Scared Pissing In Their Pants

The snow fell when the moon rose high to the night sky.

The Shen family dinner was joined by their relatives, making the situation livelier with chatter and laughter. Scrumptious dishes were served, prepared wholeheartedly by skillful chefs.

During dinner in the vast dining hall, some couldn't resist bringing up the topic of Asher and Liliana's divorce. Most of them were glad about the end of the couple's marriage because they deemed Liliana unfit to be Young Madam Shen.

From whispers just between them, they directly talked about it when the alcohol kicked in. Because Old Madam Shen had left the dining hall, they dared degrade Liliana.

Only the adults remained while the children and teenagers went to play outside.

"Asher, when will you remarry? You can find a more befitting bride next time."

"Won't it be Young Miss Xia? She's Asher's childhood sweetheart."

"Oh, her name is Elaine, right? I heard her club is doing so well. Beautiful and smart, she's material to be Young Madam Shen."

"How about it? What do you think, Asher?"

Asher lifted up his half-lidded eyes, staring at the expectant faces around him. He was already bored sitting here. Somehow, their conversation displeased him.

Thud.

Asher put down his cup. Slowly straightening his back, he cast an indifferent glance at everyone in the dining hall. They clamped their mouth shut as they got pressurized by his frosty stare.

Next to him, Audrey looked as if she was waiting for a good show. A smirk curled up on her red-painted lips.

The dining hall was in a pin-drop silence. They slowly lower their heads, not daring to meet Asher's cold gaze. His expression was as dark as the winter night outside, sending chills down their spines.

"Are you capable to advise me on what I do with my life?"

Asher's tone was akin to a whisper but, those words echoed heavily in the large dining hall.

Someone broke the suffocating silence. It was one of the Shen family's distant aunts. Dressed up in a posh dress, her whole being screamed money.

"W-well... we're just worried about you... you don't have to say it like that."

With the woman being the lead, more voices followed, singing the same tune.

"Yes, Asher. What are you upset about? We clearly saw how bad your relationship with that woman is. She only asked for a divorce just to get a huge alimony."

"That woman is so cunning. She always pretends to be naive. Maybe the divorce is to cover her having an affair?"

Audrey glared at the relatives who dared to run their mouths. She refuted, "If you have so many problems with Lili, why don't you complain in front of my grandma? Scare to piss in your pants?"

"Audrey! Watch your mouth! We're your elders!" scolded the first woman.

Audrey shrugged, "I don't care. I only know that Grandma will be furious if she ever heard about you guys badmouthing Lili."

Asher moved his gaze to his younger sister. Her expression showed her anger.

As far as Asher remembered, Audrey was not particularly close to Liliana but, their relationship was still good. He never heard her complaining anything about Liliana.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Asher knocked his knuckles on the table thrice. The repeatedly low sound sent the dining hall into silence again. Even the first woman pursed her lips tight, losing her stupid show of courage from earlier.

"Be prepared for the consequences."

Once Asher dropped the cryptic words, he immediately left the dining hall. Everyone was in shock. They froze seeing the disappearing back view of the Shen family's successor.

"What... does he mean?"

Audrey scoffed, followed by mocking laughter. Pushing back the chair, she also was prepared to leave the dining hall. But, not without giving the foolish people a piece of her mind.

"You guys know how bad my brother's temper can be sometimes, right? What if..." Audrey deliberately paused and lowered her voice, intending to scare her relatives, "...he pulls out the investments for your small companies?"

Everyone froze in shock. Their eyes were ladened with fear.

Turning around, Audrey headed to the door. She didn't want to waste any more of her time here.

Words traveled out the door when Audrey had just stepped out. Everyone was trying to reassure themselves.

"No! He can't do that!"

"No, Asher won't do something silly just because of that woman."

"Calm down, Audrey's just scaring us."

Hearing that, Audrey stuck out her tongue, thinking how brainless most of the people here were. They could only live in comfort because they were distant relatives of the Shen family.

Asher didn't know what had transpired after he left the dining hall. His feet brought him to his grandmother's room. For some reason, he felt like he should meet her.

After the day Asher suddenly appeared at the beach house before, Old Madam Shen's treatment toward him was distant. During their family gathering this morning, she was absent-minded throughout the time.

Asher understood that his grandmother was upset about him.

But, for what?

Didn't she the one who insisted on him agreeing with the divorce?

He had followed what she wanted. He didn't fight any of the property divisions and the alimony even though his friends pointed out that the amount was too high.

Asher still remembered what Rupert told him before. It was when his friends first learned the content of the divorce agreement.

"Are you stupid? That woman's using your grandma to get the most out of it! She contributed nothing to your marriage. Contest the agreement. Even one property is more than enough for her."

Rupert had really crossed the line. Asher almost got into a huge argument with him if not for Alvin mediating between them.

"Shut your crap. I know you don't like Liliana but, don't disrespect her."

There were two doors before one could reach Old Madam Shen's room. They had to walk past the first down, down the hallway before they met the second one that separated the outside from the inner room.

Standing opposite the second door, Asher knocked on the door thrice. He waited until he heard his grandmother's voice, fearing she had slept.

"Come in."

Asher slowly opened the door. He was met with the sight of Old Madam Shen sitting on the bamboo chair with a book on her lap.

"Grandmother, may I come in?" asked Asher, his voice stiff.

Old Madam Shen blinked her eyes, they appeared reddened. She nodded once.

"Come in."