Chapter 286: Truly "Uproarious Filial Piety
Mr. and Mrs. York were so furious they nearly had a stroke. "Evan York, has your brain been eaten by a pig? We’ve told you her family is rotten to the core! That Valerie Lewis is malicious, selfish, and vain. At her young age, instead of studying, she’s busy with her wicked schemes, seducing men to be her meal ticket. And you’re still devoted to her? Are your eyes just for decoration? Are you blind?"
"Your father is right. If you two were genuinely in love, that would be one thing. Even though you’re young, your father and I aren’t some old-fashioned fossils who would force you to break up. You could date for a few years and then we could talk."
"But your relationship with her isn’t normal! She’s using a Curse Worm to control you! How could your father and I possibly accept a girlfriend who might harm you at any moment? Not to mention, her family nearly killed your father! The sight of him in the hospital, critically ill, before the New Year is still fresh in our minds. Have you forgotten so quickly?"
"No, you’ve misunderstood Valerie! She’s just a simple, kind girl. She wouldn’t even step on an ant at school! I’m the one who’s always been protecting her, taking care of her. How could she be controlling me? And a Curse Worm? What century is this? Who still believes in such an obvious, ridiculous lie? Mom, Dad, if you don’t want me to be with Valerie, just say so. You don’t have to make up these bogus charges against her."
"And Dad being critically ill in the hospital is even more absurd. He had his own health problems, so how can you blame Valerie’s family? Taking a huge step back, even if his hospitalization *was* related to Valerie’s family, her parents are already dead! When someone dies, it’s all over. All debts and grudges are wiped clean. How can you hold that against an innocent girl like Valerie?"
Arabella Donovan: "..."
The Donovan family and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis: "..." What a spectacular display of filial piety.
’Classic. So textbook. "You only lost your lives, but I lost my love!" The logic of these love-blind fools really is something else. No wonder even zombies would puke if they tried to eat his brain. His IQ wasn’t high to begin with; taking a bite would definitely make them stupider!’
Everyone nodded in profound agreement, then unanimously shuffled backward, as if afraid of catching his "love-blindness virus." How utterly dreadful.
CRACK—CRACK—
The sudden, unusual sound successfully drew the attention of the Donovan family. They turned their heads to find Eloise Donovan sitting on the edge of the sofa, already cracking open sunflower seeds.
"Eloise, you..."
Eloise gave an awkward smile. "These are New Year’s snacks. It’d be a waste not to eat them. I’ve got peanuts, candied fruits, and nuts here too. You guys want... some?"
At her words, the condemnation in everyone’s eyes grew even more apparent.
Eloise swallowed hard. Unable to withstand their collective glare, she confessed, "Okay, I admit, eating right now is a little... inappropriate..."
"I’ll take some."
Eloise’s confession and Mrs. Donovan’s enthusiastic voice sounded at the same time, followed by several others eagerly whispering.
"Me too."
"And me! I want peanuts."
"I’ll have the nuts, then."
Eloise: "..." ’Holy crap. So all this time, you weren’t mad at me for ruining the atmosphere, you were just mad I didn’t share!’
The main parties involved didn’t notice this little interlude among the Donovan family members.
Mr. and Mrs. York were so enraged by their son’s "filial" speech that they were seeing stars, their heads buzzing.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis rushed forward to support them, consoling, "Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. Every kid goes through a rebellious phase, right? Besides, this isn’t just teenage rebellion, it’s because of the Curse Worm’s influence. His emotions and preferences aren’t under his own control, so you can’t take what he says seriously. Once Master Donovan removes the Curse Worm, he’ll surely return to normal."
"You’re the one who’s not normal! Your whole family is not normal! You old fossils from a bygone era—feudal, pedantic, tyrannical! I’ve done nothing wrong! I just fell in love with someone, and I’m willing to give her everything! Why are you trying to stop me? What right do you have to stop me?"
Evan York grew more and more agitated, his pale face flushing a feverish, vivid red. He looked sickly and crazed. "I get it now. I get it. You just can’t stand to see me happy! You’re jealous that I found my true love at such a young age!"
The onlookers exchanged speechless glances. No, no, no, they were definitely not jealous. A "true love" that demanded your money, your life, *and* your intelligence? They felt utterly unworthy of such a blessing. He could keep it.
"Anyway, I’m laying it all out today. Valerie is the only woman I want in this life, and I’ll marry no one but her. If you’re not afraid of me dying alone with no one to care for you in your old age, then go ahead and make trouble. And don’t even think about bothering Valerie. If you dare go looking for trouble with her, I’ll run away from home, elope with her, and never come back. You can just pretend you never had a son."
With his face flushed red and his neck stiff, his impassioned speech made him look just like one of those self-righteous zealots in an opera who’s gotten carried away. It was so cringeworthy that Arabella Donovan nearly curled her toes hard enough to carve a mansion out of the floor.
"You really love her that much?"
"Absolutely. My heart will never waver!"
"Even if she were a slug, you’d still love her?"
"Wha... what?" Even though the curse had seeped into his very bones and his love for Valerie Lewis was deeply rooted, Evan York still faltered at Arabella Donovan’s words. His expression twisted for a moment before something seemed to smooth it over, and he replied hollowly, "I would. No matter what she becomes, I’ll still love her."
Hearing this, even Arabella Donovan couldn’t help but give him a pitying look.
’My Master once said that people afflicted by a Love Worm can’t distinguish right from wrong, or beauty from ugliness. He said they could see a dung beetle and romanticize it into a flower fairy. It’s actually true!’
The Donovan family members winced. ’Stop, stop!’ they all thought. ’We’re getting a mental image!’
"You unfilial son! You monstrous son! Don’t hold me back! I don’t care if he goes back to normal after that Curse Worm is removed or not! One way or another, I’m going to beat him first and let out this frustration."
"Hey, York, don’t be rash, don’t be rash! Don’t hurt your son, York!"
It was clear that Mr. York also had a fiery, explosive temper. He probably hadn’t acted sooner because he was still weak from his recent major illness and was also worried about the Curse Worm in his son, afraid that any rash move might cause him serious harm.
But in that short time, not only had his son defended the villains who tried to harm their entire family for the sake of his little girlfriend, but he had also dared to threaten them with running away from home. He looked like an ungrateful brat who would choose a woman over his own parents. It was enough to make Mr. York’s hair stand on end. He grabbed a slipper and charged, raining blows on his son’s chest and back.
Instantly, the living room was filled with a series of miserable screams. It was truly a sound to make listeners grieve and onlookers weep.
The spectators, however, were cheering him on, shouting with glee, and having the time of their lives watching the show!