The Bromwick's beautiful mansion had been decorated with lights.
It was the birthday of 70year old Mrs. Bromwick, the owner of the Bromwick family.
Some of her grandsons and daughters were present with their spouse, and they all had gifts for her.
"Grandma, I heard you loved tea. So after a search, I got you a century-old Pu’er tea brick, which costs 500,000 dollars, it is all yours, happy birthday."
"Grandma, I discovered that you are a buddhist. This statue of Buddha was carved from Heitan Jade, it's worth 700,000 dollars."
Mrs. Bromwick laughed, seeing the various gifts wrapped before her, seeing her laugh made the entire family happy.
Then, Chris Arthur, Lady Bromwick's eldest grandson in law walked in abruptly, "Grandma, could you lend me a million dollars? Aunt Mary from the orphanage home has uremia and needs money for treatment", he said.
The entire family was in shock, they stared at Chris in bewilderment.
This live in grandson-in-law was really bold! Not only did he not get Mrs. Bromwick anything for her birthday, he was courageous enough to request for a million dollars.
Three years had past since the death of Lord Bromwick, the man who brought Chris into the Bromwick house and pressed the marriage between Chris and his eldest daughter, Nora. Back then Chris as poor as a beggar.
After Lord Bromwick's death, everyone tried to kick him out. However, Chris did not care, ignoring the insults and mockery, he continued staying in the Bromwick family, as a live-in-son-in-law.
Chris knew that the chances of Mrs. Bromwick helping him would be slim, but aunt Mary from the orphanage home where Chris was raised had uremia. Her dialysis and kidney transplant required at least a million dollars, and he really didn't have any option.
He felt that since it was Mrs. Bromwick's birthday she might be happy enough to help him.
to everyone's surprise, Mrs. Bromwick was still laughing when suddenly her facial expression changed and she threw the teacup on the floor and growled, "B_stard! Are you here to celebrate my birthday with me or ask for money?",
Chris's wife Nora, quickly rushed forward, "Grandma, Chris is unaware, please show mercy", she pleaded and pulled her husband away.
At this instant, Linda, Nora's cousin sneered, "Nora, look at the rubbish you call a husband! Benjamin and I are only engaged, and yet he was able to give grandma a Heitan jade Buddha. Look at your husband! Not only did he not bring anything for grandma, he has the audacity to ask her for money!", she said.
"You are right! Chris, we are both grandsons-in-law of the Bromwick family, but you are a disgrace!", Benjamin White, Linda's fiance who was the son of a rich family in town said.
Although Benjamin was engaged to Linda, he found Nora more beautiful, compared to his fiance Linda.
Chris's wife Nora was well known as a beautiful goddess in Hillsprings, and so Benjamin was very angry to see such a beauty wasting in the hands of poor Chris.
"It will be best if this loser leaves the Bromwick family immediately!", "yes! He brings shame to the family", "who knows! His mission might actually be to kill the Grandma's joy!"
Chris tightened his fist as the entire family mocked and insulted him, If it hadn't been for the medical bill's payment, he would have walked out of this annoying place.
However, Chris remembered his father's words, which taught him to be kind no matter what, returning the favour he receives in tenfold, and so he suppressed his rage and embarrassment which had been building in him, "Grandma, it is more blessed to save a life than building a 70th level Buddha. Please show mercy", he pleaded.
A person snorted coldly, "Arthur, stop trying to make grandma feel bad, if want a life saved, find away to do so yourself, who are you to ask grandma for money?", Aaron Bromwick, Linda's brother said.
Nora's brothers and sister had always looked up to Nora, for she was superior to them in everyway, and so they seized any opportunity they got to insult Chris.
Nora was slowly getting embarrassed, "Grandma, Chris lost his father when he was just 8, Aunt Mary from the orphanage raised him, and so he wants to return the favour, could you please help him", Nora pleaded.
Lady Bromwick got angry, "if you want me to help, divorce him now and get married to Mr Miller! If you do, I'll give him a million dollars!", she said.
Mrs. Bromwick was referring to Harry Miller, who had been going after Nora even though he was well aware that she was married. The Miller family was a prominent family in the Hillsprings, a family more powerful than the Bromwicks. Lady Bromwick was willing to go lengths to be on their good side.
The butler abruptly ran, "Mr. Miller sent a birthday gift for the Lady Bromwick! An amulet carved from a jade stone, it is worth 3 million dollars!", the butler said.
Mrs. now overwhelmed with joy, "let me see!", she requested.
The butler immediately unraveled the emerald green, beautiful and clear, with no trace of impurity. The sight of it made almost all in the room exclaim.
Mrs. Bromwick, caressed the emerald happily, "oh how thoughtful of Mr Miller, it will be a dream come true if he became my son-in-law", she said and looked at Nora, "so what do you think about the condition I gave?", she asked.
Nora shook her head, "no, Grandma. I will never divorce Chris", Nora said.
Mrs. Bromwick instant grew angry, "you annoying thing! What good is this rubbish? Why waste your life on him? Kick that loser out of my house! He is shouldn't come close to my birthday banquet! I do not want to see his face!", she sparked.
"I'll go with him!", Nora said immediately, "if you leave now, you seize to be my granddaughter! You can take with you, your parents and that good for nothing thing you call a husband out of the Bromwick family!", Mrs. Bromwick shouted.
Nora looked at grandma, surprised, not expecting to hear such harsh words from her.
"don't worry about me, Stay", Chris said to her and before she could compose herself from the shock, he was out.
Aaron laughed as Chris walked out, "Hey! Chris! you haven't had anything to eat, will you go out in the street to beg for a meal? If you do that you will only embarrass our family name some more! So here! take this! Go get yourself a bun or something to eat!", Aaron said as he brought a dollar from his pocket and threw it before Chris.
The entire family began laughter.
Chris gnashed his teeth in anger and left the house without a look back.
After leaving the Bromwick house, Chris went to the hospital, he immediately went to the payment department to negotiate, and appeal for two more days.
But when he met the nurses, he was told that Aunt Mary had been transfered to Fairview Hospital, a top hospital in Cliffspring, for treatment.
Chris was surprised, "how much does it cost? I'll find a way to pay!", he said.
"3 million dollars. A million dollars has been paid, the remaining 2 is needed within a week", the nurse said.
"Who covered the million?", he asked surprised.
The nurse shook her head, "I really don't know", she added.
Chris was puzzled, he turned around still thinking, when a man appeared before him, seemingly about 50 years of age, in a black suit, he gray hair.
Their eyes met, and the man bowed before him, "young Master! Finally! we have found you! Sorry for the years you've spent suffering", he added.
Chris was frowned, and his facial expression changed as though he was a totally different person, "Are you Griffin Thomas?", he asked.
The man was surprised, "young Master, you remembered me!", he said.
Chris froze, "how can I forget you! You guys forced I and my parents out of the Cliffspring, resulting to my parents death and I becoming an orphan. What have you come for now?", he asked.
Griffin became sorrowful, "young master, Lord Arthur was truely sad when he heard of your father's death. Since then he has been looking for you. Come with me, let's go meet him!", he said.
"Go, I don't want to meet him", Chris said coldly.
"young master, are you still angry with your grandfather?", he asked, "of course I am!", Chris replied loudly, "I will never forgive him!", he added.
"Before I found you, Lord Arthur did say you might not forgive him."
"That's good! Glad he still thinks!", Chris said.
"Lord Arthur knows how much you've suffered, and wishes to compensate you. Even though you don't want to come home, he will purchase the largest company in the Hillsprings for you. Also, take this card. The password is your birthday.", Griffin explained handing Chris a citybank premium black card.
"Young master, there are only 5 of such cards this country", he added.
Chris shook his head sternly, "No! Take it away, I don't want it", he added.
"Young Master, Aunt Mary is 2 million dollars in debt, if her bills are not paid, her life might be in danger", Griffin said.
"You threaten me? Is that your plan?", Chris said angered.
Griffin waved his hands frantically, "Oh no! I wouldn't dare! Keep the card, so you'll have enough money to foot the bill", Griffin said.
"How much is in it?", Chris asked, "Lord Arthur said that he deposited a little pocket money in it, nothing much, just about 10 billion dollars!", Griffin said.
to be continued.....
Share
