chapter 8 vicious

Damian Lin was seething with anger, his teeth gritted together.
He couldn't believe the audacity of Orion Jiang's attitude.
He had offered them a way out, but they seemed clueless about what to do with it.
"You... just wait for me!"
Damian Lin cursed under his breath, fearing that Orion Jiang might lose his temper again and leave abruptly.
In the room, Cara Su and Jasper Lin exchanged glances, then turned their gaze to Agatha Lin simultaneously.
"Will this make things worse?"
Damian Lin's parting words had been a clear threat.
Agatha Lin felt a deep sense of concern. She knew all too well who Donovan Lin and his son were.
They had never considered Jasper Lin as a true family member, and by extension, they wouldn't consider Jasper Lin's family as relatives either.
If they managed to provoke Donovan Lin further, a person with such a temperament could resort to anything.
"It won't," Orion Jiang stated calmly.
"He told us to wait, so we'll wait."
Having said that, Orion Jiang began to clear away the dishes and utensils.
Cara Su, seeing his determination, rushed over to help.
"I'll take care of this, I'll take care of this," she said, appreciating Orion Jiang's protective stance on their family.
She hadn't seen it before, but now, it was evident that Orion Jiang was determined to shield their family from any mistreatment by Donovan Lin and his son.
"Thank you, Mom." Orion Jiang replied with a smile.
He had fully embraced his role.
Jasper Lin felt a bit uneasy but was at a loss for words. He had never held any real authority in this family.
His only recourse was to retreat to the back room once more and close the door in fear.
"You've truly gotten on their bad side," Agatha Lin sighed. Damian Lin had come to apologize, and his attitude had been surprisingly decent.
In all the years she had known him, she had never seen Damian Lin lower his head like that. She had even considered downplaying the issue to avoid escalating the conflict.
However, Orion Jiang completely ignored Damian Lin's apology and insisted on Donovan Lin apologizing in person. It seemed impossible that Donovan, who was known for his pride and desire to save face, would ever bow his head and apologize to them.
"You're mistaken." Orion Jiang's eyes remained clear. "They offended me."
"I've said it before: no one is allowed to mistreat you." His unwavering resolve sent a shiver down Agatha Lin's spine.
…
An hour had passed.
After Cara Su finished washing the dishes and noticed that Orion Jiang was heading for a shower, she hurriedly slipped into Agatha Lin's home.
"Mom?"
"Agatha Lin, who is this Orion Jiang?" Cara Su whispered. "Why do I get the feeling that he treats you differently?"
Agatha Lin blushed. "What are you talking about? We didn't know each other before."
She bit her lip but couldn't deny that since meeting Orion Jiang, he had been protective of her and her family, shielding them from the mistreatment inflicted by Donovan Lin and his son.
"Do you really let him sleep in your room at night?"
This was what Cara Su was concerned about. Although Orion Jiang was now Agatha Lin's husband in name, their family had yet to fully accept it.
"He has mental health issues!" She was worried that Orion Jiang might harm Agatha Lin.
Agatha Lin hesitated for a moment, thinking of Orion Jiang's clear eyes. "He won't hurt me."
Creak...
The bathroom door swung open, and Cara Su quickly exited, mouthing, "There are iron bars in my house. If anything happens, just call me!"
Agatha Lin blushed even more, her heart racing. Did she really want Orion Jiang to sleep in a separate room?
Knock, knock, knock!
There was another knock on the door from outside. Jasper Lin resembled a startled cat, every pore on his body open with fear.
Cara Su's face turned pale. He was coming—Donovan Lin! With his temperament, he wouldn't tolerate this!
Their prospects looked grim. Even Agatha Lin couldn't help but become nervous.
She walked to the living room and stared at the door as if expecting a gang of armed assailants behind it.
The whole family felt like they were facing a formidable adversary.
"Open the door." Orion Jiang said nonchalantly, wiping his head with a towel. "We have a guest."
His laid-back demeanor left Agatha Lin feeling helpless. Was this guy genuinely fearless, or did he simply not care?
She walked up to the door, opened it, and found Donovan Lin outside, followed closely by Damian Lin.
"Agatha Lin."
Donovan Lin's expression was far from pleasant. Nevertheless, he managed to muster a smile and said, "Big Bert is here to offer his apologies at your doorstep."
Agatha Lin was taken aback. Cara Su, who had been eavesdropping nearby, was equally astonished. Could it be that Donovan Lin was genuinely here to apologize?
"Firing you was all a misunderstanding. Damian Lin is entirely to blame for everything, and I've already given him a proper talking to," Donovan Lin asserted.
Pointing at Damian Lin, who promptly lowered his head, he added, "I apologize, Agatha Lin, I was wrong, please forgive me."
"In this matter, Uncle is also at fault. I acted rashly without thoroughly investigating the situation." Donovan Lin admitted. "I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, Uncle. The company needs you."
Donovan Lin's tone was exceptionally sincere. It all hinged on Agatha Lin's response.
"Tomorrow, I will meet you at the company's entrance, reinstate your position, and personally address everyone to ensure justice is served," Donovan Lin promised.
At this point, the apology was brimming with sincerity, and his demeanor was exceedingly humble.
Agatha Lin, facing Donovan Lin's slightly bowed posture, was left in a quandary.
Instinctively, she glanced back at Orion Jiang, who nodded in agreement.
"Uncle, I understand. I will return to work tomorrow," Agatha Lin finally replied.
"Very well, tomorrow, I'll be waiting for you at the Lin Group's entrance. Good night," Donovan Lin said.
With that, Donovan Lin and his son departed, closing the door behind them.
Agatha Lin's face still bore an expression of disbelief. Donovan Lin had come to apologize in person! His attitude had been so sincere! When had she ever witnessed such a thing?
"Did Brother truly come to apologize?" Jasper Lin opened the door, his voice trembling, and his eyes brimming with tears. Had his family endured Donovan Lin's mistreatment for so many years? When had he ever apologized?
In Jasper Lin's eyes, he had only brought shame to the Lin family. If it weren't for the ties of blood, Donovan Lin would have likely expelled them from the Lin family long ago.
"He came to apologize!"
"He really came!"
Cara Su was also elated, her emotions evidently having been suppressed for too long and now beyond her control.
As a daughter-in-law within the Lin family, she had to consider the patriarch's authority and the eldest brother's influence, which had made her uncomfortable for decades.
Having just heard Donovan Lin's humble apology, Cara Su couldn't contain her pent-up grievances any longer. "This damn jerk even bows to us on occasion," she nearly cried out.
Seeing her parents' reactions, Agatha Lin took a deep breath. She had always been aware that her parents had been mistreated by her uncle and had endured a great deal of cold treatment and injustice.
But today, even if it was just once, seeing Donovan Lin lower his head and apologize was enough.
"From now on, no one will allow you to suffer," Orion Jiang reassured her, gently drying her hair. "No one can mistreat my wife, not even my father-in-law and mother-in-law."
After saying this, Agatha Lin and her family looked at Orion Jiang in astonishment. There was truly something different about this uncle who had come to visit.
Meanwhile, after leaving Agatha Lin's residence, Donovan Lin's face turned completely dark, and he exuded a chilling aura. Damian Lin, who trailed behind him, didn't dare utter a word.
Orion Jiang had compelled Donovan Lin to come to their doorstep and apologize humbly. It was akin to a severe slap in the face.
"Tomorrow, inform all the employees to gather at the company's entrance one hour early to welcome Agatha Lin!" Donovan Lin sneered, his expression filled with malice. "Furthermore, discreetly spread the news that Agatha Lin had an improper relationship with Mr. Huang, forcing the Lin Group to concede."
"I want to see if Agatha Lin has the audacity to remain in the Lin Group!"