enjoyebooks Chapter 668 - 639: Can’t Get Over It
Chapter 668 - 639: Can’t Get Over It
Gage Grant swaggered over and sat next to Jack Hawthorne, who quickly began massaging his shoulders and back, ingratiatingly saying, "Boss, you’re here! Was the traffic bad on the way?"Tobias Blackwood got up to pour a glass of wine and gently placed it on the coaster in front of Gage Grant.
Vincent Zollner, sitting on the armrest of the sofa with a wine glass held high, turned his face to scrutinize the red mark stretching from the left cheekbone to the right corner of Gage’s mouth and asked, "Were you at work these days?"
Gage responded irritably, "The boss is in meetings every day, how could I not?"
"With such a whipping mark, no one laughed?"
Gage pressed his lips together, his expression somewhat embarrassed, "Not to my face."
So they must be laughing behind his back.
Everyone laughed uproariously.
As they drank, no one mentioned Simon Forrester’s beating of Zachary Grant; instead, they joked about how wild Kevin Chaucer’s nightlife would get once back in town. Logan Lockwood and Jack Hawthorne shared some insider tips, like which nightclubs had the hottest girls and which bars had older women to avoid.
The group chatted and laughed, but Simon Forrester wasn’t in the mood for jokes, sitting silently beside Tobias Blackwood, lost in thought while drinking.
"Can we talk inside for a bit?" Tobias whispered.
Simon nodded, got up, and followed him into the study room.
They sat on the couch in the study, Tobias quietly watching Simon for a moment before asking, "Have you moved past what happened with Zachary Grant?"
"I can’t get over it!"
Tobias nodded understandingly, "I get it. Anyone in your position would feel the same, but I hope you can focus on the bigger picture. Remember, Gage Grant has been our brother for so many years, and if the Grant Family falls, the biggest loss would be his."
Simon, frustrated, asked, "So what do you want me to do?"
"Zachary’s been shipped off to the Western Army, and will likely never return to the city in his lifetime. Even if he visits once or twice, he’ll have to leave immediately. Plus, he took quite a few punches from you that night. In front of so many people, his pride and reputation are shattered. If he just gained something with his words and didn’t act excessively, this punishment is about enough. Of course, if you’re still angry and want to continue, as brothers, we’d naturally support you, but ideally, it shouldn’t end up in a big conflict."
Simon didn’t respond.
Behind Zachary’s few words were full of malice, disrespect towards the Forrester Family and Quentin Thorne, and belittling of Sienna Thornton.
Because of this malice, Simon couldn’t let that old bastard go!
Considering the political alliance between the Blackwood Family and the Grant Family, Simon contemplated the issue, knowing Tobias couldn’t personally intervene, and would need to discuss with Kevin and Vincent.
"I’ve heard what you said today," Simon adjusted his sleeve, "Let’s not bring this up anymore."
Tobias understood his intentions and silently supported him.
They returned to the living room and ran into Gage Grant.
This was the first time Simon had seen Gage since that chaotic night. They stood across from each other, neither speaking, the atmosphere quite subtle.
Tobias invited Gage, "Come inside to talk." He patted Simon’s shoulder, gesturing him to join.
They faced each other in silence as they sat down.
Gage interlocked his fingers against his forehead, his brows furrowed, silent for a moment, then said, "I’ve met with my uncle." Raising his head to look at Simon.
Simon’s gaze was indifferent, having no quarrel with Gage, nor would he blame him for this incident.
"Jules, I’m sorry." Gage was filled with guilt, "If needed, I can personally apologize to your wife."
"No need, it’s not your fault. Let’s not bring this up between us."
Tobias took the opportunity to ease the tension, "I’ve just agreed with Jules, let’s let this matter rest here."
Gage breathed a sigh of relief.
The atmosphere relaxed a bit.
Simon leaned back against the sofa, forcing a small smile, and then asked Gage, "What’s your plan going forward? Heading West?"
Gage, irritated, replied gruffly, "I’m not going!"
"Alright, we can still meet in the future."
Simon glanced at his watch and stood up, "It’s late, I’ll head home first."
The three returned to the living room one after another, and upon hearing Simon wanted to leave, Kevin and Vincent also got up, saying they wanted to stay over at Simon’s place tonight.
Logan, hearing this, was thrilled, "His house has a sauna on the third floor and a heated pool, remember to swim a few laps and steam yourselves."
Kevin, who had been living in the barracks for a long time, hooked an arm around Simon’s shoulder, enviously saying, "Nice, you know how to enjoy life."
Vincent urged, "Okay, okay, let’s go."
The three left in good coordination.
Tobias and Jack exchanged glances, silently guessing that Zachary, stuck in the Western Army, was going to have a tough time.
Logan looked somewhat displeased at Gage, who was drinking alone, shook his head, and looked away.
As the party ended, Harrison Rowe came to pick Logan up, and Jack hitched a ride with them home.
They started chatting in the car.
Because Harrison was there, they spoke rather cryptically.
Jack expressed his bewilderment, "I really don’t get that old man. Of all people, why did he decide to target the one with such a strong background? If he had done this with someone weaker, it wouldn’t have escalated to this, would it?"
Logan chuckled, shaking his head, "With weaker or no background, he probably targeted quite a few over the years. Men, regardless of age, always enjoy a challenge, that sense of achievement is unmatched."
"Challenge?" Jack sneered, "That also depends on the opponent’s strength. This time, he kicked the iron board, didn’t he? He’s going to suffer!"
Both appeared to take it as a warning.
Driving, Harrison listened halfway and asked curiously, "Who are you two talking about?"
Logan, seated behind the driver’s seat, glanced into the rearview mirror, darting a look, "We’re talking about movies. Just focus on driving your car and stop yapping."
Harrison mimed locking his mouth.
The car continued towards Jack’s villa near the airport.
Late at night, there were few vehicles on the airport highway, and the car sped along.
Jack, after having drunk more than usual, was particularly chatty, suddenly remarked, "I also don’t get Fourth Master, why insist on just one lace?"
Logan knew of Gage and Maeve’s ongoing entanglement but wasn’t aware Maeve was a lesbian, so he asked, "Is that girl really gay?"
"Definitely gay." Jack, his cheeks flushed, voice laced with drunkenness, said, "The Grant family’s old man had people investigate. They found out the actress used to date girls. Fourth Master refused to believe it and insisted on marrying her, which is how he got whipped into that face..."
Jack ended with a couple of clicks of his tongue, expressing horror.
Logan had only seen Maeve twice, once at Simon and Sienna’s homecoming banquet, once when they first moved to Fenmore Hill and invited everyone over to play.
In his impression, Maeve had short hair, dyed in grey-pink, although her looks were clean and not unattractive, Logan couldn’t, for the life of him, understand how, for over twenty years preferring pure long-haired college girls, Gage suddenly switched his preference to a punk-style pink-haired girl these past two years?