My One-month Marriage With Mr. Hawkins

Chapter 542: Eliminate Heirship

He would be judged and punished. Florence had a sudden blackout and she felt a rush of bitterness in her mouth. In the end, she still got Ernest into trouble. Benjamin looked at Florence’s traumatized look with complacence and took a step forward, snatching the knife away from her hand. He glimpsed at the wound on her neck and ordered coldly, “Bandage her wound and don’t let her die.” What he wanted was just to let her live.

Florence stood there in a trance. There were only darkness and despair left in her heart. Now, Ernest was tricked by Benjamin too and he fell into the water. She wondered how Stanford would treat him and what punishment would Ernest face from the Turner family. Her heart ached just by thinking of it.

Florence was brought back to her room. This time, Benjamin had sent men to keep their eyes peeled on her, even when she was going to the washroom. He would not give her any single chance to kill herself nor escape anymore. Florence was desperate and she did not plan to fight her way out, sitting there like a puppet instead. She stared across the window at the endless ocean. This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Not knowing how many hours had passed afterwards, shoreline and land finally appeared at the far end of horizon. Benjamin had reached the place he wanted to take her. Florence’s eyes glazed over as she looked at the direction of the shore, she was secretly trembling with fear.

The door was cracked open by someone from the outside. Benjamin was wearing a delightful smile and he strode towards her. He spoke, “We’re gonna reach our bridal chamber soon, Flory.” Florence sat there with an expressionless face and ignored him.

Benjamin was having a good mood and he was not provoked. He extended his hand and held Florence’s hand, dragging her up from the seat. Florence struggled yet his strength was huge and he was holding her tightly. He said, “Come with me.” Benjamin sounded gentle, yet his action was overbearing. He grasped her hand like a clamp and forced her to follow him to the front.

Even though Florence was reluctant, she could not match his strength. She was now like a fish on the cutting board which could not do anything to resist. Since she was kept an eye by someone, she could not hurt herself too. Benjamin had clearly planned everything beforehand. The jetty was independent and except his bodyguards, there was no one else along the way.

The place he took her to was a brand new villa that was built at the seaside. The environment was stunning. However, Florence did not have the mood to enjoy it. If things went as planned, that would be her cage soon. Housemaids were lining up at both sides of the entrance of the villa. They stooped with deference. “Welcome, Mr. Turner, Mrs. Turner.”

Mrs. Turner? Florence frowned with disgust. Yet Benjamin was having a pleasant mood and he asked the middle-aged, butler-looking man who was walking towards him, “Has it started?” The middle-aged man answered, “Yes, it has. Everything’s all set, Mr. Turner. After you.”

What had started? Florence’s heart raced with uneasiness. Benjamin did not plan to hide it from her and he brought her to the deeper room instead. It was a customized gigantic room and a display screen that occupied a whole wall was placed in the room.

The screen in the middle was now broadcasting a surveillance picture. On the screen, there was a majestic, palace-like hall, and on the throne high up sat Theodore Turner who was looking dignified. Elders were sitting at both sides below him in lines. The elders mostly had white hairs and their face was full of wrinkles, yet each of them had an astute look. They had great energy and their voice was loud and clear. They were criticizing someone with rage.

“Ernest Hawkins is too reckless and bold, how could he do such a thing that would damage the Turner’s reputation! The Turner’s must not endure this kind of shame!”

“Agree, we Turner’s can’t stand this humiliation! Ernest Hawkins must pay the price!”

“Dismiss him! Eliminate his right as the heir. He could not be the heir of the Turner’s anymore after what he had done!”

The conversation went on among the elders and they sounded more and more furious. Every criticism was directed towards Ernest. Florence stood there with her body frozen and she stared at the screen in a daze. No matter how dumb she was, she could still tell it was the Turner’s family meeting. Except Theodore who was sitting on the throne who still had not spoken, everyone from the Turner’s was demanding punishment towards Ernest. None of them was defending for Ernest, no one.

Florence felt a chill down her spine and her face was cadaverous. It was then she truly knew how difficult Ernest’s situation was in the Turner’s. His situation had become worse after he pretended to be Clarence. Theodore who was sitting on the throne was keeping a straight face and he looked somber.

He stared at the elders who were babbling below with dignity and frowned, speaking slowly, “Ernest did make a huge mistake, and he must be punished severely. However, the Turner’s must have an heir. Even if we break the Turner’s rule and eliminate Ernest’s heirship, we must need someone to replace him as the heir.”

An elder with white hair stood up and said, “Benjamin had been raised as the heir since little before Ernest returned, we should make Benjamin as the heir now.” Another person chimed in, “That is true, but Benjamin could only replace Ernest as the heir under one condition, which is when Ernest is gone. But now, Ernest is alive, and by rule, only he is first in line. Plus, Benjamin doesn’t have any achievement when he’s with the Fraser’s, he didn’t manage to marry Florence, and speaking of capability, he’s not eligible enough to become the heir too.”

No one rebutted. Most of the Turner’s advocated Benjamin, but the rule was clear and they needed to consider both the pedigree and capability. Florence only then understood completely when she saw

that, of how much influence she would have to Benjamin’s position in the family when she marries Benjamin. She was capable to make him the heir of the family at once!

Another elder rumbled on the screen. He was staring at Theodore with an astute look. “Sir, Ernest Hawkins must be punished severely, but we still need to consider carefully regarding the dismissal of heir. After all, Ernest is your only descendant from the direct line, he has the purest blood of the family. The Turner’s used to have a rule too, unless the descendant dies, we can’t replace the heir.

Although what happened this time is severe and has caught lots of attention, if we replace the heir, Ernest would no doubt be put on the rack. He would be crippled for life even if he’s not dead, and he’ll be ruined completely. He won’t be able to give birth to children and the family would have no more descendants.”

Florence widened her eyes with shock and she felt a chill creeping up from her feet, spreading across her whole body. He would be crippled for life even if he was not dead? And he would not be able to give birth to children? What did that mean? Could it be what the Turner’s meant by eliminating heirship was not just to deprive him of right and status…?