Chapter 8

"I don't trust you," commented Cedrick, opening his thin lips while staring at her with his eagle-like eyes. He could still smell the faint scent of gardenias from her body, and he had to admit that he was drawn.

The few words had Catelyn clenching her fists to the point that her knuckles were turning white.

"I get it, I'll withdraw from this project. Don't worry about it, Mister Mason." She forced herself to straighten up her back, knowing perfectly well that there was no point to argue.

Cedrick was surprised that she agreed that quickly. "It's my son who chose you, and it's me who fired you. I trust that you know how to explain?"

Ollie had already been distant, so he did not wish to create conflict with his son over such small matters.

Catelyn did not look away and stared directly into his eyes. "I'll tell Young Master that I'm not feeling well and, therefore, will not be able to manage the project."

"You may go now."

"Alright." Catelyn turned to leave without hesitation, but she soon realized that she felt wronged when she arrived at the door. She summoned her courage and gritted her teeth before saying, "Mister Mason, don't you think it's too shallow to judge a person's talent by their academic qualification?"

Eason instantly started sweating at her words, thinking, 'Is Miss Clark here accursing Master Cedrick for discriminating those who didn't achieve much academically? How bold!'

"I'm not shallow with others, just with you," sneered Cedrick.

Catelyn clenched her fists as anger rose within her.

Was it because she said that he resembled Jamie the day before? It was just the truth!

What possessed him that made him so narcissistic, thinking that anyone should want to approach him on purpose?

Rage overtook her face and she was about to explode, but at the same time, she realized why her son, Miles looked so much like this man before her.

Jamie was his relative, so it made sense that they resembled one another.

Right after she left, Cedrick's phone rang. He picked it up to realize that it was the head butler of Mason Estate, Albert.

Albert's voice was both calming and polite. "Master Cedrick, Young Master has been depressed ever since he was brought home today."

Albert had worked in the Mason Estate for years and had long surpassed the status of an ordinary servant. Naturally, he saw the young master as his own family as well.

"Ignore him, he's just throwing a tantrum." Cedrick did not think much of his son's behavior.

After a brief pause, Albert added gingerly, "But during meal time just now, Young Master has suddenly started asking about her mother again…"

Cedrick's expression instantly darkened, and Albert could even sense his intimidating aura through the phone.

"Didn't I say that no one is allowed to mention that woman in Mason Estate?"

"Young Master is still a young boy. It's natural for him to be curious when he sees that other kids have mothers."

"If he asks again, tell him that his mother died during childbirth. There isn't such a woman in this world anymore." Cedrick tugged at his necktie impatiently and hung up.

On the other end of the line, Albert was rendered speechless. He sighed in resignation and placed the phone back in place with a conflicted mind.

The young master was abandoned outside the doors of Mason Estate. His background was a mystery, and no one knew who his mother was. Throughout the years, Cedrick had satisfied all material needs of his son, but in the end, children were sensitive beings that needed companionship and love from their parents.

Because he could not figure out who laid out the trap that resulted in an illegitimate child, Cedrick had been frustrated, along with the fact that he lacked patience toward children. The young master, in the end, had never been truly happy.

Thump!

Inside the spacious playroom, Ollie, amid eavesdropping on the entire conversation with his head against the door, accidentally bumped his forehead and immediately scowled in pain.

The old phone that Albert used had a severe issue of sound leakage, so he left the door unlocked on purpose and heard the entire conversation between Albert and his father.

As he had anticipated, his father did not intend on telling him his mother's true identity and even plotted to lie and tell him that his mother was dead.

Why would they lie to him?

Albert heard the sound that came from the playroom and anxiously turned around.