Chapter 278: I'm Here to Join the Family, Not to Break It Up

Chapter 278: Chapter 277: I’m Here to Join the Family, Not to Break It Up

A large SUV drove down the road. From the passenger seat, Yvonne Lowell turned her head and warned,

“Stay down. If you stick your head out and someone sees you, I’m not going to the wildlife rescue center to bail you out.

If they find you a pride of lionesses, or make you share one with a group of other male lions, don’t you come crying to me.”

“ROAR!” ‘Got it! I’m not the big idiot driving the car! Such a nagging old woman!’

The Leogryph gave a low growl in reply and obediently lay down on the seat.

A thin blanket had been draped over its body to prevent any dashcams from spotting it through the gap between the front seats.

“And another thing, you’d better be on your best behavior when we get to the Lowell Manor. If you don’t want people touching you, just move away or stick close to me. No pranks! No baring your teeth! No showing your claws! Otherwise, I’ll have Felix come pick you up immediately.”

Yvonne Lowell said, her voice laced with a warning.

Today was the family dinner at the Lowell Manor. She had originally planned to leave him at Tidalview and have Ian Lynch go over to feed him in the morning and evening.

But in the end, this big goofball threw a full-blown tantrum, insisting on coming along.

When it saw Zachary Jacobs open the car door, it shoved him aside, leaped in first, and stubbornly occupied the driver’s seat.

Its posture screamed, ‘If you want to drive this car, you’ll have to sit on me and crush me to death first.’

Resigned, they had no choice but to switch to another car and take him along.

This was proof you couldn’t make exceptions. Give him an inch, and he’d take a mile, constantly testing her boundaries—just like his father.

Leo Grant, currently handling important business in secret overseas: ‘…So I get a mention in this chapter, too? I’m truly flattered, dear Author.’

Even though she knew this creature was intelligent, understood humans, and wouldn’t normally hurt anyone—just that he occasionally enjoyed pranks—she still had to lay down the rules.

After all, ever since her accident, only three people had been allowed to touch him willingly: her, Leo Grant, and Kai Preston—but only when he was mad at her.

With so many people at the Lowell Manor today, she couldn’t be sure someone wouldn’t try to pet him—especially her blockhead of a second brother—so she had to give him a heads-up.

But then again, Yvonne Lowell couldn’t for the life of her figure out why he was so desperate to go to the Lowell Manor with her?!

She’d gone out several times over the past few days, and he’d never been this insistent about tagging along. Yet today, the moment he heard the words “Lowell Manor,” he acted like he was on stimulants.

“ROAR!” ‘I know, I know! I’m going back to be officially recognized by the family and added to the genealogy! I’d never do something as disrespectful as bullying my elders!’

Zachary Jacobs, who was driving, didn’t miss the chance to tease him. “Hey, Leogryph, make sure you keep your head down later. Don’t want to scare anyone.”

“ROAR!” ‘Piss off! I am the great and mighty Lord Lionus! If there were a global ranking for the most handsome male lion, I’d be number one by a landslide!’

Zachary Jacobs: ‘…A landslide victory you got by having all the employees from Apeiron, Moonshadow, Pluto, ilpianeta, LY, North, the Mercenary Corps, the Grants, the Lowell Group, Jacobs Corp, JY Pharmaceuticals, and Prosperity Pavilion vote for you, is that it?’

…

「Lowell Manor」

Old Mr. Lowell was in the living room sipping his tea when he suddenly thought of something and spoke up.

“Nola called me this morning. She said she’s bringing her pet over and told us not to be scared when we see it.

Everyone, stay calm later. We absolutely cannot make a bad first impression on the new member of our family.”

Charles Lowell pouted. “Why did she only call you? The rest of us only found out when she sent a message in the family group chat. I’m her father, for crying out loud!”

Old Mr. Lowell’s expression remained unchanged as he replied coolly, “So what if you’re her father? I’m still your father.”

Charles Lowell: ‘…Touché.’

“What kind of pet does Sis have? It’s not a giant snake, is it?”

Adrian Lowell, who was playing a video game off to the side, asked curiously.

Young Master Justin, who had gone from campus heartthrob to family pest the moment his college entrance exams were over, felt that even a salted fish left to cure for eight hundred years wasn’t as idle as he was.

Harrison Lowell, who was on the same game team, didn’t even look up as he dismissed the idea without a second thought.

“No way. I bet it’s just a feisty dog at most.”

His little sister might have been able to drive a car across a canyon with him in it, but at the end of the day, she was still a delicate girl. What kind of ferocious beast could she possibly raise?

Ms. Sutton stroked Goldie’s head and said gently,

“Whatever it is, it’s a new member of our family. That means you’ll be a big brother now, Goldie.”

“WOOF WOOF!” ‘Stop with the age-shaming! And I’m its uncle, not its brother!’

The old butler hurried into the room, struggling to compose himself as he announced,

“The… the Young Miss and Young Master Jacobs are back.”

‘That thing looked as docile as a cat. It even let the Young Miss pull its tail. It has to be tamed… right?’

‘As a top-tier butler who had weathered many storms, he couldn’t let a small thing like this throw him off his game.’

“Did her pet give you a scare?” Old Mr. Lowell asked, looking amusedly at his flustered old friend.

Just as he said that, Yvonne Lowell walked into the living room, pulling the Leogryph along by its tail.

“I’m back!”

Everyone looked up, and the living room instantly fell silent.

Friendly reminder to the reader: This is not a static image. You can breathe now…

“He’s very good, he won’t hurt anyone. He just wouldn’t stop pestering me. How about… I take him upstairs and shut him in a room?” Yvonne Lowell explained meekly.

‘Darn Leogryph! He’s making my toes curl in embarrassment again!’

She had deliberately gotten out of the car in front of the main house before letting Zachary Jacobs go and park.

During their family dinners, none of the household staff would be near the main building.

Aside from the old butler, Grandpa Grant, and his wife, Auntie Joy, the only other people around were the chefs in the kitchen.

When she saw Grandpa Grant at the door, she was just about to give him a warning, but he had already run inside without a backward glance.

Fine…

“Holy crap!”

Harrison Lowell’s shout snapped everyone back to reality. They all stared in astonishment at the huge creature.

“So cool~” Adrian Lowell’s eyes lit up as he voiced his thoughts aloud.

The Leogryph gave a bashful nudge against Yvonne Lowell. ‘So many family members are staring at me, this is so embarrassing.’

Old Mr. Lowell recovered his composure as well. “No need to take him upstairs. He can stay here. What’s his name?” he said calmly.

He could see the gentleness in the lion’s eyes. Besides, he knew Yvonne acted with discretion; she would never bring home an untamed beast.

Let alone waltzing in so casually, pulling it by the tail without any safety precautions whatsoever.

“His name is Leogryph.”

Yvonne Lowell led him further into the room, and everyone’s gaze followed the pair. Only Goldie remained, cowering in Ms. Sutton’s arms.

The Leogryph scanned the people in the living room, its gaze finally landing on Old Mr. Lowell.

‘That powerful aura, that age… He must be the key to getting on the family tree—my Maternal Great-Grandfather!’

‘I have to win him over first!’

So, it padded forward a few steps. Yvonne, feeling uneasy, had no choice but to follow.

It stopped a short distance from Old Mr. Lowell, sat down, and extended its right forepaw.

“ROAR!” ‘Greetings, Maternal Great-Grandfather! I am my mother’s firstborn son, Lionus!’

‘I come to join this family, not to tear it apart! So… can I be officially recognized and added to the family tree?’