Chapter 81 Finally Honoring Her Parents
Chapter 81 Finally Honoring Her Parents
Yet, Merlin Bridger never regretted stepping onto that battlefield.
Slowly, Murren’s stern gaze softened into something warm, almost fatherly. “This is great,” he said, voice thick with emotion. “If you’re from the fifth branch, then it’s only right that you enter the ancestral hall and place a memorial tablet. I’d like to see who dares to stop you!”
With that, he slammed his cane against the ground. Instantly, silence fell over the entire courtyard. “Come now, Quinn,” Murren said. “Bring your parents‘ ashes. Let me, your great–grandpa, lead you into the ancestral hall.”
“Yes,” Quinn answered.
Just then, a voice rang out. “I want to go in with Quinn!”
Everyone turned. It was Julius stepping out of the crowd.
Murren glanced at him indifferently. “This is a family matter. Outsiders shouldn’t interfere.”
Julius furrowed his brow slightly. Quinn walked over and said, “This is the Bridger family’s ancestral hall. What happened today is my own business. But thank you for caring.”
Julius was taken aback.
Caring? Was that what I’ve been doing? But if I didn’t care, why did I step forward, wanting to go in with her?
His expression shifted subtly. After a pause, he said, “Then I’ll wait for you right here.”
The family members present all turned and stared. Julius was going to stand at the entrance and wait for Quinn.
Since when has someone like him ever done that for anyone?
After a long pause, Quinn looked at him and nodded. “All right.”
Then she turned and followed Murren through the doors of the ancestral hall. The rest of the family exchanged uncertain glances before trailing behind.
The guards Quinn had knocked down helped one another up and were escorted to the hospital by the family’s subordinates. Police at the scene started directing the dispersal of the crowd.
Slowly, the gathering outside the Bridger family’s ancestral hall thinned out until only Julius remained, standing alone.
As he stared at the Bridger family’s ancestral hall, the image of Quinn’s face returned t
mind.
The family’s reputation for loyalty and sacrifice was dazzling, but how many were truly willing to pay that price?
Once, he thought of her as an intriguing woman. Hiring her as a bodyguard had been more for amusement than anything else. But now something had shifted.
O
Chapter 81 Finally Honoring Her Parents
Quinn followed Murren inside. She’d been here once before, years ago, when she was still a child. Back then, she had come with her father to pay respects. But the feeling in her heart now was completely different.
Carrying the cremation urn, she approached the area where the memorial tablets were displayed. Before her, row after row of memorial tablets lined the altar.
Murren gestured toward a section. “Your parents‘ urns belong over there, with their memorial tablets…
“I contacted Uncle Maddox before,” Quinn said. “He said the ancestral hall was making the tablet, but I don’t know if it’s ready yet.”
“Uncle Maddox?” Murren murmured, “You mean that lad, Maddox? Where is he?”
Everyone in the room hesitated, their expressions suddenly awkward.
Eventually, a staff member whispered, “He might be… playing poker?”
“Playing poker?” Murren’s voice rumbled. “Ignoring duties for games? Go check whether he even completed the memorial tablets!”
“Yes, right away!”
Luckily, even though Maddox wasn’t present, the memorial tablets for Montague and Arlene had already been prepared.
Choking up, Quinn stared at her parents‘ names etched in solemn strokes. Her eyes brimmed with tears. She reverently placed the tablets beneath those of her grandparents.
“I, Quinn, pay my respect!” she declared, kneeling,
These were the souls who gave their lives for the country. Even in death, they were honored. Murren looked at her, pride and sorrow shining in his eyes. eyes.
After Quinn rose, Murren turned to her and said firmly, “I promise you, I’ll set things straight after what happened today.”
Then, his sharp gaze swung to Melvin and Marley, before he barked, “Kneel!”
They froze, clearly startled. “Grandpa, w–why are you suddenly making us kneel?” Melvin stammered.
“Shouldn’t you both be on your knees after what you pulled in front of the ancestral hall today?” Murren snapped.
of people with Marley said,
“Great–grandpa, how was I supposed to know that Quinn was truly from the fifth branch? Her name didn’t follow the same starting letter, so it was easy to mistake her for an outsider. Besides,‘ hidden agendas try to attach themselves to the Bridger family. I was just being cautio trying to justify herself.
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