Free Web NovelChapter 60: Chapter 60: A Heaven-defying Family Background
At its core, Genevieve Gallagher’s tragedy was all tied to the Gallagher family’s anything-but-ordinary patriarch, Master Gallagher.
Howard Gallagher’s father was Master Gallagher’s eldest son, and also the only bloodline left by his first wife.
Logically, that status should have been enough to secure his foothold in the Gallagher family. However, Master Gallagher’s first wife had been angered to death by his outrageous conduct back in the day.
After the legitimate wife was gone, his mistress moved up to become the second wife, with a whole host of other lovers eyeing her position covetously.
As Master Gallagher’s most legitimate heir, yet utterly alone and helpless, Charles Gallagher naturally became a living target for everyone. Surrounded by open attacks and hidden schemes from a young age, he was subjected to endless bullying.
Such a hostile environment typically breeds two kinds of people. One is the Arthur Rexford type, wildly ambitious like Ian Jennings, constantly eyeing the position above them and endlessly climbing. The other is a pitiful wretch, scared witless, who lives in constant terror, as sensitive and timid as a bird startled by the twang of a bowstring.
Unfortunately, Charles Gallagher belonged to the latter category.
’This father is the absolute worst kind of loser. When his wife and children were being bullied, he just stood by and watched. When he was being cuckolded, he kept his mouth shut. He basks in his wife’s adoration and protection, and his children’s admiration and affection, but at the crucial moment, he runs and hides faster than anyone.’
Of course, the most miserable ones in this situation were Genevieve Gallagher and the "mom" she mentioned, especially Genevieve.
’Poor girl. She probably has no idea that the reason Mrs. Gallagher has despised her since childhood is because she isn’t Charles Gallagher’s biological daughter at all.’
The Donovan Family: Ooh!
Caspian Rhodes had already picked up on the mention of him being cuckolded, so he wasn’t surprised by this revelation.
But Arabella Donovan’s next sentence still shocked him.
’She’s the daughter of Master Gallagher and Mrs. Gallagher.’
"What?" Hector Donovan was so startled he almost dropped the tray in his hands.
Mr. and Mrs. Donovan, along with Eloise Donovan who had just returned with snacks, couldn’t help but gasp.
’Hm? That’s weird. Why does it sound like I just heard my second brother’s voice?’
Arabella Donovan glanced around, and Hector Donovan hastily turned his back, tugging his hat down to hide his face.
Caspian Rhodes, however, seemed to sense something and glanced toward Hector Donovan’s position, a flash of understanding in his eyes.
Fortunately, Arabella Donovan didn’t dwell on it for long. After confirming that Hector Donovan was nowhere to be seen, she quickly averted her gaze and went back to watching the argument between the Gallagher siblings. The more she watched, the more bewildered she became.
’What on earth did Mrs. Gallagher see in Charles Gallagher? Was it his lack of backbone? His cowardice? Or his selfish hypocrisy in willingly raising another man’s child?’
’He witnessed the entire thing—how Master Gallagher used the family banquet as an opportunity to drug and rape his wife. He knew exactly whose child was in her belly. But he didn’t do a single thing to stop it. He even used sweet-talk to stop Mrs. Gallagher when she wanted to abort the baby, promising he would treat the child as his own flesh and blood.’
’But the truth is, he was just worried Master Gallagher was still interested in his wife. What if the old man found out she had aborted his child and got angry? Also, it was Mrs. Gallagher’s first pregnancy. Was he afraid that if she had an abortion, she might suffer complications and be unable to bear their own biological children, and then she would leave him?’
Arabella Donovan wore an expression of profound bewilderment, while the rest of the Donovan Family was even more stunned. In unison, they all cursed him in their hearts: ’Ptooey! What a scumbag!’
’And that’s exactly what happened. After giving birth to Genevieve Gallagher, Mrs. Gallagher had Howard Gallagher. One was the fruit of her love, the other was a testament to her humiliation. You can only imagine the kind of treatment Genevieve received growing up.’
The Donovan Family recalled Arabella’s earlier summary of Miss Gallagher’s family situation. Looking at the way the siblings were interacting now, they had to admit, her assessment was spot on!
By then, the argument between Howard Gallagher and his friends had reached a fever pitch. Howard seemed to resent Genevieve’s status as his older sister, and flying into a rage out of humiliation, he threw the wine in his hand right in her face.
Genevieve seemed to have expected it. Aside from a slight flinch when the wine hit her, she quickly regained her composure. She wiped her face with her hand, her eyes still fixed on Howard.
Howard regretted it the moment the wine left his hand, but he was surrounded by his friends. Showing weakness now would only lead to more ridicule, so he could only put on a brave face and curse, "You psycho!" before turning and walking away.
Seeing that the show was over, the people with him pointed at Genevieve from a distance, whispering amongst themselves, before they too walked off, laughing and joking.
The entire time, not a single person made a move to approach Genevieve, much less offer her a helping hand.
Watching this, Arabella Donovan felt her anger rise. She stood up, ready to do something.
’She looks so pitiful. If only someone would help her right now, just so she doesn’t have to stand there all by herself.’
The thought had barely formed when Hector, who had been "reflecting on his mistakes" while facing the wall, acted faster than he could think, stepping forward to offer Genevieve a handkerchief.
Genevieve froze. Arabella, who had already taken a few steps forward, screeched to a halt and quietly retreated. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Genevieve had remained perfectly calm—or perhaps indifferent—while facing Howard’s impotent rage and the taunts of his sycophantic friends. But now, this simple handkerchief left her in a daze. It wasn’t until Hector called out to her, "Miss," that she snapped out of it as if waking from a dream.
"Thank you." Genevieve took the handkerchief and quickly dabbed her face. Then she took off her bulky, black-framed glasses and carefully wiped them clean as well.
Seeing Genevieve’s face up close, Hector realized she wasn’t unattractive at all. She had a delicate, oval face and large, bright, almond-shaped eyes. Her glasses had given her a somewhat dowdy and aloof air, but without them, she looked surprisingly serene and innocent.
What Hector didn’t know was that while he was observing Genevieve, she was also secretly sizing him up.
He was tall, with an excellent build. And though he was wearing a waiter’s uniform, he exuded an inexplicable air of cultured nobility. His voice was pleasant, too. It was a shame he was wearing a mask and a hat, obscuring his face. In a place this bustling and noisy, he honestly looked rather suspicious.
As she thought this, Genevieve couldn’t help but smile. ’So what if he’s suspicious? What do I possibly have that’s worth anyone plotting to get?’
Hector was a little baffled by her sudden smile. Just then, he heard his precious little sister’s gratified sigh of relief in his head.
’See, there are still good people in the world after all! This waiter is just the coolest! Monsters like Master Gallagher and Charles Gallagher, and that ungrateful mutt of a brother, Howard, are the exception, not the rule. They’re not even worth mentioning.’
Hector’s eyes lit up. He desperately wanted to puff out his chest and accept this wave of praise-by-comparison from his sister.
But in the next second, he heard Arabella mutter to herself again.
’But... is it just my imagination? Why does that waiter’s back look so much like my second brother’s?’
Hector: !!!
The rest of the Donovan family: ...
Caspian Rhodes, who had seen through it all from the beginning: Pfft...
