Chapter 11
Chapter 11
th Birthday
Caspian decided to bully Thomas openly.
That was how Thomas treated him in the past. He wanted him to have a taste of his own medicine.
He urged, “Hurry up and do it. I don’t think I have the courage to drink the water you bring me if you don’t
swear on it.”
Those words infuriated Thomas. He had no way of backing down.
Even so, he couldn’t blow a fuse before Caspian. Things were different now. Caspian was now the board
chairman, and he needed this job.
He had to keep his temper in check no matter how peeved he was. “I swear that I won’t curse you behind
your back. If I do, I’m a son of a bitch,” he swore.
Dejected, he turned and left after swearing.
Willow entered Caspian’s office when she was done with her work.
“Today is my grandmother’s 70th birthday. Why don’t you come home with me?” she asked him
expectantly.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I’m not in the least prepared.” 1
“It doesn’t matter. You’re my husband. My grandmother will like whatever you gift her.”
“Then perhaps we should get our marriage certificates first,” Caspian suggested.
She blushed when she heard that. 1
After obtaining the certificates, they went to the Stewart Residence.
The mansion was grand and magnificent. It was well-decorated today.
It was Marilyn Stewart’s 70th birthday banquet tonight. She was the head of the Stewart family.
Her children and grandchildren brought her expensive gifts.
Alicia Stewart, Willow’s younger cousin, said, “Grandma! I heard you are a devout believer. This emerald
ornament is made from fine-quality emerald. I met Father Paulo at the church. I pleaded for a long time.
before he agreed to bless it for me.
“Someone offered me three million dollars for it a few days ago. I declined the offer because I wanted to
give it to you as a present.”
Her fiancé, Richard Hudson, said, “Grandma, I heard you’ve taken a liking to Green Mountain Coffee
recently. I specifically brought back one of its oldest coffee trees from Mount Quille.
“Everyone who loves Green Mountain Coffee will flock to the mountain every year. I went through a lot of
trouble to get it.”
Then, Alicia’s father, Donald Stewart, said, “Mom, here’s a rock that’s shaped like a four-leaf clover. It’s
most certainly not artificially sculpted. It’s so natural that it’s like God carved it himself.
“I could only acquire it because you give me your blessings, Mom. Today, I’ll gift it to you. I wish you a
long and blessed life.”
Marilyn scanned the lavish gifts they gave her. She guffawed. “Wonderful! You’re all very kind. Come,
sit.”
Everyone looked radiant as they sat at the dinner table. It was merry and joyful.
“Come, Alicia. Here’s a toast to you.’
“Mr. Richard, here’s a toast to you, too. Thanks to you, Alicia sealed the deal and brought more joy to
Madam Stewart’s birthday.”
“The Stewart family will earn at least 20 million dollars in profits from this deal. Come, everyone, a toast
to Mr. Richard!”
Today, Alicia, the second daughter of the Stewart family, signed a collaboration agreement with
Southlake Corporation on behalf of her family. She did it with the help of her fiancé, Richard.
Coincidentally, it was Marilyn’s birthday banquet today. That was double the happiness.
A captivating woman walked in just as they were having a good time. Beside her was a handsome man
with soulful eyes. However, he wore ordinary clothes.
“Grandma!” Willow called out. “This is Caspian Lynch, my husband. He brought you this fruit hamper. We
wish you-”
Everyone’s attention was on Caspian.
“Your husband? Willow Stewart, who agreed to let you marry him? This is outrageous!” Donald snapped,
pointing his finger at her.
“Willow, what’s going on? Why haven’t you told us about your marriage? Why have I never heard of
him?”
her father, Carl Stewart, demanded furiously.
Alicia also chimed in, “Willow, we know you’ve started a small company and are financially independent.
But marriage is an important life event.
“You never informed us about your marriage and did it behind our backs. Is that how you show your
respect to Grandma?”
“Caspian Lynch? Have I gotten your name right?” Holding back her anger, Marilyn asked with faux
politeness, “I suppose you’re someone outstanding to have earned Willow’s favor. What’s your
occupation, Mr. Lynch?”
“Well, I’m Willow’s employee. My job is to assist her,” Caspian said seriously.
Willow had her charms. She was many times prettier than Alicia.
So, Marilyn had always thought of her as a tool.
She was a tool Marilyn could use to ally with another elite family through marriage.
But Willow had been rejecting her offers.
Therefore, Willow and her family were unpopular among the warts.
Today, she suddenly brought a man back and announced him as her husband. 1
At first, Marilyn didn’t know Caspian’s background, so she tried to gather more information.
But now, Caspian said he was an employee from Willow’s lowly company. Marilyn almost exploded with
anger.
Alicia couldn’t help but smirk when she heard he was only Willow’s employee. “Willow Stewart, have you
gone crazy? How could you marry your employee? Look at his disgusting appearance. 1
“How dare he bring a fruit hamper as a gift? What makes you think you can enter our house just like
that?”
Alicia’s younger brother, Henry Stewart, said angrily, “You’re the eldest daughter of the Stewart family. It’s
bad enough that you refuse to find a wealthy partner to help your family.
“And now, you have an underdog as your husband! What on earth were you thinking?”
Everyone else followed suit.
To them, Willow had everything it took to marry someone from one of Southlake’s elite families.
The Stewart family would benefit from it if she did so.
However, she married a loser without them knowing!
So, the Stewarts were displeased.
“How disappointing!”
“Willow, you’re unworthy of being a Stewart!”
“I told you so. We should cast her and her family out!”
Everyone looked scornful of her.
Caspian was about to speak when Willow tugged him to a corner of the table. “Don’t say anything. We’ll
leave after dinner.”
He nodded and remained silent.
No one respected him and didn’t care where he sat. They forgot all about him soon and continued the
feast.
Although Marilyn felt unhappy, it was her birthday today. Plús, Alicia had just secured a profitable
agreement. So, she temporarily put aside Willow’s issue.
“It’s not easy to be able to collaborate with Southlake Corporation,” she said. “Looks like we’re one step
closer to becoming one of the elite families in Southlake!”
“That’s right. That’s how capable my son-in-law is. He got that straightened out in no time. Unlike
someone else, who’s just a good-for-nothing.” Donald glanced at Caspian, who was enjoying his food in
a
corner.
Donald was Marilyn’s second son and also Alicia and Henry’s father.
He wasn’t on good terms with Carl. So, of course, he would take the chance to jeer at them.
Of course, Carl and Kate Massey, Willow’s mother, looked dissatisfied when they heard that.
Carl and Kate didn’t even know that they had a son-in-law. Still, they didn’t question Willow publicly.
“Dad, how can Richard be compared to a loser?”
Alicia was the Stewart family’s hero today. She looked down on Willow and Caspian.
Marilyn agreed, “That’s true. Mr. Richard is from a prestigious family. He’s an outstanding young man.
Not
everyone can be compared to him.
“Some people are just good for nothing. He doesn’t know his place and doesn’t have any manners. All
he
sees is the food laid before him.
“Who knows why he has chosen to enter our gates? If we let him be, he may just leech off us until we’re
bankrupt!”
Marilyn praised Richard and ridiculed Caspian at the same time.
Richard smiled faintly. “You’re flattering me, Grandma. Some people haven’t seen the world and have
never eaten such delicious food. Let him have more. Think of him as a pet dog. The Stewart family can
afford to rear one.”
Richard disliked Caspian the moment Willow led him in.
He was such a rumpled piece of trash, yet he was now the husband of Southlake’s prettiest woman.
They were just like the beauty and the beast!
To Richard, Willow surpassed Alicia in terms of grace and appearance.
When he first approached Alicia, he intended to ask Willow’s hand for marriage.
However, Willow had rejected his proposal several times. That was why he had no choice but to marry
Alicia.
“You’re right, dear. Having another dog here is fine since I already have a Pekingese.” Alicia fanned the
flames.
Everyone noticed that Caspian had been quiet and considered him a douchebag. They started belittling
him one after another.
Seeing how he had become the victim of her family’s criticism, Willow felt flustered. She looked like she
was about to burst anytime.
Just as she was about to rebuke those who criticized him, he slowly put down his utensils.
“All the fuss over an agreement with Southlake Corporation? Get ahold of yourselves!” he said
disdainfully.
Silence followed.
They never expected this gloomy loser to fight back!
He was very rude as well!
“What did you say? How dare a loser like you speak to us in that way?” Marilyn remarked furiously. She
frowned and glared at him.
“He’s just an employee. I bet he never heard of Southlake Corporation. That’s why he can say something
so ridiculous.”
“Hey, loser. Listen here. Southlake Corporation has a market value worth hundreds of billions. It’s the
greatest enterprise in Southlake. Any family on good terms with it will have good prospects!”
“Every elite family in Southlake bows before Southlake Corporation because it leads Southlake’s
business
industry!”
“There’s no use explaining that to him. Look at the clothes he’s wearing. He obviously hasn’t seen much
of the world. I don’t know how he can wrap Willow around his fingers. It’s a waste of time telling him all
this!”
Willow shuddered as her relatives degraded them. Holding back her tears, she said, “Grandma, it’s your
70th birthday today. My husband and I are here with sincere intentions. We wish you well. But look at
them…” 1
Marilyn said coldly, “Are you here to celebrate my birthday or to wreck my big day? I asked you to marry
a
rich man from Southlake, but you refused.
“I thought you were aiming for better candidates, and those rich men weren’t good enough for you. Who
would have expected you to lead a loser home? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”