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.”

servants to enlighten him about what had

at the Hatcher Mansion and taken Lilly away, and that a man in black had stripped off his coat and wrapped

this, he was thunderstruck. Suddenly, everything became terrifyingly

the Crawfords had eight sons and a daughter. However, the daughter’s health was frail, and

had rescued four years ago was

felt their hearts sinking. How they bitterly regretted

trembled. “So Jean was the Crawfords’ daughter… hurry, we need to

forced Lilly to kneel

would have treated her like a goddess and worshiped at her

his actions as well; when he recalled how he had disciplined

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

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

was to teach Lilly not

Stephen had let his temper get the better of him and

had to do was to have a satisfactory explanation for everything. Once that was

…

rescuing Lilly, the

hitherto vacant VIP suite in South Town’s best hospital was now

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

and forth with the help of his walking

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

emergency room as soon as they reached the hospital. Gilbert had gone with her;

emergency room, Gilbert examined Lilly’s

more detailed examination revealed that Lily had

patches of frostbite all over her body. Some of the areas were

years old, and she had been made to undergo such

Gilbert. Can you hear me? If you can, please hang in there. You’ll make it

closed, but she had the oddest sensation of her body feeling very light and warm all over. It was the first time she had ever felt so

a voice by her ear that constantly murmured, “Lilly…Lilly dear…little Tulip…Can you see me? Can

was this

eyes, but she

could hear this person talking to her as well, but she could not make a sound, no matter

…

before Lilly was out

girl was wheeled into a hospital room, IV tubes plastered all

from Lilly’s examination. When the Crawfords read it,

in fury, “A fine, upstanding bunch, these Hatchers! They even had the nerve to lay hands

goods are under suspicion of being contraband. The company is in pretty desperate straits. Recently they’ve been trying to find some point of connection so

“Help them? They can count themselves lucky if

that he wanted to tear the entire Hatcher