Chapter 617

Chapter 617

"What the heck happened here?"

Alfred's voice cut through the air, his sharp eyes locked on Henry, who had just stepped out of the car. "Henry! Why are my grandsons hurt?"

The living room's atmosphere instantly turned icy.

The servants wisely retreated, leaving only the family. Gabriel and Travis, sensing the tension, obediently sat next to Hazel, clutching her dress tightly.

Henry took a deep breath and sat down in the chair opposite Alfred. "Dad, Mom, there's something we didn't tell you before because we didn't want to worry you."

He quickly recounted the kidnapping incident in Marigoldia, how two women lured Gabriel and Travis onto a yacht, how Gabriel injured the back of his head while resisting, and how Travis scraped his forehead during the struggle.

As the story unfolded, Alfred's face grew darker, while Hazel held Gabriel and Travis tightly, as if afraid they would disappear again if she let go.

"What about the bodyguards? I had you arrange so many people, are they just taking money for nothing?" Alfred slammed the table, causing the glasses on it to clink. "The Windsor family's grandsons, kidnapped in broad daylight?"

Travis flinched at the sudden noise and shrank into Hazel's arms.

Gabriel, however, bravely stood up, walked over to Alfred, and tugged on his sleeve. "Grandpa, don't be mad. Mom and Dad saved us really quickly."

Gabriel's innocent reassurance was like a bucket of cold water, cooling some of Alfred's anger.

He bent down and gently picked up Gabriel. "Grandpa isn't mad at you, I am mad at those bad people, and," he shot a glare at Henry, "your dad for not protecting you."

"Who were the kidnappers?" Hazel asked calmly, though the cold glint in her eyes betrayed her inner fury.

Zoey stepped forward. "It was Mabel's brother, Upton, who orchestrated it."

"Mabel?" Hazel frowned. "From the Johnson family..."

"Yes, Claire's stepmother," Zoey replied, her voice steady but her fingers digging into her palm. "But Upton is now in Marigoldia prison for at least twenty years. I personally made sure he won't forget it."

Zoey didn't detail how she had severely beaten Upton, but Hazel and Alfred could read the unspoken words in her icy gaze.

Alfred gave a barely perceptible nod, satisfied with the outcome.

"And the woman who hurt Gabriel?" Hazel pressed, her fingers gently brushing over the bandage on Gabriel's head.

Henry responded coolly, "She had an 'accident' in prison. She's a vegetable now."

The implication was clear.

The living room fell silent for a moment, the only sound being the ticking of the clock.

"I'm hungry," Travis suddenly said, rubbing his stomach and breaking the silence. "Grandma, I want your sandwiches."

"Me too!" Gabriel immediately poked his head out from Alfred's arms, his eyes sparkling. "And I want some salmon!"

Their innocent requests worked like magic, dispelling the gloom in the room.

Hazel's expression softened instantly. "I've already prepared everything! All your favorites!"

She stood up, holding each grandson's hand as they walked to the dining room. "Iris, heat up the food!"

Alfred shot Henry another glare but ultimately said nothing more, following Hazel and the children out.

Zoey let out a long breath, her tense shoulders finally relaxing.

"Did you pass?" She whispered to Henry.

Henry gave a wry smile and shook his head. "For now, but Dad's definitely gonna want to have a word with me later."

As they reached the dining room, they heard cheerful laughter inside.

Travis was standing on a chair, animatedly describing the "huge fish" they saw in Marigoldia, while Gabriel occasionally corrected his exaggerated tales.

Hazel was laughing heartily, and though Alfred tried to maintain a stern facade, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes betrayed his good mood.

The heartwarming scene brought a smile to Zoey's face.

Just as she was about to enter, the butler hurried over. "Ms. Spencer, Mr. Hughes has arrived."

Franklin strode into the dining room, impeccably dressed in a suit, his silver-gray hair neatly combed back.

The moment he saw his grandsons, his stern expression softened.

"Grandpa!" Gabriel and Travis shouted in unison, jumping off their chairs and running to Franklin.

Franklin knelt, hugging Gabriel and Travis, but quickly noticed the injuries on their heads.

He frowned, his sharp gaze turning to Zoey. "Zoey, what happened?"

Zoey sighed, about to explain, but Alfred spoke first. "Let's eat first. The kids are hungry. We can talk while we eat."

Under the crystal chandelier, the large round table was laden with exquisite dishes—sandwiches, salmon, caviar—all of Gabriel and Travis's favorites.

Servants moved around, pouring drinks for everyone. Freshly squeezed juice for the kids, and the Windsor family's treasured wine for the adults.

During the meal, Henry once again briefly recounted the kidnapping and its resolution.

After hearing the story, Franklin set his wine glass down heavily. "Upton? That scum from the Ellis family?" He looked at Zoey. "Are you sure you gave him a good beating?"

Zoey's lips curled into a cold smile. "His nose is broken, he lost two front teeth, and his left eye might be permanently damaged."

"That's still not enough," Franklin said coldly, but seeing Gabriel and Travis's curious looks, he quickly changed his tone. "But since he's in prison, let him 'enjoy' his time there."

Gabriel, half understanding, suddenly raised his juice glass. "Cheers! To celebrate Travis and me coming home!"

The innocent proposal made everyone laugh.

Wine glasses and juice cups clinked together, making a crisp sound.

Travis took the opportunity to sneak a sip of his grandpa's wine, scrunching up his face in distaste, which made everyone laugh even harder.

The dinner continued in a warm and joyful atmosphere.

Gabriel and Travis, like two happy little sparrows, excitedly shared their adventures in Marigoldia, carefully skipping over the unpleasant parts.

Hazel kept piling food onto Gabriel and Travis's plates, soon creating little mountains of food.

Watching this harmonious scene, Zoey quietly held Henry's hand under the table.

His hand was warm and strong, silently conveying comfort and support.

No matter how many storms they faced, as long as the family was together, they could overcome anything.

Outside, a full moon rose quietly, its silver light spilling onto the Windsor family's courtyard floor.

The laughter and joy from the dining room flowed through the windows, blending into the serene night.

After the harrowing experience in Marigoldia, this night felt especially precious and beautiful.