The Original Son-in-law

Chapter 7: Maxwell Slaps his Sons

Chapter 7

He shot Caleb a fierce stare, eyes burning with rage as he slammed his hand on the table with barely contained anger. “What did you do? Whom did you offend?"

Confused, Caleb asked. “What's that, Dad? I have no idea what you're talking about."

Pa!

A resounding slap spread across his face, snapping his face to the side.

Outraged, Lord Maxwell had slapped Caleb, his son.

Everyone in the room gaped. Their mouths opened in surprise and extreme shock, except for Henry, who knew what was happening; he simply smirked discreetly.

Caleb clutched his burning cheek, staring at his father.

Surprised, Mario approached and hurriedly asked. “Grandfather, what's the problem? Why did you slap Dad that way?"

He could barely blink when Lord Maxwell slapped him hard as well.

“Your father and you are both useless!" He snarled, face tightened with anger. "You both lied to me that Mrs. Dorothy was going to accept our proposal, but here? They didn't just reject our proposal, but they called off our ongoing projects with them! And they'll no longer collaborate with us even in the future!"

“What?" Mario's eyes widened in extreme shock.

“How?" Caleb stammered, his lips vibrating.

Caleb and Mario both looked at each other sharply, utterly confused. They weren't even able to see Dorothy today, so how could it be possible that they had offended anyone?

However, because they had already told a lie just to be in Lord Maxwell's good book, it was impossible to reverse it.

“Yes!" Lord Maxwell said, his voice sharp with resentment. “Because both of us couldn't handle a simple task professionally given to you!"

He jabbed his finger at them. “You know what? I'm done with you piece of trash! I don't wanna see both you and your useless son in my house, not even close to my company ever again!" He said coldly.

Caleb's heart sank. He dropped to his knees instantly, sobbing. "No, Dad, you can't do this to me! I promise you, we didn't do a single thing! We didn't offend anyone!”

"Then why this?"

Mario, already grovelling with his father, his forehead sweaty, hurriedly responded. “It must be a mistake! We promise you, we're going to fix it!"

“Fix it?" Lord Maxwell scorned. “How would you do that when we can no longer collaborate with them in the future?” He glared. "Just get out of my sight, you senseless fool!”

With that, Lord Maxwell stormed out of the place.

Fearing for her fiancè, Shirley rushed to where Dorcas was still standing in bewilderment and begged. "Please, Grandma, you've got to talk to Lord Maxwell! My fiancè didn't do a single thing! You've to tell him that this is all a mistake!”

However, the latter withdrew her feet. “I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do."

Shirley felt his throat go dry.

Humiliated and left with no other option, Caleb and Mario dragged themselves out of the place.

When they left, the Graham's family exchanged confused glances.

How was that even possible?

Caleb had claimed he met Dorothy, the manager of Eminence Group, and she had promised to talk to the new chairman to consider collaborating with them. And yet, not a few minutes after he said that, a letter was brought.

All ongoing projects cancelled!

The new proposal was rejected!

What changed?

Dorcas sighed. "Bunch of liars! Like father, like son!” She muttered, displeased.

The dinner disconnected with everyone dispersing to their various rooms.

As Henry and Margaret entered their own room, locking the door behind them, Henry couldn't help but continue smiling inside of him.

That served those braggers right! Now, they'll know their place. The actual place that they both belong!

However, Margaret sat on the bed, blinking in confusion. She had been stunned.

A new chairman just got elected today, and still, on the same day, all ongoing collaboration with the Maxwell's family was terminated, and a new proposal from them was rejected.

The whole thing doesn't seem to sit right with her.

Does the new chairman know the Maxwells before now? Did they have any fight before this time that the new chairman is only trying to get back at them?

“What could you think caused that abrupt action from the Eminence Group?" Henry suddenly asked Margaret, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Margaret blinked at him.

“Could it be that they offended someone related to the Eminence Group unbeknownst to them?"

“I really can't say," Margaret replied, shaking her head. "But I'm just wondering why such a decision was made.”

“They must have offended someone.”

Margaret narrowed her eyes at him. "How sure are you?”

"Not quite sure, but from the turn out of things, it's too obvious.”

Margaret didn't say a word. After about five minutes.

"I'm going to sleep now; make sure to turn off the light.” With that, she lay on the bed and covered herself with a thick blanket.

“Alright, sweet dreams.”

As Henry noticed that Margaret had fallen asleep, he reached out for his phone and quickly sent a text to Dorothy.

[Thank you, Dorothy. I love how professionally you work!]

He was about to put his phone aside when it suddenly lit up with a soft notification.

It was a reply from Dorothy, and he was surprised that she was still awake.

[I'm glad to serve you right, young master! If you need any more things now or even in the future, please don't hesitate to reach out; I'm just a call right away.]

Henry smiled to himself, then typed back.

[Alright, I will.]

At that, he placed his phone aside and went to bed after turning off the lampstand light.

****

The next morning, the whole city buzzed with the news of Eminence Group terminating every collaboration they had with the Maxwell's family. It spread like wildfire, just like the announcement of its new chairman had.

The news got people murmuring.

Just that moment after the announcement last night, the net worth of the Maxwell's family went down drastically. Their net worth not only rapidly dropped, but they were entirely off the list of wealthy people in town.

It affected them more than they could ever imagine.

Meanwhile, that morning, Margaret had dressed in her office wear, about to leave for work, when her car stopped functioning. She tried several times to start it but all to no avail.

Her car was an old model Venza.

Frustrated, she went back inside and approached Dorcas. “Grandma, could you help me with your car keys, please? Mine suddenly stopped working,” she pleaded.