Spoiled by Eight Uncles (Lily) novel Chapter 3

Everything happened so fast that the Hatchers had no time to react.

By the time Stephen rushed out, he saw Anthony preparing to get into his car and drive off. However, he had not been in time to see Gilbert brushing the snow off Lilly and picking her up from where she had been kneeling by the gate.

“My goodness! It’s Mr. Anthony Crawford!” Stephen plastered a bright smile onto his face and greeted the other cheerfully. “What brings you here? It’s an honor to have you visiting our humble abode!”

By then, Richard, Paula, and some of the Hatcher servants had hurried out to join Stephen as well, their faces wreathed in smiles of welcome.

When they saw Anthony’s stern, aloof countenance, they became even more fawning and obsequious.

Anthony Crawford was the current head of the Crawford family’s business empire and the CEO of Crawford Holdings!

The Crawford family was one of Clodston’s four influential families; everyone wanted to butter them up and curry favor.

A true aristocratic family like this with old money and such deep ties to Clodston was rare. The Crawfords were an elusive, mysterious entity; they kept themselves out of the limelight. The only thing anyone in Clodston knew for sure was that the Crawfords had eight sons, but even then, few had even set eyes on them.

Anthony was occasionally featured in the headlines of the financial news, which was why the Hatchers had recognized him.

“Mr. Crawford, please come in! It’s freezing out here. We’d love to have you stay a little while if you don’t mind such humble surroundings,” Richard said enthusiastically.

“Yes, yes, please do come in and have something hot!” Stephen chimed in, smiling.

Now that they were in the presence of a truly distinguished person, all the Hatchers could not help trying to ingratiate themselves with him.

The Ador Hatcher Corporation was in dire straits; for the Hatcher family, this was a catastrophe.

However, just a word from Anthony would revive their flagging fortunes!

If luck favored them, they might even become one of Clodston’s top ten influential families…

Anthony’s face betrayed no hint of expression; instead, he studied Stephen with keen eyes.

Was this Lilly’s father?

Still without expression, Anthony declined Richard’s offer coolly and enigmatically. “Very well, Mr. Hatcher and family.”

Without another word, he got into his car and drove off.

The Hatchers stood there, confused and dazed, watching him leave.

Paula was the first to speak. “Mr. Crawford said very well… Does that mean he’s intending to help us?”

Richard frowned. “Given his expression, I don’t think he meant anything complimentary.”

Stephen ordered the servants to enlighten him about what had happened earlier.

They related how the Crawfords had shown up en masse at the Hatcher Mansion and taken Lilly away, and that a man in black had stripped off his coat and wrapped it around her, cradling her in his arms. He had also identified himself as her uncle…

When Stephen heard this, he was thunderstruck. Suddenly, everything became terrifyingly clear.

It was common knowledge that the Crawfords had eight sons and a daughter. However, the daughter’s health was frail, and she had never appeared in public before.

Did this mean that the woman he had rescued four years ago was the Crawford family’s one and only precious daughter?!

The rest of the Hatcher family felt their hearts sinking. How they bitterly regretted their actions!

Paula’s lips trembled. “So Jean was the Crawfords’ daughter… hurry, we need to go and get Lilly back…”

They would never have forced Lilly to kneel in the snow if they had known!

In fact, they would have treated her like a goddess and worshiped at her feet!

Stephen regretted his actions as well; when he recalled how he had disciplined Lilly so harshly, he felt uneasy.

Angrily he snapped, “How are you going to get her back? Do you think we can walk in and take her away just like that?”

Richard frowned so hard his brow looked like a wrinkled prune. After a long moment of consideration, he said, “Well, regardless, we’re still Lilly’s blood relations. We’re her grandparents, after all! The Crawfords can’t deny that, no matter how angry they are. Then again, Lilly did cause Debbie’s miscarriage, that’s a fact…”

All they had wanted to do was to teach Lilly not to be an irresponsible little liar!

Unfortunately, Stephen had let his temper get the better of him and had disciplined her more severely than he should have…

The Hatchers felt confident that they would be able to clear up any misunderstandings with the Crawfords. All they had to do was to have a satisfactory explanation for everything. Once that was settled, they would be able to look forward to a future of wealth and prestige…

…

Instead of returning to Clodston after rescuing Lilly, the Crawfords went straight to the nearest hospital.

The hitherto vacant VIP suite in South Town’s best hospital was now a hive of frantic activity.

No one dared to raise their voices. The atmosphere was extremely tense, punctuated by the sounds of hospital equipment beeping and doctors and nurses hurrying to and fro.

Hugh Crawford paced back and forth with the help of his walking stick. “Why are they still in there?” He muttered fretfully.

Anthony glanced at the time, then gently told his father, “Dad, you should sit down.”