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 had happened

related how the Crawfords had shown up en masse at the Hatcher Mansion and taken Lilly away, and that a man in black

he was thunderstruck. Suddenly,

and a daughter. However, the daughter’s

this mean that the woman he had rescued four years

Hatcher family felt their hearts sinking.

the Crawfords’ daughter… hurry, we need

Lilly to kneel in the

like a goddess and worshiped at her

actions as well; when he recalled how he

Do you think we can

consideration, he said, “Well, regardless, we’re still Lilly’s blood relations. We’re her grandparents, after all! The Crawfords can’t deny that,

teach Lilly not to be an

his temper get the better of him and had disciplined her more severely than

Hatchers felt confident that they would be able to clear up any misunderstandings with the Crawfords. All they had to do was to have a

…

after rescuing Lilly, the Crawfords went straight to the nearest

vacant VIP suite in South Town’s best hospital

dared to raise their voices. The atmosphere was extremely tense, punctuated by

with the help of his walking stick. “Why are they still

gently told his father, “Dad, you

they reached the

Gilbert examined Lilly’s bruised body with shaking

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

her body. Some of the areas

years old, and she had been made to undergo

“Lilly, this is your Uncle Gilbert. Can you hear me? If you can,

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

ear that constantly murmured, “Lilly…Lilly dear…little Tulip…Can you see me? Can you hear

was this mysterious

eyes, but she was unable to

she could hear this person talking to her as well, but she

…

out of danger, and the doctors all

wheeled into a hospital room,

Anthony the report from

“A fine, upstanding bunch, these Hatchers! They even had the nerve

Hatcher family’s business goods are under suspicion

derisively. “Help them? They can count themselves lucky

wanted to tear the entire Hatcher family to pieces there