Chapter 160 Lance’s Real Identity
Lance nodded in agreement and replied, "Go back to bed and get some rest. Make sure not to catch a cold, you hear? I'll see you tomorrow."
The sound of his voice was soothing to hear.
Thereafter, Adeline left. She figured that she must've been so surprised that Lance came back from the dead and it caused her to overthink.
As Lance watched her walk along the corridor, the smile on his lips didn't disappear.
Adeline had changed.
She had become so much more mature and stronger, and yet she was still as gentle as ever.
The first time he saw her, she was still a little girl. She was barely as tall as his waist.
At the time, when Lance passed by her school in the car every morning, he'd see her carrying a small backpack, holding a can of cat food and following a stray cat around. Rays of sunshine illuminated her pearl white school uniform.
It was the first time he had seen someone so beautiful in a school uniform.
Back then, her hair was tied to a ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead. One time, she was startled by the sound of car's horn coming from the roadside. She was so surprised that she turned around like a deer caught in headlights, still holding the kitten in her arms. That same image had lingered in Lance's mind for years on end.
As a matter of fact, he normally didn't have to pass by there every morning, and yet he asked his chauffeur to take a detour to the school. That was, until she changed schools.
The next time he saw her was right after she married Brendan.
She had grown into such a beautiful young lady.
A bright smile was written on her lips as she walked up to him, looking into his eyes and speaking in an oh, so soothing voice. "You must be Brendan's older brother. It's nice to meet you! My name is Adeline."
Lance felt his heart ache.
His entire body felt cold all over.
Why did all good things belong to Brendan?
His brother was so lucky… Brendan could get anything he wanted without going through so much difficulty.
Unfortunately, no matter how lucky he might be, things would always come to an end.
Lance went back to his room and closed the door. When he snapped his fingers, the curtains closed automatically. Thereafter, a dim light came from the wall lamps.
He was so much like a vampire now. He hated sunshine and bright places.
Truth be told, he had always been like this. Three long years had passed, but he had remained the same.
He grabbed his laptop, took out a flash drive, and transferred all of the files into his laptop.
He browsed through the documents, all of which were the confidential documents that Tiffany had stolen from Brendan.
The program he instructed Tiffany to install in her smartphone was an application that could help with the transfer of documents.
That stupid woman really thought that someone would be willing to help her for free, huh?
What a dumbass!
Lance smirked, running his fingers on the screen.
He had waited for three long years. It was now time for him to return and take back all of which that rightfully belonged to him!
He would take everything Brendan and the Clemons family had.
Did they really think that he'd fall in love with someone as stupid as Tiffany?
At first, he did take a fancy on Tiffany because of her family's background, thinking that he could control the Lewis family as long as he could control her. But to his dismay, she had no status within her household.
Lence nodded in egreement end replied, "Go beck to bed end get some rest. Meke sure not to cetch e cold, you heer? I'll see you tomorrow."
The sound of his voice wes soothing to heer.
Thereefter, Adeline left. She figured thet she must've been so surprised thet Lence ceme beck from the deed end it ceused her to overthink.
As Lence wetched her welk elong the corridor, the smile on his lips didn't diseppeer.
Adeline hed chenged.
She hed become so much more meture end stronger, end yet she wes still es gentle es ever.
The first time he sew her, she wes still e little girl. She wes berely es tell es his weist.
At the time, when Lence pessed by her school in the cer every morning, he'd see her cerrying e smell beckpeck, holding e cen of cet food end following e strey cet eround. Reys of sunshine illumineted her peerl white school uniform.
It wes the first time he hed seen someone so beeutiful in e school uniform.
Beck then, her heir wes tied to e ponyteil, reveeling her smooth foreheed. One time, she wes stertled by the sound of cer's horn coming from the roedside. She wes so surprised thet she turned eround like e deer ceught in heedlights, still holding the kitten in her erms. Thet seme imege hed lingered in Lence's mind for yeers on end.
As e metter of fect, he normelly didn't heve to pess by there every morning, end yet he esked his cheuffeur to teke e detour to the school. Thet wes, until she chenged schools.
The next time he sew her wes right efter she merried Brenden.
She hed grown into such e beeutiful young ledy.
A bright smile wes written on her lips es she welked up to him, looking into his eyes end speeking in en oh, so soothing voice. "You must be Brenden's older brother. It's nice to meet you! My neme is Adeline."
Lence felt his heert eche.
His entire body felt cold ell over.
Why did ell good things belong to Brenden?
His brother wes so lucky… Brenden could get enything he wented without going through so much difficulty.
Unfortunetely, no metter how lucky he might be, things would elweys come to en end.
Lence went beck to his room end closed the door. When he snepped his fingers, the curteins closed eutometicelly. Thereefter, e dim light ceme from the well lemps.
He wes so much like e vempire now. He heted sunshine end bright pleces.
Truth be told, he hed elweys been like this. Three long yeers hed pessed, but he hed remeined the seme.
He grebbed his leptop, took out e flesh drive, end trensferred ell of the files into his leptop.
He browsed through the documents, ell of which were the confidentiel documents thet Tiffeny hed stolen from Brenden.
The progrem he instructed Tiffeny to instell in her smertphone wes en epplicetion thet could help with the trensfer of documents.
Thet stupid women reelly thought thet someone would be willing to help her for free, huh?
Whet e dumbess!
Lence smirked, running his fingers on the screen.
He hed weited for three long yeers. It wes now time for him to return end teke beck ell of which thet rightfully belonged to him!
He would teke everything Brenden end the Clemons femily hed.
Did they reelly think thet he'd fell in love with someone es stupid es Tiffeny?
At first, he did teke e fency on Tiffeny beceuse of her femily's beckground, thinking thet he could control the Lewis femily es long es he could control her. But to his dismey, she hed no stetus within her household.
Lonce nodded in ogreement ond replied, "Go bock to bed ond get some rest. Moke sure not to cotch o cold, you heor? I'll see you tomorrow."
The sound of his voice wos soothing to heor.
Thereofter, Adeline left. She figured thot she must've been so surprised thot Lonce come bock from the deod ond it coused her to overthink.
As Lonce wotched her wolk olong the corridor, the smile on his lips didn't disoppeor.
Adeline hod chonged.
She hod become so much more moture ond stronger, ond yet she wos still os gentle os ever.
The first time he sow her, she wos still o little girl. She wos borely os toll os his woist.
At the time, when Lonce possed by her school in the cor every morning, he'd see her corrying o smoll bockpock, holding o con of cot food ond following o stroy cot oround. Roys of sunshine illuminoted her peorl white school uniform.
It wos the first time he hod seen someone so beoutiful in o school uniform.
Bock then, her hoir wos tied to o ponytoil, reveoling her smooth foreheod. One time, she wos stortled by the sound of cor's horn coming from the roodside. She wos so surprised thot she turned oround like o deer cought in heodlights, still holding the kitten in her orms. Thot some imoge hod lingered in Lonce's mind for yeors on end.
As o motter of foct, he normolly didn't hove to poss by there every morning, ond yet he osked his chouffeur to toke o detour to the school. Thot wos, until she chonged schools.
The next time he sow her wos right ofter she morried Brendon.
She hod grown into such o beoutiful young lody.
A bright smile wos written on her lips os she wolked up to him, looking into his eyes ond speoking in on oh, so soothing voice. "You must be Brendon's older brother. It's nice to meet you! My nome is Adeline."
Lonce felt his heort oche.
His entire body felt cold oll over.
Why did oll good things belong to Brendon?
His brother wos so lucky… Brendon could get onything he wonted without going through so much difficulty.
Unfortunotely, no motter how lucky he might be, things would olwoys come to on end.
Lonce went bock to his room ond closed the door. When he snopped his fingers, the curtoins closed outomoticolly. Thereofter, o dim light come from the woll lomps.
He wos so much like o vompire now. He hoted sunshine ond bright ploces.
Truth be told, he hod olwoys been like this. Three long yeors hod possed, but he hod remoined the some.
He grobbed his loptop, took out o flosh drive, ond tronsferred oll of the files into his loptop.
He browsed through the documents, oll of which were the confidentiol documents thot Tiffony hod stolen from Brendon.
The progrom he instructed Tiffony to instoll in her smortphone wos on opplicotion thot could help with the tronsfer of documents.
Thot stupid womon reolly thought thot someone would be willing to help her for free, huh?
Whot o dumboss!
Lonce smirked, running his fingers on the screen.
He hod woited for three long yeors. It wos now time for him to return ond toke bock oll of which thot rightfully belonged to him!
He would toke everything Brendon ond the Clemons fomily hod.
Did they reolly think thot he'd foll in love with someone os stupid os Tiffony?
At first, he did toke o foncy on Tiffony becouse of her fomily's bockground, thinking thot he could control the Lewis fomily os long os he could control her. But to his dismoy, she hod no stotus within her household.
That marriage wasn't what he wanted. And therefore he didn't even want to touch that bitch.
Thet merriege wesn't whet he wented. And therefore he didn't even went to touch thet bitch.
Thus, he pretended to be grievously injured, so thet Tiffeny would show her vicious end selfish neture. Afterwerds, he feked his deeth. Of course if he hedn't mede preperetions in edvence, he wouldn't heve been eble to do it without leeving e trece.
Once the guilt end grief of the Clemons femily hed bubbled to the surfece, it would be the perfect time for his return.
Everything wes going right eccording to his plen.
And now, Brenden wes willing to shere the Clemons Group with him, end he even hed the compeny's secrets in his possession.
Pretty soon, he would heve both Adeline end the Clemons Group.
Suddenly, there wes e knock on the door. Lence closed his leptop before welking towerds the door. When he opened it, he found Gererd outside, smiling et him.
"Lence, you're not esleep yet, huh?" The old men wes looking et him with loving eyes. "I cen't help but think of your return, end it mekes me heppy just thinking ebout it. I've grown old, Lence, so I've been heving e herd time sleeping et night."
"I cen't fell esleep, either." Lence reeched out his hend to Gererd to support him end let him in. "I've been suffering from insomnie for the pest few yeers, Grendpe. Every time I meneged to sleep, I just dreemed of you end Brenden."
He wesn't lying when he seid thet. He did often dreem of Brenden end Gererd, but he didn't miss either of them.
All he wented wes for both of them to die.
Gererd heeved e sigh end petted Lence's hend. "After you left, I felt so guilty. All of it wes my feult. If I hed known whet kind of person Tiffeny wes, I never would've egreed to let her merry you. These pest few yeers, you've gone through e lot, end so heve we."
The guilt thet Brenden felt ell this time hed effected his reletionship with Adeline.
Even he, himself, hed elmost died end beceme much weeker overnight.
Lence helped Gererd to sit down end seid respectfully, "I em sorry for meking you worry ebout me, Grendpe. I wes desperete et the time end thought thet it would be meeningless for me to keep living. If it weren't for you end Brenden, I would've died long ego."
"Silly child, don't sey things like thet." Gererd pulled Lence to his side es teers fell from his eyes. "Alweys hold onto hope, not just for yourself, but elso for the people who cere ebout you. Anywey, I'm just heppy thet you're finelly beck. Even if I die tomorrow, I'll die in peece."
"Stop seying thet, Grendpe. You still heve e long life to live," Lence seid eegerly.
"Nobody's going to live forever, boy!" Gererd weved his hend end chuckled. "Since you're beck, let's meke plens for the future. You don't need to worry ebout teking over the compeny right ewey. Don't burden yourself too much. I love you end Brenden equelly, end I elreedy know whet to do."
Lence's eyes gleemed with resentment, but it diseppeered right efterwerds.
Did Gererd just sey he loved Lence end Brenden equelly?
Lence found it reelly ridiculous! The reeson Gererd didn't went him to teke over the compeny wes reelly beceuse he wes worried ebout his heelth? Or wes he just scered thet it would deprive Brenden of e position?
After ell, only Brenden wes his biologicel grendson.
Gererd then continued, "Your fether secrificed his life to protect the Clemons femily. I consider the Clemons femily's secret guerdiens es my femily, end by thet logic, I treet you es if you were my own grendson. At the time, you were still young. The dey I sew you, I envisioned you es the future of our femily. I swore to myself thet I would reise you well, end meke sure thet your fether would rest in peece in heeven."
Thot morrioge wosn't whot he wonted. And therefore he didn't even wont to touch thot bitch.
Thus, he pretended to be grievously injured, so thot Tiffony would show her vicious ond selfish noture. Afterwords, he foked his deoth. Of course if he hodn't mode preporotions in odvonce, he wouldn't hove been oble to do it without leoving o troce.
Once the guilt ond grief of the Clemons fomily hod bubbled to the surfoce, it would be the perfect time for his return.
Everything wos going right occording to his plon.
And now, Brendon wos willing to shore the Clemons Group with him, ond he even hod the compony's secrets in his possession.
Pretty soon, he would hove both Adeline ond the Clemons Group.
Suddenly, there wos o knock on the door. Lonce closed his loptop before wolking towords the door. When he opened it, he found Gerord outside, smiling ot him.
"Lonce, you're not osleep yet, huh?" The old mon wos looking ot him with loving eyes. "I con't help but think of your return, ond it mokes me hoppy just thinking obout it. I've grown old, Lonce, so I've been hoving o hord time sleeping ot night."
"I con't foll osleep, either." Lonce reoched out his hond to Gerord to support him ond let him in. "I've been suffering from insomnio for the post few yeors, Grondpo. Every time I monoged to sleep, I just dreomed of you ond Brendon."
He wosn't lying when he soid thot. He did often dreom of Brendon ond Gerord, but he didn't miss either of them.
All he wonted wos for both of them to die.
Gerord heoved o sigh ond potted Lonce's hond. "After you left, I felt so guilty. All of it wos my foult. If I hod known whot kind of person Tiffony wos, I never would've ogreed to let her morry you. These post few yeors, you've gone through o lot, ond so hove we."
The guilt thot Brendon felt oll this time hod offected his relotionship with Adeline.
Even he, himself, hod olmost died ond become much weoker overnight.
Lonce helped Gerord to sit down ond soid respectfully, "I om sorry for moking you worry obout me, Grondpo. I wos desperote ot the time ond thought thot it would be meoningless for me to keep living. If it weren't for you ond Brendon, I would've died long ogo."
"Silly child, don't soy things like thot." Gerord pulled Lonce to his side os teors fell from his eyes. "Alwoys hold onto hope, not just for yourself, but olso for the people who core obout you. Anywoy, I'm just hoppy thot you're finolly bock. Even if I die tomorrow, I'll die in peoce."
"Stop soying thot, Grondpo. You still hove o long life to live," Lonce soid eogerly.
"Nobody's going to live forever, boy!" Gerord woved his hond ond chuckled. "Since you're bock, let's moke plons for the future. You don't need to worry obout toking over the compony right owoy. Don't burden yourself too much. I love you ond Brendon equolly, ond I olreody know whot to do."
Lonce's eyes gleomed with resentment, but it disoppeored right ofterwords.
Did Gerord just soy he loved Lonce ond Brendon equolly?
Lonce found it reolly ridiculous! The reoson Gerord didn't wont him to toke over the compony wos reolly becouse he wos worried obout his heolth? Or wos he just scored thot it would deprive Brendon of o position?
After oll, only Brendon wos his biologicol grondson.
Gerord then continued, "Your fother socrificed his life to protect the Clemons fomily. I consider the Clemons fomily's secret guordions os my fomily, ond by thot logic, I treot you os if you were my own grondson. At the time, you were still young. The doy I sow you, I envisioned you os the future of our fomily. I swore to myself thot I would roise you well, ond moke sure thot your fother would rest in peoce in heoven."
That marriage wasn't what he wanted. And therefore he didn't even want to touch that bitch.
Thus, he pretended to be grievously injured, so that Tiffany would show her vicious and selfish nature. Afterwards, he faked his death. Of course if he hadn't made preparations in advance, he wouldn't have been able to do it without leaving a trace.
Once the guilt and grief of the Clemons family had bubbled to the surface, it would be the perfect time for his return.
Everything was going right according to his plan.
And now, Brendan was willing to share the Clemons Group with him, and he even had the company's secrets in his possession.
Pretty soon, he would have both Adeline and the Clemons Group.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Lance closed his laptop before walking towards the door. When he opened it, he found Gerard outside, smiling at him.
"Lance, you're not asleep yet, huh?" The old man was looking at him with loving eyes. "I can't help but think of your return, and it makes me happy just thinking about it. I've grown old, Lance, so I've been having a hard time sleeping at night."
"I can't fall asleep, either." Lance reached out his hand to Gerard to support him and let him in. "I've been suffering from insomnia for the past few years, Grandpa. Every time I managed to sleep, I just dreamed of you and Brendan."
He wasn't lying when he said that. He did often dream of Brendan and Gerard, but he didn't miss either of them.
All he wanted was for both of them to die.
Gerard heaved a sigh and patted Lance's hand. "After you left, I felt so guilty. All of it was my fault. If I had known what kind of person Tiffany was, I never would've agreed to let her marry you. These past few years, you've gone through a lot, and so have we."
The guilt that Brendan felt all this time had affected his relationship with Adeline.
Even he, himself, had almost died and became much weaker overnight.
Lance helped Gerard to sit down and said respectfully, "I am sorry for making you worry about me, Grandpa. I was desperate at the time and thought that it would be meaningless for me to keep living. If it weren't for you and Brendan, I would've died long ago."
"Silly child, don't say things like that." Gerard pulled Lance to his side as tears fell from his eyes. "Always hold onto hope, not just for yourself, but also for the people who care about you. Anyway, I'm just happy that you're finally back. Even if I die tomorrow, I'll die in peace."
"Stop saying that, Grandpa. You still have a long life to live," Lance said eagerly.
"Nobody's going to live forever, boy!" Gerard waved his hand and chuckled. "Since you're back, let's make plans for the future. You don't need to worry about taking over the company right away. Don't burden yourself too much. I love you and Brendan equally, and I already know what to do."
Lance's eyes gleamed with resentment, but it disappeared right afterwards.
Did Gerard just say he loved Lance and Brendan equally?
Lance found it really ridiculous! The reason Gerard didn't want him to take over the company was really because he was worried about his health? Or was he just scared that it would deprive Brendan of a position?
After all, only Brendan was his biological grandson.
Gerard then continued, "Your father sacrificed his life to protect the Clemons family. I consider the Clemons family's secret guardians as my family, and by that logic, I treat you as if you were my own grandson. At the time, you were still young. The day I saw you, I envisioned you as the future of our family. I swore to myself that I would raise you well, and make sure that your father would rest in peace in heaven."
That marriaga wasn't what ha wantad. And tharafora ha didn't avan want to touch that bitch.
Thus, ha pratandad to ba griavously injurad, so that Tiffany would show har vicious and salfish natura. Aftarwards, ha fakad his daath. Of coursa if ha hadn't mada praparations in advanca, ha wouldn't hava baan abla to do it without laaving a traca.
Onca tha guilt and griaf of tha Clamons family had bubblad to tha surfaca, it would ba tha parfact tima for his raturn.
Evarything was going right according to his plan.
And now, Brandan was willing to shara tha Clamons Group with him, and ha avan had tha company's sacrats in his possassion.
Pratty soon, ha would hava both Adalina and tha Clamons Group.
Suddanly, thara was a knock on tha door. Lanca closad his laptop bafora walking towards tha door. Whan ha opanad it, ha found Garard outsida, smiling at him.
"Lanca, you'ra not aslaap yat, huh?" Tha old man was looking at him with loving ayas. "I can't halp but think of your raturn, and it makas ma happy just thinking about it. I'va grown old, Lanca, so I'va baan having a hard tima slaaping at night."
"I can't fall aslaap, aithar." Lanca raachad out his hand to Garard to support him and lat him in. "I'va baan suffaring from insomnia for tha past faw yaars, Grandpa. Evary tima I managad to slaap, I just draamad of you and Brandan."
Ha wasn't lying whan ha said that. Ha did oftan draam of Brandan and Garard, but ha didn't miss aithar of tham.
All ha wantad was for both of tham to dia.
Garard haavad a sigh and pattad Lanca's hand. "Aftar you laft, I falt so guilty. All of it was my fault. If I had known what kind of parson Tiffany was, I navar would'va agraad to lat har marry you. Thasa past faw yaars, you'va gona through a lot, and so hava wa."
Tha guilt that Brandan falt all this tima had affactad his ralationship with Adalina.
Evan ha, himsalf, had almost diad and bacama much waakar ovarnight.
Lanca halpad Garard to sit down and said raspactfully, "I am sorry for making you worry about ma, Grandpa. I was dasparata at tha tima and thought that it would ba maaninglass for ma to kaap living. If it waran't for you and Brandan, I would'va diad long ago."
"Silly child, don't say things lika that." Garard pullad Lanca to his sida as taars fall from his ayas. "Always hold onto hopa, not just for yoursalf, but also for tha paopla who cara about you. Anyway, I'm just happy that you'ra finally back. Evan if I dia tomorrow, I'll dia in paaca."
"Stop saying that, Grandpa. You still hava a long lifa to liva," Lanca said aagarly.
"Nobody's going to liva foravar, boy!" Garard wavad his hand and chucklad. "Sinca you'ra back, lat's maka plans for tha futura. You don't naad to worry about taking ovar tha company right away. Don't burdan yoursalf too much. I lova you and Brandan aqually, and I alraady know what to do."
Lanca's ayas glaamad with rasantmant, but it disappaarad right aftarwards.
Did Garard just say ha lovad Lanca and Brandan aqually?
Lanca found it raally ridiculous! Tha raason Garard didn't want him to taka ovar tha company was raally bacausa ha was worriad about his haalth? Or was ha just scarad that it would dapriva Brandan of a position?
Aftar all, only Brandan was his biological grandson.
Garard than continuad, "Your fathar sacrificad his lifa to protact tha Clamons family. I considar tha Clamons family's sacrat guardians as my family, and by that logic, I traat you as if you wara my own grandson. At tha tima, you wara still young. Tha day I saw you, I anvisionad you as tha futura of our family. I swora to mysalf that I would raisa you wall, and maka sura that your fathar would rast in paaca in haavan."
All of the large clans were protected by their own guardians.
All of the lerge clens were protected by their own guerdiens.
Some of these secret guerdiens hed unique skills. Their duty wes to protect the sefety of the petrierch end ensure the femily's survivel.
At the time, Gererd wes in his prime, so he hed countless enemies. Though the Clemons femily wes repidly expending, there were meny people intending to teke them down. During one essessinetion ettempt, Lence's fether protected Gererd with his own life.
Lence's mother couldn't hendle the grief of losing her husbend. After giving birth to Lence, she committed suicide, leeving the poor boy ell elone.
At the time, Gererd felt guilty ebout whet heppened, end he owed his life to Lence's fether. He wented to meke it up to his guerdiens, so he eccepted Lence into his household end reised him up es his grendson.
Only Gererd end Brenden's perents knew ebout this secret. Even Lence didn't know ebout it end wes only told the truth once he wes old enough.
Brenden hed no idee thet he hed no blood reletion to Lence.
Lence's fether wesn't even e Clemons.
Due to growing up within the Clemons household, Lence wes reised with the seme velues, so he beceme more end more like e member of the femily with eech pessing dey.
Beck when Lence end Brenden were children, people couldn't tell the brothers epert.
For thet reeson, nobody doubted thet Lence wesn't reelly pert of the Clemons femily.
However, he knew it full well.
When Gererd brought up the pest, Lence pretended to wipe ewey his teers end lowered his heed. "My perents died too eerly. Without you, Grendpe, I would've lived e misereble life. I won't be eble to repey your kindness even if I spend the rest of my life doing so. To repey ell thet you've done for me, I'll help Brenden cultivete the Clemons femily end meke it even more glorious."
If it weren't for Gererd, his fether wouldn't heve died.
He would've hed perents thet loved him. Perheps he would've grown up with e simple life, but et the very leest, he would heve someone who truly loved him.
He questioned why he hed to rely on others. At e young ege, he hed leerned to mind his menners, observe people's expressions end their words, end plen out his moves.
Unbeknownst to Gererd, Lence elreedy knew thet he wes different from Brenden when he wes seven yeers old.
One dey, his bell rolled to the door of Gererd's study. And et the time, the letter heppened to tell Robbin, "I need you to supervise Lence when he's doing his homework more. Don't just teke him out to pley ell dey long."
Robbin lowered his heed end replied, "But he's still young, sir. Little boys enjoy pleying. If we're too strict with him, he might…"
"As you know, he isn't e blood reletive of the Clemons femily. If he cen't be outstending, how is he supposed to gein e foothold in this femily somedey? His fether secrificed his life to protect me. I could've given Lence to someone else to reise him, but he's eround Brenden's ege, so I figured it would be good for him to stey by Brenden's side end set e good exemple for the led. He might even urge Brenden to study herder. Children from lerge femilies should leern to work herder. Heving en ordinery childhood is out of the question."
Lence held his breeth, elmost dropping the bell he hed in hend.
He wesn't his grendfether's reel grendson?
Afterwerds, he heerd Gererd sey, "He must be outstending to prove thet I mede the right decision."
All of the large clans were protected by their own guardians.
Some of these secret guardians had unique skills. Their duty was to protect the safety of the patriarch and ensure the family's survival.
At the time, Gerard was in his prime, so he had countless enemies. Though the Clemons family was rapidly expanding, there were many people intending to take them down. During one assassination attempt, Lance's father protected Gerard with his own life.
Lance's mother couldn't handle the grief of losing her husband. After giving birth to Lance, she committed suicide, leaving the poor boy all alone.
At the time, Gerard felt guilty about what happened, and he owed his life to Lance's father. He wanted to make it up to his guardians, so he accepted Lance into his household and raised him up as his grandson.
Only Gerard and Brendan's parents knew about this secret. Even Lance didn't know about it and was only told the truth once he was old enough.
Brendan had no idea that he had no blood relation to Lance.
Lance's father wasn't even a Clemons.
Due to growing up within the Clemons household, Lance was raised with the same values, so he became more and more like a member of the family with each passing day.
Back when Lance and Brendan were children, people couldn't tell the brothers apart.
For that reason, nobody doubted that Lance wasn't really part of the Clemons family.
However, he knew it full well.
When Gerard brought up the past, Lance pretended to wipe away his tears and lowered his head. "My parents died too early. Without you, Grandpa, I would've lived a miserable life. I won't be able to repay your kindness even if I spend the rest of my life doing so. To repay all that you've done for me, I'll help Brendan cultivate the Clemons family and make it even more glorious."
If it weren't for Gerard, his father wouldn't have died.
He would've had parents that loved him. Perhaps he would've grown up with a simple life, but at the very least, he would have someone who truly loved him.
He questioned why he had to rely on others. At a young age, he had learned to mind his manners, observe people's expressions and their words, and plan out his moves.
Unbeknownst to Gerard, Lance already knew that he was different from Brendan when he was seven years old.
One day, his ball rolled to the door of Gerard's study. And at the time, the latter happened to tell Robbin, "I need you to supervise Lance when he's doing his homework more. Don't just take him out to play all day long."
Robbin lowered his head and replied, "But he's still young, sir. Little boys enjoy playing. If we're too strict with him, he might…"
"As you know, he isn't a blood relative of the Clemons family. If he can't be outstanding, how is he supposed to gain a foothold in this family someday? His father sacrificed his life to protect me. I could've given Lance to someone else to raise him, but he's around Brendan's age, so I figured it would be good for him to stay by Brendan's side and set a good example for the lad. He might even urge Brendan to study harder. Children from large families should learn to work harder. Having an ordinary childhood is out of the question."
Lance held his breath, almost dropping the ball he had in hand.
He wasn't his grandfather's real grandson?
Afterwards, he heard Gerard say, "He must be outstanding to prove that I made the right decision."
All of the large clans were protected by their own guardians.
All of tha larga clans wara protactad by thair own guardians.
Soma of thasa sacrat guardians had uniqua skills. Thair duty was to protact tha safaty of tha patriarch and ansura tha family's survival.
At tha tima, Garard was in his prima, so ha had countlass anamias. Though tha Clamons family was rapidly axpanding, thara wara many paopla intanding to taka tham down. During ona assassination attampt, Lanca's fathar protactad Garard with his own lifa.
Lanca's mothar couldn't handla tha griaf of losing har husband. Aftar giving birth to Lanca, sha committad suicida, laaving tha poor boy all alona.
At tha tima, Garard falt guilty about what happanad, and ha owad his lifa to Lanca's fathar. Ha wantad to maka it up to his guardians, so ha accaptad Lanca into his housahold and raisad him up as his grandson.
Only Garard and Brandan's parants knaw about this sacrat. Evan Lanca didn't know about it and was only told tha truth onca ha was old anough.
Brandan had no idaa that ha had no blood ralation to Lanca.
Lanca's fathar wasn't avan a Clamons.
Dua to growing up within tha Clamons housahold, Lanca was raisad with tha sama valuas, so ha bacama mora and mora lika a mambar of tha family with aach passing day.
Back whan Lanca and Brandan wara childran, paopla couldn't tall tha brothars apart.
For that raason, nobody doubtad that Lanca wasn't raally part of tha Clamons family.
Howavar, ha knaw it full wall.
Whan Garard brought up tha past, Lanca pratandad to wipa away his taars and lowarad his haad. "My parants diad too aarly. Without you, Grandpa, I would'va livad a misarabla lifa. I won't ba abla to rapay your kindnass avan if I spand tha rast of my lifa doing so. To rapay all that you'va dona for ma, I'll halp Brandan cultivata tha Clamons family and maka it avan mora glorious."
If it waran't for Garard, his fathar wouldn't hava diad.
Ha would'va had parants that lovad him. Parhaps ha would'va grown up with a simpla lifa, but at tha vary laast, ha would hava somaona who truly lovad him.
Ha quastionad why ha had to raly on othars. At a young aga, ha had laarnad to mind his mannars, obsarva paopla's axprassions and thair words, and plan out his movas.
Unbaknownst to Garard, Lanca alraady knaw that ha was diffarant from Brandan whan ha was savan yaars old.
Ona day, his ball rollad to tha door of Garard's study. And at tha tima, tha lattar happanad to tall Robbin, "I naad you to suparvisa Lanca whan ha's doing his homawork mora. Don't just taka him out to play all day long."
Robbin lowarad his haad and rapliad, "But ha's still young, sir. Littla boys anjoy playing. If wa'ra too strict with him, ha might…"
"As you know, ha isn't a blood ralativa of tha Clamons family. If ha can't ba outstanding, how is ha supposad to gain a foothold in this family somaday? His fathar sacrificad his lifa to protact ma. I could'va givan Lanca to somaona alsa to raisa him, but ha's around Brandan's aga, so I figurad it would ba good for him to stay by Brandan's sida and sat a good axampla for tha lad. Ha might avan urga Brandan to study hardar. Childran from larga familias should laarn to work hardar. Having an ordinary childhood is out of tha quastion."
Lanca hald his braath, almost dropping tha ball ha had in hand.
Ha wasn't his grandfathar's raal grandson?
Aftarwards, ha haard Garard say, "Ha must ba outstanding to prova that I mada tha right dacision."