Chapter 447 A Rival

At the Matthews mansion,

Liam entered the mansion that was eerily silent. He had seen his father's car so he wasn't surprised, sensing the tension in the air. His speed lowered and brows furrowed when he saw his wife, Lilian standing in front of Casper with her head lowered.

He never let Casper or Gianna control or pressure or rule over his wife. He always avoided them, he shielded her every time they made any decision against his parents or if she wanted something against his parents' wishes. They had lived in the same mansion like a different family.

Thus witnessing Casper treating his wife like a criminal, he strode inside ignoring Casper's icy gaze and Harrison's edginess. Wrapping his arm around his wife's shoulders, he spoke in a soft voice, "Let me bring you to our room."

Casper's cold voice rang before they could even take a second step, "Stop right there." He narrowed his eyes on his son and daughter-in-law.

Lilian's shoulders jerked but didn't protest. Liam turned to his father sensing the fury in the tone. He was over thirty and had a wife and daughter but Casper's behavior was still the same as if he was a year-old child. All these years, Liam was halting and listening to Casper like a dutiful son.

Why wouldn't he listen to Casper?

Liam was seeing Casper being praised, highly respected, and appearing in news and magazines as the best businessman. He misunderstood the best businessman as the best human.

So he used to think Casper was right and he might be in the wrong. He had believed that he wasn't good enough to hear Casper nitpicking him, ordering him, and questioning his every choice.

He grew up feeling worthless and inferior. He gave up everything he liked doing while finding his father's validation. He had tried too hard to please his father as a teenager, and a young man.

When he was trying hard to be a good son to his father, he didn't understand Alvin wasn't a rebellious teenager but was fighting alone at Casper's autocracy.

It was too late to realize he was blinded by the exaggerated news, his friends singing praises of his father's achievements.

The truth was his father was never a father to him. Everything his father was doing wasn't for his happiness or his life. It was an obsession over the company and the name of the family.

When he could finally grasp everything, and stand against his father, Alvin was out of the country. When he finally rebelled, he was silenced by his mother who was pushing him to follow his father to become the heir of the Matthews family and successor of the massive company.

Nevertheless, time and again, he was going against Casper who never believed in him and condemned him every time.

After marriage, he just knew he had to protect his wife from his father's autocracy. Nobody else could. So Casper's anger didn't affect him.

Instead of sending Lilian upstairs and listening to his father, he went upstairs with her, making his father grit his teeth.

"What happened, Lily?" Liam asked his wife when they climbed the steps.

Lilian waited till they went upstairs, away from Casper's eyes. She held his hand to stop him and pressed him, "Call your brother quickly." There was panic in her tone.

Liam: "…"

Lilian quickly tried to tell him what was happening there, "I heard Dad telling somebody that he invalidated all the shares of your brother. They were contacting the company shareholders and asking if your brother met them to get any signature." She shook Liam's arm and urged him, "Call your brother."

Liam couldn't believe Casper was doing that to Alvin. He fished his mobile but paused seeing her worried and panicking. Shoving the mobile back, he held Lilian's arms and calmed her, "Lily, I will do it. You relax first."

He took her toward the second living area to make her sit. He wanted to know his father's actions and why Lilian didn't call him and stood silently like a criminal.

Lilian didn't follow him and urged, "Liam, call your brother. I heard Dad offering more profits if they don't listen to your brother."

Before Liam could say anything, Casper growled at them, "Impudence." Although Anya already knows about the invalidation of shares, Casper was annoyed at how everyone in his family was going against him.

Lilian was startled at the voice. She clenched her teeth looking at two guards behind Casper. Growing up being loved by her parents, Casper and Gianna's behavior was like villains from movies and dramas. She did fear them but endured them because of Liam.

Casper scorned the two, "You two sleep here, eat here, live under my roof. How dare you help a rival who wants to destroy us?" He wanted to teach them a good lesson.

"A rival!" Liam sniggered hearing his father. He looked away from him and asked Lilian, "Did he scare you?" He blatantly ignored his father.

Lilian wanted Liam to let Alvin know about it. Under the pressing gaze of Casper, she revealed what had happened a few minutes ago, "I argued with Dad when I heard them." It was her first time. Although she never met Alvin, it was appalling that Casper was destroying Alvin's life. "Dad is planning to bankrupt your brother, then help them pay money and bring them home forcefully." That's the simple way she could keep the words.

Casper was scheming to trouble Alvin through all the sources he might owe the money. Then he will compel Alvin to sign an agreement with him to pay off the debts and bring the family of three under his control.

Liam gently rubbed Lilian's back and looked at his father. He always wanted to go separate so that neither Lilian nor his daughter had to bear these people. Gianna had stopped him successfully while Casper had tyrannized them to stay,

"Right, if we stand by your rival, we shouldn't stay here." Liam sneered at his father. He took Lilian to the bedroom to bring their daughter and leave the mansion.

Casper fumed head to toe. He glared at the guards who forcefully snatched Liam's mobile and pushed them to the bedroom. They were locked inside.

Lilian was baffled looking at the closed door, "Is he serious?" She couldn't believe Casper could go to any length. She didn't know whether to get angry or worry about Liam's brother.

Liam checked on his wife to make sure she wasn't hurt. He wasn't surprised as his father couldn't tolerate it if somebody goes against his wish. "Where is your mobile?" He looked much calmer.

Lilian breathed out loudly and shook her head in response, "Dad took it away when I tried to call you." She hissed realizing she shouldn't have argued with Casper and just called Liam.

Liam's laptop was taken away for the investigation. There were no maids in the mansion or servants on the lawn. So they had no way to contact anybody.

Nevertheless, Lilian's eyes suddenly brightened. She lifted her hand and looked at Liam hiding her grin. "Smartwatches are useful. Liam, you should try one sometimes."

Liam couldn't help but chuckle seeing her relaxed and making fun.