Chapter 65: The Unfilial Rebel

Capital City.

A villa in the suburbs, outside the Fifth Ring Road.

"Mom, Aunt Celeste is really too much! She keeps helping Frank Castle on the show! I'm her real niece. How can she help an outsider instead of me?"

"This time, you really need to talk to Grandpa properly. Tell Aunt Celeste to stop siding with others!"

Amelia Quinn linked arms with Claire Monroe as they got out of the car. Victor Quinn exited the driver's seat, and the family of three walked into the villa together. This was the home of Robert Monroe, Claire Monroe and Celeste Monroe's father.

Robert Monroe and his wife came from very ordinary backgrounds. After having their eldest son, David Monroe, and second daughter, Claire Monroe, they originally didn't plan on having more children. However, they had a child late in life when his wife became pregnant at 36. At that time, David Monroe was already 16, and Claire Monroe was 14, both at an age that required significant expenses. The family's financial situation was quite average; another child meant another mouth to feed. Robert Monroe wanted to terminate the pregnancy, but his wife insisted on giving birth, and the two argued many times over it.

Later, Celeste Monroe was born. However, Robert Monroe's wife died from postpartum hemorrhage after giving birth. From then on, Robert Monroe regarded his youngest daughter as the murderer who caused his wife's death. Celeste Monroe grew up without a mother and never received paternal love. Parents are role models for their children. Robert Monroe resented Celeste Monroe, and David Monroe and Claire Monroe followed suit, casually bullying their younger sister.

Robert Monroe disliked Celeste Monroe and told her from a young age that she was responsible for her mother's death, that she owed him, owed this family, and that she would have to spend her entire life compensating and atoning. Robert Monroe not only said this but genuinely believed it. So, after Celeste Monroe became famous, he approached her, demanding that she continue to compensate and atone.

The villa now before Amelia Quinn and her parents came into being this way. Property prices in Capital City were outrageously high. Even in the suburbs outside the Fifth Ring Road, this villa was worth tens of millions. At that time, Celeste Monroe was still wholeheartedly committed to compensating her family. So, after she won her second "Best Female Vocalist of America" award, she used her savings to buy this villa for her father. Originally, Robert Monroe's name was supposed to be on the property deed, but an incident later caused Celeste Monroe to change her mind, and her own name was put on the deed. However, Celeste Monroe never lived there. Over time, this villa became Robert Monroe's home. During holidays, the Monroe family would gather here.

In addition, David Monroe and Claire Monroe often came here to complain about Celeste Monroe. Today was no different. Even if Amelia Quinn hadn't said anything, Claire Monroe and Victor Quinn had already planned a visit. Victor Quinn's company was vying for a major project. The opposing party's boss was a fan of Celeste Monroe, having agreed that as long as Celeste Monroe sang a song at that company's annual dinner and had a meal with the boss, the major project would be Victor Quinn's company's. This was a golden opportunity to rise to prominence. If successful, Claire Monroe and Victor Quinn would officially enter high society. For Celeste Monroe, it was clearly a simple favor, yet she had refused. Claire Monroe was very angry, feeling that this sister was truly cold-blooded. Coupled with her daughter being bullied by Frank Castle on the show and Celeste Monroe doing nothing about it, she definitely had to talk to her father properly today.

The three entered the villa. Outside, there was a small garden, where a servant was watering flowers. Inside on the first floor, a servant stood by the door, bowing to the three and offering them slippers. In the kitchen, there was also an auntie specifically responsible for cooking. In this villa, Robert Monroe lived alone, attended by three servants. Robert Monroe himself had no income, but his demands for living were very high. He had Celeste Monroe hire all these servants for him.

Amelia Quinn's family walked into the spacious and luxurious first-floor living room, seeing an elderly man dressed in designer clothes sitting on an expensive sofa. Amelia Quinn immediately ran up and linked his arm. "Grandpa, I missed you so much!"

Robert Monroe chuckled, stroking Amelia Quinn's head, his face full of loving kindness: "My dear granddaughter, let Grandpa have a good look. Oh my, you've gotten thinner again. Here, this is what Grandpa bought for you." Robert Monroe took two boxes of expensive-looking tonics from the coffee table and handed them to Amelia Quinn. "You must take good care of yourself. Grandpa is waiting to hold his great-grandchild!"

"Oh, Grandpa, you're teasing me again!" Amelia Quinn took the tonics and playfully pouted, not like a divorced woman but rather an innocent young girl. Robert Monroe felt nothing amiss, his face full of indulgence. Of the three Monroe children, the one hated by the whole family yet relied upon by the whole family, Celeste Monroe, need not be mentioned; she was unmarried and childless. David Monroe had a son, but he was good-for-nothing, constantly causing trouble. This granddaughter, born to Claire Monroe, had been well-behaved since childhood, grew up to be successful, and became a big star. So, Robert Monroe was most partial to Amelia Quinn. By extension, Claire Monroe and Victor Quinn were also important to him. He waved to them. "Claire, Victor, come sit down quickly. Your Aunt Lily will have dinner ready soon." The auntie cooking in the kitchen was named Lily. She was in her thirties, fair-skinned and capable. Robert Monroe affectionately called her "Little Lily."

Claire Monroe awkwardly acknowledged him. She was almost fifty, and Robert Monroe was stubbornly calling a woman in her thirties her "auntie," which sounded quite jarring. Victor Quinn, however, laughed heartily. "Haha, I get to taste Aunt Lily's cooking again!" Claire Monroe glared at her husband, not wanting to mention the person in the kitchen. She immediately said to Robert Monroe, "Dad, this time you really have to talk to Sister Celeste. She has no sense of family left. Not only does she not help us, but she's also helping outsiders bully Amelia!"

"What?! That unfilial rebel actually bullied my granddaughter? What happened?!" Robert Monroe immediately became angry. Amelia Quinn took the opportunity to wipe her eyes and recounted everything about her, Frank Castle, and Celeste Monroe recording American Voice. She also told him about Celeste Monroe clarifying things for Frank Castle on X (Twitter) and tagging her, forcing her to come forward and testify for Frank Castle.

"Grandpa, you know Frank Castle wronged me, but Aunt Celeste insists on helping him! So many people watch that show. If people see Aunt Celeste treating me like this, who knows what they'll say about our family!"

"Hmph!" Robert Monroe roared, "I always knew that Frank Castle was no good! Just a poor boy. When he was with you back then, he probably just wanted to cling to that rebel!" The "rebel" Robert Monroe referred to was, of course, Celeste Monroe. However, he forgot that this villa he lived in, these servants, and his luxurious life all depended on this "unfilial rebel." He also forgot that when Frank Castle was with Amelia Quinn, Amelia Quinn was nothing, and when Claire Monroe and Victor Quinn's company was losing money, Frank Castle even helped subsidize a part of it. At this moment, in his words, Frank Castle was no good, and Celeste Monroe was also a rebel.

Amelia Quinn's eyes reddened. "Grandpa, you have to help me!" Robert Monroe waved his hand. "I'll call that rebel right away! Ungrateful wretch!"