Spoiled by Eight Uncles

Everything happened so fast that the Hatchers had no time to react.

By the time Stephen rushed out, he saw Anthony preparing to get into his car and drive off. However, he had not been in time to see Gilbert brushing the snow off Lilly and picking her up from where she had been kneeling by the gate.

“My goodness! It’s Mr. Anthony Crawford!” Stephen plastered a bright smile onto his face and greeted the other cheerfully. “What brings you here? It’s an honor to have you visiting our humble abode!”

By then, Richard, Paula, and some of the Hatcher servants had hurried out to join Stephen as well, their faces wreathed in smiles of welcome.

When they saw Anthony’s stern, aloof countenance, they became even more fawning and obsequious.

Anthony Crawford was the current head of the Crawford family’s business empire and the CEO of Crawford Holdings!

The Crawford family was one of Clodston’s four influential families; everyone wanted to butter them up and curry favor.

A true aristocratic family like this with old money and such deep ties to Clodston was rare. The Crawfords were an elusive, mysterious entity; they kept themselves out of the limelight. The only thing anyone in Clodston knew for sure was that the Crawfords had eight sons, but even then, few had even set eyes on them.

Anthony was occasionally featured in the headlines of the financial news, which was why the Hatchers had recognized him.

“Mr. Crawford, please come in! It’s freezing out here. We’d love to have you stay a little while if you don’t mind such humble surroundings,” Richard said enthusiastically.

“Yes, yes, please do come in and have something hot!” Stephen chimed in, smiling.

Now that they were in the presence of a truly distinguished person, all the Hatchers could not help trying to ingratiate themselves with him.

The Ador Hatcher Corporation was in dire straits; for the Hatcher family, this was a catastrophe.

However, just a word from Anthony would revive their flagging fortunes!

If luck favored them, they might even become one of Clodston’s top ten influential families…

Anthony’s face betrayed no hint of expression; instead, he studied Stephen with keen eyes.

Was this Lilly’s father?

Still without expression, Anthony declined Richard’s offer coolly and enigmatically. “Very well, Mr. Hatcher and family.”

Without another word, he got into his car and drove off.

The Hatchers stood there, confused and dazed, watching him leave.

Paula was the first to speak. “Mr. Crawford said very well… Does that mean he’s intending to help us?”

Richard frowned. “Given his expression, I don’t think he meant anything complimentary.”

ordered the servants to enlighten him about what

black had stripped off his coat and wrapped it around her, cradling her in his

he was thunderstruck. Suddenly, everything

eight sons and a daughter. However,

had rescued four years ago

the Hatcher family felt their

Crawfords’ daughter… hurry,

kneel in

fact, they would have treated her like a goddess and

when he recalled how he had disciplined

to get her back? Do you think we can walk in and take her

hard his brow looked like a wrinkled prune. After a long moment of consideration, he said, “Well, regardless, we’re still Lilly’s blood relations. We’re her grandparents, after all! The Crawfords can’t deny that, no matter how angry they are. Then again,

to do was to teach Lilly not to be an irresponsible little

let his temper get the better of him and had

up any misunderstandings with the Crawfords. All they had to do was to have

…

rescuing Lilly, the Crawfords went

vacant VIP suite in South Town’s best hospital

punctuated by the sounds of hospital equipment beeping and doctors and nurses hurrying to

back and forth with the help of his walking stick. “Why are they still in there?”

the time, then gently told his father, “Dad, you

soon as they reached the hospital. Gilbert had gone with her; up until now, neither of them had

examined

that could happen in cases of severe frostbite. A more detailed examination revealed that Lily had been badly beaten; in fact, her arms, ribs, and

all over her body. Some of the areas were so severely frostbitten they would require

or four years old, and she had been made to undergo

your Uncle Gilbert. Can you hear me? If you can, please hang in there.

the oddest sensation of her body feeling very light and warm all over. It was the first

that constantly murmured, “Lilly…Lilly dear…little Tulip…Can you

this

very hard to open her eyes, but she was

to her as well, but she could not make a sound, no

…

of surgical procedures before Lilly was out of danger, and the doctors all felt

little girl was wheeled into a hospital room, IV

he handed Anthony the report from Lilly’s examination. When the

growled in fury, “A fine, upstanding bunch, these Hatchers! They even

replied, “The Hatcher family’s business goods are under suspicion of being contraband.

“Help them? They can count

that he wanted to tear the entire