, but don’t forget that he was from the military and had been through countless tough situations. I trust that he won’t be brought down so easily.”

Cedrick fell silent once again.

Very quickly, Valentino figured out that there was more than meets the eye and asked, “Gwendolyn, tell me, what exactly is going on?”

Gwendolyn replied in a serious manner, “Both the Jenson family and the Harris family are having trouble at the same time. If I were here, I wouldn’t be able to help with anything there as I would be too swamped. Someone also tried to lure me to the police station, hoping to trap me there. Meanwhile, Xander would find a way to create rumors and conflict. If Cedrick was not around when all this was happening, it would naturally fall on Xander and Uncle Yael to take care of the situation. They planned to take this opportunity to reduce Cedrick’s influence and take over his position.

Taking a pause, she continued, “It’s not only that, Grandpa. Xander was also in cahoots with Paul, a noble from Ospea. Paul is an extremely cunning businessman who frequently uses underhand methods to achieve his goals. If Xander were to succeed, Jenson Group would definitely end up being acquired by Antea Group, given how ambitious they are.”

Cedrick had his gaze fixed on Gwendolyn while she was explaining the situation to Valentino as if he was silently asking her how she had found out all that information.

Noticing the look in his eyes, Gwendolyn cocked her brows.

Upon returning from Mount Tranquil, she saw that the lights in Harrick Villa were not turned on. Cedrick was not back yet.

Hence, she headed to Valentino’s villa and saw Nico outside the bedroom.

It was Nico who shared with her what had happened the previous night as well as Cedrick’s speculation. At the same time, she also observed that Nico had gotten tanner after he returned from the border.

However, he had pearly white teeth and spoke in a comical way. Looking at the man’s dark and handsome face, Gwendolyn found him silly yet adorable.

As Nico had not had the chance to go home yet, Gwendolyn could not help but wonder how Summer would react when she saw him.