Chapter 614: Stay by My Side

On Sunday, dark clouds massed in the sky and the air felt very dry and stuffy as if heavy rain was
promising.

Archer had been waiting for them at the door of the laboratory and after a long while, a black Maybach
finally drove towards him.

When the car stopped, Stella landed her gaze on the laboratory not far away.

Then there came Clarence’s voice, “He will send us there.”

Stella pulled herself back to reality, groaned a simple answer and pushed open the door.

Archer waved at them when seeing them, seeming as if he was not forced.

Seeing that Stella had been fixing her eyes on the laboratory, he comforted her, “Rest assured. I
arranged for everything before leaving.

Stella lightly nodded her head and didn’t reply.

She knew deep down that even though she was at the door of the laboratory, she still couldn’t get in.

On the way to the James’ Mansion, when driving the car, Archer studied Stella and Clarence from the
rear-view mirror from time to time. It seemed like he wanted to say something.

Clarence said blandly, “Spill the beans.”

Archer coughed and looked at the front, “It’s not an important issue. It’s just that the James family has
strict rules, so stay around me and don’t walk around after entering the house. Don’t talk when the
worship begins. Otherwise, you will receive serious punishment if those fuddy-dudfies hear it.”

“For example.”



“Probably you will kneel in the ancestral hall for ten days or half a month. Except for this, you will have
to eat green vegetables or bitter gourd for every meal, namely to let you learn this lesson.”

Tsk, that experience was so terrible.

Clarence replied, “I see.”

Archer turned around with surprise as he didn’t expect that Clarence would be so obedient now.

Noticing the confusion in his eyes, Clarence said calmly, “Based on that conclusion, it seems like
you’ve experienced it numerous times. I don’t have to seek troubles for myself.”

Archer was rendered speechless.

If he had expected this, he would not tell him about that.

Archer broke the silence after a short while, “Moreover, no matter what you want to ask, wait until the
worship ceremony is over. Darnell is not as wicked as you’ve imagined and you can talk to him
personally if you have any questions. Don’t make a fuss in front of the James.”

Clarence shot a glance at him expressionlessly. Archer immediately shut up and concentrated his
attention on driving.

To be honest, if it was not because Darnell had been evading meeting with Clarence, Clarence would
not decide to go to the James Mansion to find him. It was his kid reminder as he was afraid that both of
them would be punished to kneel in the ancestral hall.

Stella had been looking at window on the way and didn’t pay attention to their conversation.

After a long while, she felt someone softly clasping her wrist.

Stella turned her head and looked at him in confusion.



Clarence said in a low voice, “I don’t know what will happen after we get into the mansion. Stay by my
side and don’t step away from me.”

Stella pressed her lips together and then nodded her head.

Channing looked out of the window, “We arrive.”

They could vaguely see the outline of the James’ Mansion when looking out of the window.

The car drove through a gate with carved patterns on the door at each side. Several minutes later, a
mansion of ancient style appeared in their visions.

There were two words on the plaque above the door – “James’ Mansion”.

Many cars were parked at the door.

It seemed like many people had arrived before Archer’s arrival.

The moment Archer got out of the car, there came a man’s voice, “Why do you come back so late?”

Archer turned around with a smile, “Uncle, there’s still time left. Moreover, you just arrived too.”

Apparently, the middle-aged man felt displeased when he heard the words. He put on airs, “It’s
because I have to deal with some business. What about you?”

“Naturally I can’t compare with you, uncle.”

Right at this moment, the middle-aged man spotted Clarence and knitted his brows.

When he saw Stella who stood beside Clarence, the furrow of his brows became tighter.

With his hand clasped behind his back, he put on airs again and asked, “Archer, who are they?”



“Oh, I forget to introduce them. They’re my friends.”

The man’s voice turned gloomy, “Friend? When are you allowed to take your friends home? Do you
know what day it is today? You…”

Archer justified for himself, “I’ve asked my cousin and he agreed.”

The connotation was that he could come to Darnell if he had any questions.

The middle-aged man snorted with dissatisfaction written all over his face, ignored Archer and directly
walked into the mansion.

When his figure completely disappeared in Archer’s vision, Archer walked to Clarence and Stella,
“Sorry for letting you witness such a joke. This person… He’s one of the rotten apples that spoil the
barrel in the James family.”

He paused and then added, “Let’s go.”

Actually from the short conversation with Darnell last time, Stella could tell that although the James
family had enormous fortunes and powers, because of this, it had a more complicated and entangled
relationship than those of the Conrad family.

There were some good men in the family but at the same time some evil ones.

According to Darnell’s words, he didn’t involve in the matters in City N, but apparently, someone from
Riverside had been involved in those matters. However, they hadn’t found out any clues so far.

Probably it was related to those evil men in the James family.

With that thought, Stella subconsciously clenched her hands that were placed at each side.



After walking through the front gate, they came to a broader courtyard.

It was much magnificent than that of the Conrads’ Mansion.

Most of the James had arrived at the ancestral hall.

The seniors were sitting in the hall while their next generations stood beside them.

As there were many people, the younger generations like Archer could only stand beside the wall
outside of the ancestral hall.

He said in a low voice, “The worship ceremony hasn’t begun and some of the James haven’t arrived.
We can just stand here. They will chant nonsense for several hours when it begins. They won’t notice
us even if we doze here”

Both Clarence and Stella were rendered speechless.

Archer looked at them and stroked his head, “What… What’s the matter?”

This was how they went through the ceremony every year.

Everyone would feel sleepy when hearing those fuddy-dudfies chanting in a classical language.

Clarence withdrew his gaze expressionlessly and looked into the ancestral hall.

The old man who seemed to be a leader had grey hair and was wearing a traditional costume.

This should be Elaine’s grand-grandfather.

He was the eldest man in the James family.

Even Darnell, the patriarch of the family, should respect him.



After a short while, the rest of the James arrived one by one.

As Archer felt so boring, he began to introduce the James to them.

Looking at the man who was walking towards the ancestral hall, Archer yawned and introduced, “That’s
Franklin James, Hilbert James’ grandson. He’s also a powerful man. The girl following behind him is his
daughter, Elaine James. She’s also…”

Archer suddenly paused as he suddenly recalled a rumour he heard several days ago. He turned his
head to look at Clarence gloatingly.

This would be interesting.

Clarence, however, showed no expressional change. He asked expressionlessly, “Are you muted?”

“Oh, then I will go on. Elaine James is just twenty years ago. She will probably become Darnell’s wife,
but now I’m not sure of it.”

After a short while, the rest of the James arrived one by one.
As Archer felt so boring, he began to introduce the James to them.

Looking at the man who was walking towards the ancestral hall, Archer yawned and introduced, “That’s
Franklin James, Hilbert James’ grandson. He's also a powerful man. The girl following behind him is his
daughter, Elaine James. She’s also...”

Archer suddenly paused as he suddenly recalled a rumour he heard several days ago. He turned his
head to look at Clarence gloatingly.

This would be interesting.
Clarence, however, showed no expressional change. He asked expressionlessly, “Are you muted?”

“Oh, then | will go on. Elaine James is just twenty years ago. She will probably become Darnell’s wife,
but now I’m not sure of it.”



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