The Forgotten Grandson

Chapter 10

Raymond wiped the tears from his eyes and kept laughing.

“Oh, Angela, I didn’t know you were such a joker,” he said. “You mean he’s Mr. Delaney?”

He laughed again, louder this time. Damien just sat there and watched him. He never felt the need to prove himself to anyone. Not when he was poor. Not now either.

Angela started to enjoy the moment. Raymond was too proud to believe the truth. Damien would never jump up and shout about his new power. She wondered how far this would go.

“That’s exactly what I mean,” Angela said with a small smile.

“Him?” Raymond chuckled. “He’s been eating all this food like he’ll never eat again. I know he won’t get to eat here ever again. Unless he keeps taking free meals from you.”

“I don’t mind that,” Angela said.

Raymond looked at her hard. Was something wrong with her? Why would she protect this low man?

His hate for Damien grew fast. For years he had tried to get close to Angela and failed. Now this stranger sat with her like it was nothing.

“And do you mind?” he asked Damien. “Do you mind taking money from a woman? Do you mind being so weak that a woman has to help you? Look at you, eating like a pig. You don’t even order something small to look better.”

Disgust filled his face.

“If she doesn’t mind, then I don’t,” Damien said with a small smile of his own.

Angela laughed softly. Raymond almost lost control.

“How can you laugh?” he said. “He just said he’s only with you for your money. Can’t you see he doesn’t deserve you?” He turned back to Damien. “Do you think you deserve to sit at the same table as her?”

His voice got louder. People at nearby tables started watching.

“A poor man like you should stay with women like himself,” Raymond spat.

Angela gasped and put on an angry face.

“So you’re saying I’m poor for sitting with him? Is that what you’re saying, Raymond?”

Raymond turned to her fast and saw his mistake.

“No, no, I didn’t mean that at all. I mean he should only be with low women like himself. Not you, Angela.”

Angela kept going.

“Oh really. So you’re saying I’m a low woman?”

Damien sat back and watched. He still did not fully understand his new power, but he knew Angela was smart and strong. He was glad he was not on her bad side.

“Oh no,” Raymond said. “Not at all. See what he’s doing to you? See how he’s making you doubt yourself? You shouldn’t be around him.”

“He hasn’t said anything,” Angela answered. “You’re the one who has only insulted me since you got here.”

She stood up. Her chair scraped loudly against the floor. She grabbed her purse.

“You have made me lose my appetite.”

She walked toward the bathroom without looking back.

Raymond watched her leave with a sorry look on his face. Then he turned on Damien.

“This is all your fault,” he growled. “You show up out of nowhere and ruin the place with your dirty presence. Can you not see where you are? Do you think you should be in a place like this? Leave now or I will make you regret the rest of your life.”

Every eye in the area was on them. Most people sided with Raymond. They spent a lot of money to eat here. They did not want to feel like just anyone could sit at these tables. Damien looked like just anyone. In their minds he did not belong. They quietly hoped Raymond would push him out.

Damien put his fork down and looked straight at Raymond.

“You said you had a business idea. I’ll give you one minute to tell me about it.”

Raymond’s face turned red. Who did this guy think he was? Anger boiled in his stomach. It was one thing for Angela to joke. Was this man crazy?

“Bastard. Who the hell do you think you are? You think I have anything to say to you?”

Damien gave a short laugh.

“You seem to have a lot to say. Anyway, you look like someone who tries hard, even if you don’t understand much. I’ll give you one more chance. Before you speak, know this will be your only chance. After this, even if you cry blood, I will not listen.”

Raymond felt like pulling his own hair out. Was this man out of his mind? His hand itched to punch Damien in the face.

The air felt heavy. No one spoke. Only Raymond’s hard breathing could be heard.

“I warned you,” Raymond said. He walked toward Damien.

Damien watched and waited. For years he had held back from hitting men like this because Courtney said it would hurt her image. That reason was gone now. He could finally fight if he wanted. He could shut down any fool who tried to put hands on him.

Adrenaline rushed through his body. Everything seemed to slow down. Raymond yelled something and reached for Damien’s collar.

Damien was ready to move when another hand grabbed Raymond’s arm and pushed it away.

“Mr. Ronchester, I would appreciate it if you keep your hands off my esteemed guest,” Abigail said. She glared at Raymond.

Raymond’s eyes almost popped out. Soft sounds of surprise rose from the guests. The manager herself had come out? And she called the poor-looking man her esteemed guest?

“What the hell is happening?” Raymond asked. He looked like the world had flipped upside down. “Who the hell are you?”

Damien only smiled at him and said nothing.

Raymond could not take that smile. He had to wipe it off Damien’s face. Abigail still stood between them.

He raised his hands like he was giving up and started to walk back to his seat. The moment he passed Abigail and the path was clear, he lunged straight at Damien.

His hands were only inches from Damien’s throat.