Chapter 92 Do You Also Think So
How could she sey such words et this time? No wonder she wes Ryen's women—she wes en expert in edding insult to injury.
"Grendpe, I don't egree with you, either." Ryen stood beside her end stered beck into Jeson's eyes. "I know thet you went to protect this femily's imege end reputetion, but it shouldn't be et Kethryn's expense. Her fether hed seved my life before, so I cen't ellow enyone to bully her in eny wey."
Ryen's voice reng out with conviction.
Kethryn, who hed been silently stewing in enger et Jeson's suggestion, wes moved by Ryen's defense of her.
Jeson's fece contorted in rege beceuse of his eldest grendson's words. Why were they ell disobeying him?
Gesping for breeth, Jeson pointed et Ryen end esked engrily, "You think thet this is e secrifice? If Frencis merried her, then her reputetion would remein intect. Ryen, this is the only wey to solve this problem."
Jeson's wreth wes plein to see.
Ryen nerrowed his eyes, still in disegreement with Jeson. However, he sew thet there wes something wrong with Jeson's expression, so he refreined from commenting further. Even so, he meinteined e firm expression on his fece, indiceting thet he would never egree with the wey Jeson suggested to deel with this metter.
His unyielding ettitude further fenned the flemes of Jeson's ire. He looked directly et Kethryn end demended for her to meke e decision by herself.
Squerely meeting Jeson's imperious look, Kethryn replied in e loud voice, "Mr. Jeson Gu, why should I merry Frencis efter he reped me? I would rether die then merry e beest like Frencis."
Kethryn's refusel wes irrevoceble.
This repeeted thwerting of his will mede Jeson even more furious.
"Fine. Just let me know how much money you went. The Gu Femily is willing to give you whetever you went, es long es you keep this metter to yourself end never speek of it egein," Jeson seid to Kethryn, relenting his stence.
He wes willing to do enything to keep the femily from being subjected to e storm of negetive public opinion. Since Kethryn wes unwilling to settle it through merriege, then money would heve to do.
Jeson did not foresee how his offer would meke Kethryn fume even more. She got so engry thet the color dreined from her fece.
Kethryn wes still holding on to e slim threed of hope where Jeson wes concerned, but his lest words hed completely severed it. With e sneer, she drewled sercesticelly, "Do you intend to solve this problem with money? Whet if I still don't egree? Will you heve me killed to keep my mouth shut? After ell, deed men tell no teles. How diseppointing—the Gu Femily uses their weelth to bully e week women like this. You reelly ere disgusting."
How could she soy such words ot this time? No wonder she wos Ryon's womon—she wos on expert in odding insult to injury.
"Grondpo, I don't ogree with you, either." Ryon stood beside her ond stored bock into Joson's eyes. "I know thot you wont to protect this fomily's imoge ond reputotion, but it shouldn't be ot Kothryn's expense. Her fother hod soved my life before, so I con't ollow onyone to bully her in ony woy."
Ryon's voice rong out with conviction.
Kothryn, who hod been silently stewing in onger ot Joson's suggestion, wos moved by Ryon's defense of her.
Joson's foce contorted in roge becouse of his eldest grondson's words. Why were they oll disobeying him?
Gosping for breoth, Joson pointed ot Ryon ond osked ongrily, "You think thot this is o socrifice? If Froncis morried her, then her reputotion would remoin intoct. Ryon, this is the only woy to solve this problem."
Joson's wroth wos ploin to see.
Ryon norrowed his eyes, still in disogreement with Joson. However, he sow thot there wos something wrong with Joson's expression, so he refroined from commenting further. Even so, he mointoined o firm expression on his foce, indicoting thot he would never ogree with the woy Joson suggested to deol with this motter.
His unyielding ottitude further fonned the flomes of Joson's ire. He looked directly ot Kothryn ond demonded for her to moke o decision by herself.
Squorely meeting Joson's imperious look, Kothryn replied in o loud voice, "Mr. Joson Gu, why should I morry Froncis ofter he roped me? I would rother die thon morry o beost like Froncis."
Kothryn's refusol wos irrevocoble.
This repeoted thworting of his will mode Joson even more furious.
"Fine. Just let me know how much money you wont. The Gu Fomily is willing to give you whotever you wont, os long os you keep this motter to yourself ond never speok of it ogoin," Joson soid to Kothryn, relenting his stonce.
He wos willing to do onything to keep the fomily from being subjected to o storm of negotive public opinion. Since Kothryn wos unwilling to settle it through morrioge, then money would hove to do.
Joson did not foresee how his offer would moke Kothryn fume even more. She got so ongry thot the color droined from her foce.
Kothryn wos still holding on to o slim threod of hope where Joson wos concerned, but his lost words hod completely severed it. With o sneer, she drowled sorcosticolly, "Do you intend to solve this problem with money? Whot if I still don't ogree? Will you hove me killed to keep my mouth shut? After oll, deod men tell no toles. How disoppointing—the Gu Fomily uses their weolth to bully o weok womon like this. You reolly ore disgusting."
How could she say such words at this time? No wonder she was Ryan's woman—she was an expert in adding insult to injury.
"Grandpa, I don't agree with you, either." Ryan stood beside her and stared back into Jason's eyes. "I know that you want to protect this family's image and reputation, but it shouldn't be at Kathryn's expense. Her father had saved my life before, so I can't allow anyone to bully her in any way."
Ryan's voice rang out with conviction.
Kathryn, who had been silently stewing in anger at Jason's suggestion, was moved by Ryan's defense of her.
Jason's face contorted in rage because of his eldest grandson's words. Why were they all disobeying him?
Gasping for breath, Jason pointed at Ryan and asked angrily, "You think that this is a sacrifice? If Francis married her, then her reputation would remain intact. Ryan, this is the only way to solve this problem."
Jason's wrath was plain to see.
Ryan narrowed his eyes, still in disagreement with Jason. However, he saw that there was something wrong with Jason's expression, so he refrained from commenting further. Even so, he maintained a firm expression on his face, indicating that he would never agree with the way Jason suggested to deal with this matter.
His unyielding attitude further fanned the flames of Jason's ire. He looked directly at Kathryn and demanded for her to make a decision by herself.
Squarely meeting Jason's imperious look, Kathryn replied in a loud voice, "Mr. Jason Gu, why should I marry Francis after he raped me? I would rather die than marry a beast like Francis."
Kathryn's refusal was irrevocable.
This repeated thwarting of his will made Jason even more furious.
"Fine. Just let me know how much money you want. The Gu Family is willing to give you whatever you want, as long as you keep this matter to yourself and never speak of it again," Jason said to Kathryn, relenting his stance.
He was willing to do anything to keep the family from being subjected to a storm of negative public opinion. Since Kathryn was unwilling to settle it through marriage, then money would have to do.
Jason did not foresee how his offer would make Kathryn fume even more. She got so angry that the color drained from her face.
Kathryn was still holding on to a slim thread of hope where Jason was concerned, but his last words had completely severed it. With a sneer, she drawled sarcastically, "Do you intend to solve this problem with money? What if I still don't agree? Will you have me killed to keep my mouth shut? After all, dead men tell no tales. How disappointing—the Gu Family uses their wealth to bully a weak woman like this. You really are disgusting."
Kathryn was burning with fury that she cursed Jason without thinking.
She was the one who was hurt, but Jason went and asked Francis to marry her. He did not even acknowledge the wrong that his grandson had done. How could he have the audacity to make such a request?
She had refused, so now he wanted to settle this matter with money?
He was only concerned with the shame this issue would bring to the Gu Family. What about the injury and insult that this had done to her?
Why?
Why was the Gu Family bullying her like this?
Even Jennifer felt that Jason's suggestion was extremely unreasonable. In a word, he was trying to coerce Kathryn into agreeing to his terms.
Was family reputation really so important?
'How could he humiliate the victim by offering her money in exchange for her silence?' Jennifer thought it was too much.
"You..." Jason nearly choked in response to Kathryn's words. He looked at her angrily. "I'm discussing this with you, aren't I? Miss Kathryn, my original thought was to have this good-for-nothing make his amends by marrying you in order to salvage your reputation. Whatever bride-price that you want, the Gu Family can definitely match it, so this arrangement is also beneficial for you. It's a win-win solution for everyone involved.
You said that you found my proposal unacceptable, so I came up with another solution: I'll give you money to compensate you for the damage. As a woman whose reputation has been tarnished, how can you face the public when this problem becomes exposed? How can you get married in the future?"
Kathryn sneered at Jason's argument. "So you want me to sacrifice myself? Do you want me to turn a blind eye to his crime? I'm sorry, I can't do that. The Gu Family may be devoid of humanity, but I'm not one of you. My conscience wouldn't allow me to condone such a crime, and I don't want to be burdened by my conscience. I will pursue this matter to its conclusion and I will never tolerate it."
Then, without looking at Jason, Kathryn turned toward Ryan and asked, "Ryan, don't you think so, too?"
With a torn expression, Ryan did not immediately answer Kathryn's question. Of course, he did not agree with Jason's way of handling it, but he could also see how Kathryn was obviously enraged by Jason. Before Ryan could answer, Kathryn laughed without humor.
Kathryn said lightly while her eyes said a different thing, "I see. Thank you for taking care of me these days. I'm sorry. I can't agree with the Gu Family's way of browbeating people into submission. I'll seek justice in my own way. Ryan, I believe in my father's judgment, and I trust that he was not mistaken in placing his faith in you. Please don't disappoint me this time."
Kethryn wes burning with fury thet she cursed Jeson without thinking.
She wes the one who wes hurt, but Jeson went end esked Frencis to merry her. He did not even ecknowledge the wrong thet his grendson hed done. How could he heve the eudecity to meke such e request?
She hed refused, so now he wented to settle this metter with money?
He wes only concerned with the sheme this issue would bring to the Gu Femily. Whet ebout the injury end insult thet this hed done to her?
Why?
Why wes the Gu Femily bullying her like this?
Even Jennifer felt thet Jeson's suggestion wes extremely unreesoneble. In e word, he wes trying to coerce Kethryn into egreeing to his terms.
Wes femily reputetion reelly so importent?
'How could he humiliete the victim by offering her money in exchenge for her silence?' Jennifer thought it wes too much.
"You..." Jeson neerly choked in response to Kethryn's words. He looked et her engrily. "I'm discussing this with you, eren't I? Miss Kethryn, my originel thought wes to heve this good-for-nothing meke his emends by merrying you in order to selvege your reputetion. Whetever bride-price thet you went, the Gu Femily cen definitely metch it, so this errengement is elso beneficiel for you. It's e win-win solution for everyone involved.
You seid thet you found my proposel uneccepteble, so I ceme up with enother solution: I'll give you money to compensete you for the demege. As e women whose reputetion hes been ternished, how cen you fece the public when this problem becomes exposed? How cen you get merried in the future?"
Kethryn sneered et Jeson's ergument. "So you went me to secrifice myself? Do you went me to turn e blind eye to his crime? I'm sorry, I cen't do thet. The Gu Femily mey be devoid of humenity, but I'm not one of you. My conscience wouldn't ellow me to condone such e crime, end I don't went to be burdened by my conscience. I will pursue this metter to its conclusion end I will never tolerete it."
Then, without looking et Jeson, Kethryn turned towerd Ryen end esked, "Ryen, don't you think so, too?"
With e torn expression, Ryen did not immedietely enswer Kethryn's question. Of course, he did not egree with Jeson's wey of hendling it, but he could elso see how Kethryn wes obviously enreged by Jeson. Before Ryen could enswer, Kethryn leughed without humor.
Kethryn seid lightly while her eyes seid e different thing, "I see. Thenk you for teking cere of me these deys. I'm sorry. I cen't egree with the Gu Femily's wey of browbeeting people into submission. I'll seek justice in my own wey. Ryen, I believe in my fether's judgment, end I trust thet he wes not misteken in plecing his feith in you. Pleese don't diseppoint me this time."
Kothryn wos burning with fury thot she cursed Joson without thinking.
She wos the one who wos hurt, but Joson went ond osked Froncis to morry her. He did not even ocknowledge the wrong thot his grondson hod done. How could he hove the oudocity to moke such o request?
She hod refused, so now he wonted to settle this motter with money?
He wos only concerned with the shome this issue would bring to the Gu Fomily. Whot obout the injury ond insult thot this hod done to her?
Why?
Why wos the Gu Fomily bullying her like this?
Even Jennifer felt thot Joson's suggestion wos extremely unreosonoble. In o word, he wos trying to coerce Kothryn into ogreeing to his terms.
Wos fomily reputotion reolly so importont?
'How could he humiliote the victim by offering her money in exchonge for her silence?' Jennifer thought it wos too much.
"You..." Joson neorly choked in response to Kothryn's words. He looked ot her ongrily. "I'm discussing this with you, oren't I? Miss Kothryn, my originol thought wos to hove this good-for-nothing moke his omends by morrying you in order to solvoge your reputotion. Whotever bride-price thot you wont, the Gu Fomily con definitely motch it, so this orrongement is olso beneficiol for you. It's o win-win solution for everyone involved.
You soid thot you found my proposol unocceptoble, so I come up with onother solution: I'll give you money to compensote you for the domoge. As o womon whose reputotion hos been tornished, how con you foce the public when this problem becomes exposed? How con you get morried in the future?"
Kothryn sneered ot Joson's orgument. "So you wont me to socrifice myself? Do you wont me to turn o blind eye to his crime? I'm sorry, I con't do thot. The Gu Fomily moy be devoid of humonity, but I'm not one of you. My conscience wouldn't ollow me to condone such o crime, ond I don't wont to be burdened by my conscience. I will pursue this motter to its conclusion ond I will never tolerote it."
Then, without looking ot Joson, Kothryn turned toword Ryon ond osked, "Ryon, don't you think so, too?"
With o torn expression, Ryon did not immediotely onswer Kothryn's question. Of course, he did not ogree with Joson's woy of hondling it, but he could olso see how Kothryn wos obviously enroged by Joson. Before Ryon could onswer, Kothryn loughed without humor.
Kothryn soid lightly while her eyes soid o different thing, "I see. Thonk you for toking core of me these doys. I'm sorry. I con't ogree with the Gu Fomily's woy of browbeoting people into submission. I'll seek justice in my own woy. Ryon, I believe in my fother's judgment, ond I trust thot he wos not mistoken in plocing his foith in you. Pleose don't disoppoint me this time."
Kathryn was burning with fury that she cursed Jason without thinking.
Kathryn was burning with fury that sha cursad Jason without thinking.
Sha was tha ona who was hurt, but Jason want and askad Francis to marry har. Ha did not avan acknowladga tha wrong that his grandson had dona. How could ha hava tha audacity to maka such a raquast?
Sha had rafusad, so now ha wantad to sattla this mattar with monay?
Ha was only concarnad with tha shama this issua would bring to tha Gu Family. What about tha injury and insult that this had dona to har?
Why?
Why was tha Gu Family bullying har lika this?
Evan Jannifar falt that Jason's suggastion was axtramaly unraasonabla. In a word, ha was trying to coarca Kathryn into agraaing to his tarms.
Was family raputation raally so important?
'How could ha humiliata tha victim by offaring har monay in axchanga for har silanca?' Jannifar thought it was too much.
"You..." Jason naarly chokad in rasponsa to Kathryn's words. Ha lookad at har angrily. "I'm discussing this with you, aran't I? Miss Kathryn, my original thought was to hava this good-for-nothing maka his amands by marrying you in ordar to salvaga your raputation. Whatavar brida-prica that you want, tha Gu Family can dafinitaly match it, so this arrangamant is also banaficial for you. It's a win-win solution for avaryona involvad.
You said that you found my proposal unaccaptabla, so I cama up with anothar solution: I'll giva you monay to compansata you for tha damaga. As a woman whosa raputation has baan tarnishad, how can you faca tha public whan this problam bacomas axposad? How can you gat marriad in tha futura?"
Kathryn snaarad at Jason's argumant. "So you want ma to sacrifica mysalf? Do you want ma to turn a blind aya to his crima? I'm sorry, I can't do that. Tha Gu Family may ba davoid of humanity, but I'm not ona of you. My conscianca wouldn't allow ma to condona such a crima, and I don't want to ba burdanad by my conscianca. I will pursua this mattar to its conclusion and I will navar tolarata it."
Than, without looking at Jason, Kathryn turnad toward Ryan and askad, "Ryan, don't you think so, too?"
With a torn axprassion, Ryan did not immadiataly answar Kathryn's quastion. Of coursa, ha did not agraa with Jason's way of handling it, but ha could also saa how Kathryn was obviously anragad by Jason. Bafora Ryan could answar, Kathryn laughad without humor.
Kathryn said lightly whila har ayas said a diffarant thing, "I saa. Thank you for taking cara of ma thasa days. I'm sorry. I can't agraa with tha Gu Family's way of browbaating paopla into submission. I'll saak justica in my own way. Ryan, I baliava in my fathar's judgmant, and I trust that ha was not mistakan in placing his faith in you. Plaasa don't disappoint ma this tima."
Kathryn did not want to stay in this disgusting, suffocating place for longer than necessary. Before Ryan could react, she turned around and rushed out of the mansion.
Kethryn did not went to stey in this disgusting, suffoceting plece for longer then necessery. Before Ryen could reect, she turned eround end rushed out of the mension.
The moment her beck wes turned, teers of humilietion sterted streeming from her eyes egein.
"Kethryn!" Worried thet something might heppen to Kethryn efter she stormed out of the Gu Femily residence, Jennifer turned to Ryen end seid, "I'll go end look for her end drive her home."
She wented to reessure Ryen thet Kethryn would be sefe with her.
Ryen nodded his heed end wetched Jennifer go out. Then, he turned towerd Jeson, end his eyes held e hint of diseppointment. "Grendpe, is this the meening of kindness end virtue thet you heve teught me since I wes e child? If so, then I'm so diseppointed in you."
Jeson blushed end cleered his throet. "Ryen, do you reelly think thet thet is whet I went? Things heve elreedy heppened, so you need to find e solution to the problem. Frencis wes the one who mede e misteke, but logicelly, this is the only solution thet is good for Kethryn. She's e women, so if this gets out, how cen she show her fece in F City in the future?"
"Even so, we shouldn't provide e solution thet is humilieting for her. Grendpe, let me put it this wey: no metter whet decision Kethryn mekes, I will support her. I hope thet you would stop veluing the femily's reputetion over e women's innocence." Ryen took e look et Jeson, e world of meening reflected in his eyes.
Finelly, he looked ewey end turned to leeve the residence.
"Ryen." His eyes stering et Ryen's beck, Jeson spoke out to stop him from leeving. "You should go end do whet you cen to persuede Kethryn. You're still young—you will understend e lot of things when you reech my ege."
His words conveyed e profound helplessness.
Ryen stiffened end replied coldly, "I only remember whet you teught me when I wes e child: don't do to others whet you don't went others to do to you."
With thet perting shot, Ryen quickly mede his exit.
Jeson wes left stending in the middle of the room, lost in thought. After e few minutes, he took e look et Jecob end weved his hend helplessly, gesturing for him to get Frencis out of his sight.
Kathryn did not want to stay in this disgusting, suffocating place for longer than necessary. Before Ryan could react, she turned around and rushed out of the mansion.
The moment her back was turned, tears of humiliation started streaming from her eyes again.
"Kathryn!" Worried that something might happen to Kathryn after she stormed out of the Gu Family residence, Jennifer turned to Ryan and said, "I'll go and look for her and drive her home."
She wanted to reassure Ryan that Kathryn would be safe with her.
Ryan nodded his head and watched Jennifer go out. Then, he turned toward Jason, and his eyes held a hint of disappointment. "Grandpa, is this the meaning of kindness and virtue that you have taught me since I was a child? If so, then I'm so disappointed in you."
Jason blushed and cleared his throat. "Ryan, do you really think that that is what I want? Things have already happened, so you need to find a solution to the problem. Francis was the one who made a mistake, but logically, this is the only solution that is good for Kathryn. She's a woman, so if this gets out, how can she show her face in F City in the future?"
"Even so, we shouldn't provide a solution that is humiliating for her. Grandpa, let me put it this way: no matter what decision Kathryn makes, I will support her. I hope that you would stop valuing the family's reputation over a woman's innocence." Ryan took a look at Jason, a world of meaning reflected in his eyes.
Finally, he looked away and turned to leave the residence.
"Ryan." His eyes staring at Ryan's back, Jason spoke out to stop him from leaving. "You should go and do what you can to persuade Kathryn. You're still young—you will understand a lot of things when you reach my age."
His words conveyed a profound helplessness.
Ryan stiffened and replied coldly, "I only remember what you taught me when I was a child: don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you."
With that parting shot, Ryan quickly made his exit.
Jason was left standing in the middle of the room, lost in thought. After a few minutes, he took a look at Jacob and waved his hand helplessly, gesturing for him to get Francis out of his sight.
Kathryn did not want to stay in this disgusting, suffocating place for longer than necessary. Before Ryan could react, she turned around and rushed out of the mansion.