Chapter 10 Moving In With The Wrights

• Apart from Austin, nobody in the Brigham family knew why Richard had been so obsessed with Cloudsdell.
• Only Austin knew one of the reasons why his father’s ideals and ambitions were bound up in this place. It had to do with a shallow sandbar located opposite the park beside the Cloudsdell River, where the waters flowed gently and invitingly.
• It was a place with a spectacular view, wreathed in a light mist, and clustered with villas.
• This was Sparksville, the best villa district in Fairville.
• A famous New Age astrocartographer had once declared that Sparksville’s location lay on a Jupiter line, which meant that it was a place of joy, expansion, and abundance.
• Anyone who lived there would find wealth and prestige; they would also be very successful career-wise.
• Currently, all the inhabitants of Sparksville were the elite of Cloudsdell.
• The Brigham family still had a long way to go when compared side-by-side with this stratum of society.
• Richard had hoped that one day if Sparksville toppled, the Brigham Corporation would be able to continue its legacy.
• If that happened, the Brigham Corporation would be firmly established on both banks of the Cloudsdell River, fulfilling his dream.
• "Dad, one day, I'll make sure your dream becomes a reality," Austin vowed with calm determination as his gaze traveled between the undulating surface of the Cloudsdell River and Sparksville on its far bank.
• He scattered a handful of fish food pellets into the water.
• In less than a minute, several large koi surfaced and began greedily devouring the pellets.
• To Austin, these koi seemed to embody his father’s ideals.
• One day, the Brigham Corporation would finally make a significant breakthrough and swallow up the naysayers, just like those fish!
• Austin remained in the park beside the river for a long time, telling the rippling water all the things that he wanted to say to his father.
• At 5.30 in the evening, he waited at the entrance of the Fairview Building for Deborah to emerge so he could go home with her.
• "You've been waiting here all day?" Deborah could not help asking curiously when she saw Austin.
• Her perception of him had not changed very much, but she did not dislike him quite as much as she had initially.
• "I was feeding the fish in the park by the river," Austin replied indifferently.
• Deborah was aware of her husband’s penchant for going to the park. She also realized that he was probably at the riverside because he remembered his father; she could not help but feel rather moved.
• Upon Austin's return from the military, the Brigham family had ostracized him. Furthermore, they displayed no affection for him whatsoever. If she were to abandon him now, he would be utterly alone in the world.
• Deborah sighed quietly and told herself to think about Austin's good points. In her heart, she believed that he was not as useless as people declared him to be. At the very least, he was an affectionate, loyal person.
• A person who cared so deeply for his adoptive father was someone with a conscience. How useless could he be?
• "Let’s go home then," Deborah returned.
• She started up her Volkswagen, then drove home together with Austin.
• After finding out that Austin was coming home for dinner, Meadow had prepared a sumptuous feast.
• As for Liam, he was unpleasant as always, obviously still annoyed.
• "Dinner is served. Let's eat!" Meadow said with a smile, setting the last dish onto the dining table.
• Everyone set their differences aside for the time being. Tonight, at least they were eating together as a family.
• Being able to sit down to a meal at the same table with Deborah and her family was enough for Austin.
• Therefore, he did not say much at all but focused on finishing his dinner.
• He was aware that in his present circumstances, one wrong word from him might set his father-in-law off again.
• If that happened, it would be very difficult to have dinner in peace.
• "Deborah, what job does Mrs. Brigham plan to give this good-for-nothing here?" Liam demanded. After half a glass of wine and his inhibitions sufficiently loosened, he was unable to restrain himself any longer.
• If Old Mrs. Brigham gave Austin a decent job based on the fact that he was Richard’s illegitimate son, Liam would not press for Deborah to divorce him. However, if the opposite happened, he would insist on the divorce.
• Deborah shot a glance at Austin but answered her father truthfully. "At present, positions in the company are all filled, so Mrs. Brigham asked him to wait for a bit."
• She was aware that concealing the truth would be useless. Given the nature of the Brigham family members, they would almost certainly have already told Liam the news.
• Liam knew about the matter, which was why he was deliberately asking so he could unleash his ire.
• As his daughter, Deborah was more than aware of her father’s character.
• "If even Mrs. Brigham doesn't acknowledge him as a grandson, I suggest you divorce him as soon as possible. Frankly, I find Mitchel Brigham to be a decent man, and he likes you as well. You might as well start considering him as a suitable husband. If you get along with him well, perhaps I’ll be able to advance up the social ladder a bit, and the Wright family might fall on better times." Liam downed his wine, trying to persuade Deborah to agree to a divorce.
• "Liam, Deborah has already said that she's not going to divorce Austin for the time being. In fact, you yourself agreed to give him some time to settle in, right?" Meadow interjected, unable to stay silent any longer. She gave Liam a look.
• "You have the audacity to say something like that to my face? If you hadn't insisted on this marriage in the first place, my daughter wouldn't be married to this piece of trash. I've not had a day's peace since. In fact, everyone looks down on me and makes me the butt of their scorn," Liam snapped, glaring at Meadow.
• "Dad, I promise I’ll make sure that you and Meadow have a good life in the days ahead," Austin said, putting down his cutlery.
• "You? You're useless. Good life ahead, my foot! It'll be something if you don't drag our family into any of your messes. Also, I refuse to acknowledge you as my son-in-law, so don't call me Dad!" Liam shifted his wrath to Austin, deliberately trying to provoke him.
• Austin sat through his father-in-law's tirade calmly. Liam's anger did not bother him at all.
• For the last four years, his marriage to Deborah had caused the Wright family considerable humiliation. If they wanted to let off some steam right now, that was of no consequence.
• The Wright residence was merely a two-bedroom affair with a living room. Now that Austin was going to live here, he had no choice but to share Deborah's room.
• Austin felt more than satisfied at being able to live under the same roof as Deborah; he did not harbor any underhand designs toward her.
• After having his bath, Austin behaved with extreme propriety and unrolled a mat on the floor of Deborah’s room.
• When Deborah saw what he had done, her perception of him changed yet again. At least he was not a lecherous male. If he were, she would not have allowed him to share a room with her.
• Austin was currently clad only in a pair of shorts and a loose tank top; his physique was amply displayed.
• In his ten years of military service, he had undergone countless bouts of rigorous, grueling training. Not only had this toughened him up mentally, but it had also built him up physically.
• He was not burly nor beefy, but his body was obviously streamlined and lean, with well-defined muscles.
• Even though he was relaxed, he still radiated an aura of immense strength and power.
• At six feet tall, with that sort of physique, he could easily be a male model and live an easy life.
• Despite herself, Deborah’s view of Austin changed.
• She felt that this man was nowhere near as useless as everyone made him out to be.
• Austin’s physique was not the only thing that astonished Deborah; the scars on his body startled her considerably as well.
• These were merely the visible scars; the ones concealed by his tank top might be equally numerous.
• Deborah sat very still as she studied Austin's torso. Involuntarily, her nose began to prickle.
• These scars were from his ten years in the military.
• What had he gone through in that decade?
• Deborah could not even begin to imagine. However, she knew that it would not have been anything easy.
• Any normal human being would have died several times over with such injuries.
• However, not only had Austin survived, he was still very much alive and kicking. Furthermore, he had returned to her.
• Suddenly, Deborah felt that the last four years of waiting and humiliation were nothing in comparison.
• This man was worth waiting for!
• "You got injured this badly just cooking for your troops?" Deborah teased deliberately, watching Austin's strong, chiseled profile.
• "Injuries are pretty hard to avoid if the troop’s meals aren’t prepared properly," Austin said with a soft chuckle and a nod.
• Deborah knew that for him to take his injuries so lightly, his decade in the military must have been much harder than he was willing to admit.
• She thought about the fearless soldiers who willingly sacrificed themselves to protect their country; Austin was one of these brave souls.
• He was one of those who shouldered the burden of helping the country advance!
• "I think everyone has misjudged you," Deborah murmured, her voice slightly choked.
• "As long as you believe in me, I’ll be fine," Austin returned composedly.