"Dad!" Grace Linney's voice rang out, as her son was hit several times with a cane. She kept urging, "Luke knows he was wrong. If you keep hitting him, he'll be bedridden for days, then who will manage the company? He's been kneeling for nearly two hours. Let him get up first."
"Get up, my foot!" Old Mr. Gardiner fuming with rage, looked at his grandson kneeling on the ground nonchalantly, "Can't you just focus and have a child with Florence for a decent life?"
Luke Gardiner sneered and was about to speak when the butler rushed over, "Old Mr. Gardiner, Young Madam has arrived."
Luke Gardiner turned slightly, spotting the woman with long, soft, shiny curls and a professional plaid suit—smart, not gentle. Her delicate, beautiful face wore a faint smile.
His view was suddenly blocked as Old Mr. Gardiner went to greet her, "Florence, you're here."
"Grandpa," Florence Fuller smiled, "What happened here?"
Old Mr. Gardiner feared she might have any emotions, "I've already taught Luke a lesson for you. Don't worry, he'll surely stay by your side diligently."
Florence Fuller maintained a polite smile, "Grandpa, please let him get up first."
"Alright then," Old Mr. Gardiner glanced at Luke Gardiner, "Let's consider this matter closed. Don't mention divorce between you two again."
Florence Fuller was stunned, looking at Luke Gardiner in bewilderment.
Divorce? How did Old Mr. Gardiner find out?
She immediately thought of the divorce agreement placed in the study at TJ Bay.
Luke Gardiner met her gaze with a faint smile, suspecting it was her ploy.
Could she really give up the glory, wealth, power, and status of the Gardiner family?
"Florence, I know Luke has been a bit of a bastard, but he's a good kid. I gave him a good scolding this time. If he still messes around outside, I won't let him go. The two of you should stay together, have a child, and live a good life..." Old Mr. Gardiner was genuinely pleased with her, yet perplexed why his grandson couldn't appreciate her.
Florence Fuller listened absentmindedly as Luke Gardiner got up from the ground. He walked over and grabbed her hand, "Grandpa, I'll go make a child with your granddaughter-in-law right now."
With that, he ignored the people in the hall, picking up Florence Fuller and carrying her upstairs, drawing amused glances from everyone.
Realizing they were already at the bedroom door, Luke Gardiner pushed open the door and pulled her inside, taking off his suit jacket, ready to kiss her. Florence Fuller kicked his knee, and he hit the ground in surprise, looking up at her with cold eyes, "What madness is this?"
"Madness?" Luke Gardiner stood up, loosening his tie, his handsome and debonair face mocking, "Playing divorce games and then reporting it to the old man, isn't it to have a child? Let's make one now."
Florence Fuller frowned, "I never talked about divorcing you with Old Mr. Gardiner. The only divorce agreement is in your study at TJ Bay."
Luke Gardiner's expression turned a bit sour, pondering for a moment, "My mom went to TJ Bay today and found it in the study."
Florence Fuller retorted sarcastically, "Had you taken a little time to return to TJ Bay's study and seen the divorce agreement earlier, Old Mr. Gardiner wouldn't have known."
"There are so many things at the company, how could I..."
"Yet you found time amidst scandals with other women to fly to Paris for fashion shows?" Florence Fuller scoffed coldly, "Your nonsense gives me a headache."
Seeing her cold, indifferent attitude again, Luke Gardiner couldn't hold his anger, getting closer to her, reducing the distance. His breath intertwined with hers, "Unhappy? I was like this before marriage. You insisted on marrying me, what? Regret it now and want a divorce? Well, let me tell you, it's not happening!"
His gaze lowered to her rosy lips and kissed her. Florence Fuller blocked him with her hand, irritably, "Get off."
"The old man said he wanted a great-grandchild, right? By marrying in, you should know your duty." His heated and dark eyes fixated on her, pushing Florence Fuller onto the bed, taking off his shirt to reveal his toned upper body.
He then pressed down upon her.
"Let me go!" She fought back against Luke Gardiner with all her limbs.
Luke Gardiner's small kisses landed on her arm and side face, his hands already reaching her waistline, her skin warm and smooth. His breathing was starting to grow heavier, reaching upward... Suddenly, a sharp pain in his nose!
She dared to hit him!
Blood started dripping from his nose, Luke Gardiner winced in pain. As he was about to protest, he saw Florence Fuller raising her leg.
He quickly retreated, but her leg came sweeping towards him, unable to dodge, he rolled off the bed, groaning in pain as he curled up, his face contorting in agony.
Florence Fuller stood up, adjusting her clothes, still angry enough to want to kick him a couple more times.
Luke Gardiner lay on the ground, nose bleeding, body curled up, word by word: "You! Vicious! Woman!"
"Hmph!" Florence Fuller snorted coldly, looking down at him, "You're really annoying. You can keep living your indulgent lifestyle, surrounded by scandals, I won't interfere. But let me clearly state, don't have any relation to me."
Her cold, determined attitude left Luke Gardiner surprisingly bewildered and at a loss.
No relationship whatsoever!
Florence Fuller walked out of the room, standing in the corridor, she shouted downstairs, "Butler Dawson, have the family doctor come over."
Downstairs, Old Mr. Gardiner was bewildered.
He had hit Luke Gardiner with a cane, but not too harshly. They both just ran up, seemed fine enough...
He quickly went upstairs, seeing his grandson lying painfully on the ground, his nose bleeding, it seemed the couple had fought.
It appeared Luke Gardiner was on the losing end.
Oh dear, seeing Luke Gardiner like this, would he ever get to hold a great-grandson?
The family doctor came to check up, Old Mr. Gardiner urgently asked, "How about it, can I still expect to hold a great-grandchild?"
The family doctor chuckled, "Don't worry, Old Mr. Gardiner, it's nothing serious."
Luke Gardiner glanced at Florence Fuller sitting on the sofa, hinting, "Grandpa, what are you worried about? If I really couldn't have kids, your granddaughter-in-law would never be able to divorce."
"You little rascal, stop spouting nonsense!" Old Mr. Gardiner smacked him on the head, then regretted it soon after.
Luke Gardiner felt his barely halted nosebleed might start again.
Seeing no blood, Old Mr. Gardiner breathed a sigh of relief, pointing at Luke Gardiner, "You deserved it, flirting around outside and got beaten by your wife."
Luke Gardiner glared darkly at Florence Fuller sitting on the sofa.
She had humiliated him greatly.
"Luke, what's wrong? Look at those palm prints! And the nose, oh my..." Grace Linney rushed into the room, looking at her son, then reproachfully at Florence Fuller, "Such a heavy hand!"
Florence Fuller met Luke Gardiner's gaze and rolled her eyes.