Taken By My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 23: Chapter 23
You are reading Taken By My Fiancé's Uncle, Chapter 23: Chapter 23. Read more chapters of Taken By My Fiancé's Uncle.
Zackery didn't wait for the car to fully stop before rushing forward. His face broke into an overly eager smile.
"Stephen, you must be exhausted from the trip." His flattering tone left no doubt about where the real power lay.
The car door opened slightly, revealing a figure that caught everyone off guard. It wasn't Stephen, not even a Moore family member.
An elderly gentleman emerged, imposing in a silk robe, his silver hair perfectly groomed. "Good evening, Mr. Shaw," he said with a courteous nod. "I'm Daryl, head butler of the Moore family."
Daryl's identity made Zackery's smile flicker for a second before he forced it back. "Great to meet you! Come on in!" His voice oozed fake cheer.
Daryl returned a thin smile, deftly positioning himself to block Zackery's view into the car as he shut the door. "That won't be necessary. I'm simply delivering a gift from Mr. Gordie Moore."
At Daryl's signal, an assistant emerged from the front seat cradling a crystal angel figurine.
About six inches tall, it shimmered with perfect clarity, its vibrant crystal glow catching the light. Anyone could tell at a glance—it was worth a fortune.
Raquel gasped but quickly stifled it, throwing a nervous glance at Zackery. She'd never held anything so precious.
Zackery shot her a warning glance before turning back to Daryl. "Please thank Mr. Moore for his kindness, but we can't accept this gift," he said with careful politeness, clasping his hands together.
What the Shaw family truly needed was the Moores' influence and connections. No angel figurine, no matter how exquisite, could buy them the power they craved.
Daryl didn't seem surprised. He took the figurine from his assistant and pressed it firmly into Zackery's hands. "The Moores have little patience for greed," he said evenly. "And they have even less for those who refuse their generosity."
Though politely spoken, the words struck Zackery like a blow. He accepted the figurine with both hands, his jaw clenched. "Please convey our deepest gratitude to Mr. Moore for this generous gift."
Daryl gave a quiet chuckle, his gaze sweeping the place before lingering briefly on Lorraine. Then he noticed a silver dinner knife lying abandoned in the corner, its blade catching the light.
Zackery followed his gaze and paled. "Who left this knife here?" he snapped, suddenly playing the outraged victim. "Can't anyone do their job right?" There was not a word about how he'd been the one to toss it there just minutes before.
The staff stood frozen, not daring to breathe under his wrath.
Daryl gave a casual wave. "Just taking in the sights." His tone shifted slightly as he added, "Now that the gift is delivered, Ms. Shaw will need to go back with us."
"Of course," Raquel said quickly, pushing Lorraine forward. She couldn't get rid of her stepdaughter fast enough.
Raquel moved to open the car door, but Daryl intercepted her. "Allow me, Ms. Yates," he said pointedly, using her maiden name rather than her married one.
Raquel's jaw tightened. She sucked in a sharp breath before plastering on a smile. "Thank you," she managed through clenched teeth.
Daryl opened the rear door, positioning himself to block the person inside from onlookers. With a slight bow, he gestured inside. "Ms. Shaw, if you please."
Lorraine didn't hesitate. Staying meant another beating from Zackery. Whatever awaited her at the Moore residence couldn't be worse than that.
The door clicked shut behind her just as she sat down. When she turned, she saw the last person she expected to see.
"Stephen, you must be exhausted from the trip." His flattering tone left no doubt about where the real power lay.
The car door opened slightly, revealing a figure that caught everyone off guard. It wasn't Stephen, not even a Moore family member.
An elderly gentleman emerged, imposing in a silk robe, his silver hair perfectly groomed. "Good evening, Mr. Shaw," he said with a courteous nod. "I'm Daryl, head butler of the Moore family."
Daryl's identity made Zackery's smile flicker for a second before he forced it back. "Great to meet you! Come on in!" His voice oozed fake cheer.
Daryl returned a thin smile, deftly positioning himself to block Zackery's view into the car as he shut the door. "That won't be necessary. I'm simply delivering a gift from Mr. Gordie Moore."
At Daryl's signal, an assistant emerged from the front seat cradling a crystal angel figurine.
About six inches tall, it shimmered with perfect clarity, its vibrant crystal glow catching the light. Anyone could tell at a glance—it was worth a fortune.
Raquel gasped but quickly stifled it, throwing a nervous glance at Zackery. She'd never held anything so precious.
Zackery shot her a warning glance before turning back to Daryl. "Please thank Mr. Moore for his kindness, but we can't accept this gift," he said with careful politeness, clasping his hands together.
What the Shaw family truly needed was the Moores' influence and connections. No angel figurine, no matter how exquisite, could buy them the power they craved.
Daryl didn't seem surprised. He took the figurine from his assistant and pressed it firmly into Zackery's hands. "The Moores have little patience for greed," he said evenly. "And they have even less for those who refuse their generosity."
Though politely spoken, the words struck Zackery like a blow. He accepted the figurine with both hands, his jaw clenched. "Please convey our deepest gratitude to Mr. Moore for this generous gift."
Daryl gave a quiet chuckle, his gaze sweeping the place before lingering briefly on Lorraine. Then he noticed a silver dinner knife lying abandoned in the corner, its blade catching the light.
Zackery followed his gaze and paled. "Who left this knife here?" he snapped, suddenly playing the outraged victim. "Can't anyone do their job right?" There was not a word about how he'd been the one to toss it there just minutes before.
The staff stood frozen, not daring to breathe under his wrath.
Daryl gave a casual wave. "Just taking in the sights." His tone shifted slightly as he added, "Now that the gift is delivered, Ms. Shaw will need to go back with us."
"Of course," Raquel said quickly, pushing Lorraine forward. She couldn't get rid of her stepdaughter fast enough.
Raquel moved to open the car door, but Daryl intercepted her. "Allow me, Ms. Yates," he said pointedly, using her maiden name rather than her married one.
Raquel's jaw tightened. She sucked in a sharp breath before plastering on a smile. "Thank you," she managed through clenched teeth.
Daryl opened the rear door, positioning himself to block the person inside from onlookers. With a slight bow, he gestured inside. "Ms. Shaw, if you please."
Lorraine didn't hesitate. Staying meant another beating from Zackery. Whatever awaited her at the Moore residence couldn't be worse than that.
The door clicked shut behind her just as she sat down. When she turned, she saw the last person she expected to see.
End of Taken By My Fiancé's Uncle Chapter 23. Continue reading Chapter 24 or return to Taken By My Fiancé's Uncle book page.