Chapter 137
Harvey leaned back in his chair. Elara sat across from him yet the weight of his presence made it clear–he looked
down on her.
Before Harvey could say another word, Abel shot up from his chair.
“Do you even hear yourself? Are you talking about not bowing to a man? A woman like you, acting so defiant–you must be out of your damn mind!”
Abel kicked his chair aside, storming around the table toward Elara.
Niamh bit down on her lower lip, trying to stop herself from laughing.
Merida, who had been quietly eating, set down her spoon, hier sharp eyes tracking Abel’s every move.
Just as Abel reached for Elara’s collar, a voice rang out–deep, authoritative, cutting through the tension like at knife.
“What the hell is going on here?”
All heads snapped toward the entrance.
“Grandpa!”
Merida was already on her chair, gripping Abel’s outstretched hand before he could touch Elara.
The atmosphere in the private dining room grew razor–sharp, a fight ready to break out at any second.
Then, the door opened wider, and a tall, broad–shouldered man was wheeled inside. He was escorted by oliver, his
assistant, who was a former special forces soldier.
Leonard sat in his wheelchair, yet his presence alone seemed to shift the balance of the room. The moment he arrived, the unspoken rules of power changed–he dictated them now.
Dressed in a black turtleneck and tailored slacks, he was the picture of quiet authority.
Niamh’s breath hitched the moment she saw his face.
It had been ten years.
Leonard was only two years older than Harvey, yet even a decade ago, he was already a force to be reckoned with. While most kids were playing with toys, Leonard had been studying astrophysics.
Niamh still remembered that summer when she and Dawn had stayed at the Fisher residence. Harvey had taken them to the creek to catch fish and crawdads.
When they returned, they passed by a room on the first floor, where Leonard stood in front of a chalkboard filled with equations.
Inside the room, a group of men–much older than him–argued over calculations, their notebooks open, their clunky laptops filled with complex formulas.
“What are they doing?” Niamh had asked, curious. Leonard was already strikingly handsome even back then, and she had instinctively wanted to pull him away to play by the creek with them.
Dawn had tugged her back. “Those old guys? They’re his students.”
Then she had added with certainty, “Uncle Leonard isn’t like us.”
Chapter 137
That memory had been frozen in time, untouched until now.
Harvey immediately rose from his seat, stepping forward with uncharacteristic deference “Uncle Leonard”
Abel, caught off guard, looked downright stunned.
“P–Prof. Fisher…?” he stammered.
He never thought he’d actually meet Leonard in person.
His mind raced as he scrambled to recover, putting on his best ingratiating smile. “Prof. Fisher! What an honor! It’s been so long!”
Abel practically rushed over, eager to bridge the gap between them. But Leonard’s gaze remained fixed on him, unwavering and unreadable.
“What exactly were you trying to do just now?” Leonard asked, his voice steady.
Abel laughed awkwardly. “Oh, Elara was being unreasonable. I was just teaching her a little lesson. I didn’t mean anything by it, don’t take it the wrong way.
Leonard’s stare wasn’t as cold as Harvey’s, but somehow, it was even more unsettling. It felt like he could see right through you.
“Do you think laying hands on your own daughter makes you a good father?
His words cut through the air, sharp and unforgiving
Abel felt his throat tighten. For the first time in a long time, he was at a complete loss for words.
“I–I mean, Elara refuses to go to the Technology Creation and Sharing Summit with Harvey. He’s being generous, giving her such a great opportunity, and she’s just throwing it away…”
Under Leonard’s piercing gaze, Abel’s voice faded into a mumble.
“She’s 27,” Leonard said coolly. “And you still think it’s acceptable to scream at her? And to hit her? You’re just an old man throwing a tantrum.”
Abel’s face turned red. “Prof. Fisher-”
“I don’t want to hear you yell at her again. And if you ever lay a hand on her, you’ll regret it. Do I make myself clear?”
