Chapter 294
“Let you go? Pearl, you’re my granddaughter. Do you think I’d have the heart to let you live out there?”
Pearl wasn’t sure if he had the heart for it, but she found this old man rather extreme and not very pleasant. “I don’t need the Jordans to protect me. I’m fine on my own,” she retorted.
Ezra scoffed. “You don’t need our protection? Then whose protection do you need? The Waldorfs? I heard from the butler that you’re engaged to a Waldorf boy. Of all the men out there, you had to choose a Waldorf. Is he good enough for you?”
Pearl had managed to keep her annoyance in ch*ck until now, but hearing this, her expression. darkened. Ezra was clearly trying to assert his authority by pretending to be concerned.
“Who I’m engaged to is my business. It’s the twenty-first century. Are we still supposed to have arranged marriages?” Pearl’s tone grew fiercer with each word, shocking everyone present. Besides Blake, she seemed to be the only one willing to challenge Ezra.
“Very well, I’ll set that aside for now. Just promise me that you’ll stay here for the time being.”
Confine her? Pearl had expected this outcome, so she replied with a pained expression, “No, I have other things to attend to, so I can’t stay here.”
Ezra wouldn’t tolerate anyone questioning his decisions. “Pearl, if you comply, that Waldorf boy will be safe.” His tone was calm, but the threat was clear. He was threatening her with Richard again.
Pearl was well aware of the Jordan family’s influence, which extended to both the police and the criminal underworld. No one would dare challenge the old man’s power.
She stared at him, then nodded.
Ezra’s satisfaction was evident as he chuckled, praising Pearl for her understanding.
Blake, on the other hand, began to feel impatient. “If there’s nothing else, can we leave now? Is there a need for such a fuss to welcome this woman back?”
As the old man’s favorite grandson, Blake was used to getting his way. Seeing his attitude, Ezra stopped interrogating Pearl and rolled his eyes at Blake. “She’s your cousin, and we’re family. How could you say that about her?”
Blake scoffed. “What family? She doesn’t even want to be part of our family.” Even though it was harsh, it was a sentiment shared by many.
Not wanting to argue with Blake any longer, Ezra cleared his throat. “Very well, you may leave now. Blake, since your cousin is not familiar with this place, show her around so she can get acquainted.”
Blake’s eye twitched. “Why me?”
“Because you’re around the same age, so it’ll be easier for you to communicate.”
Ezra had a point. There weren’t many members of the Jordans from their generation. The
eldest son had Felix and Laura, the second son had Blake, and Ezra’s only daughter had Pearl. There were only four of them from their generation.
Pearl was the sole child of his daughter, which explains why Ezra was reluctant to let her go. Blake was annoyed but didn’t argue further. He reluctantly accepted the task.
“Alright, you must be tired. Blake, I’ve arranged for Cloud Chamber to be cleaned up. Take Pearl there so she can rest.”
Blake nodded and looked at Pearl, who seemed lost in thought, and coldly said, “Let’s go.”
Pearl was relieved and followed him. After taking a few steps, she suddenly said, “Thank you.”
Blake raised his brows. “For what?”
“You said that to get me out of there, right?”
