Reborn In Flames: The Heiress' Revenge Novel by Amos House
Chapter 31

“Don’t…” Donald immediately panicked upon hearing those words. But Cassie was already gone.

With great effort, he crawled toward Heston. “Mr. Murphy, I swear it was just a momentary impulse. Cassie’s been getting on my nerves lately, and I was holding onto a lot of anger. That’s why I acted out in such a foolish way. Please, considering all the time I’ve spent looking after her, give me a break. If you’re willing to forgive me, I’ll do whatever you say.

“You hurt my granddaughter, and you think years of care are enough to just brush it off? Don’t be absurd, Heston replied with a sneer.

Donald was frantic. Then he spotted Julia nearby. “Julia, I’ve always been good to you; can’t you help me here? I really just lost my mind for a moment.”

Julia barely restrained an eye roll. She thought to herself, “What’s going on in his head? I’d have to be crazy to stick up him now. Doesn’t he get that Heston is just seething with rage?’

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“No one can help you now.” Heston declared, his voice dripping with anger. “Larry, get him out of my sight. He’s more than I can stomach.”

Larry moved in, clutching Donald by the scruff of his neck, and began to haul him away.

Mail time. Donald knew then that the Murphy family was done with him. His thoughts were a whirlwind. If his boss hadn’t pushed him to come here and make amends, he wouldn’t have crossed the line with Cassie. Now he was down a leg and facingja while his boss was scot-free. It wasn’t right.

If he was going down, he wasn’t going alone. No one was going to get off easy.

“Heston! What makes you so high and mighty1 just swung at your granddaughter with a bat, and you can’t handle it? Cassie’s been bullied at our school for years-where were you then?” he rasped out.

“Hold on.” Heston, who had been turning away, pivoted at his words and marched back to Donald. “What are you talking about? Who’s been bullied?”

“Cassie. You’re all bark and no bite, aren’t you? Don’t you know about this? Why not ask Julia? Cassie’s had bugs slipped into her food, stripped of her jacket on a freezing winter day, and locked in the equipment room in just a thin shirt. I’ve lost count of all the times she’s been put through the wringer.” A sense of satisfaction washed over Donald as he saw Heston’s fury mounting.

Julia, is there any truth to what he’s saying?” Lucas asked Julia, his expression one of disbelief.

Caught off guard, Julia hesitated, not ready for Donald to air all this now. “I’m not really in the loop.”

“You’re not in the loop? But you two are close, right? Anne interjected, her tone icy.

“Anne, I only encountered those situations twice. Cassie didn’t want to weigh you down with her issues, sp-she asked me to keep it from you,” Julia said quickly, attempting to ease the tension.

The looks on Anne and L**s’s faces turned to thunderous clouds. Marcus’s displeasure was also palpable.

“Just twice?” Donald sneered. “Cassie came to me for help a lot more often than that. Heston, where’s your concern for your own flesh and blood? Did you ever notice her shoes going missing or her clothes always stained for no reason? It’s because some people threw her shoes away and those sn**y rich girls ruined her clothes with trash and ink.”

“Who? Tell me who did this!” Heston was seething, gripping Donald’s leather jacket and pulling him up from the ground. Despite Heston’s kind face, he was a man who had built his empire from scratch and was known for hit ruthlessness.

When Heston was angry, Donald was genuinely terrified. “Let me go, and I’ll spill everything. Donald stammered, trying to negotiate with Heston, fear evident in his voice.

Heston didn’t say a word, but his eyes bored into Donald, growing ever more intense and unnerving. Donald could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

“You harmed my granddaughter, turned a deaf ear to her pleas for help, and shielded the ones who tormented her, Heston said, his voice thick with contempt. “You believe I’ll just release you? Think I can’t uncover the culprits on my own?”

With that, Heston gave him a forceful push, sending Donald sprawling to the ground, his injured leg scraping against the garden’s rough stones. Agony seared through him, nearly causing him to black out.

With a face still etched in anger, Heston turned and strode away, but not before casting a fleeting glance at Julia.

Julia was petrified. Despite having lived with the Murphy family for years and being treated kindly by Heston, she had heard stories about him from her father. While others might see him as a gentle soul, she knew the truth: he was a man of ruthless. determination.

Heston’s gaze held on Julia for just a moment before he picked up Donald’s baseball bat. In a swift, unexpected move, he turned and swung the bat at Donald’s hand.

“Argh!” A cry pierced the night’s silence.

Cassie had just re-entered the living room when a scream pierced the air. She dashed back outside. “What’s going on?”

Heston looked at Cassie, his face stripped of its usual warmth. His expression was stern as he discarded the baseball bat and walked past Cassie without uttering a word.

“Dad, Mom, what’s with Grandpa?” Cassie inquired, her brow creased with concern. She naturally glanced at Marcus, suspecting him to be the cause of Heston’s anger.

To her astonishment, Marcus’s face was equally grave, his eyes clouded with a somber darkness.

“Mr. Anderson, I appreciate you saving my wife and daughter tonight. I’ll make sure to visit and properly express my thanks another day. But I have some family matters to attend to tonight, so I can’t keep you company any longer, Lucas said softly, addressing Marcus.

“Understood,” Marcus responded. “Let me know if there’s anything you need.”

“I will. Thanks,” Lucas replied.

“I’ll take my leave now, Marcus announced, looking at Cassie.

“Alright, thank you.” Cassie nodded.

Without another word, Marcus turned and left the house.

At the same time, Larry and the bodyguards hauled away a barely conscious Donald, his face a mask of agony.

“Did Marcus upset Grandpa?” As soon as Marcus was gone, Cassie quickly asked Lueas and Anne.

Lucas gave her a look. “Let’s discuss this inside.”

Cassie was puzzled. She turned to Anne, who just frowned and walked ahead in silence.

Simon, it’s getting late. You should head back to your guest room and get some rest. Julia, you come with us,” Lucas added.

Cassie’s heart sank at this; something was definitely amiss.

“Sure,” Julia responded. Simon nodded in agreement.

Lucas then quickly followed Anne. Cassie was right on his heels, with Julia quickly catching up. The truth about those incidents has come out.

“You mean the bullying I’ve been through?” Cassie asked.

Julia looked anxious. “Cassie, it’s not that big of a deal. They were just playing around. Just don’t make it sound too serious later, or it might involve those people’s families. You know how much Grandpa adores you. Who knows what drastic measures he might take?”

Cassie let out a small laugh. “Oh, so you’re concerned about them? I thought you were worried Grandpa might blame for keeping things under wraps.

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Julia’s face drained of color. Naturally, she was worried about the consequences for herself. The fates of those spoiled rich girls were the least of her concerns.

What truly frightened her was the impending Murphy family investigation into the bullying Cassie had endured. They might even discover her clandestine role in encouraging others to torment Cassie. If that secret got out, she’d be in serious jeopardy.

“Didn’t you tell me not to tell Grandpa?” Julia said in a hushed voice. “Don’t say anything out of line, okay? When you slipped up just now, the way Grandpa, Anne, and Lucas looked at me changed completely.”

“Got it; I won’t say anything out of line, Cassie replied. “Why would I say anything out of line when I can just tell the truth? she thought to herself.

Julia exhaled a small sigh of relief. No matter how tumultuous things became, as long as she stayed out of trouble, that was all that mattered.

“How do you know Marcus? You’ve never mentioned him before Julia changed the subject abruptly.

“I don’t know him,” Cassie replied.

‘Come on. There’s no way Marcus would help you out if he didn’t know you, Julia said, her voice dropping to a serious whisper. “You’d better steer clear of him. He’s not someone we should tangle with. Don’t let his looks and smooth talk fool you. Remember, he was once scheming to take down Murphy Group. Grandpa was so enraged about it that he nearly had a heart attack!

“You can’t say that,”

ssie responded, her tone thoughtful. “I actually think partnering with Marcus could be a much better move than trying to replace someone who doesn’t even compare to Murphy Group.”

Julia stared at her, taken aback for a moment. “But-

“I’m just saying it’s an option. It might not even come to pass,” Cassie said with a casual shrug before stepping inside.

Julia’s heart sank. When she compared Marcus to Simon, in terms of looks or background, Marcus was like a god, while Simon was like dust. The image of Marcus’s aloof demeanor played in Julia’s mind, stirring a whirlpool of envy. Why should Cassie have a connection with such a man? She certainly doesn’t deserve it, she thought.

Watching Cassie’s retreating figure, Julia seethed inwardly. “You think you can team up with him? As if Marcus would even glance your way. You’ll end up chasing after someone who’s not even worthy of Murphy Group, getting taken for everything you’ve got. That’s your fate. It’s the path I’m paving for you!”

In the living room, Heston sat ramrod straight on the couch, his face still as cloudy as the night sky.

Cassie glanced at him, let out a sigh, then made her way over to sit beside him. “Didn’t you just promise me you wouldn’t get angry easily? Why are you still holding onto your grudge?”

Heston furrowed his brow as he looked at Cassie. “Why didn’t you tell us you were being bullied? Do you really think your parents and I can’t protect you? I’ve always doted on you, hoping you would grow up strong enough to stand up against bullying, not just endure it.”