397: [Bonus chapter]Grandma Zhu's blessing

[Bonus chapter]Grandma Zhu's blessing

Silas and Dominic's resemblance was uncanny and even Heaven was surprised. Although one would notice the difference, they looked similar from a distance and at first glance.  1

With this fact laid on the table, it wasn't surprising it brought some issues in the past. 

According to Grandma Zhu, Silas was a mischievous child while Dominic was more serious. Even though both children were bright in school, Silas would sometimes cause trouble and frame Dominic just to tease the latter. At first, it was mere harmless pranks and simple dressing up to confuse the young Axel.

However, over time, Silas's pranks weren't simple pranks anymore. Especially during their young teen days. Silas got hooked on partying and gambling; he became a troublemaker, rebelling against Grandma Zhu and Lionel Zhu, who stood up as his father after what Leon Zhu did to Dominic. 

To make matters worse, Silas would sometime pretend to be Dominic just to get money from others. 

"No one knew about it until someone was suing Dominic for not paying his debts," Grandma Zhu let out a deep sigh, shaking her head mildly. "At first, we thought it was a mere slandering. However, with all the evidence, we realized Silas had tarnished Dominic's reputation. I wanted to disown him, but Lionel and Dominic begged me not to."

Heaven had her lips into a tight line as she listened to Grandma Zhu's story. 

"Why?" she asked, confused. "Why did Dominic and Father beg you not to disown him?"

Grandma Zhu shrugged. "Because those fools were too soft. They believe Silas was only strayed, but not entirely a bad person. So, I just sent him abroad with barely enough allowance for him to get by. If he wanted to change, then he'd find a way."

"Oh…" Heaven rocked her head in understanding. "It seemed he changed, Grandma."

"For a little while, yes." Grandma Zhu's expression turned sour at the thought. "He managed to get a scholarship and graduate. Although Lionel still supported his other needs, he didn't cause trouble until recently."

"Grandma, is Silas the reason Axel's company got in trouble the past months?"

"Yes!" Grandma Zhu huffed. "That brat stole all Axel's clients and even mass-bought the company share. After that, he sold his shares at a bargain price, causing the company's sudden decline."

"What…?" Heaven frowned, having a full grasp of what happened and what Silas did to mess with Axel. 

"Fortunately, that other brat uses his head whenever he needs it." Pride slowly showed up in the old madam's eyes. "He barely needed his big brother's help, but he mostly survived that crisis because of his own effort."

"Sometimes, Axel is surprising."

"He is." Grandma Zhu chuckled, only to hiss the next moment. "But then, that brat dared showed up here even after what he had done."

'He really is quite thick-faced,' thought Heaven. 'No wonder Dominic's mood went down the moment he saw the man. I thought he just didn't like that fact they look alike or that because Silas was Leon's son.'

"Heaven, child," called Grandma Zhu, bringing Heaven back from her thoughts. The second their eyes met, Grandma Zhu's eyes softened.

"This family… is quite complicated," she said. "Disowning one isn't as easy as it appeared. When I discovered what my other son had done to my grandson, my heart… was in million pieces. All my life, my only wish is for my sons and grandsons to get along well and love each other."

"But life… isn't as always good to you. If only my wealth can bring back the past, I would've used my entire fortune just to correct how I raised them. I would've prevented them from hurting each other, but no amount of money can undo the past. We can only learn from experience and move on, trying our best to not make the same mistakes," she continued in the same gentle tone. "As you can see, I am no longer young. I am not as strong as I used to be, and I can only await for my time to come."

"Grandma, please don't say that."

Grandma Zhu chuckled. "I'm saying this because you'll soon have to be involved in family matters. It won't be easy, my child. Not everyone in this place is your ally. Sometimes, they will be your biggest enemies. They will take you down viciously if an opportunity arises."

"Use them all at your own disposal." She added ever so slowly. "Do not worry. As long as I am here, I will support you until the day you get a strong footing in this family. You have Grandma on your back, so do not be afraid of putting some people in their place if they cross the line."

Heaven pursed her lips, holding the old madam's gaze squarely. 

"Don't worry, Grandma." A subtle smile appeared on Heaven's face. "I will never embarrass Dom, nor I will ever disappoint Basti. I will protect them with everything I got... even if it means getting blood in my hand."

Grandma Zhu studied Heaven's solemn, yet smiling, countenance. Seeing the flame hiding beneath those phoenix eyes, Grandma Zhu nodded in satisfaction.

"I knew it," said the old madam. "I wasn't seeing things back then. My Grandson surely married a capable woman."

Grandma Zhu leaned back comfortably, eyes still on her granddaughter-in-law. "Now that I had confirmed that, I feel at ease. My grandson is in good hands."

"Grandma, don't you trust Dominic?"

"No, I trust him." Grandma Zhu chuckled. "What I'm saying is it's better if he has someone. I've been in that same position as him before and I knew how tough standing on the top was. It's a lonely place to be in, and without someone on his side, he'd be miserable."

This time, Heaven couldn't say or ask anything. She could only look at Grandma Zhu, understanding the old madam's worry. After all, Hera also stood at the top, all alone back in her days. People might always say they have the world under their feet, but those who had said those would never know the restrictions they had nor the feelings they had to suppress just because they had countless lives on their shoulders to carry. 

They would never understand the fact that not because they could carry the burden well doesn't mean it wasn't heavy. 

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