Chapter 349
Lennox said nothing as he stared at Gregory intensely.
The entire hall was dead silent.
No one spoke a word. It was as if the private chapel was shrouded in shadows. Everyone lowered their heads. A few who tried to lift theirs gave up after seeing how the others reacted.
Even the air around them felt frozen, suffocating.
Lennox raised both hands and clapped slowly, a half–smile on his face. “I see. I knew you were someone who made people look at you differently even as a child. I didn’t expect you to be even more astonishing now that you’re grown up!”
Gregory remained silent because he saw a flash of danger in Lennox’s eyes. That was the sign of his true anger.
Earlier, when Lennox said he would enforce punishment on Theo and Anathea according to the family rules, his expression had been calm and leisurely, as if he was toying with something amusing. After all, people outside the Sinclair family meant nothing to him.
But Gregory was different. He was the heir Lennox had personally chosen, the one he planned to hand over the entire Sinclair family to before long.
And now, Gregory was openly defying him for a woman. How could Lennox not be furious?
Gregory understood Lennox well. So, he stepped forward and lowered his head, speaking respectfully. “Grandpa, please show mercy and spare my wife. If you have any terms or wishes, you can just name them.”
Lennox’s expression eased a little. A glimmer of something unreadable flickered in his eyes, as if he had achieved some hidden goal.
He looked at Gregory, assessing him. After a long moment, he finally said, “Very well.”
“Really?” Theo looked surprised.
Eleanor frowned. She realized that while she’d thought she’d been using Lennox as a weapon against Anathea, he’d also been using her scheme as a bargaining chip with Gregory.
Maybe Lennox had never intended to get involved just to deal with Anathea.
He was targeting Gregory all along.
Realization dawned on her. She’d thought she was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes, but in truth, she was just Lennox’s pawn.
“But once the punishment is invoked, there’s no taking it back.”
Lennox looked at Gregory. The implication was clear to everyone present. Even though Gregory had stepped in to negotiate, Lennox had no intention of letting them off easily.
Theo clenched his fingers.
Anathea’s heart tightened as well.
“In that case, I’ll take the punishment in their place,” Gregory said steadily and resolutely.
Theo was stunned, his expression complicated.,
Gregory glanced at him and instructed calmly, “Take her away.”
“But you-
“I said take her away,” Gregory repeated, leaving no room for argument.
Anathea looked at him, hesitating to speak.
Gregory lowered his gaze to meet hers, his voice softening slightly. “Don’t look. You’ll be scared.”
Anathea pressed her lips together, her eyes landing on his stab wound. Her emotions were a tangled mess.
Things had gotten to this point, yet he was still saying things like that to her.
He was deliberately making her feel awful.
How despicable!
She glared at him, eyes reddening.
Gregory smiled faintly, then turned around, walking to the front. Taking off his coat, he knelt on one knee, and his voice echoed through the private chapel.
“Gregory Sinclair hereby requests to receive punishment according to the family rules!”
Anathea’s lashes trembled violently. She wanted to speak, but Theo was already carrying her outside swiftly.
The bodyguards who had been blocking their way stepped aside.
Theo paused briefly, turning his head to glance at Gregory. Then, he looked down at Anathea in his arms, whose eyes had gone
red.
A strange, indescribable feeling welled up in his heart.
He was the one who got there first and saved Anathea from the disaster, but why did he feel as if he was still a step too late?
Just then, the whip landed on Gregory’s back. He let out a muffled, restrained grunt.
Theo clenched his jaw and didn’t dare hesitate any longer. He strode away.
Anathea closed her eyes, refusing to let her tears fall. She told herself not to soften and waver.
Just as they exited the Sinclair residence, Anathea uttered, “Theo, put me down.”
Only then did Theo reluctantly set her down. A flood of words rushed to his lips, but he didn’t know where to start.
Remembering Gregory’s instruction, he stated, “I’ll take you home.”
Anathea shook her head, as if she had made up her mind. “No need. I’m not going back.”
Theo froze. “You’re leaving?”
